Julie Van Kommer

The committee reviewed safety checklists and inspection forms across various school division facilities, noting specific maintenance needs for the bus garage and fire extinguishers in the metal shop. The discussion included a review of recent student and staff accident incident reports, as well as the status of violent incident reports and the implementation of investigation and support procedures. Additionally, the committee established a policy to ensure visibility of outstanding safety items by maintaining them on checklists until resolved.

The Board approved the 2026-27 budgeted expenditures, which include a net staff reduction, wage and harmonization increases, capital reserve contributions, and allocations for required accessibility and security building changes. Additionally, the Board established the 2026 special levy and authorized the purchase of two 71-passenger school buses through the provincial bus tender process to advance the division's bus replacement plan.

This document outlines a multi-year bus replacement plan, detailing projected bus purchases, estimated costs, annual contributions, and reserve balances from the fiscal year 2025/26 through 2044/45. The plan incorporates annual inflation and cost increase factors, and includes notes on fleet size composition and cost calculation methodologies.

The meeting addressed confidential reports from the Superintendent and Secretary-Treasurer, covering topics such as student suspensions, staff updates, superintendent evaluation, provincial bus tender, and budget preparations for 2026-27. Key business included the approval of Policy J.R. concerning Patriotic Observances and Land Acknowledgements. Business reports involved accepting several staff resignations, approving two requests for maternity/parental leave, and approving the lowest quotations for the 2026/27 bulk purchase of technology equipment. Information items discussed budget challenges, including a funding increase of 1.9% versus cost increases of 6.2%, and updates on the Neepawa Middle School Classroom Addition. Resolutions formally approved the agenda, expenditures totaling $2,593,600.40, the new policy, the two maternity/parental leaves, the January 31, 2026 financial reports, and the technology purchase contracts.

Key discussions and actions taken during the meeting included the approval of the agenda and the acceptance of confidential reports concerning superintendent and secretary-treasurer matters, such as leave requests, budget briefings, and tender preparations. Business items covered the employment of three new teachers and one custodian, approval for several out-of-division and within-division school of choice requests, approval for leave requests, acceptance of a resignation, and a donation to the Western Manitoba Science Fair. New business involved the first reading of Policy J.R. regarding patriotic observances and land acknowledgements. Information reports noted the 1.9% provincial funding increase, which falls short of covering rising costs, indicating future staffing reductions and tax increases, and provided an update on the Neepawa Middle School Classroom Addition project.