Budget 2005 strengthens education cornerstones

Education Minister Tom Hedderson says Budget 2005 makes significant investment in all areas of the education system and reflects government�s commitment to ensuring the students of Newfoundland and Labrador have high quality learning opportunities, in safe and secure environments.

"Our Blueprint for the Future set out a plan for education in Newfoundland and Labrador that allows students to develop and achieve as learners who will graduate in a new century with new life challenges and opportunities," said Minister Hedderson. "We are making significant investments in our education system because we want our schools to thrive and our students to succeed. Today�s announcements are consistent with our platform for our children and our future."

Teacher Allocations
Teachers are a critical component of the province�s education system. Approximately 70 per cent of the entire K-12 education budget is spent on teaching services. This year government will redeploy 75 teaching units back into the education system at an annualized cost of $4.5 million. According to the Sparkes-Williams formula, 220 teaching units were scheduled to be removed from the system this year. Government recognized the pressures that this implementation would have on class sizes and the provision of programs. Therefore, 52 teaching units will be reinvested to address primary class size issues, and 23 teaching units will added to support music education as part of a comprehensive fine arts strategy. (See Backgrounder - Government invests $4.5 million to redeploy teachers and News Release - Fine arts and culture strategy key feature in curriculum)

School Infrastructure
In Budget 2005 government has committed $26 million for school infrastructure � for major maintenance, renovations, up-grading, extensions and re-development of aging buildings, and to address other issues important to the safety of our schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. (See Backgrounder - $26 million for school infrastructure)

School Bus Safety
Government will provide an allocation of $3 million to reduce the age of school buses, enhance safety programs, and conduct a comprehensive review of school busing. In fiscal year 2005-06, $1.5 million in new funding will enable the Department of Education to work with bus contractors to reduce the age of school buses for new busing contracts. Government will also spend $500,000 to acquire 53 new buses for board-owned busing systems. Additionally, $175,000 is allocated in Budget 2005 for driver training and other safety programs. Funding will also be provided to enable government to conduct a comprehensive review of the school transportation system which will focus on maintaining a safe and efficient school transportation system. (See News Release - Making school busing safe and secure)

Physical Education Equipment
Government will provide $1 million to purchase physical education equipment for schools. This funding will provide support for the new, mandated high school physical education curriculum. However, more than high school students will benefit as many schools have grade levels other than high school. This is part of government�s commitment to the provincial Wellness Strategy, and is designed to address issues of inactivity and obesity among our youth so they have a foundation from which to build healthy and active lives.

Learning Resources
At the end of fiscal year 2004-05, government made a strategic investment of $2.5 million for learning resources to support new curriculum. This is in addition to $4 million allocated for 2005-06. The extra funding will allow for the implementation of newly developed curricula for the Atlantic Provinces including Grade 6 math, and primary science. It will also be used to update art and music curriculum, replace prescribed books, and keep the overall provincial curriculum current.

Fine Arts
Government will provide approximately $9 million over the next three years to implement a comprehensive, sustainable fine arts and culture strategy in our schools. This strategy will include: $3.5 million over three years for an additional 23 teaching units to support specialized music programs; $1.7 million for new curriculum materials; and $3.6 million for new equipment and enrichment opportunities including an Arts in Schools program. (See News Release - Fine arts and culture strategy key feature in curriculum)

Innu Education
Budget 2005 commits $500,000 to begin the process of addressing issues identified in the federally-commissioned report on Innu education, commonly known as the Philpott Report. This includes $200,000 for travel and personnel to coordinate and implement all activities related to the establishment of a successful, provincial school for the Innu in Sheshatshiu. The remaining $300,000 will be used for education and training programming, including culturally relevant curriculum, teachers, support for Innu youth to access alternative learning programs and the exploration of an aboriginal early childhood program.

"Education is the cornerstone upon which our province�s future rests. When we invest in our students, we invest in the Newfoundland and Labrador of tomorrow, one that is built and nurtured by a strong education system, and that supports teaching and learning opportunities for all," said Minister Hedderson.

Media contact: Nora Daly, Communications, (709) 729-1906, 728-2819

BACKGROUNDER
Government invests $4.5 million to redeploy teachers

Government will reinvest $4.5 million on an annualized basis to redeploy 75 teaching units back into the education system. According to the teacher allocation model, 220 teaching units were originally scheduled to be removed, as a result of declining student enrolment. Government recognized the challenges such a reduction could create. Therefore, 52 redundant teaching units will be reinvested to address primary class size issues, and 23 teaching units will be returned to support music education as part of a comprehensive, fine arts strategy. While government must respond to the realities of rapidly declining enrolment, fewer teaching units are being removed from the system than the teacher allocation formula dictates.

How Teachers are Allocated
The report of the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom (2000), otherwise known as the Sparkes-Williams Report, recommended a new formula for determining the appropriate number of teacher positions for our education system. This formula was developed following extensive consultation with all education stakeholders.

The school is the basic reference point in application of the formula. The number of teachers is determined by enrolment levels within grade levels. The basic allocation is supplemented by a teaching, guidance, learning resource, special education and administrative support allocation which are enrolment-based at the school level.

Allocations are determined at the school level for the purpose of building a �block� of teacher units. The allocation is then provided to the school district which has within its mandate the task of allocating staff to schools. Schools and school districts have flexibility to utilize teachers efficiently and in accordance with the needs of each school.

The allocation also recognizes the unique challenges of rural schools, and provides an adjustment to the basic allocation for schools classified as rural.

BACKGROUNDER
$26 million for school infrastructure

Budget 2005 provides $26 million for school infrastructure. This includes funding for major maintenance, renovations, upgrading, extensions and re-development of aging buildings. Government has also provided funding to enable school boards to undertake a long-term facilities planning process that will assess the suitability of existing buildings and estimate future needs for school infrastructure.

This year, government will spend close to $10 million for major projects and initiatives to improve schools. This includes cash flow funding to several major construction projects including $3 million for a major redevelopment of Herdmen Collegiate, Corner Brook; $2 million for Mobile Central High; and $1.1 million to convert St. Bernard�s Primary School to an elementary school. The St. Bernard�s conversion is already under construction. As multi-year initiatives, these allocations will cover the cost of work to be completed during this fiscal year. The total cost of these three projects, when completed will exceed $16 million. The remaining allocation for 2005-06 will see the completion of ongoing major projects.

Many schools, particularly those in larger centres, are older structures which are in need of significant repair and maintenance. Government has increased the allocation for major maintenance projects to $12 million this year, in addition to $4 million to complete previously approved projects. This means $16 million will be spent during the next fiscal year on major maintenance projects. Priority will be given to correcting problems in school building envelopes which permit water to reach the interior of the buildings. These will include roof repairs and major repairs to windows, brickwork and siding.

Also included in the $16 million is funding to address accessibility, correct problems associated with air quality, provide for electrical inspections, and address some environmental issues.

Government has also committed $250,000 for a long-term facilities plan. Through a systematic approach to assessing current facilities in relation to student demographics, this long-term plan will ensure that appropriate information is available in order for future funding to be appropriately and effectively invested for the greatest benefit.

2005 03 21                   3:10 p.m.