Teacher Salary Increase – Qs&As

July 7, 2010

Background

Effective September 1, Alberta school boards will receive a 2.92% increase to fund teachers’ salaries, based on the Alberta Average Weekly Earnings index (AAWE) for the 2010/11 school year, honouring the government’s commitment in the five-year MOA.

 

 

Why did you decide that you could fund the agreement now?

This new funding is possible in light of the better than expected year-end results for the past fiscal year.

 

The Government of Alberta has strongly maintained its commitment to the agreement and our consequent obligations.  The funding of teachers' Alberta Average Weekly Earnings increases has clearly been part of that commitment.

 

Where is the money coming from?

Because our government has adopted a balanced approach to financial management including closely managing spending, using our savings to protect key public programs and services, and continuing to building infrastructure to support jobs and the economy, we have been able to effectively manage the impact of the global financial crisis.

 

This new funding is possible in light of the better than expected year-end results for the past fiscal year.

 

What does this mean for school boards?

The increase in funding for teachers salaries means a 2.92% increase to both the base student and class size grants. Given that many school boards have decided to delay submitting their 2010/2011 school year operating budgets until November 30, this increase will provide time for them to adjust decisions around staff recruitment, financial allocations and other resourcing decisions. 

 

How does this impact the next school year?

Given that many school boards have decided to delay submitting their 2010/2011 school year operating budgets until November 30, this increase will provide time to adjust decisions around staff recruitment, financial allocations and other resourcing decisions. 

 

For those school boards which have passed their budgets and/or have submitted their budget for the upcoming school year, it will be important to revisit resourcing and allocation decisions.  In addition to the new financial information, student enrolment numbers gathered at the end of September will have an impact on your decisions.

 

 

 

What does this mean for teachers?

The Government of Alberta has strongly maintained its commitment to the five-year labour agreement and our consequently obligations.  The funding of teachers' Alberta Average Weekly Earnings increases has clearly been part of that commitment. I am pleased that the government is providing the necessary funds for a 2.92 per cent increase in teachers' salaries effective September 1, 2010. 

 

How much extra money does this mean?

This means about $63 million increase to school boards this fiscal year.

 

Why are you just funding this now?

In 2009, there was a dispute about the AAWE adjustment due to the way Statistics Canada calculated the indea.  We believed it was appropriate and necessary to challenge the automatic assumption that the calculation would continue to be based on an index, which is now significantly different from that to which we originally agreed. When Budget 2010 was released, we had just received the arbitrator’s decision determining that the revised Stats Canada formula was in effect and had not budgeted for the new rates.

 

Will school boards have to meet class size targets?

Significant resources have been devoted to reducing class sizes, and we do not want to see these gains lost.  School boards are expected to maintain or improve their class sizes as a result of this funding.

 

There are guidelines for class size – we depend on local school boards to make the best decisions on class size, taking into considering class composition, teacher experience etc.

 

As of September, class size initiative funding changes to a per student grant.  Funds will focus on the earlier grades where smaller classes make the most impact in a child’s learning experience and on CTS courses where safety is important. 

 

How much funding has gone into class size?

Since the inception of the Class Size Initiative in 2004/2005, government has invested $1.2 billion to enhance student learning experiences. This initiative has also supported the hiring of more than 2,930 new teachers in the province to reduce class sizes.

 

Will this ensure school boards can avoid layoffs?

Boards will still need to make staffing decisions based on issues such as enrolment and student needs. This increase will provide boards with more than sufficient resources to cover teachers’ salaries for the upcoming school year.

 

Anything to add?

The Education Minister had early indicated his committed to work with the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Alberta School Boards' Association, and school boards on how we will deal short-term financial pressures, as well as looking into a longer term agreement. I am encouraged that we can continue down this road.