Western School Division continues to press the provincial government on its need for more capital projects and school space in Morden.
Following the division’s presentation of its draft budget for the 2026-27 school year last week, the capital needs were addressed in the question and answer session.
Touching on the division’s needs for more space, board chairperson Darcy Wolfe noted their five-year capital plan emphasizes the need not only for a second high school but also an expansion of the new École Discovery Trails school as well.
The division had long had two new schools on the capital plan, Wolfe noted, and Discovery Trails only partially addressed the need as it opened at near-capacity.
“They always talk about how tight things are,” he said of their discussions with provincial representatives. “Everybody’s asking for money, and we are no different.
Wolfe said they have had lots of discussions with the province, and they had an opportunity a couple months ago to meet with a deputy minister of education.
“We have spoken with people in government … we have been for years … and we’ve been talking with the city whenever they have the opportunity to talk to people in government that we may not have access to.
“I think conversations are going well,” he said, adding they recently had the chance to connect with the Education Minister Renee Cable on a tour of Red River Technical Vocational Area program sites a few weeks ago.
“She was very receptive to the needs of Western School Division,” Wolfe said. “They are familiar with our area, and they know what’s going on here, and we repeat it to them as many times as we can … we plead the case.”
Wolfe said they will continue to reach out to the province as much and as often as they can, and he added it is helpful for their case to be made to the province by multiple sources.
“Having that voice come from other directions can always make a difference,” he suggested.
—Lorne Stelmach
