DIRECTIONS NEWSLETTER

What an unforgettable Chinook Music Week brought to you by MCAC (Music Curriculum Advisory Committee)! A huge thank you to Marlene Hinz for bringing her passion, energy, and deep knowledge of world drumming across our division. Thank you to all the students, teachers, and school staff who participated and made this week such a vibrant success. Check out some of our favorite moments from across the division!

Presented by Angela Hermanson, Director of Education

As of September 30, 2026, Chinook has 6,095 students. This is an increase of 26 students from 6,069 students in 2025-2026 and is 14 less than the projected enrollment for this school year.

Of the 6,095, 5,278 students are in public schools, 561 are Hutterite colony students and 256 students are enrolled in Home Based Education. There are 58 less public school students, 39 more Hutterite colony students and 45 more Home Based Education students than last year.

As outlined in Chinook Board Policy 14 - Viability of Schools, School Closure, Consolidation and Discontinuance of Grades, the Chinook Board of Education passed a motion that a school review of Tompkins School will be undertaken, in accordance with The School Division Administration Regulations of Saskatchewan. Tompkins School is currently at 10 students, with enrollment projected to decrease in the coming years. The Chinook School Division benchmark for a K-5 school is 18 students and the provincial benchmark is 30 students.

The review process ensures that the community has an opportunity for input before any decisions are considered. More details about the school review process, including timelines and opportunities for community input, will be posted on the Chinook School Division website as they are available. A School Review Committee will be formed to begin the review process, which consists of members of the school community council, representatives of local government, community members, and in some situations representative(s) of local First Nation(s).

Presented by Sharie Sloman, Chief Financial Officer

The Chinook Board of Education has approved contract awards for the first stage of the multi-phase modernization project at Swift Current Comprehensive High School (SCCHS). This initial phase focuses on essential mechanical, electrical, and building code upgrades, alongside site preparation and safety controls. Competitive bidding through SaskTenders yielded strong results, bringing the costs for this initial stage in under budget:

• Original Estimate: $12,694,472
• Approved Bid Total: $11,551,872
• Cost Savings: $1,142,600 (approximately 9% below budget)

These savings lower the overall projected cost for the four-phase modernization project from $35.79 million down to approximately $34.65 million.

The trade contracts awarded for this phase are:

• Mechanical: Pow City Mechanical
• Electrical: Riverside Electric Ltd.
• Masonry: Brxton Masonry Inc.
• Ceilings & Drywall: Legacee Builders Inc.
• Doors & Frames: Access SMT Holdings Ltd.
• Painting: Deco Interiors Ltd.
• Demolition, General Conditions and Site Management: Quorex Construction

Work will begin promptly to improve building efficiency and ensure a safe, comfortable learning environment for students and staff.

Presented by Sharie Sloman, Chief Financial Officer

As the Chinook Board of Education continues to move forward with the rebuild of Stewart Valley School, the Board has approved construction contract recommendations following a competitive public tender process managed by Quorex Construction and advertised on SaskTenders.

Securing these trade contractors marks a major milestone toward bringing local students back to their school in Stewart Valley. The awarded trade contractor prices total $5,867,313 (excluding taxes). While there are additional costs associated with the overall rebuild project beyond this specific tender package, these awarded trade amounts fall within the budget established for this scope of work.

The following vendors were selected for the project across their respective trades and construction scopes:

• Surveying: Midwest
• Earthworks & Site Services: Knudsen Excavating Ltd.
• Concrete Forming: Sweet Contracting
• Masonry: Brxton Masonry Inc.
• Metal Siding: Guardian Roofing & Exteriors Inc.
• Roofing: Seal It Up Roofing Ltd.
• Doors, Frames & Hardware: Penner Doors
• Aluminum Storefront & Glazing: Tierdon Glass Ltd.
• Windows: Silex Fiberglass
• Drywall: Legacee Builders Inc.
• Flooring: R & D Commercial Interiors
• Painting: Deco Interiors Ltd.
• Millwork: North Forty Fine Furniture (2015) Ltd.
• Window Blinds: Vanguard Specialty Products
• Gym Equipment: Royal Stewart Ltd.
• Signage: PLS Sign and Graphic
• Fencing: Strictly Fences Ltd.
• Landscaping: LMO Landscaping Ltd.
• Mechanical: All-Rite Mechanical Ltd.
• Electrical, Access Control & Surveillance Systems: Riverside Electric Ltd.
• Security System: Melhoff Electric 77 Ltd.

Chinook School Division will continue active monitoring and collaboration with 1080 Architecture Planning + Interiors, the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement, and the Ministry of Education as construction progresses.

Alongside these construction milestones, the Board and division leadership remain fully committed to representing the best interests of their school community by actively pursuing a fair resolution through the ongoing legal process with the insurance providers.

Presented by Kevin Kleisinger, Deputy Director

On October 5, Ministry of Education staff met with the administration and Classroom Support Coaches from Sydney Street, École Centennial and Central schools. Presentations about Chinook's unique approach to this provincial initiative, as well as the specific actions occurring at each location, were highlighted.

Chinook School Division’s vision for the Specialized Support Model (SSM) is to implement a responsive approach that supports students who would benefit from additional help with regulation. The goal is to foster a supportive, inclusive and effective learning environment that meets the diverse needs of students and staff while aligning with best practices in teaching and supporting mental health and well-being.

It does not function as a traditional classroom, but rather as a dynamic space where students flow in and out based on their individual needs. Rooted in a community-centered approach, the model supports both teachers and students, reinforcing the idea of the classroom as a shared learning environment. Students remain active members of their classrooms while receiving targeted instruction tailored to their specific areas of need. Additionally, the initiative provides resources to extend learning beyond the SSM, benefiting the entire school community and building capacity among both staff and students.

Themes that were highlighted during the school presentations included:

• The positive impacts of the coaches working alongside the school's SST, complexity teacher and youth worker.
• The focus on proactive skill building for students.
• Introducing collaborative problem solving approaches to school teams.
• Using dedicated release time for teachers and educational assistants to work with the classroom support coach for targeted planning.
• Increased efficiencies through the identification of the right support for the individual student.

In Chinook schools, the SSM is building off of the strengths of each school staff team - focusing on building staff understanding while supporting our students as they learn to navigate behaviour, communication and meeting their individual needs.

Presented by Angela Hermanson, Director of Education

Now in its second year at Swift Current Comprehensive High School (SCCHS) and Maverick High School, the Mental Health Capacity Building (MHCB) program continues to foster mental health literacy and social-emotional learning across our school communities. Operating out of a dedicated, central space designed to be welcoming and calming for both staff and students, the MHCB team works continuously to empower teachers and youth with practical regulation tools and coping strategies.

• Classroom & Educator Collaboration: Grade 9 teachers are actively tapping into the team's expertise for regulation supports. To assist in real-time classroom management, the team distributed Regulation Kits complete with strategy cards and sensory tools.
• Smooth Student Transitions: To help incoming students adjust to high school life, the team delivered "High School Survival" presentations, hosted guided school tours in August, and led a comprehensive Grade 9 Wellness Day featuring sessions on personal well-being.
• Nourishing Students Through Comp Eats: Recognizing the vital link between nutrition and mental health, the team leads the Comp Eats program. Initiatives include "Toast Tuesdays," a grab-and-go fridge stocked with healthy snacks, and classroom snack baskets created in collaboration with the functional program.
• Active Community Reach: Over the summer, the MHCB team engaged directly with families outside of school, connecting with over 800 people across four days at Frontier Days and reaching 405 community members at Market Square.

The MHCB team remains committed to building resilience, wellness, and strong supportive connections for all students and staff in the year ahead.

Presented by Devin Martens, Manager of Facilities

The 2025-2026 Facilities and Maintenance budget was $23,527,229, which includes $7,583,000 allocated for the Swift Current Comprehensive High School (SCCHS) major capital project and a Preventative Maintenance and Repair (PMR) budget of $3,062,000. Actual PMR funding received in June reached $3,077,913, an increase of approximately $10,000 over the previous year. Now in year 14 of the Ministry-funded PMR program, funding continues to be allocated based on total gross school area to support board-approved facility renewals.

The Maintenance team consists of 12 dedicated staff members, including Journeypersons across plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, and carpentry trades, maintenance personnel, a Supervisor, and the Manager of Facilities. Facilities operations are supported by 37 full-time and 32 part-time staff, comprising Facility Operators, Facility Assistants, and Custodians, with no current open positions. Staff are actively encouraged to pursue ongoing education, including First Aid, WHMIS 2015, Fall Arrest, and Fifth Class Power Engineering.

Facilities staff maintain high standards of cleanliness and health across all sites. Potable drinking water continues to be supplied to several schools to meet increased water quality standards. Indoor air quality is managed through mechanical ventilation, GPS bi-polar ionization, and portable Jade air units. Additionally, Building Management System (BMS) overrides and 21 real-time PurpleAir quality monitors assist administrators during periods of poor outdoor air quality.

Communication remains a priority through bi-annual meetings with school superintendents and the technology department. The Facilities in-service held in June 2025 (every second year) provided staff with valuable training on risk management, new cleaning products, WHMIS, and human resources.

To address accessibility on an ongoing basis, Chinook School Division established a three-year multi-priority Accessibility Plan (2026-2028) in compliance with The Accessible Saskatchewan Act. The Maintenance and Facilities department plays a central role by making buildings and properties more accessible through continuous retrofits and targeted upgrades. Current progress includes automated entrance doors at 18 schools, dedicated accessible restrooms at 26 schools, and elevators or lifts at 7 facilities. Ongoing initiatives focus on conducting comprehensive facility audits, embedding universal design standards into all upcoming renovations and new construction, improving universal signage and exterior parking, and collaborating with the Ministry on long-term capital plans for major structural retrofits.

Numerous PMR infrastructure projects were delivered this year, including boiler replacements, roof renewals, ventilation upgrades, electrical main replacements, and accessible washroom enhancements, while the Stewart Valley School rebuild is actively under construction. Approval has been granted for the $39 million SCCHS major capital project focusing on essential electrical, mechanical, and building code upgrades. Recommended PMR capital projects from 2027 to 2030 comprise 30 projects across division schools totaling an estimated $9,560,693 to address ongoing building renewal.

This past year, a detailed Facility Acknowledgement Report was completed at Leader School. Annual facility assessments evaluate schools out of 100%; as of September 2026, building ratings ranged from 89.2% to 70.6%, representing an average overall condition improvement of 11.3% across division schools over the past 20 years.

In 2025-2026, the Maintenance Department completed 2,743 work requisitions and 89.3% of approved minor renovation (D-1) projects. Requests are prioritized by health and safety, educational impact, and aesthetics. Ongoing LED lighting conversions have now reached 89% of all division facility lighting, driving significant energy and operational cost savings.

Journeyperson Carpenter Gerald Hundt retired after 34 years of dedicated service, and we wish him all the best in his retirement. The facilities and maintenance staff extend their gratitude to the Board of Trustees, School Community Councils, senior administration, and school principals for their ongoing support in maintaining safe, clean, and operational learning environments for all students and staff.

The Chinook Board of Education is bringing forward two resolutions at the upcoming Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) Fall Forum to address critical gaps in insurance coverage and statutory legal protections for school divisions. Both proposals align with SSBA Position Statements on Infrastructure Funding and Education Equity.

1. Updating All-Risk Insurance Policies for Aging Infrastructure
   Chinook proposes that the SSBA negotiate updated policy language with its insurance broker to reflect the true replacement costs of aging schools. Current policies rely on decades-old legislation and restrict payouts to materials of "similar kind and quality". Modern Ministry design standards, such as steel framing, drywall, and updated electrical wiring, are often classified by insurers as non-payable "betterments". Modernizing policy wording and sub-limits will ensure school divisions are not forced to cover these major construction cost gaps.
   
   
2. Securing Statutory Immunities and Liability Protections
   Chinook is advocating for updates to The Education Act, 1995 to grant school boards the same statutory immunities and liability protections currently afforded to Saskatchewan cities and municipalities. As locally elected statutory corporations managing complex infrastructure under constrained funding, school boards face increasing operational and financial risks. Establishing standard municipal protections, including liability limits and clear action timelines, will safeguard divisions from undue legal exposure.

The Chinook School Division Administrative Procedures (APs) are developed and updated by division administration and changes are brought to the board for their awareness. The Board received and acknowledged the ongoing updates to the APs for the preceding year for information purposes.