GSCS Board passes balanced 2026-27 budget
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ Board of Education has approved a balanced 2026-27 school-year budget, and there’s some good news in it for students and families.
The government is honouring their multi-year funding commitment for the education sector with an increase in funding for the third straight year.
Our school division continues to grow. Not all school divisions in the province can say the same thing. We are thankful that you, parents and caregivers, continue to choose Catholic education.
Provincial Highlights
- $62.2 million (2.6 per cent) increase in funding over last year, including:
- $7.775 million for enrolment growth
- $16.3 million for an additional 50 Specialized Support Classrooms
- $22.28 million for inflationary increases to non-teacher salary and benefits
- $9.2 million for non-salary inflationary increases
- Three new schools
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ Highlights
GSCS will receive a $7.79 million increase, including the following:
- $2.1 million for enrolment growth
- $1.9 million for Specialized Support Classrooms
- $1.8 million (2.5 per cent) for non-teacher salary increases
- 10 additional teachers to provide Gr. 1 - 3 literacy intervention in all elementary schools
- 40 more Educational Assistants
- 3.5 additional Learning Assistance Teachers
- Additional positions including Educational Psychologist, Indigenous Student Achievement Coordinator, Medical Facilitators and Speech and Language Pathologist.
With the increase in specialized support funding, we are introducing the C.A.R.E. framework.
C – connecting and belonging
A – access to learning
R – regulation
E – engagement
Six new specialized classrooms will replace and build upon existing programs that are currently in three classrooms. A division-wide intake process will identify and prioritize students who would benefit from additional supports in an inclusive, responsive learning environment. Details will be available through your school in the fall.
There will be changes to the division’s English as an Additional Language (EAL) programming to free up resources for early-years literacy. Information will be shared directly with families affected by these changes
Capital Funding: New School
A much-anticipated middle/high school in the Martensville and Warman area was announced. This joint-use facility will include a public school for Prairie Spirit School Division and a middle/high school for GSCS families in this area who currently do not have a Catholic high school option close to home.
We now have five capital projects on the go:
- St. Pier Giorgio Frassati High School, a joint-use high school in the Holmwood development area;
- Joint-use elementary school in the Brighton neighbourhood;
- Joint-use elementary school in the Aspen Ridge neighbourhood;
- Elementary school in the Kensington neighbourhood; and
- Joint-use middle/high school between Martensville and Warman.
The stable, predictable funding in this provincial budget is welcome news. Yes, there will always be more we want to do to serve students and families if resources permitted. Yet, recognition of the ever-changing and increasingly-complex needs of students now appears to be built into provincial budgets.
We will continue to work with the provincial government and Ministry of Education to advocate for funding that builds on the momentum and recognizes the evolving educational landscape.
