Following outcry, Sask. government pledges $40M top-up for education budget

A month after Premier Scott Moe said more money was on the way for school divisions, Saskatchewan's education minister announced a $40 million top-up.

A month after Premier Scott Moe said more money was on the way for school divisions, Saskatchewan's education minister announced a $40 million top-up.

Dustin Duncan shared the news during a media conference in Saskatoon at Bishop Filevich Ukrainian Bilingual School.

"The government of Saskatchewan has funded enrollment increases in the past and I want to assure you that we will continue to fund enrollment increases to support our growing and diverse province," Duncan said.

Duncan pledged $20 million for school divisions to address swelling enrollment numbers and $20 million to help with "classroom complexity."

The money devoted to classrooms will fund "teachers, educational assistants, speech-language pathologists, counsellors, educational psychologists or other supports as required," according to an education ministry news release.

Bishop Filevich is part of Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. The division was one of many in the province that sent letters to parents and caregivers, warning of increased fees and cuts to programming.

Despite Moe's promise of more money, with no details, the school divisions were drafting their spending plans based on the originally budgeted amount, aiming for a June 30 deadline.