“As of today, we will have a budget that is either balanced or with a little bit of a surplus,” said New Frontiers School Board director general Mike Helm.
The budget was adopted during the regular council of commissioners meeting on Sept. 1, which coincidentally marked the first day of school for students across the board. “Startup has been fantastic. The word that I am getting from a lot of our administrators is that they are feeling a good vibe, positive energy, and like they are in a good space for the start of the year,” said Helm, noting this outlook seems to be shared by the students. “It feels like people had a good opportunity this summer to recharge,” he added.
The budget is in keeping with this theme. Helm said the board is projecting revenues of $97,195,000 with slightly less in expenses. “We are looking at a target surplus of $42,861,” he reported. “So, almost right on the pin, but we have left a little bit of leeway,” he said, while acknowledging the margin is slim.
The 2026-2027 budget is slightly higher than last year’s initial budget of $95 million, which ballooned to around $100 million after revisions. Helm confirmed that with more students, additional staff, and salary increases to account for, the finance team had to be creative to stay in the black.
“It is a tight one. It was very challenging, probably one of the more challenging ones we have put together,” acknowledged council chair John Ryan, while suggesting the hope is that once the election has passed and the government is in place, there will be funds to cover certain expenses, such as salary increases.
Election uncertainty
The upcoming election has also contributed to the smooth start to the year.
After meeting with the education ministry on Sept. 3, Helm said he expects the next couple of months will be especially quiet. “The focus for school boards will be on day-to-day operations, balanced budgets, meeting targets, and planning for the next Commitment to Success Plans, which end this year,” he noted.
No matter the outcome of the election, a new minister will be named at the education ministry as Sonia LeBel has decided not to seek re-election. Concerns exist regarding potential cuts to public services, as at least two parties have announced plans to cut government expenses while the other parties have proposed targeted streamlining or administrative efficiencies as priorities.
Helm said the NFSB is most concerned about potential legislation that would limit access to vocational training programs along linguistic lines, which two parties have suggested as part of their platforms. This could result in devastating impacts on English school boards across the province.
In the meantime, Helm is curious to see the results of the election. “There is stability for sure for the start. There is no question. But what happens in the second half of the year will depend on which government gets in.”