By Pam Fedack
The Border Land School Division board’s executive leadership remains unchanged for another year following its annual reorganization meeting.
Trustees voted to return Steven Wiebe as chair and Mark Krahn as vice-chair with Albert Klassen as second vice-chair for the 2025–26 school year. All three held the same positions last year.
Wiebe said the continuity is part of a long-term plan the board put in place halfway through its four-year term.
“We purposely made a shift midway through the term so that more trustees could gain leadership experience,” he said.
“Keeping the same executive this year allows us to finish out the term with stability, and those of us running again will carry that experience forward into the next election.”
Wiebe explained the board’s approach to leadership succession was deliberate, especially as some long-serving trustees have already indicated they may not seek re-election in 2026.
“This way, newer leaders have time in these roles, and when the board changes after the election there’s some carryover,” he said.
Although the annual organizational meeting is required, Wiebe described it as more of a formality in years like this one.
“It doesn’t always mean a big shake-up,” he said. “This year, it’s essentially the same people in the same positions.”
With the executive team confirmed, the board’s attention now turns to its planning day at the end of October when the school trustees and senior administration will gather to review current goals and map out priorities for the year.
Wiebe said the agenda will cover several areas:
Board effectiveness – checking how trustees are functioning and identifying indicators of success.
Community engagement – asking what more can be done to connect with residents across the division.
Budget clarity – ensuring the public has an opportunity to understand and comment on the budget before it is finalized.
Provincial direction – reviewing the evolving provincial framework for learning and the Manitoba school leadership framework to ensure alignment.
Indigenous education – assessing how programs are working across different schools and what progress looks like.
“We want to make sure people understand our budget and have a chance to provide feedback,” Wiebe said. “And we also need to keep circling back to the division’s mission to make sure our policies and procedures fit well with it.”
Border Land spans a wide area of southern Manitoba, and Wiebe noted that needs can vary significantly from one community to the next. Trustees often bring those perspectives to the table through informal conversations with residents.
“People don’t hesitate to reach out if they have concerns,” he said. “Meetings are public, though they’re not heavily attended. It’s been quiet, which can mean we’re on the right track or people are satisfied with the direction.”
In the early part of the school year, the board also monitors enrolment and how schools are adjusting, and Wiebe stressed the importance of supporting schools without overburdening them.
“Schools are extremely busy places,” he said. “We want to avoid adding initiatives that create an undue burden. We’re fortunate to have strong senior administration, and we like the direction our schools are taking.”
Wiebe said the focus for the rest of the term is on steady governance and meaningful engagement.
“This year is about staying on track with the broad work we set out to do,” he said. “We’ll settle in, keep listening to our communities, and make sure we’re doing what we said we’d do.”
