ST. PAUL – St. Paul Education balanced its 2025-26 school year budget despite challenges like reduced federal funding, declining enrolment, and inflation.
The board is budgeting $60 million in revenue, up by around $1.5 million from last year. The increase in revenue, for the most part, is due to the projected increase in provincial funding, from $46.1 million to $48.4 million.
However, federal funding is projected to decrease by $1 million, from $10.1 million to $9.1 million in the next school year.
Rising costs across the board
While revenue is projected to go up, so are the overall expenses, leaving no room for any surplus, as St. Paul Education is also projecting $60 million in expenses next year.
The division’s budget report indicates expenses are going up across the board. Classroom instruction costs for Grades 1 to 12 will rise to about $42.2 million from $41.1 million, while the number of students is projected to decrease from 2,727 to 2,708.
Transportation costs are also projected to climb from $3.5 million to $3.9 million, with operations and maintenance costs expected to increase by $400,000 from $9 million to $9.4 million.
Jordan’s Principle
St. Paul Education is also expecting not to receive any funding from Jordan’s Principle next year, which could result to the loss of 13 educational assistants throughout the division.
Jordan’s Principle is a federal program created “to make sure that First Nations children do not face gaps, delays, or denials in accessing government services because of their identity as First Nations children,” according to information from the Government of Canada.
“Unfortunately . . . there are decisions that are out of our hands,” St. Paul Education Board of Trustees Chair Sylvie Smyl told Lakeland This Week regarding the loss of Jordan’s Principle. “So, we make the best of what we have.”
The loss of Jordan’s Principle would require the “reduction of educational assistants” to maintain a balanced budget, reads the school division’s 2025-26 Budget Report, suggesting the number of education assistants decrease from 117 to 104 next year.
Instruction expenses for Early Childhood Services (ECS) are also notably going down from $1.9 million to $1.46 million next year. Although, the projected decrease in the number of total enrolled ECS students is minimal, from 235 to 223 students.
Education Plan
Despite challenges, Smyl said she is glad the division was able to project a balanced budget next year. “We are grateful for the work that continues to be done within our division,” she said.
Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne said despite the loss of Jordan’s Principle funding, declining enrolment, inflation, and other challenges, “the Division remains committed to advancing the priorities outlined in the Education Plan,” referring to the division’s 2025-2029 Four Year Education Plan.
These priorities include the continued building of relationships among students, parents, guardians, and the broader community including Indigenous partners.
Improving educational outcomes in core subjects is also a priority, which would involve improving literacy and numeracy outcomes through targeted professional learning.
