Regina Public Schools director of education Darren Boldt said the lack of funding prompted the school department to make the decision.

This requires that we take action that impacts the entire school department and ultimately families.laments Darren Boldt.

The school division plans to pay for parental care during the lunch break, to reduce spending on technology and teaching materials, to reduce infrastructure projects and the number of apprenticeships in schools.

However, Darren Boldt specifies that no permanent teacher will be made redundant. The school department would downsize by not replacing resignations or retirements.

In its budget presented last March, the Saskatchewan government earmarked approximately $2 billion to fund the operations of the province’s 27 school divisions. This is an increase of $49.4 million over the previous year.

The school division of Regina Public Schools, which has over 24,500 students, will receive an operating funding increase of 1%, or $2.5 million.

However, Darren Boldt states that Regina public schools would need a 3% increase, or $7.5 million, to receive one status quo budget which offers the same services without significant improvements or reductions.

We have seen an increase in the number of students per teacherbelieves Mr. Boldt.

Last Saturday, about 3,500 people gathered in front of the Legislative Building in Regina to demand an increase in public funding for education to deal with inflation and resource shortages.

In response to this mobilization, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe stated that additional funding could be made available for the education sector. However, the province has not yet announced the exact amount of this aid.

Darren Boldt reminds that the school department will finalize their budget next month. According to him, it is preferable that additional funds arrive before that date so that the school department can adjust its budget accordingly.

With information from Nicholas Frew