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The chair of the Brandon School Division says a funding increase from the provincial government will do little to cover the increasing costs of educating students in Manitoba's second largest city and trustees may have to make cuts or raise taxes to make up the difference.  
 
BSD board chair Kevan Sumner said the school division will receive about 2.3 per cent more funding this year due to an increase in enrolment. Last year, the division received a 4.9 per cent boost.  
 
"It would keep up with enrolment but ignore factors like our collective agreements [which] are giving teachers a three per cent raise during the budget year," Sumner said. "We're going to have less funding per capita from the province at the end of the day next year."  
 
Full article: http://www.cbc.ca/1.3963994

The BSD better be prepared to make some cuts, at this time I am already paying more school tax then property tax. This just has to stop, with city taxes up, electricity, gas etc we are eradicating the middle class. When did I become a debit card machine.

from last year and the year before and one before that if I remember correctly?  
 
Despite raising our taxes each and every year it's the same old story a month or two after when the school board 'finds' surplus money, usually over two million dollars. wth?  
 
I fully expect our provincial government to step in and do the school board budgeting if the division can't can do their budget properly.  
 
What would we do if the city did their budget like BSD?

Is this a pallister decision? Just like the way he didn't approve a new school for brandon?

Remember we elected them....they had Better watch and learn from the City as far as being frugal and keeping things lean. There will be an uproar if it's an unrealistic hike. If nobody makes a stink though it will go through! Maybe make cuts then like everyone else, every business and organization. These are lean times everywhere and people can't continually keep up with these way above inflation increases. Perhaps they should cut the cameras on school buses for example and other non necessary items already approved. What is more important maintaining programming for students? If you can't keep up with teacher salaries then cut some positions. Look at what can be cut. Nobody likes to see cuts and it effects education, but cuts are a fact with this new government. Jobs are being eliminated, funding has dried up. You either do what it takes with what you got or you don't. Not everyone is from a dual income household or a high income career. Think about the basics and nothing more. When the $ is there add the "luxuries". School Boards should be abolished. Money should be distributed through the Education Minister. Eliminate the middle man and you would keep things simple and on track.

It's time that everybody started paying equal shares of the school tax. I don't think it is right that some people pay $4000.00 in school tax. Some kinda plan has to be put forward to make it a fair tax.  
The school board has to get their act (sh t)together and learn how to budget and not go to the tax payer every time they want or get a dumb idea on how to spend on whatever with MY money

Maybe someone who knows a bit about this kind of thing will read this. We're already paying a pretty crazy tax bill in Brandon, especially the education portion. The one thing I always think about is we're paying this level of taxes and there hasn't been a new school since Waverly. Some schools like New Era and Earl Oxford are ancient with the rest being at least 40 years old (guess). What happens to our education taxes when we need to build a new school or 3 or 6?

Can we as tax payers write the province and ask them to step in and do somthing about this or look into it. This is crazy every year my taxes go up, but my wage doesn't. I feel like I'm beginning to be robbed. Especially when Manitoba has some of the poorest grade marks in the country.

we are asking for and mostly getting a cadilac/rolls royce education system but we want it on a volkswagon budget.all the parents want the best for their kids but perhaps the school system should start to teach the kids to read and write , the kerfluffle about the french school makes me think that the harrison experiment has failed and is just creating problems

What about people who DON'T really want the best for the Kids. Some people don't have kids and never will. Why should they suffer these crazy increases every year.

snl55 said "What about people who DON'T really want the best for the Kids. Some people don't have kids and never will. Why should they suffer these crazy increases every year. "

Because the kids don't stay young forever, their education affects the community once they are grown up and contributing to society.  
 
There are lots of things my taxes pay for that I never use. That is how taxes work, they are for the entire community's well being.

snl55 said "What about people who DON'T really want the best for the Kids. Some people don't have kids and never will. Why should they suffer these crazy increases every year. "

But, surely you went to school?

mackenzie5 said "we are asking for and mostly getting a cadilac/rolls royce education system but we want it on a volkswagon budget.all the parents want the best for their kids but perhaps the school system should start to teach the kids to read and write , the kerfluffle about the french school makes me think that the harrison experiment has failed and is just creating problems "

Sorry, but it is the other way around. We are paying for the Cadillac education system and only getting the Volkswagen education for our kids.  
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the school that my kids go to, the teachers are fabulous people, but the whole system is extremely lacking. I do also speak to this as a parent of a child with special needs, and how this area is basically at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to providing a proper education for these kids.  
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm sorry, but the teachers themselves always say that they aren't in it for the wages, but yet there are always demands for pay increase. Doesn't really add up. And honestly, if there are this many budget issues, do we really need things like smart boards in every classroom, etc. My kids have electronics at home as do many other families, I'm sure they wouldn't die if they had to be taught off of a chalkboard at school.  
Don't put computers in every classroom. Have one computer room with scheduled use times. This is the way we grew up. Don't have an ESL teacher placed in every school, keep ESL students in one or two schools until they learn english enough to be transitioned to any school.  
I could go on......

The school board will go for 0%, but surely they can hold it to a 1% increase if they have to increase it at all. Times are tight for a lot of people. Stop the tax increases!

Funny, isn't the BDS the same ones who boasted about having well over a million dollars in their rainy day/savings account. Perhaps they can pull from there. I feel no compassion when they've been hanging on to tax payer money like that yet demanding more.

Curious if this report is correct or not. Seems pretty close. I love the conclusion.  
 
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/education-spending-and-public-student-enrolment-in-canada-2016.pdf  
 
VI. Conclusion  
It is clear from the data presented that every province in Canada over the 2004-05 to 2013-14 period increased education spending beyond what was required to account for enrolement changes and inflation. This means real increases  
in per-student education spending in public schools across the country, which is contrary to the general perception that education spending in public schools has been cut.

Orion's-Belt said "Can we as tax payers write the province and ask them to step in and do somthing about this or look into it. This is crazy every year my taxes go up, but my wage doesn't. I feel like I'm beginning to be robbed. Especially when Manitoba has some of the poorest grade marks in the country. "

write the province and you should!

You say the School Division has failed as an education system. However, here you all are, complaining on the Internet, using your cell phones, laptops or PC's, which you pay for by having a job. The reason you have a job? The education system. Because clearly, you have knowledge about SOMETHING... one would hope. Would you be happier if they issued rebate cheques? In that case, you must meet all of these items: Those that are unemployed, unable to complain on the Internet, or the homeless.  
 
Instead, how about we look at it in another way. We keep paying into the education system, as we have. Despite all this funding, these kids still aren't rocket scientists (I apologize if your child has gone on to become an actual rocket scientist, a teacher, a doctor, a politician, a mechanic, a plumber, a website developer, etc... this is not a slight against them). Maybe, just maybe, the problem is not the education system. Maybe the problem is parents. Parents pushing their kids to be the next Wayne Gretzky, Sydney Crosby, Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, instead of pushing them to do their homework, do their group projects, or making them put their phones and tablets down, and having a conversation with them at the end of the day. The learning process should not stop when they leave the school! Not everyone will turn out to be a prodigy in athletics, or have a big break on YouTube singing a song, or be spotted as an extra in a movie and given the chance of lifetime to be a Hollywood star. It is your job as a parent, to give your children every opportunity to succeed. However, all you do is push them to sports, or dance, or singing, etc... There is nothing wrong with doing these things, but do not choose them over the education system. Too many kids skip Math class, or Science class, or English in order to participate in school sports, or simply to be "time keeper" at the school basketball tournament.  
 
How about you help your children reconsider their priorities. There was nothing wrong with the education system when TV was not in every home, or when the Internet was not on every device you could get your hands on.  
 
Children have one job, and that’s to learn.

nickm_13 said "You say the School Division has failed as an education system. However, here you all are, complaining on the Internet, using your cell phones, laptops or PC's, which you pay for by having a job. The reason you have a job? The education system. Because clearly, you have knowledge about SOMETHING... one would hope. Would you be happier if they issued rebate cheques? In that case, you must meet all of these items: Those that are unemployed, unable to complain on the Internet, or the homeless.     Instead, how about we look at it in another way. We keep paying into the education system, as we have. Despite all this funding, these kids still aren't rocket scientists (I apologize if your child has gone on to become an actual rocket scientist, a teacher, a doctor, a politician, a mechanic, a plumber, a website developer, etc... this is not a slight against them). Maybe, just maybe, the problem is not the education system. Maybe the problem is parents. Parents pushing their kids to be the next Wayne Gretzky, Sydney Crosby, Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, instead of pushing them to do their homework, do their group projects, or making them put their phones and tablets down, and having a conversation with them at the end of the day. The learning process should not stop when they leave the school! Not everyone will turn out to be a prodigy in athletics, or have a big break on YouTube singing a song, or be spotted as an extra in a movie and given the chance of lifetime to be a Hollywood star. It is your job as a parent, to give your children every opportunity to succeed. However, all you do is push them to sports, or dance, or singing, etc... There is nothing wrong with doing these things, but do not choose them over the education system. Too many kids skip Math class, or Science class, or English in order to participate in school sports, or simply to be "time keeper" at the school basketball tournament.     How about you help your children reconsider their priorities. There was nothing wrong with the education system when TV was not in every home, or when the Internet was not on every device you could get your hands on.     Children have one job, and that’s to learn. "

Honestly I have no idea what you are trying to spew here. Sure let''s keep paying into education. Let''s give them unlimited income to increase wages, go on trips, etc. Have you even looked at a school budget? Sure math wasn''t my strong point but let''s have a look:  
School Year  
2016/17 Budget:99 Million Dollars  
Student Enrollment:8347 or 12,246 per student  
2013/14 Budget:86 Million Dollars  
Student Enrollment:8084 or 10,638 per student  
 
Why is it costing us almost $2000 extra per student in 3 years? An increase of 13 million dollars over 3 years? for an extra 263 students?  
 
Common nickm_13 does that not raise an eyebrow at all? Even using the 16/17 per student costing it should only be about an increase of $3.2 million for an extra 263 students. But don''t worry I will have more coming shortly after going over school budget print outs.  
 
And just so you know sports teach children a lot more than you are giving them credit for. Besides having a sport where they are not staring at their bloody phone they are learning an addition physical activity. They are learning how to work as teams and team environments. Yes I am on here due to a job. Writing and reading got me to where I am, plus the skills I learned in sports. At my job the word "TEAM" almost comes up on a daily basis. Didn't learn a whole lot of that in school. All us managers are all players of an organization leading different areas(positions) with the goal of having our TEAM win in the real world. Sorry but I get from you is get lax on sports and cut a cheque for the school division. If that is the case I totally o:bject to what you are saying. They both go hand in hand.  
 
Edited by Fishin Guy, 2017-02-03 15:04:45

Has changed since you went to school. While I don't know you or when you graduated, I'm assuming the one computer room you spoke of was for some sort of typing class and perhaps a project here or there. Today, nearly every curriculum (K-12) is pushing the integration of technology, not the mention the increase in computer based courses in high school (ICT, digital art, GIS, CISCO, etc.). With the increase of technology, schools can't get away with just one computer lab anymore, therefore it's needed to have multiple labs and the upkeep that goes with that. Not to mention the multiple courses and teachers needing the labs every time slot... You also mentioned Smart Boards. I don't think we ask any other profession to not use more advanced technology if it's available and can do the job better and more efficiently. Why do we ask that of teachers?

kzee said "Has changed since you went to school. While I don't know you or when you graduated, I'm assuming the one computer room you spoke of was for some sort of typing class and perhaps a project here or there. Today, nearly every curriculum (K-12) is pushing the integration of technology, not the mention the increase in computer based courses in high school (ICT, digital art, GIS, CISCO, etc.). With the increase of technology, schools can't get away with just one computer lab anymore, therefore it's needed to have multiple labs and the upkeep that goes with that. Not to mention the multiple courses and teachers needing the labs every time slot... You also mentioned Smart Boards. I don't think we ask any other profession to not use more advanced technology if it's available and can do the job better and more efficiently. Why do we ask that of teachers? "

I wish our division actually kept up on technology. I have family in BC and Alberta. School fees and registration are done digital. School forms/permission slips are sent digital. Class assignments are all done digital. My daughter had a tablet while in Alberta. Option to lease from the school or buy your own. Very minimal upkeep. Couple years ago I asked why a simple school registration and payment could not be done online......."We are working on it" was the answer. I could understand technology costs in the school budget but look at the budget. Salaries and Benefits account for over 85% of the total budget. Computers are not part of salaries and benefits.

Schools in Ab were willing to work with my daughter before she screwed it up with no blame but her own. She was given the option to buckle down and complete full courses for credits all online. In under 3 weeks a full course could be completed and moved on to the next. All assignments, text books, tutor resources, etc. were all available online. My question is if other schools have this ability why are we spending almost 75 million dollars on salaries?

Fishin Guy said "    nickm_13 said "You say the School Division has failed as an education system. However, here you all are, complaining on the Internet, using your cell phones, laptops or PC's, which you pay for by having a job. The reason you have a job? The education system. Because clearly, you have knowledge about SOMETHING... one would hope. Would you be happier if they issued rebate cheques? In that case, you must meet all of these items: Those that are unemployed, unable to complain on the Internet, or the homeless.     Instead, how about we look at it in another way. We keep paying into the education system, as we have. Despite all this funding, these kids still aren't rocket scientists (I apologize if your child has gone on to become an actual rocket scientist, a teacher, a doctor, a politician, a mechanic, a plumber, a website developer, etc... this is not a slight against them). Maybe, just maybe, the problem is not the education system. Maybe the problem is parents. Parents pushing their kids to be the next Wayne Gretzky, Sydney Crosby, Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, instead of pushing them to do their homework, do their group projects, or making them put their phones and tablets down, and having a conversation with them at the end of the day. The learning process should not stop when they leave the school! Not everyone will turn out to be a prodigy in athletics, or have a big break on YouTube singing a song, or be spotted as an extra in a movie and given the chance of lifetime to be a Hollywood star. It is your job as a parent, to give your children every opportunity to succeed. However, all you do is push them to sports, or dance, or singing, etc... There is nothing wrong with doing these things, but do not choose them over the education system. Too many kids skip Math class, or Science class, or English in order to participate in school sports, or simply to be "time keeper" at the school basketball tournament.     How about you help your children reconsider their priorities. There was nothing wrong with the education system when TV was not in every home, or when the Internet was not on every device you could get your hands on.     Children have one job, and that’s to learn. " Honestly I have no idea what you are trying to spew here. Sure let''s keep paying into education. Let''s give them unlimited income to increase wages, go on trips, etc. Have you even looked at a school budget? Sure math wasn''t my strong point but let''s have a look:   School Year   2016/17 Budget:99 Million Dollars   Student Enrollment:8347 or 12,246 per student   2013/14 Budget:86 Million Dollars   Student Enrollment:8084 or 10,638 per student     Why is it costing us almost $2000 extra per student in 3 years? An increase of 13 million dollars over 3 years? for an extra 263 students?     Common nickm_13 does that not raise an eyebrow at all? Even using the 16/17 per student costing it should only be about an increase of $3.2 million for an extra 263 students. But don''t worry I will have more coming shortly after going over school budget print outs.     And just so you know sports teach children a lot more than you are giving them credit for. Besides having a sport where they are not staring at their bloody phone they are learning an addition physical activity. They are learning how to work as teams and team environments. Yes I am on here due to a job. Writing and reading got me to where I am, plus the skills I learned in sports. At my job the word "TEAM" almost comes up on a daily basis. Didn't learn a whole lot of that in school. All us managers are all players of an organization leading different areas(positions) with the goal of having our TEAM win in the real world. Sorry but I get from you is get lax on sports and cut a cheque for the school division. If that is the case I totally o:bject to what you are saying. They both go hand in hand.     Edited by Fishin Guy, 2017-02-03 15:04:45"

Part of what I'm interpreting from Common's answer is that parents are complaining that the school system isn't doing the job of "educating" their kids, but yet don't appear to support the work of the system. The examples they gave shows how priority is given on other activities, such as sports, potentially at the expense of schooling. But then parents feel that basic education is neglected because the school system is incapable of doing it's job. But which is it?  
 
We tend to think of education as a government responsibility, but in fact educational is a parental responsibility. We simply outsource it to the government most of the time. Plus, school is highly inefficient to begin with. I have a mix of kids in school and homeschooling, and homeschooling is WAY more efficient.  
 
For the budget increases, I imagine a large chunk of the difference is from increases in salary. The teachers did recently get a raise, which is something the school division doesn't have control over. We've also had an influx of ESL students the past few months, which is very resource-intensive. Plus normal inflation.  
 
So those three items probably account for the 16% increase in 3 years. (~5.4% salary increase during that period from my calculations + 4.5% for normal inflation during that period which is already 10% for those 2 items).  
 
I'm not crazy about the prospect of paying more taxes either, but before coming down all weird about how much we pay and how little return we get, you need to look at all the arguments and numbers.

Fishin Guy said "    kzee said "Has changed since you went to school. While I don't know you or when you graduated, I'm assuming the one computer room you spoke of was for some sort of typing class and perhaps a project here or there. Today, nearly every curriculum (K-12) is pushing the integration of technology, not the mention the increase in computer based courses in high school (ICT, digital art, GIS, CISCO, etc.). With the increase of technology, schools can't get away with just one computer lab anymore, therefore it's needed to have multiple labs and the upkeep that goes with that. Not to mention the multiple courses and teachers needing the labs every time slot... You also mentioned Smart Boards. I don't think we ask any other profession to not use more advanced technology if it's available and can do the job better and more efficiently. Why do we ask that of teachers? " I wish our division actually kept up on technology. I have family in BC and Alberta. School fees and registration are done digital. School forms/permission slips are sent digital. Class assignments are all done digital. My daughter had a tablet while in Alberta. Option to lease from the school or buy your own. Very minimal upkeep. Couple years ago I asked why a simple school registration and payment could not be done online......."We are working on it" was the answer. I could understand technology costs in the school budget but look at the budget. Salaries and Benefits account for over 85% of the total budget. Computers are not part of salaries and benefits. "

I know AB funds their schools a bit differently (property tax is put into a single pot and then distributed by the province), but I wonder if this technology boom was when oil prices were high? There was a lot more money in the system as a whole then, not only in education.

Johnbisonbear said "    Orion's-Belt said "Can we as tax payers write the province and ask them to step in and do somthing about this or look into it. This is crazy every year my taxes go up, but my wage doesn't. I feel like I'm beginning to be robbed. Especially when Manitoba has some of the poorest grade marks in the country. " write the province and you should! "

Who do I write to express my concerns to. Pallister himself???

Orion's-Belt said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Orion's-Belt said "Can we as tax payers write the province and ask them to step in and do somthing about this or look into it. This is crazy every year my taxes go up, but my wage doesn't. I feel like I'm beginning to be robbed. Especially when Manitoba has some of the poorest grade marks in the country. " write the province and you should! " Who do I write to express my concerns to. Pallister himself??? "

Here ya go...  
 
https://www.bsd.ca/board/Pages/default.aspx

Orion's-Belt said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Orion's-Belt said "Can we as tax payers write the province and ask them to step in and do somthing about this or look into it. This is crazy every year my taxes go up, but my wage doesn't. I feel like I'm beginning to be robbed. Especially when Manitoba has some of the poorest grade marks in the country. " write the province and you should! " Who do I write to express my concerns to. Pallister himself??? "

He will pass your concerns to the Education Minister, Wishart I think.  
 
PALLISTER@leg.gov.mb.ca  
 
You would probably be wasting your time to contact the Brandon school board, imo

If you think your kids are getting decent education it's easy to verify. If they are late middle years or better give them a test. Have them add 4 four diget numbers withouta calculator, do some long division without a calculator, write a compound sentance with pen and paper and no spell checker, name 6 provincial capitals, name 3 previous Prime Ministers, maybe even a trick question like when was confederation. You may be suprised at the result and question " where does the money really go"

What is the percentage increase that the BSD board and trustees wages over the last five years? Would it be more than, or equal to, the tax increases they have demanded and received? Interested to find that out.....

The problem with the BSD is that the trustees for the most part are past teachers generally looking after their past staff pals. The others on there are really not those who would have a critical mind when voting for a lot of unnecessary things like school bus cameras.  
 
I wonder if other school boards in the province are made up of past teachers. I really think the government should take over managing these boards.  
 
However I can't really say much as I never waste my time voting for school board trustees when all you see is past teachers running at election time to supplement their pensions. so this is what we get.