DIRECTIONS NEWSLETTER

Herbert School students presented a Drama Production of "Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine" by Michael Druce. Attendees commented that it was a very enjoyable production and the students did a great job performing. The Dessert Theatre events on June 4 and 5 were both sold out!

The Chinook Board of Education received a letter from the Terry Fox Foundation recognizing four Chinook schools for earning a spot in their categories among the Top Fundraising schools in Saskatchewan for 2025. Driven by Terry Fox’s courage and determination, the Terry Fox Foundation collaborates with and inspires people around the world to support and fundraise for bold, extraordinary research to end cancer.

Congratulations to Herbert School, Gull Lake School, Cabri School and O.M. Irwin School who raised a total of $35,333 for the foundation through their Terry Fox School Run events!

The 2026-2027 provincial budget announced in the spring included $2.5 billion in school operating funding for the 27 Saskatchewan school divisions, which is an increase of $62 million (2.6%) provincially. For Chinook, this translates to $94.36 million in operating grants, which is a 2.23% increase from last year.

The Chinook Board of Education has worked diligently over the past few years to manage costs, and this support from the province helps reduce the division’s projected operating deficit, bringing the expected shortfall of $2.4 million down to approximately $1.6 million.

Beyond general operations, several targeted grants will directly impact students, staff, and facilities this upcoming school year:

Specialized Classroom Support: $976,719 has been allocated specifically to enhance specialized support classrooms at Sidney Street School, Central School, and École Centennial School.

Mental Health Initiatives: A $220,000 provincial grant will fund the second year of the Mental Health Capacity Building initiative at Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

Inflation: $648,419 was provided to help offset rising inflationary costs for everyday essentials, including classroom school supplies, building operations, and student transportation.

Facilities: Chinook received $3 million in Preventative Maintenance and Renewal (PMR) funding ($11,000 increase) to keep our schools safe and well-maintained.

The Board is grateful to the Minister of Education and local MLAs for their strong advocacy and continued commitment to investing in education in Saskatchewan.

The Board of Education approved the awarding of a construction project tender to Carpell Surfaces for the synthetic running track repair, resurfacing and line markings work on the joint-use all-weather track at Swift Current Comprehensive High School. Approved by the Chinook Board of Education as part of their 3-year Preventative Maintenance and Repair (PMR) plan, the construction and resurfacing work is scheduled to take place this summer to minimize disruption to students and standard athletic seasons.

The all-weather track was installed at SCCHS in 2013 through a joint-use partnership between Chinook School Division and the City of Swift Current to develop and maintain an outdoor athletic facility for both school and public use.

The total cost of the project is $349,277, which includes the base construction cost of $298,385 plus related fees. In accordance with their partnership agreement, this cost will be shared 50/50 between Chinook School Division and the City of Swift Current.

According to consultants and industry experts, 12 to 15 years is the standard lifespan for a track surface before significant repairs are required. Having been installed 13 years ago, this project is aligned with normal infrastructure wear and maintenance timelines.

Several poplar trees on the west side of the track were removed in advance of the repair project, as their roots were spreading and causing structural damage to the track's asphalt foundation. New spruce trees, or another species with non-invasive root systems, will be planted to replace the poplars.

Representatives of the South West Athletic Conference (SWAC) attended the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association (SHSAA) held their AGM June 16-18, 2026 in Prince Albert. Members of the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association, SHSAA District Councils, Sask Sport, and high schools in the province are invited to attend. In addition to the AGM, events included the District Presidents’ Meeting, District Officials’ Commissioners Meeting, General Session Meetings, Awards and Elections. AGM details and additional information can be found on the SHSAA website.

Congratulations to the following SHSAA award winners from Chinook: Riley Zielke (Shaunavon) - 2026 Service Award; Rob Stewart (Maple Creek) - Outstanding Official; Corrie Scott (Maple Creek) - Outstanding Female Coach; Andrew Herrick (Swift Current) - Outstanding Male Coach; and Tracy Spence (Success) - SWAC Junior Service Award for 2026.

Sharie Sloman, CFO

The overall year to date revenue of $77.3 million is 63.8% of budget. Year to date expenditures for most areas including Governance, Administration, Instructional and Transportation are closely aligned with budget planning. Plant Operation and Maintenance costs are cyclical in nature dependent on weather and maintenance activity.

Overall, the year-to-date expenditures of $86.9 million are at 76.5% of budget. The operating deficit is currently higher than reported due to the majority of expenses being paid over ten months and funding provided over twelve months, however we expect the deficit to align with the budget at year end.

Over the past few years, several rural School Community Councils (SCCs) have inquired with the Chinook Board about an alternate school week calendar option, which would include several Fridays off within the school year with daily instructional minutes adjusted accordingly. In response, senior administration has gathered factual, operational, and academic data from peer divisions, such as Prairie South School Division, to serve as a resource for our communities.

By the end of this current school year, senior administration and board members will have presented this gathered information to all rural SCCs. These sessions provide an opportunity to review the data, clarify expectations, and answer questions from SCC members regarding both the information and the exploration process.

The choice to explore an alternate calendar is entirely a local, SCC-led process, not a division-mandated one. This information is being shared solely to ensure interested rural SCCs have the accurate facts needed to engage their communities, facilitate balanced discussions, and conduct local parent surveys.

For any rural SCC wishing to explore this option for the 2027-2028 school year, the local review, community consultation, and parent voting process must be completed by November 15, 2026. The information will then be reviewed by the Board of Education, who will conduct a final evaluation of the compiled community data and SCC exploration results to inform the formal decision-making process.

While the alternate school calendar pilot will focus on rural schools at this time, if any rural schools have the parent community support to move forward and the experience is positive, the division may be open for urban schools to consider a similar option in future years.

The Board also approved the schedule of fees and compensation related fees for the upcoming school year. The updated schedule of fees will be posted on the Board Policies section of the Chinook School Division website before the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.

The Board of Education conducts a self evaluation annually. Beginning in April, a consultant from the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) guided the Board through the evaluation process and reported on the outcomes.

The Board appreciates the SSBA's support in facilitating this review. The self evaluation provides a valuable opportunity for trustees to reflect inwardly and assess how effectively they govern together. Moving forward, the Board will use these results and discussions to drive continuous improvement.