New elementary school, playground repairs atop Seven Oaks budget priority list

The Seven Oaks School Division has identified renovating playgrounds and opening a new elementary school as budget priorities for next year.

Senior administration released its $210-million blueprint for 2026-27 on Monday.

Secretary-treasurer Jennifer West said a 5.2 per cent increase in projected expenses is “almost entirely” related to staffing.

“We are aiming to maintain and improve our staffing ratios, maintain small class sizes and continue all of (our) existing programming,” West told a public meeting at the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre.

The draft budget’s highlights include hiring the full-time equivalent of 23 teachers, 40 educational assistants and three social workers.

If it is approved as is, each family of schools — Garden City, West Kildonan and Maples — will be assigned an extra social worker.

A total of $4.5 million is being earmarked to staff École Mino Pimatisiwin School, a dual-track building scheduled to open in Aurora at North Point in September.

The division is also creating a new fund to upgrade elementary school playgrounds, with an initial commitment of $200,000 in next year’s budget.

The province topped up funding for the division, which currently employs about 1,500 people working in 26 schools across north Winnipeg and West St. Paul, by 3.7 per cent.

In order to make up a shortfall, trustees are planning to increase taxes between 1.6 per cent and 2.6 per cent.

West described the impact on tax bills as “modest” for all property owners.

The owner of an average residence valued at $385,700 in Winnipeg is expected to see their annual school taxes decrease between $18 to $47.

In West St. Paul, a homeowner with a property assessed at $594,700 will see their bill climb between $26 and $70 annually.

All of those calculations take into account the province’s $1,600 rebate.

Superintendent Tony Kreml said multiple school leaders have come forward with concerns about deteriorating playground infrastructure.

“These are fundamental features of our schools and support physical activity,” Kreml said.

Senior administration will undertake an audit of elementary schools to figure out where to begin, he said.

About two dozen people braved an evening snowstorm to attend the division’s in-person budget presentation.

The crowd was briefed on inflationary pressures and ongoing challenges related to the small size of the community’s commercial tax base compared to other divisions.

At the same time, attendees were assured that trustees are committed to funding existing programs, ranging from a learn-to-skate initiative to bussing students in kindergarten to Grade 8.

Kreml said the board of trustees is keen to ensure lunch supervision, musical instrument rentals and field trips remain free.

The superintendent noted that three central themes came out of recent community consultations about area residents’ spending priorities.

Families identified the importance of appropriate staffing ratios, student well-being and school transportation services.

An online survey circulated in January attracted 523 respondents.

“By far, this was the most significant community engagement that we have had as a school division,” Kreml said.

Enrolment is expected to grow to 12,650, representing about 175 new students, next year.

Kreml revealed Monday the board is actively lobbying the province to fund a new high school in Highland Pointe, a growing development in northwest Winnipeg.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca