Phone service disruption

Please note, some of our elementary schools, along with the Division's Education Centre, are experiencing issues with their phone systems. The Division is working to resolve the issue. Thank you for your patience.

Go Back To All News

Division presents preliminary operating budget for 2021/2022

Tuesday evening, Lethbridge School Division presented the preliminary operating budget for the 2021/2022 school year. The budget shows revenues of $132.51 million, which represents an approximate $3.37 million decrease from 2020/2021 operating budget. As a result of the 2.48-per-cent decrease in overall funding, just under $2.64 million in reserves is planned to be utilized next year.
Expenditures will also total $132.51 million. The Division is expected to grow from 11,249 students this year to 11,634 students next year, which is still only a partial recovery on pre-Covid-19 student enrolment levels from the 2019/2020 school year of 11,753.
In terms of staffing, the Division’s teaching and support staff are projecting a slight increase of 6.3 FTE and 8.1 FTE positions, respectively. The opening of Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary School resulted in additional staffing of administrators and support staff. There was also a 5.35 FTE increase in educational assistants.
With the uncertainty of student enrolment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division has 25.6 FTE of unallocated contingent teaching staff to support with addressing potential “hot spots” and to support schools that have additional student enrolment growth.
Administrative expenses will be maintained at just under $4.1 million in 2021/2022. Administrative costs account for 3.09 per cent of next year’s budget.
Plant operations and maintenance funding has decreased by $281,500 with the reduction in the grant rates. There is $220,000 of specific reserves being utilized this year to support with the grant rate reductions. As a result, there were reductions to building maintenance to support other cost increases., such as an additional 1.0 FTE caretaking position for the new school, increased insurance costs, and maintaining supports for enhanced cleaning protocols.
The transportation budget increased $40,000 for 2021/2022 with fees received to support the co-ordination of bussing services with Holy Spirit Roman Catholic School Division
Over 93 per cent of the funding for the Division comes from the provincial government, while the remaining seven per cent is comprised of school fees, school-generated funds, outside grants, investment revenues and one-time reserve funds.

The Division will have an online feedback form available until Sunday, May 23. The form can be accessed through this link: FEEDBACK.

Feedback will be provided to the Board Budget Committee for consideration for the Board Budget Debate.
Tuesday, May 25 at 1 p.m., the Board will have the Board Budget Debate for the approval of the 2021/2022 Preliminary Operating Budget.
The approved budget is to be submitted to the province by May 31.

More information on the budget can be found on this page, by scrolling down to the 2021-2022 Financial Information section: FINANCIAL INFORMATION.