Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Funding for Alberta School Councils’ Association cut by 75% mid-school year

Nov 20, 2020 | 12:33 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Four months into the school year, the Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) is losing nearly $500,000 in annual grants.

A letter dated November 12 from Education Minister Adriana LaGrange stated that this is in line with one of the recommendations from the MacKinnon Panel, which recommended that “the government reduce the proportion of funding directed to administration and system supports in order to ensure a greater percentage of funds goes directly to classrooms and students.”

ASCA President Brandi Rai believes, however, the financial reduction is not even the worst part.

“I think that it’s fair to say that I’m deeply disappointed, mainly because there was no collaboration, so there was no opportunity for me to help them find a solution. Whether we got to the same end or not is not the important piece. The important piece would’ve been a respectful collaboration to help find a solution that still supported parents meaningfully.”

Due to there being a higher need for support services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rai had asked for an increase in funding from $650,000 to $690,000. They ended up getting approved for just $170,000.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

LaGrange wrote that the ASCA should be able to operate with the funds they have as the agency has roughly $250,000 in reserves and is projected to get $87,000 in revenue from membership fees.

Rai contends that, while they do have some money in the bank, they will not be able to utilize their reserves for general operations.

“We legally have to have money that we would pay out staff or any sort of leases if we did have to transition, so that money will be used in ways that keep us meeting our legal requirements, right, but that money is not something necessarily that we can use to transition to a different business model.”

Since the ASCA only found out last week that their funding would be reduced, they have already gone through the first few months of the school year spending under the assumption that their grants would remain in place until at least June 2021.

The School Councils’ Association serves a couple of main purposes – professional development for school councils across the province and to advocate to the provincial government on behalf of parents.

“We’re really worried about that parent voice not being utilized and supported locally in their schools or with their school boards. Also, we’re worried about, how do we meaningfully affect change at a provincial level if we’re not able to engage and support parents in the same way we have been able to?”

Rai assures that the ASCA will continue to be around but they are still at the “visioning stage” of how they might be able to move forward in light of the budget cuts.

She is encouraging parents to reach out to their principals and superintendents, as well as the Minister of Education and Premier to voice their concerns.