More frequently than not, the news coming out of Pembina Hills Public Schools is negative: declining enrolments, transportation deficits, school closures or the firing of superintendents.
But this week, the front page of the Westlock News features a positive development coming out of PHPS — the creation of a “relocation incentive” for both new and existing staff.
Those staff members who move into the division’s geographic boundaries are now eligible for up to $2,500 for moving expenses, provided they show their receipts.
Alternatively, they can sign a declaration they have moved into the division and they will qualify for a taxable benefit as per the Canada Revenue Agency’s own rules.
There are many reasons why this is a good story. A lot of new teachers hail from urban centres; at the very least, they received their education in Edmonton, or Calgary.
Those new educators might be unwilling to move out to a small town, but if they’ve just come out of college, they might have heavy debts to contend with. A relocation incentive might be too passing to pass up.
And from the perspective of our local communities, we need new people coming into the division. Even if they don’t have children or aren’t planning to have an, they contribute to the local economy by buying groceries, gasoline, etc.
There are new positions opening across Pembina Hills as a result of natural attrition — staff retirements and such.
As well, the division is attempting to focus the operations of the Alberta Distance Learning Centre in Barrhead, so there are numerous positions opening there.
“Bah,” you grumble, “a mere $2,500 is peanuts! Certainly not enough to entice anyone to move somewhere!”
Well, obviously. A cash incentive, on its own, is not enough to lure anyone into a community that has outrageous housing prices or a lack of rental properties.
But it’s a new idea, and married to some other programs that our local municipalities might come up with, it might actually accomplish the feat of growing our small communities.
At the very least, it’s better than doing nothing.
