Louis Riel School Division Invites Community Feedback Following Budget Meeting 

Jan. 22, 2026, Winnipeg, MB – The Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) is inviting staff, families, and community members to share their perspectives as planning continues for the 2026–27 operating budget, following a community budget meeting held yesterday evening. 

LRSD currently serves more than 17,400 students across 41 schools. While enrolment, student needs, and operating costs have increased significantly, funding—derived from a combination of provincial support, local property taxes, and other revenues—has not kept pace with inflation and the full cost of delivering public education. 

“The Board’s responsibility is to balance the needs of students with the community’s ability to fund public education,” said Sandy Nemeth, Chair of the LRSD Board of Trustees. “This process requires difficult conversations, and we believe those conversations are strongest when they are informed by community voice.” 

Budget Pressures and Trade-offs 

LRSD’s preliminary $281 million budget for 2026–27 maintains current staffing levels only and includes no additional staff. Even so, funding increases are required to cover unavoidable cost pressures such as wage and benefit increases tied to negotiated agreements, experience increments, inflation, and enrolment-driven demands. 

To help balance the budget, the Division has proposed reductions and deferrals in: 

•    Supplies and services 

•    Technology investments 

•    Maintenance of aging school buildings 

“The budget increase does not represent program expansion,” said Jamie Rudnicki, Secretary Treasurer and CFO. “It reflects the higher cost of delivering the same programs and supports, even as we reduce spending on supplies, services, and maintenance to manage overall costs.” 

Education remains largely a people-centred service, with over 80 per cent of LRSD’s budget dedicated to staffing. At the same time, one in five students now requires specialized learning, behavioural, mental health, or intensive supports, adding pressure to classrooms and schools. 

“Last night’s community meeting made it clear how deeply people care about their schools and the experiences of students and staff,” said Christian Michalik, Superintendent and CEO. “Their voices help guide both our budget planning and our advocacy for adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding.” 

Have Your Say 

LRSD encourages community members to complete the 2026–27 Budget Survey to share their priorities and feedback. The Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership will use survey responses to further inform budget discussions. 

The survey is available here. 

Drafting the 2026-27 Budget Community Meeting