After a relaxing break from the classroom, staff and administrators across Border Land School Division (BLSD) are gearing up for another busy school year.
Superintendent Krista Curry says preparation includes a few upgrades at many of the division’s 17 schools.
“Each summer we always have a list of painting, roofing, and flooring projects. There were some classroom renovations, and the BLSD Tech Building has been renovated to accommodate the Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA) staff whose offices were lost with the building of the new daycare.”
In terms of staffing for the upcoming year, Curry notes they have three new people joining their school administration team this fall, either through a change of position or new to a position.
This includes Jennifer Collette, who will be taking on the role of principal at Roseau Valley School (RVS) this year while Jason Mateychuk is on a one-year leave of absence. Kerry Peterson will move into the role of vice-principal at RVS.
Hal Lavery is the new vice-principal at Shevchenko School, and Erin Waldner will be the teaching principal at Ridgeville Colony School.
“We also had 20 retirees this year in all areas of the division, representing 450 years of service,” Curry adds. “We’re so thankful to those who retired for all their years of service.”
Meanwhile, the division has hired their complement of new teachers for the 2024/25 school year.
“Support staff hiring is ongoing, so we encourage anyone looking to watch our website for information,” Curry says.
As far as enrollment goes, Curry says at this point, the numbers are at par with where they were last year, with a full-time equivalent enrollment of 2,100 students across the division.
“We will know more when the first week of school is over if we have more or less, based on transfers in or those who may have moved away.”
Due to the first-ever collective agreement with public teachers in all 37 school divisions, Manitoba teachers can anticipate increased wages this year.
The agreement is a four-year term dating back to July 1, 2022, and will be in place until June 30, 2026. Teachers will receive a 12.25 per cent wage increase – 2.25 per cent for 2022-23, 2.75 per cent for 2023-24, three per cent for 2024-25, and three per cent for 2025-26.
The final year also includes a one percent teacher retention adjustment increase.
Other changes coming with the new agreement include a new salary schedule for the 2026-27 school year, better teacher protections and paid leave for inclement weather, more prep time for teachers, and more options to take leaves of absence.
Curry says while BLSD has not officially received all the details on the new agreement, they are planning around what they do know.
“There are increases to general wages and other benefits in the agreements that have costs associated with them. We are sorting all the details and look forward to hearing the funding announcement from the province in January to see if and how they are going to support local school divisions financially to support the new provincial agreement.”
Curry is excited about the coming year.
“It is always a new beginning that allows staff and students to have a fresh new start in a new grade, with new classmates and new extra and co-curricular opportunities. There is always a positive buzz when the year begins and that brings energy. That is where we like to focus on our energies.”
Students return to class next week.
