"Next year, if we have another budget like this, our division will have some really really tough decisions to make," says Prairie Rose School Division (PRSD) Superintendent, Terry Osiowy.

This is the third consecutive year the province has cut their funding, this year at a 2 percent decrease, and in light of that PRSD is keeping their focus inside their school's communities as they find ways to make their 2020-21 budget work.

"It means that our division had to continue to really look at all the efficiencies we could find in our system to ensure that we're protecting classrooms. This is our third year of going through this and so we have made some decisions to protect classrooms in terms of the support, which would be classroom teachers. While we're saying that, there are going to have to be some internal decisions made because the allocation that we have right now is just not enough."

He says there are increasing needs for English as additional language students, and those with poverty, social, and emotional challenges, as they see enrollment numbers go up.

"It has been a challenge for the board because when you've got growing enrollment you've got growing challenges and costs associated with that. Growing enrollment also means changes and diversity of your student population and how you're going to support those."

One of the largest concerns is the 2 percent limit on special requirements that has come down from the province.

"I understand why they have been trying to control costs for divisions because at times you can see where school division budgets are unsustainable, and you can't continually go back to the local taxpayer to do it. But I think the part is that for three years in a row it's been a challenge, and I think that's the part that we're really feeling," he says.

The administration cap also being called for by the government is causing concern as the roles of principals, supervisors, and human resource workers continue to include heavier work. Osiowy adds, they will have to do some restructuring, but have already made efficiencies in their administration teams over the last seven years.

As well, the board is working hard to find ways to deliver as many programming opportunities to their high schools.

"We talked about interactive television, online learning, and probably increasing class sizes in our high schools. That's going to be the thing because our focus is to make sure our early years students - our K to six students - come out of there as strong literacy and numeracy students because they need those skills to be successful in high school."

An issue felt throughout rural Manitoba in the various school divisions is the K to 12 Education Review and the fear of amalgamations.

"I really do believe as a Superintendent that's my major concern. If divisions get larger through amalgamations and all of that, that local voice and representing the local communities is going to be lost."

"Our schools in Prairie Rose School Division, particularly in the last seven years, their focus has been their buildings, their communities. I think that's our biggest uncertainty right now is if amalgamation is coming, what's that going to look like? And will our trustees have a voice in what it looks like?"

In light of the challenges and uncertainties facing PRSD, Osiowy says there are some highlights to the proposed budget.

"We've stayed committed to keeping the FTE for our classroom teachers allocation under education assistants . . . They have stayed committed to making sure our bus fleet is going to be continuing, and taxation is kept at a right level too, and I understand that from taxpayers."

For those with a residential property with a $200,000 assessment, taxes will go down $61.20 to $955.80 for 2020. Those with a $300,000 assessment will decrease by $91.50 to $1,433.70.

More information on the proposed budget, and forms to provide feedback, can be found on the PRSD website.