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UPDATE: NDP government reverses PC education cuts; $7.5 million to local school boards

(Photo Supplied: Rachel Notley sworn in as Alberta’s 17th premier. May 24, 2015. Rachel Notley/TWITTER)

Newly elected Premier Rachel Notley is coming through on a campaign promise.

She announced that the government will reverse the PC education cuts and allocate $103 million dollars to the education budget.

“Sufficient to ensure that our school boards can meet their obligations and ensure that every student in Alberta is getting the help and attention and the education they need in our schools,” said Notley after a cabinet meeting in Calgary today. “This is one of our most election commitments and I’m pleased we are able to keep it.”

Funding is expected to help districts deal with a 12,000 influx of new students expected to arrive at Alberta’s schools this fall.

The Fort McMurray Public School District (FMPSD) is projected to get an additional $3.3 million in funding thanks to the changes.

“I’m surprised it came so quickly, delighted that it did because it certainly takes some of the stress that came with those cuts out of the equation,” said Jeffrey Thompson, FMPSD Chair. “It will certainly help us as a district to get closer to a balanced budget.”

Thompson says his district is expecting a small increase in enrolment in 2015 mostly due to the drop in the price of oil.

The Fort McMurray Catholic School District (FMCSD) will get a bit of a bigger boost totalling just under $4.2 million.

“It’s an excellent day in education across the province and for our children here in Fort McMurray,” said Tracy McKinnon, Chair of the Fort McMurray Catholic School District. “It’s definitely the numbers we were looking for we joined the 19 boards to advocate for our students and our district for funding for the enrolment growth.”

McKinnon notes that the board is expecting an enrolment growth around six per cent for this fall.

Alberta’s School Boards need to file their budgets to the province by Jun. 30.