Prairie Rose School Division (PRSD) trustees approved more than $2.1 million in monthly expenditures and advanced a proposed five-year capital plan during their April 20 board meeting, while also addressing staffing updates and ongoing provincial education developments.
PRSD superintendent Kevin Clace explained divisions update their five-year capital plans annually with the Manitoba Capital Project Planning and Delivery Branch to identify large-scale capital needs.
“Prairie Rose School Division has benefited extensively over the past two years from approved capital plans totalling more than $10 million,” Clace said. “These projects have included the Carman Collegiate roof replacement, St. Laurent School boiler replacement, St. François Xavier HVAC upgrade and the Elm Creek science lab renewal.”
Top priorities in the 2027 to 2031 capital plan submission include a new gymnasium for Elm Creek School, envelope replacement and improved accessibility at École St. Eustache, a Miami School science lab upgrade, a Roland School roof replacement, a Carman Collegiate power mechanics and welding shop renovation, and construction of hygiene and life-skills rooms in several schools.
The board also received a personnel and staffing report welcoming several new hires, including Jack Phillips and Fraser Mirrlees as term classroom teachers at Carman Collegiate, and Samantha Kopp as an educational assistant at Miami School.
Clace said rural divisions face staffing challenges, particularly in recruiting teachers and French immersion staff. He added the division is exploring a partnership with the University of Winnipeg to provide educational assistants with opportunities to complete a bachelor of education and become certified teachers.
Trustees approved a request from the Prairie Rose Teachers’ Association to second its president, Melissa Benner, from the division on a 0.5 full-time equivalent basis for the 2026–27 school year.
Benner will represent the association at the provincial level with the Manitoba Teachers’ Association as part of the annual secondment outlined in the collective agreement. There will be no impact on school staffing, and the association will reimburse the division for all salary and benefit costs. Details of the release time will be finalized between division administration and school leadership.
Senior administration also presented the superintendent and chief executive officer’s activity report, along with updates on recent provincial communications.
Items shared with trustees included a Manitoba K-12 data dashboard enrolment update, an Education Week proclamation for April 13 to 17, a report from the commissioner of teacher professional conduct, and notice that the Manitoba Teachers’ Society has opened provincial bargaining.
“The division no longer negotiates directly with Manitoba Teachers’ Society to establish a collective agreement,” Clace said. “The Manitoba School Boards Association is the employer representative for provincial bargaining.” He added the letter from the society was shared as information only.
Trustees were also informed of an upcoming off-site activity involving Miami School students.
The school received approval for a year-end outdoor education canoe trip at Caddy Lake, scheduled for June 18 to 21. The trip will include 13 students, three staff supervisors and one volunteer.
The field trip is organized through the outdoor education course, providing students with opportunities to learn skills outside the classroom. To receive credit, students must complete an outdoor camping or educational experience in a safe and supervised setting.
