Virtual Budget Meeting—Q&A and PowerPoint (Jan. 29, 2026)
On January 29, 2026, the Board of Trustees held its first virtual Budget Meeting to provide insight into our budget preparations and considerations for the 2026–27 school year.
Attendees were provided an opportunity to ask budget-related questions during the event. In the spirit of open, transparent, and honest communication with our public, below you will find responses to the questions posed, as well as the PowerPoint presentation that was shared (see bottom of this page).
Funding
1. What has the Board done to advocate for more funding?
Trustees have made numerous presentations to current MLAs including the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning and we welcome those continued conversations about a funding announcement that is fair and equitable for our school division.
It takes the continued advocacy not only from us, as your elected representatives, but also from you, the community members. Please consider reaching out to your MLAs to let them know that public education matters to you and that public education in RETSD needs to be fairly funded through an equitable funding formula.
2. Why has it been so difficult to get a more equitable funding model?
It requires political will to change the funding formula. The Board of Trustees has made numerous presentations to MLAs, both current and past, along with Ministers of Education and Early Childhood Learning. We remain committed to providing them with even more information, if they require it.
We implore the provincial government to review the funding formula to make it more equitable for all divisions in this province, but most notably for RETSD and our taxpayers in this vibrant, growing community.
3. What does funding per student look like in RETSD and across Manitoba?
Information about funding across the province can be found on the Province of Manitoba’s website Finance and Statistics | Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning, which is the reporting framework that all school divisions are required to use. Here, you can find details on budgets, audited financial statements, cost per pupil, and enrolment.
4. Do you know yet how much of an increase we will see in our education taxes?
Not currently. We're still waiting for the funding announcement. Once we know what that is, we can do an analysis of its impact on RETSD. Please join RETSD for our second budget meeting which will be held at the end of February or beginning of March where that impact will be shared.
Programming
5. Will a certain portion of the budget be put aside for the necessary items needed for the new school and will that have an impact on more immediate needs?
The Board of Trustees has engaged very responsibly in setting aside funds to address the needs of starting up a new school. We continue to be in discussion with the Province of Manitoba to determine what of the new school building will be covered by the province. At the same time, senior administration is gathering information and keeping the Board of Trustees informed as we build a comprehensive view of what is required.
6. Given the financial situation the division has been in the last few years, what type of innovations have you been able to do?
In RETSD, we think carefully about how funding is allocated across the school division, but that has not stopped RETSD from offering incredible programming instruction for our students across early years, middle years and seniors.
We have improved the equity of access for programming in senior year schools, such as the process around technical vocational, STEAM, and advanced placement programming so students from all six schools can access them.
In middle years, we have moved to include applied technology courses in French, and we have also expanded our substance use counsellors to middle years in a partnership with Shared Health to support students at even younger ages. We have also started an online option for students who require support for their mental health in middle years.
Additionally, through a partnership with St. Boniface Hospital and elders in our community, we introduced an Indigenous internship where students receive hands‐on experience in various medical disciplines. This has allowed students to explore career options, and for the school division and hospital to come together to support the potential next generation of healthcare workers.
In our early year schools, there has been a focus on early numeracy, including divisional support teachers who work alongside classroom teachers. We have also thoughtfully implemented an early reading screener in pilot schools in preparation for full system roll out next year.
Across our schools, we are implementing with fidelity new curriculum from the province. Without additional funding for this implementation, we have engaged in innovative learning to support teachers.
7. With the increase in enrolment, will there be money put aside for additional resources (buses, teachers, computers, etc.)?
The Board of Trustees has had to make some very tough decisions during the period of the 2% tax cap, as there were significant cuts to the budget during those years. Now that school divisions have the ability to tax again, we've been able to create a long-term plan to purchase school buses and refresh our fleet. It’s the same with technology like computers, iPads, and servers; we have a refresh cycle of four or five years.
The budget is based on projected enrolment for the following year. However, the division is still in recovery mode due to the years of the taxation cap and significant enrolment increases.
