After fewer than five minutes of discussion, School District 57’s board of trustees unanimously passed the third and final reading of a bylaw establishing its 2025-26 budget during a special meeting in the evening of Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The budget features around $180.7 million in operating funds, around $22 million in special purpose funds targeted towards specific projects and around $10 million in capital funds.
The special meeting was required after multiple trustees denied granting unanimous consent to passing all three readings of the budget bylaw at the board’s May 13 meeting in Mackenzie, saying they still had unanswered questions.
At the May 27 meeting, just one question was asked of division staff.
Trustee Shar McCrory asked whether the budget contained any job losses or reduction in staffing hours.
Supt. Jameel Aziz said there aren’t.
“There are no reductions indicated in the budget, both in the draft and the current budget that’s in front of you,” Aziz said.
“That being said, our principals always are looking at their own staffing and make adjustments as necessary. But at this point, we anticipate no reductions in positions or hours for the 25-26 school year.”
School District 57 operates 40 schools in and around Prince George, Hixon, Mackenzie, Valemount and McBride. However, Giscome Elementary School will close at the end of June following a decision by the board of trustees back in April.
