LRSD budget includes water safety program, 6.4% tax increase

A school trustee with the LRSD is proposing the addition of swimming lessons as part of the curriculum.

Students in the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) will have the opportunity to learn to swim as part of a new pilot project.

On Tuesday, the LRSD board of trustees approved a $273 million budget for the 2025-26 school year, which includes a $100,000 water safety pilot program for Grades 3 and 4.

Last month, CTV News Winnipeg reported that LRSD trustee Ryan Palmquist put forward a proposal that would see students in Grades 3 and 4 participate in a water safety course at City of Winnipeg facilities.

The goal of the course is to teach students the basics of swimming, including floating and simple strokes.

“With this budget, we are taking a balanced approach to meet the needs of our growing student population and manage rising costs,” said Jamie Rudnicki, LRSD secretary-treasurer, in a news release.

“Our goal is to ensure that every dollar spent directly benefits students and supports the long-term sustainability of our division.”

The LRSD budget also includes a 6.43 per cent mill rate increase for property owners in the division as a way to address growing enrolment, inflation, and increased costs.

Other key investments include 50.12 full-time equivalent teachers and 29.81 full-time equivalent support staff; $630,000 to begin a six-year plan to retrofit 10 schools with air conditioning; and $250,000 to improve cybersecurity.

More information can be found online.