More frequently than not, the news coming out of Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS) is negative: declining enrolments, funding cuts, school closures or the firing of superintendents.
But during the May 23 board meeting, trustees reviewed a new initiative that can only be a positive development for our communities and Pembina Hills — the creation of a “relocation incentive” for both new and existing staff.
As part of the incentive, staff members who move into the division’s geographic boundaries are eligible for either a cash reimbursement of up to $2,500 for moving expenses (provided they show receipts) or a break on their taxes (if they sign a declaration they have moved).
The reasons for offering this incentive are numerous. From an educational perspective, it’s just a good idea to have teachers and support staff actually live in the communities they work in, as it’s less likely they won’t be able to get to work because of bad weather.
But more importantly, we need to grow our small communities to sustain our small schools. Even if a new staff member doesn’t have any children, they’re still contributing to our local economy by paying taxes, buying goods, etc.
“Does $2,500 really make much difference, though?” Well, it depends. If there’s no housing in a community, no amount of cash is going to entice someone to live there, right?
But let’s say you’re a new teacher educated in Edmonton, and you’re reluctant and unwilling to move out to a small town even though you got a job at, say, Barrhead Elementary.
On the other hand, you have heavy debts to contend with, and you’re subsisting on Ramen noodles. If the division offers you $2,500 to rent an apartment in Barrhead — which will also save you the money you’d spend on commuting — the offer might be too tempting to pass up.
It’s a good idea, so much so that Woodlands County mayor Jim Rennie during his councillor report proposed adding another $2,500 on top of the incentive if Pembina Hills employees move out to their county. (Specifically, Fort Assiniboine, where there are a number of properties for sale and places to rent.)
This could potentially be very good for our small communities. There are new positions opening across Pembina Hills as a result of natural attrition — staff retirements and such — and Pembina Hills is pushing to focus the operations of the Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC) in Barrhead, so there are new positions opening up there as well.
But even if it has zero impact … hey, at least it’s a new idea. We desperately need those if we want to keep the doors of our small schools open … and by extension, our communities.
