Coffee shop discussion around Saskatchewan continues to be the fallout from the provincial budget announced on March 22.

In education, funding was cut by 1.2% - however, the numbers run deeper according to Director of Education for the Horizon School Division, Kevin Garinger.

"When you look at that in comparison to their fiscal period and our fiscal period, the actual impact is closer to $54 million," he explained. "The impact of the budget on Horizon School Division at this point, we're looking at $3 million, or 3.7 percent."

The government fiscal year is set up for April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, while school divisions are set up to operate from September 1 to August 31.

Garinger says that the reduction poses a challenge for Horizon, but they have already begun working towards finding solutions across the division.

"The work of administration right now is to ensure that we provide as much information as possible regarding options for the board and for them to consider," he said. "We will make sure we continue our important work that way, so we can give them the best information for them to make the best decisions possible."

Also announced on budget day, was the resolution to public consultations held by the province regarding the state of school boards.

Many were wondering if the 28 school boards would be reduced to one provincial board, much like the upcoming changes to the health authority.

That was not the case, as the government announced things would - for the most part - remain neutral.

"They recognize the importance of having locally elected school boards and officials. I think that is the best situation we can have for education," said Garinger of the decision to retain local boards. "The question now is what is going to happen with the review that will be ongoing related to the boundary. Looking at boundaries and redrawing lines that may still come to fruition."

Garinger noted the importance of being able to have a local ear to turn to as a priority for keeping school boards intact.

"We need to hear from our communities and our stakeholders and allow that vision and mission that our boards have to be lived through the work of directors and their staff," he noted. "I can't speak enough to the importance of the work that the boards of education do in governing the school divisions within Saskatchewan."

At their monthly meeting of trustees in February, the board set aside April 25 as their day to meet on the division's budget.

You can hear more from Garinger below.