Several school boards are now worried there may not be enough money to cover expenses after receiving only a small pile of new cash in the province's recently released budget. The school boards' main concern is there is not enough money to cover a salary increase for teachers and support staff.
Edmonton Catholic Schools says a letter will be sent home to staff explaining what it calls "budgeting challenges". The challenges include finding $2.5 million to pay staff after an arbitrator sided with Alberta teachers, awarding them a near six per cent raise last week.
"We will do everything we can not to lay off staff," said spokesperson for Edmonton Catholic Schools Lori Nagy.
Edmonton Public Schools owes staff another $6.6 million, and other boards across the province are facing similar shortfalls.
Alberta's Education Minister Dave Hancock recognizes the current challenges, and has scheduled a news conference Friday.
While the province tries to find extra money for the salary hikes, Hancock says he has a short-term request.
"We are suggesting to them rather than adjust teacher population and support staff population, we should look at reserves," Hancock said.
But not all school boards have reserves. The government is suggesting to the boards to take on the debt and keep the classroom as much in tact as possible.
But the district rep for the Alberta Teachers' Association says that's easier said than done.
"When you don't send dollars along to meet those programs, it does put boards in awkward situations," said Patrick Duffy.
School boards have been told the education minister will be speaking to the Treasury Board to find out what the timeline is for the boards to come up with the cash needed to pay the teachers or start making staff decision.
The school boards hope to have an answer by April.
With files from Kevin Armstrong
