1,152 Teachers 685 Educational Assistants 339 Non-Teaching Support Staff 78 Principals & Vice-Principals 68 School & Classroom Support Team Includes Clinical, Instructional, and Indigenous Support Teams 58 Board Office Staff 9 Trustees TOTAL STAFF 2,401 FTE THE 2026-2027 BUDGET REFLECTS: WHAT DOES THIS BUDGET MEAN FOR PROPERTY OWNERS? Based on an average home in LRSD valued at: $423,300 Results in a property tax increase of: 9.99% or $153.60 a year ($12.80 a month or $0.42 a day) What our community told us matters most — class size, supports, mental health, safety, inclusion, and transparency. Careful, student-centred decision-making that protects what happens in classrooms. Realistic and responsible financial planning, even in a challenging funding environment. Ensures reductions focus on non-classroom areas, to respond to calls for greater restraint in administrative budgets. Long-term thinking, guided by LRSD’s values and commitment to every student’s success. 13 YEAR OVER YEAR BUDGET CHANGE 2026-27 2025-26 Difference Change Wages & Benefits 242,101,959 228,471,396 13,630,563 5.97% Operating 39,629,383 45,333,750 5,704,367 -12.58% Total 281,731,342 273,805,146 7,926,196 2.89% Projected Enrolment 17,570 17,793 -223 -1.08% % “Our responsibility is to steward public dollars carefully while responding to growing student needs,” said Jamie Rudnicki, secretary‑treasurer & chief financial officer. “This budget stabilizes LRSD’s financial position and ensures resources remain focused on classrooms and student supports, while we continue advocating for long‑term solutions to infrastructure pressures.” The approved budget incorporates substantial community feedback collected via LRSD’s Budget and Strategic Priorities Survey. Respondents consistently identified priorities including class size and composition, student support services, mental health and well-being, and issues related to aging infrastructure. “This budget reflects the voices we heard from families, staff, students, and community members,” said Sandy Nemeth, chair of the LRSD Board of Trustees. “The Board worked to balance affordability for taxpayers with the need to maintain safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for students. It is regrettable that for another year, we are deferring infrastructure improvements; however, classroom and student needs must come first.” Budgetary decisions were implemented throughout all areas of the organization, with an emphasis on preserving classroom size and student support services. Trustees emphasized that inflation, increasing enrolment, years of austerity by previous governments, and binding contractual obligations are contributing to ongoing and increasing financial strain. “Our community was clear: students need support, classrooms need stability, and schools need to be safe and welcoming places,” said Christian Michalik, superintendent & CEO. “This budget reflects those priorities while continuing our commitments to equity, reconciliation, and student well-being, even in a challenging fiscal context.” The budget prioritizes core classroom support while maintaining essential system‑wide services and investments in student learning and well-being. Cost reductions, deferrals, and efficiencies were used to arrive at a balanced budget that includes the elimination of the accumulated deficit.
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