COMMISSION ON FINANCING K-12 EDUCATION

The provincial government today announced that Ray Boughen of Moose Jaw has been appointed to head the new independent Commission on Financing Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education, announced in the recent provincial budget.

Mr. Boughen has a solid background in both municipal governance and administration, as well as education. He was Mayor of Moose Jaw from 1994 to 2000, and Vice-President of SUMA in 1998. He has 35 years of knowledge and experience in the field of education in Saskatchewan, including service as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, and director of education. His post-secondary education also includes a Masters of Science majoring in Counseling Psychology, and Education Administration.

The commission will review how K-12 education is funded in Saskatchewan and identify options for change. It will examine wide-ranging and complex issues affecting the funding of K-12 education, such as:

• The appropriate balance between provincial and school board
contributions;

• The appropriate balance between the use of property tax and other
sources of taxation;

• Fairness and equity in financing education among the existing classes of
property taxpayers (agricultural, commercial and residential);

• The wide variation in the fiscal capacity of school divisions to raise tax
revenues and the variations in assessment and spending per student
among school divisions.

"The Government believes in a strong, publicly funded education system," Finance Minister Jim Melenchuk said. "Fair and equitable financing of public education is in the best interests of all Saskatchewan students and taxpayers. We are confident Mr. Boughen will clarify the issues, help the public understand how K-12 education is financed, and develop recommendations for change."

"Saskatchewan people know the value of a high quality, public education system where school divisions have the autonomy to make decisions to meet the needs of their students, and the authority to raise local revenue to support those decisions," Learning Minister Judy Junor said. "The commission will look at how to balance financing of education between the provincial government and boards of education, and how to make the financing of education more equitable."

"The K-12 education system is the birthplace for all current and future learning," Commissioner Boughen said. "It is therefore imperative that this system is properly funded. Saskatchewan K-12 funding has been supported by provincial grants and local property tax dollars. As we continue to move into the knowledge age, it is timely to ask the question, 'What is the appropriate balance between provincial and local resources and are we funding K-12 education in a fair and equitable manner?'. This will ensure quality education for all students."

The Ministers noted that the commission will be guided by the following principles:

• sustain high quality, publicly funded education programming;

• ensure equity of student education opportunities across all school
divisions;

• ensure equity and fairness for all education property taxpayers;

• maintain or improve tax competitiveness in Saskatchewan;

• ensure fiscal sustainability for boards of education and the province;

• maintain or improve autonomy and ensure continued accountability of
boards of education; and

• improve tax fairness and simplicity of taxation administration in
Saskatchewan.

Mr. Boughen will determine the commission's consultation process, which will involve public hearings across the province and other methods to obtain a comprehensive perspective on the issues and potential solutions.

The commission will work closely with key stakeholders, such as the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan School Trustees Association and the provincial government.

The commissioner will present a full report to the Finance Minister and the Learning Minister by December 31, 2003.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jacquie McLean Learning Regina Phone: (306)787-5609 Email: jacquie.mclean@sasked.gov.sk.ca Cell: (306)535-2261