BSD seeing significant capacity challenges

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This article was published 13/12/2024 (278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Significant capacity challenges, a paucity of teaching and infrastructure resources, and their negative impacts on teaching and learning were some of the key issues highlighted by the Brandon Teachers Association (BTA) during a recent presentation made before the Brandon School Division’s (BSD) board of trustees.

BTA president Tammy Tutkaluk spoke about these persisting issues during a presentation on budgeting for education at a BSD board meeting held on Monday.

“(Student) enrollment in Brandon has risen since the pandemic,” Tutkaluk said.

She added that the number of students had risen by 645 in just two years to 10,011 as of November 2024.

This rapid surge has created serious challenges for the 24 schools in BSD, such as overcrowding, larger class sizes, and a dearth of adequate resources.

Collectively, these 24 schools serve over 10,000 students, Tutkaluk told the trustees on Monday. She also pointed out that even though 1,692 more students are enrolled in Brandon schools, compared with the St. James School Division in Winnipeg, the current count of schools under BSD still falls short by two, when compared with Winnipeg.

Commenting on the disparity between Brandon and other school divisions, such as in Winnipeg, trustee Calistus Ekenna (Ward One) said the construction of new schools is a provincial responsibility.

“We need to present the increasing student numbers and their needs collaboratively — not just from division administrators, but from parents, associations, and other stakeholders,” Ekenna said on Thursday.

“This isn’t a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing need that requires consistent advocacy.”

BSD trustees deferred discussions on the requests made by Tutkaluk for when budget discussions start in a few weeks.

Tutkaluk reiterated that large class sizes are impacting teaching and learning negatively.

Nine of Brandon’s 20 K-8 schools, she said, have three or more classrooms with over 20 students in each class. Class sizes in high school are even bigger, she added.

“Smaller classes allow teachers to focus on individual student growth,” Tutkaluk pointed out. “Overcrowded schools don’t just affect physical working conditions — they impact the quality of learning and teaching.”

Board vice-chair Duncan Ross told the Sun the board has not discussed the request, but agreed that classroom overcrowding remains a critical issue for the division.

“The Brandon School Division has made a concerted effort to keep class sizes as small as possible, particularly in elementary schools where most classes are 20 students or fewer,” he said in an interview with the Sun on Thursday.

“But we simply don’t have the space to maintain this in all schools. Until the expansion of Maryland Park or the construction of a new school, the problem will persist.”

Ekenna told the Sun he intends to present budget requests aimed at addressing these ongoing concerns.

“I know these efforts might not completely resolve the issues but they could help alleviate them because the challenge of high student numbers in classrooms is prevalent across almost all grade levels,” he said on Thursday. “I will ensure that prioritization is established to create a foundation that supports students as they progress through their grades.”

Tutkaluk added many schools are using spaces like libraries and music rooms as makeshift classrooms. High schools, such as Vincent Massey and Neelin, she said, rely on teachers rotating with carts, while K-8 schools have combined gym classes or resorted to outdoor physical education.

Since 2005, she said, an average of 27 per cent of Brandon students starting school were found to be not ready physically, and 33 per cent lacked emotional maturity. According to her, recent data points to even greater challenges, with 38.6 per cent of students lacking good communication skills and general knowledge.

The rise in special needs students and English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners has compounded these issues further. Tutkaluk pointed out that one in five students in Brandon is an EAL learner, with such students representing a cohort that speaks at least 21 different languages.

Ross pointed to broader systemic challenges, including the need for hiring more teachers and clinicians to address growing student needs. However, he acknowledged that these decisions would depend on the division’s budget and the provincial funding model, which remains uncertain until February.

“We want to support our teachers as much as possible because they’re essential to providing the best education for our kids,” he added. “But we have to balance this with the resources we have, the people we can hire, and the maintenance of our aging buildings.”

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