Lethbridge School Division responds to government funding adjustment

Lethbridge School Division, like many other divisions across the province, is concerned about how the temporary cuts to educational funding will impact students and staff.
The Division had assumed the earlier statement from the Government of Alberta, which stated school authorities would receive their full allotment of funding for 2019/2020, was going to hold true.
As such, the Division based its model of student learning at home on this assumption, which included educational assistants as an integral part of the education service provided to students.
The role of EAs, under teacher supervision and planning, was to connect with a breadth of students including students with exceptionalities, English Second Language students, students without technology and other students at risk. The work plans developed for EAs included a variety of responsibilities to ensure that ALL students had access to learning while schools remain closed for students.
All of our support staff to the time to learn about the interactive platform to use with families, and for those without technology, developed a means of communication and access to learning outside of technology.
The Division is concerned about how this government decision will alter the plans many schools had in place to deliver quality education at all levels. Elementary programming will be rolled out today, while high schools began educational delivery last Wednesday. Middle schools hosted trials last week for online delivery, as educational programming will officially begin today.
“Plans for the delivery of education at all three levels were constructed under the assumption schools would have a full complement of staff available to meet the needs of students at all levels,” said Dr. Cheryl Gilmore, superintendent of schools for Lethbridge School Division. “As a result of Saturday’s announcement from the government, some of those plans may have to be altered.”
At this point, the Division does not have exact figures in terms of the number of staff that will be impacted, as the Division is in the process of seeking clarification from the government.
“Lethbridge School Division certainly values all of our employees, and we are very concerned about how this government announcement will impact our educational system, and our staff, for the remainder of the school year,” said Board Chair Clark Bosch. “The Division will do everything possible to support our students and our staff in these difficult times.”