Rachel Notley extends school boards budget deadline by one month

Premier-designate Rachel Notleyhas extended the school budget deadline by a month, until the end of June, to give her government time to live up to its promise of funding school enrolment properly.

• Alberta school trustees demand government reinstate funding

The announcement was part of a brief media availability on Tuesday with Notley.

"Our government was elected on a commitmentto fund enrolment growth, and this extension of their budget deadline will permit us to act on this matter," she said.

Notley said her caucus met Saturdayand decided the school boards needed direction immediately.

"We knew timing is tight and decisions have to be made for September."

Notley also mentioned that she had a "pleasant" meeting with outgoing premier Jim Prentice at Government House.

"He offered me insight and advice, both of which were very valuable," she said.

Notley offered no timeline on when she will announce her cabinet but did announce she will keep the current head of the Alberta public service, Richard Dicerni, in his job as the deputy minister for the Executive Council.

"Richard Dicerni has a distinguished record of public service under Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic governments. He will provide our province's public service with the non-partisan, professional leadership our province needs," Notleysaid in a release.

Notley also announced that Brian Topp, a formercandidate for the federal leadership of the NDP,will serve as chief of staff. Topponceserved asSaskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow's chief of staff.