BSD needs to get the facts on St. Augustine funding

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/10/2023 (1068 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As was reported in the Sun yesterday, long-time Brandonite Heather Gillander is asking why St. Augustine School, a K-8 Catholic school located at the corner of Third Street and Lorne Avenue, receives funding through the public school system when she says it should be classified as a private school.

She recently told the Brandon school board of trustees that “I’m concerned that the discriminatory philosophy and actions of the Roman Catholic Church are inconsistent with the values of the Brandon School Division, and cause challenges and problems for our students.”

The school is one of 24 schools in the Brandon School Division, but appears to be the only religious school in the province that receives the same level of funding as public schools. Public schools are funded 100 per cent by taxpayer dollars, while private schools only receive 50 per cent of public funding.

Gillander wonders why St. Augustine is not an independent school and asked the trustees “are you willing to renegotiate the relationship so that they’re no longer a public school, but a private school? Why are we publicly funding those attitudes?”

No clear explanation has been offered as to why St. Augustine receives such a generous level of funding compared to other similar schools. In particular, we share the concern expressed by trustee Jim Murray who, at Monday’s board meeting, asked why St. Augustine is funded differently than Christian Heritage school in Brandon, or St. John’s Ravenscourt school in Winnipeg, which are each private schools.

We don’t know the answer to that question, but yesterday’s report revealed that an agreement was signed in 1968, by which three Catholic schools — Sacred Heart, St. Michael’s and St. Augustine — were integrated into the public-school program. Only St. Augustine is still operating as a school. According to board chairperson Linda Ross, the 55 year-old agreement between St. Augustine and the school board does not have an expiry date.

We also note that the agreement apparently contains provisions that require St. Augustine to adhere to the policies and procedures of the school division, but share Gillander’s concern as to whether that is occurring. In particular, we note Ross’s view that “I think the reason this has come to light is the group of people who are in favour of banning certain books and who are not particularly positive towards the LGBTQIA community, they are not formal representatives of St. Augustine, but many of them are affiliated with St. Augustine’s.”

BSD Board policy No. 1 states that “every child is entitled to a quality education, free from discrimination irrespective of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, physical/social/emotional/intellectual ability and beliefs.” It is unclear whether the school is currently following that policy.

We agree with Ross’s view that “it’s important that the board have a discussion with people from St. Augustine’s and with the Archdiocese… given the current state of events that this might be a time to have a review, or at least have a conversation,” but the possibility that a conversation between the board and representatives of the school might occur at some point in the future is not nearly enough in the circumstances.

Brandonites are entitled to answers, beginning with whether the funding received by St. Augustine is in compliance with applicable school funding rules. We are also entitled to know if the school is in full compliance with the wording, spirit and intent of BSD Board Policy No. 1. That is, are 2SLGBTQ+ students in the school welcomed and treated with same level of care and respect as other students?

These are issues that require a high level of transparency and accountability. For that reason, we urge the Brandon School board of trustees to move quickly to ascertain the facts, and to immediately share those facts with the public.

» The Brandon Sun