Public funding for the territory’s three Catholic schools has been a major topic of debate this spring sitting since Yukon NDP Leader Kate White took a stance on defunding them The Yukon government’s Education department has disclosed how much it spent on Yukon Catholic schools in 2023-24: a total of $16.9 million across three schools. The department also provided the actual spending on three similar sized non-Catholic schools to show how public schools across the territory are funded, in their words, “fairly and consistently, in line with long-established practices.” The cost per student ranges from $16,377 at Christ the King Elementary School, where 366 students attended, to $21,911 at Holy Family Elementary School, which had 179 students enroled. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Secondary School had 409 students at a cost of $17,111 per student. Two chaplains provided by the Catholic Diocese to “support religious education and offer spiritual guidance” are fully paid for by the Catholic Diocese, according to the department. Education Minister Jeanie McLean had indicated she was happy to share this information with the News but didn’t have it handy back in late March. The data was released to the News in late April by the department, ahead of a mid-May deadline to release the information under access-to-information, commonly known as ATIPP, law. Publicly funding Catholic schools has been a key item for debate at the legislature this spring since Yukon NDP Leader Kate White took a stance: defund Yukon Catholic schools. The Education department’s total estimated budget is $282 million for all schools and education-related spending in 2024-25. Public school spending is determined using a formula-driven approach, department spokesperson Michael Edwards said by email. The actual costs vary based on factors outside enrolment: the size of the school and the grades it teaches since different funding levels exist for different grades, utility costs and vacancies in non-instructional positions. With funding allocated by school authority, the Yukon government’s budget doesn’t break down spending by individual school or by Catholic versus non-Catholic schools, per Edwards. Catholic schools fall under Yukon Education as opposed to the First Nation School Board or the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon, the French school board. Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
Yukon Catholic schools cost Education department $16.9M in 2023-24
