Seven Oaks contemplating staff, program cuts due to alleged provincial underfunding

After the provincial government announced a $100 million increase in education funding for the upcoming school year, one school division in Winnipeg says that still won’t be enough to cover rising operating costs.

Seven Oaks School Division held a meeting on Monday to discuss potential cuts to the budget and what the next school year could look like.

“It will be larger class sizes, and just less attention particularly for kids who need it,” said superintendent Brian O’Leary.

“Our enrollment is going up just under three per cent and costs are going up at minimum two or significantly more.

“We’re in a position where we either budget for a reasonable wage increase or we cut significant numbers of staff and programs.”

Seven Oaks School Division Brian O’Leary on Feb. 27, 2023. (Credit: CityNews/Swidda Rassy)

Last month the province promised a minimum 2.5 per cent budget increase for all school divisions in the upcoming school year.

But O’Leary says, according to his calculations, the division will only be getting a 2.1 per cent increase.

“We hope it’s a mistake that they recognize and would like to correct,” he said. “Other than that we can’t really see a justification on any rational basis.”

A statement to CityNews from Education Minister Wayne Ewasko reads in part: “Seven Oaks School Division received $88,373,206 of total funding in 2022/23 and are receiving $91,702,413 in total funding for the 2023/24 school year, which represents a 3.8 per cent overall increase.”

O’Leary maintains a mistake must have been made.

“We’re not getting that,” said O’Leary. “Other growing school divisions, Pembina Trails is getting 9.5 per cent, River East Transcona is getting 7.5 per cent. We’re getting 2.1. St. James, which has flat enrollment, is getting five per cent.

“So we think they made an error in their allocation.”