CESD approves $151M budget for 2026-27

Jun 1, 2026 | 3:58 PM

The Chinook’s Edge School Division has approved a $151 million budget for the 2026-27 school year.

The budget, the division says, provides further support for complex classrooms and reflects a commitment to supporting learner needs.

“The budget was developed in alignment with the Chinook’s Edge Education Plan and our strategic priorities,” said Holly Bilton, Chair of the CESD Board of Trustees. “This budget reflects our determination to be where students come first, in every classroom, in every community, and in every decision we make.”

As a result, the Board of Trustees is launching two Integrated Student Support Teams, which will focus on responding to current student needs in schools and building staff capacity in the area of complex needs. These support teams will each include a Learning Needs Specialist and a Behaviour Specialist.

Additional specialized support available to schools through the teams includes increased access to psychologists, occupational therapists, and a nurse.

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The majority of the teams’ time will be spent in schools responding to emergent needs and collaborating with support staff in building their capacity to aid students. The teams will also focus on ensuring that data on complexity in CESD classrooms is collected to help drive future funding and support. For 2026–2027, the division projects an enrollment of approximately 10,919 full-time students, slightly lower than the previous year.

The Board of Trustees approved the 2026-2027 budget at its regular public meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Board anticipates revenue next year of $151.3 million, with a budget deficit of $364,300. The division will use reserves to balance the budget, anticipating that reserves at the end of the 2026–2027 school year will be approximately $5.2 million.

by rdnewsNOW staff

CESD approves $151M budget for 2026-27

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