News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

July 8, 2020

Education Savings Redirected to Manitoba Classrooms

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Millions of Dollars in Management and Other Savings to be Put Into Classroom Learning: Goertzen

Manitoba school divisions will have almost $48 million to cover unanticipated costs of the COVID-19 pandemic and to reopen classrooms in September after the suspension of classroom learning during the past school year, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today.
 
“Our government’s goal is to focus school funding on classrooms to ensure Manitoba students can thrive and excel,” said Goertzen. “This is even more important as our province gradually emerges from the grip of COVID-19, and as we continue our plans to return to in-class teaching and learning this fall.” 
 
School divisions, along with Manitoba’s entire summary government, took steps to limit non-essential spending during the early days of the pandemic. Some of the funds saved were used to cover new costs for improvements to technology for remote learning and the remaining savings will go toward adapting to reopening classrooms in September as well as for public health measures that may be in place.
 
In addition, once fully implemented, more than $4 million per year will be redirected to classrooms after Manitoba school divisions identified this sum in annual savings as part of an executive management streamlining initiative across multiple public-sector organizations, Goertzen noted. 
 
The fiscal sustainability measures have involved executive compensation, management streamlining and staff efficiencies. School divisions were directed to reduce their executive and senior management complements by 15 per cent by Sept. 1.
 
“This is good news for students and parents as it will mean more spent on improving classroom learning,” said Goertzen. “The government measures ensure fiscal sustainability will make a positive impact on Manitoba schools and the education of students across the province.”
 
Medium-sized and large school divisions with more than four executive or senior management positions were expected to reduce their numbers of positions by 15 per cent, the minister said. Smaller school divisions, with fewer executive or senior management positions, were directed to reduce managerial salaries and operating costs by 15 per cent, he added.
 
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