Financing Education

Funding for education comes from a few different places. The provincial government and school taxes are the main contributors.

Operating grants from the provincial government are based on the number of students registered by September 30^th of the school year. These students must also be under the age of 21. Certain circumstances allow for more funding. Rural communities or special needs students are examples of circumstances that receive more funding.

Taxes from the surrounding community also help pay for education. The local school board sets the percentage that each landowner pays towards schooling. Personally, I think that money from these taxes is a good idea. In a way, it is investing in our children's future. I have no arguments when it comes to raising school taxes, as long as the school board can prove that the money is needed to help with education and not politics (like hiring more teachers so classrooms aren't so full instead of spending the money on raising the superintendent's salary).

Part of the funding that is provided goes towards the maintenance of classrooms and school buildings, janitorial services and supplies, and office costs. Other parts go towards teachers' salaries, transportation, etc.

The activity that we did in class about trying to cut down a budget was a huge eye-opener. In my mind, there are certain programs that could be offered as extra-curricular after school, if absolutely needed. Obviously not everyone agreed with me... But I liked hearing all the different sides to the argument. It really made me think of specific subjects differently than I had before.