Fact Bulletin #5: The Budget Process: How Your Board Ensures Fiscal Responsibility
Did you know... The PRSD Board of Trustees undergoes a rigorous, multi-step process to approve the annual budget, which must adhere to the strict, legally-binding financial guidelines set by the Alberta Education and Childcare Funding Manual?
The budget process is designed to ensure maximum transparency and direct the vast majority of resources toward student success, while complying with provincial mandates.
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The Guardrails: Before any spending decisions are made, the Board must first comply with the Alberta Education and Childcare Funding Manual. This manual dictates the structure of the budget, including a number of key restrictions.
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Example: The System Administration Grant Cap. This grant, intended only for governance and central administration, is a targeted grant with a legal ceiling. School authorities are capped at spending between 3.20% and 5% of their total operating expenditures on administration, and they are legally prohibited from spending funds from other grants, such as instructional grant funds, on administrative costs.
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Prioritizing Student Learning: Guided by the Board of Trustees’ eight principles for decision making, the Board has remained committed to strategically directing the bulk of the Division’s resources to the classroom.
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95.6% of the Division’s $60 million budget is allocated to student learning, student transportation, and the operation and maintenance of our school facilities.
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4.4% is allocated to system administration, which includes all expenses related to the Board of Trustees and their governance work, Central Operations, and all legal and financial services.
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Continuous Oversight: The Board of Trustees’ governance role requires continuous monitoring to ensure that the Division operates efficiently within the approved budget and that all expenditures align with the strategic direction set by the Board.
By strictly following the provincial funding guidelines and prioritizing instruction through our foundational principles, the PRSD Board ensures fiscal responsibility and maximum benefit for every student.
Vote on October 20!
The Peace River School Division has an election in Wards 2, 3, 4, and 5 on October 20. Exercise your right to vote either in the advanced poles or on election day. Complete polling station information is available on our elections page.