REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is endorsing the Regina Public Schools 10-Year Renewal Plan and is urging its full implementation.

"The school board has done its homework," said CTF Saskatchewan Director Lee Harding. "This plan is reasonable and facilitates better schooling in a fiscally responsible way. The savings on buildings and transportation are significant."

"Under the 10-year-renewal plan, mill rates would increase just 0.87% each year. This commitment means ratepayers can expect predictability and hold the school board accountable for an entire decade," said Harding. "Without this plan, unsustainable schools will be propped up indefinitely with a hefty price tag: $69 million extra for buildings alone."

"Parents and students themselves have already tipped the school board's hand," said Harding. "Aged Herchmer School has just 146 students, and 166 have left its school boundaries to attend elsewhere. Stewart Russell has just 94 students, and 104 from its area have left for other schools. In-migration has been low, and alternatives are a short walk away."

"As for Robert Usher, its attendance has dropped from 512 in 1999 to just 382 today. In 2006, 98 came from other districts to attend, but 250 in the Usher area spurned the school. Attendance is expected to slide to 277 by 2018. Even now, Usher requires two extra teachers than normal for its school size, and these costs will only increase. No demographic miracle will reverse this."

"The CTF supported the renewal plan two years ago and was disappointed the board didn't move forward. The latest version is backed up by even better research and consultation, and has the CTF's full support. We call on the school board to stand firm and follow through with its plans that will benefit students and ratepayers alike."