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A deep dive on @AdrianaLaGrange 's claims that #AbEd boards should use $363M they hold in reserves for COVID-19 prep. Each of AB's 61 boards holds it's own reserve $.
Is this feasible?
(cc @bradfordgibson and @bridgetstirling for inspiration)
1/n https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-schools-in-person-classes-this-fall-1.5657774
Is this feasible?
(cc @bradfordgibson and @bridgetstirling for inspiration)
1/n https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-schools-in-person-classes-this-fall-1.5657774
In #YYC and $YEG (76% of COVID cases and 50% of students):
* $76M in operational reserves between the 4 boards.
* ~$15M was to be spent anyways pre-pandemic
= $240 per student for COVID-19, if all boards completely expended their reserves.
A bus pass is $465 / yr.
2/n
* $76M in operational reserves between the 4 boards.
* ~$15M was to be spent anyways pre-pandemic
= $240 per student for COVID-19, if all boards completely expended their reserves.
A bus pass is $465 / yr.
2/n
But the 4 school boards budgeted some COVID funding, right?
The 20/21 budgets were planned and approved at the beginning of the pandemic, before it's impact would be known.
Only 2 boards included COVID in budgets (kinda):
* @EPSBNews budgeted $4M for online COVID schooling
3/n
The 20/21 budgets were planned and approved at the beginning of the pandemic, before it's impact would be known.
Only 2 boards included COVID in budgets (kinda):
* @EPSBNews budgeted $4M for online COVID schooling
3/n
* @CCSD_edu claims it's budget addressed all three COVID scenarios, and that they are hiring 30 teachers for COVID mitigation and to buy PPE.
This is a dubious claim, since they are dipping $1.7M into reserves and 30 teachers alone would be around $3M.
4/n
This is a dubious claim, since they are dipping $1.7M into reserves and 30 teachers alone would be around $3M.
4/n
. @EdmCathSchools is actually planning to INCREASE it's reserves, not draw from them.
Using more school board reserves for COVID for 20/21 is a little academic anyways, since the boards would need to re-open their budgets, re-submit them, and get the minister to sign-off.
5/n
Using more school board reserves for COVID for 20/21 is a little academic anyways, since the boards would need to re-open their budgets, re-submit them, and get the minister to sign-off.
5/n
Which is a recent piece of red-tape the minister recently added.
https://rdnewsnow.com/2020/03/04/school-divisions-say-bill-5-puts-their-local-autonomy-at-risk/
6/n
https://rdnewsnow.com/2020/03/04/school-divisions-say-bill-5-puts-their-local-autonomy-at-risk/
6/n
To add in a final blow, pre-pandemic, @AdrianaLaGrange expected boards to rely more on "own source revenues" like fundraising or facility rentals - both of which will evaporate in a pandemic and economy crash. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/education-budget-2020-alberta-1.5479043
So to compare:
AB school board reserves could fund, at most $240 / student
These studies from Ontario (yes, funded by Liberal party and unions) cost it at $1600 / student.
The @abndpcaucus plan was about $1400 / student. https://twitter.com/TorontoStar/status/1287720661616648192?s=20
AB school board reserves could fund, at most $240 / student
These studies from Ontario (yes, funded by Liberal party and unions) cost it at $1600 / student.
The @abndpcaucus plan was about $1400 / student. https://twitter.com/TorontoStar/status/1287720661616648192?s=20
There's also a huge disparity between the reserves each board holds. @yyCBEdu could fund $135 / student, whereas @EdmCathSchools could fund $536 / student, a 4x difference.
Should student safety depend on what school board you belong to?
Should student safety depend on what school board you belong to?
