Public schools in Stettler are expected to take the biggest hit when the Clearview School Division plans to lay off teachers to help cover the deficit.
As part of its community consultations, Clearview trustees updated Stettler town and county councils this month as part of the board’s tour of communities to study ways to make schools more sustainable and cut the division’s $1-million deficit.
With the board projected to lay off 7.2 teachers this summer, the board has proposed that 5.85 teachers would come from the Stettler campus of Stettler Elementary School, Stettler Middle School and William E. Hay Composite High School, reported Clearview trustee Peter Simons, also a Stettler town councillor.
For an average yearly salary of $96,000 for teachers, trustee Patty Dittrick raised the ire of one councillor when she stated that Byemoor School would have one junior high teacher for just three students.
“That’s crazy,” said Coun. Al Campbell, a former school trustee.
With 29 students projected at Byemoor this fall from kindergarten to Grade 6, Dittrick also said the division estimates that class sizes in Stettler could rise at William E. Hay by 30 to 35 students and “in the 27-range” for the middle school.
“The board wants to minimize the impact of any staff reductions on students,” Simons said of the Clearview commitment.
That looming consideration, however, sparked concern with town council.
“I have a huge concern that the greatest number of teachers cut will come from Stettler,” said Coun. Leona Thorogood.
She and the mayor plan to attend the upcoming school board “community consultation” meetings in Stettler scheduled for May 1 and 13 at the William E. Hay school cafeteria.
Simons and Dittrick urged council members to attend those meetings.
“I have four children in Clearview schools and I will definitely attend,” said Stettler Mayor Dick Richards.
While the public Clearview division continues to negotiate shared transportation routes with East Central Catholic Schools, Richards said it isn’t “economical or sensible” to have public and Catholic buses running together with many empty seats.
Another option the division will consider to help cut administration costs, Simons said, is to reconfigure the Stettler campus from elementary school (kindergarten to Grade 5) middle school (6 to 8) and William E. Hay Composite High School (9 to 12), to either K to 12 or elementary (K-6) and high school (7 to 12).
Even with low enrolment numbers, Clearview trustees say they’re committed to keeping all schools open for the coming year under the current grade structures.
“Some trustees say that as long as parents are willing to take their children to their school, we will keep schools open,” Dittrick said.
At the County of Stettler meeting last week, Clearview superintendent John Bailey said that if the Byemoor School were to close, he feared many of the students would go to school in Hanna and Clearview would lose funding for those students.
County of Stettler Coun. Greggory Jackson also urged the Clearview board to take a long-term focus on the future of schools rather than just an annual plan.
The Clearview board also continues to draft a budget for 2013-14 to further guide the division for next year.