Schools in Ponoka can work out their budgets now that Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) has set the student allocation.
Grades 1 to 12 have been set at $4,912 with early childhood development or kindergarten approved at $2,470 per student.
In budget discussions April 3, superintendent Larry Jacobs was asked about funds needed for a school resource officer (SRO). Most schools have factored in the cost for an officer in their budgets but Ponoka is slightly different.
Usually there is a cost-sharing arrangement for the officer; in this case WCPS is looking to share the cost with Ponoka County and the Town of Ponoka.
“That person would be wholly assigned to work with schools in a more proactive sense,” Jacobs said in an interview.
He feels an officer can help raise drug prevention awareness, positive citizenship and “all the kinds of things that come up for young people.” He sees the SRO with an office at the high school but would move around throughout the schools to address students’ needs.
“We’ve got commitments from obviously the school division. We have commitments from the County of Ponoka. We do not have a commitment from the Town of Ponoka at this point,” explained Jacobs.
He has been in discussion with Mayor Larry Henkelman and CAO Brad Watson recently in planning for an SRO and how that would work for the town.
“What we’re waiting for is the citizens and town council and the senior administration in Ponoka to consider this carefully and come on board to assist us,” said Jacobs.
The commitment to the town is approximately $30,000 per year, he added.
Possible changes after May 15 framework agreement deadline
Money was budgeted for teachers’ salaries but if the new agreement with school boards and the province (see other school board story in this week’s edition) works out, WCPS may have extra funds to help schools with their budgets.
The board of trustees also agreed to take $20 off of the student allocation to help pay for updating technology in the schools.
Pembina Hills distance learning
Trustees received a letter from Pembina Hills Regional Division about changes to the 2013 Alberta budget. Schools who have students taking a distance learning course will only receive 44 per cent of their student allocation, while a distance learning division gets the difference.
Pembina Hills would like to discuss these changes and their offerings to WCPS. Eckville trustee Karin Engen feels Pembina should present to the entire zone. “I think all eight school boards in central Alberta could use it.”
The board of trustees agreed to invite Pembina Hills to meet with zone 4 school boards and superintendent Jacobs to meet with them.