(Supplied by Lethbridge School Division)

By David Opinko

With K-12 classes cancelled, funding “temporarily adjusted”

Mar 28, 2020 | 1:18 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta has reallocated some of its education funding.

They announced earlier this month that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person classes for K-12 students were cancelled for the rest of the term and students were no longer allowed to attend schools.

The Ministry of Education said in a statement Saturday that funding for teachers and “most other aspects” of the K-12 system are being maintained.

Since students are currently at home, areas such as transportation, teacher’s assistants, and substitute teachers are not required at this time.

As a result, funding is being “temporarily reduced while in-person classes remain cancelled.”

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Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says these funding adjustments will not negatively impact Alberta’s education continuity plan.

“COVID-19 has changed both how we provide student learning, and the operational needs of the education system. I want to stress that this is a temporary arrangement as schools focus on at-home learning. I have full confidence the system will continue to be equipped to successfully deliver our education continuity plan.”

For the time being, the money that is being moved around will be re-allocated to the province’s COVID-19 response.

“Any staff impacted by these funding adjustments will qualify for the federal government’s enhanced employment insurance program and other support programs for Canadian workers,” reads the Ministry’s statement.

Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the reallocation of funds will result in “widespread layoffs”.

Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips added that students with special needs will lose their educational assistants and “writing off kids w/ disabilities.”

For more details on the Government of Alberta’s Education Continuity Plan, including how each grade level has been impacted and what supports are available to students and parents, use this link.