Legislative Report

Drastic Cuts by PVSD

The face of rural Saskatchewan has changed in one fell swoop with the closure of eight schools and the loss of high school classes in two others within the Prairie Valley School Division. This has been a dramatic blow to these communities.

So far this year, trustees have had to announce about a dozen closures. And there are likely to be more. However, trustees are not to blame. The real culprit is the current government—a government that has failed to adequately fund the K-12 system and a government that has made local ratepayers bear a disproportionate share of the cost of education.

The NDP has failed to show any leadership at all on the education file. Amalgamation was rammed down the throats of school boards. Money was supposed to be saved—money that could flow from administration to classrooms. Those promised savings never materialized.

The Minister of Education is fond of saying the money follows the student, and since rural numbers are declining, there’s nothing she can do. The Saskatchewan Party says that’s not good enough. In addition to making rural economic development a priority, the Saskatchewan Party has also suggested providing additional funds available for schools of necessity that must stay open because children face the prospect of being bussed too far, and schools of opportunity that could remain open if new economic development is about to spark an increase in the number of students.

The differences between the two parties are clear. The NDP is prepared to shrug its shoulders and talk about the inevitable decline of rural areas. The Saskatchewan Party believes this is a time for leadership, a time for clear direction and a clear vision for the future.

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