The Foothills School Division Board has passed a $97 million budget for the upcoming school year.

It includes a deficit of just under $3.6 mllion which will be covered by reserves.

The total budget is close to a million dollars more than last year. 

Highlights include maintaining teaching levels across the division as well as maintaining support staff.

That includes all permanent education assistant and youth development coach positions.

Assistant Superintendent Drew Chipman says changes had to be made to the original draft budget for provisions for enhanced cleaning.

"I think one of the things to be clear on is that there are a lot of unknowns for next year when we're looking at what the Province, what Alberta Health Services will require of school divisions regarding cleaning, regarding distancing, regarding extra curricular activities, all those are unknown," he says.

There's also a budget amount to support day time custodians in schools for cleaning and to support a safe relaunch.

He says they hope to get further direction from Alberta Education as soon as this week.

 

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