The Calgary Board of Education’s newly approved $1.7 billion budget reveals the challenging financial tightrope walk facing Alberta’s largest school district as student numbers climb while per-pupil funding struggles to keep pace.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, trustees voted 6-1 to approve the 2024-25 budget, with only Trustee Patricia Bolger opposing. The approved financial plan allocates resources for the more than 142,000 students expected in Calgary public schools this September—a projected increase of about 4,000 students from last year.
“We’re seeing unprecedented growth across our system,” said CBE Board Chair Laura Hack during deliberations. “While the provincial funding increase helps, we’re essentially being asked to stretch every dollar further as more students enter our classrooms.”
The budget includes $1.14 billion from Alberta Education, representing about 93% of the board’s total operational funding. This marks a $72 million increase from the previous year, though much of this is earmarked specifically for teacher salary increases negotiated provincially.
CBE Chief Financial Officer Brad Grundy presented figures showing that while overall funding has increased by approximately 6.3%, the actual per-student allocation has only grown by roughly 2.1% when accounting for enrollment growth. This creates what he termed a “sustainability gap” in addressing classroom needs.
“When we adjust for inflation and rising student numbers, we’re actually working with less purchasing power than five years ago,” Grundy explained to trustees.
The approved budget maintains current classroom sizes but includes reductions to central administration by eliminating 13 positions, generating about $1.9 million in savings. The plan also shifts $9.2 million from reserves to maintain specialized programs and school-based supports.
Parents at the meeting expressed mixed reactions. Sarah Jenkins, who has two children in CBE schools, voiced concerns about growing classroom sizes at her local elementary.
“My daughter’s Grade 3 class has 28 students this year, and they’re projecting even more next fall,” Jenkins said during public comments. “I worry about how teachers can possibly give each child the attention they need with these numbers.”
A recent survey conducted by the Calgary Association of Parents and School Councils found that 68% of responding parents cited classroom size as their top concern for the upcoming school year, followed by supports for students with complex needs at 61%.
The provincial United Conservative Party government has highlighted that education funding has increased by over $820 million province-wide since 2022, including the recent budget increases. However, the Alberta Teachers’ Association counters that when adjusted for inflation and enrollment growth, per-student funding remains below 2018-19 levels.
Trustee Bolger, explaining her dissenting vote, argued that the board should take a stronger stance in advocating for sustainable funding models.
“By passing this budget without formally noting our concerns about long-term sustainability, we’re normalizing a funding approach that doesn’t fully account for the realities in our classrooms,” Bolger said.
The budget does include several bright spots, maintaining all existing specialized programs and setting aside $2.1 million for increasing mental health supports in schools. Additionally, the board approved $23 million in infrastructure maintenance, though officials noted this addresses only about 25% of identified critical facility needs.
CBE Superintendent Christopher Usih emphasized that despite financial constraints, the board remains committed to student success.
“We’ve prioritized resources to maintain reasonable class sizes and support for diverse learning needs,” Usih said. “We’re focused on making strategic investments where they’ll have the greatest impact on student learning.”
The approved budget will take effect September 1, coinciding with the start of the new school year. The CBE plans to release school-by-school allocation details next month, giving principals time to finalize staffing and resource planning for fall.
For Calgary parents, the immediate impacts of the budget may not be immediately visible, but education advocates warn that continued enrollment growth without proportional funding increases could eventually lead to larger class sizes and reduced program options.
“We’re at a critical juncture,” said Maria Thompson, executive director of Public Education Partners Alberta. “School boards are doing their best with limited resources, but without addressing the fundamental funding formula, we risk compromising the quality of education our students deserve.”
The CBE will submit its approved budget to Alberta Education by the May 31 deadline, with further updates expected as final enrollment numbers are confirmed in the fall.
