Due to an influx of students with special education needs in Wolf Creek Public Schools, the Alberta School Boards Association has approved the hiring of seven full time educational assistants to support that increase.

Superintendent Jayson Lovell says he knew they needed to do something once the number of special need students came in at the start of the school year.

“We had the Board of Trustees (Alberta School Board Association) apprised of the situation, they certainly understood the numbers and the concerns that we have around providing adequate programing, and deciding to allocate 7 additional Education Assistants, to support those additional students.  

Lovell says it’s normal for student numbers to fluctuate year to year, but didn't realize how many special educations students there would be.

He says they always try to provide each student with adequate resources and support.

“But with a 25% increase in that particular population, it was certainly surprising opening for us, and it has challenged the board and senior administration to provide the best possible programming and set those students up for success for the year.”

That 25% increase equates to about 80 additional special education students.

He says the model for funding for special education students is based on a profile determined by the board, not by the actual number of students.

Wolf Creek will also be compiling data about the increase in special education students, to present to the Alberta School Boards Association for a profile review.

Wolf Creek currently spends 7 million dollars more annually on inclusion programs than what is received from the province.