BARRHEAD – The Pembina Hills School Division will eliminate more than 20 staff positions as it contends with a $4.5 million decline in funding for the 2025/2026 school year.
The decrease includes a $2.7 million cut to base grant funding and the loss of $2.1 million in COVID-related funds. The reductions are the result of updated enrolment projections, changes to provincial grant formulas, and expiring one-time revenues.
“This has been a very challenging budget,” said secretary-treasurer Heather Nanninga during her May 21 presentation to the school board. She said she's explored multiple options for additional funding but doesn’t expect more support from the province.
To manage the shortfall, the division will cut about 14 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for certified school-based staff, and another eight FTEs for non-certified staff. These represent workforce reductions of roughly seven and eight per cent, respectively.
Still, no schools will be closed, no new schools will be opened, and major operational changes have been avoided. The division expects stable enrolment and plans to balance the budget.
Projected revenue for the year is $66 million, down from $70 million in 2024/2025. Certified staff salaries and benefits will make up about 48 per cent of expenses, while non-certified salaries and benefits will account for 27 per cent. Another 20 per cent will go to services, contracts and supplies, and five per cent to capital amortization.
Teacher salaries will rise by an average of $735 due to step increases and benefit changes. Support staff wages will rise by about 35 cents per hour.
The budget also includes service delivery adjustments. Counselling will shift from certified teachers to Success Coaches. The division will reduce professional and contract support roles, including psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and school family advocates. However, positions for FNMI liaisons, occupational therapists, therapy assistants, and EA mentors will remain unchanged.
Transportation funding will fall to $5.6 million following a change in eligibility, which now only covers students living more than 1.6 kilometres from school. The division will receive additional grants to help offset fuel costs and driver training. Five new buses have been ordered.
Facilities funding will rise to $4.6 million, up 6.5 per cent. The Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal grant will increase by nearly 19 per cent to $637,000, and the Capital Maintenance and Renewal grant will also grow by 19 per cent to $814,000.
The division will transfer $50,000 from administrative funding into education. School Board and System Administration expenses are budgeted at $2.6 million, including $376,000 for board trustee costs.
Reserves are projected to run a deficit of about $490,000.
During the board meeting, trustees also held a conference call with Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland MLA Shane Getson, seeking his help in lobbying the province for more base funding.
