By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
Laird School will remain open in the 2026-2027 school year, but only as a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school.
During the Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) board meeting on Monday, April 20, trustees passed a motion to discontinue Grades 7 and 8 at Laird effective June 30, 2026.
The motion also directs administration to develop an implementation plan, in consultation with the affected School Community Councils, regarding the transportation and placement of the Grade 7-8 students from Laird School. This plan must be brought forward by June 15, 2026.
Subdivision 5 trustee Cindy Friesen and Subdivision 9 trustee Kimberly MacLean voted against the motion. Subdivision 11 trustee Kimberly Greyeyes was not at the meeting and did not cast a vote.
Currently, there are three Grade 7 students at Laird School and zero Grade 8 students. It was projected there would be three Grade 7 and three Grade 8 students in the 2026-2027 school year.
It should also be noted that Grade 9-12 students from Laird already attend Waldheim, which is about 14 kilometres to the southwest.
A school review of Laird had originally been initiated by the PSSD board back in September as a result of the K-8 school falling below the minimum enrolment threshold in the School Division Administration Regulations.
Laird School’s enrolment was 35 students, and the regulations stipulate that a K-8 school must be considered for closure or a grade reconfiguration if enrolment falls below 51 students.
The school is also in need of an estimated $1.5 million in renovations over the next eight years, though that problem was partially addressed in the 2026 provincial budget, which included $1 million for a roof replacement at Laird.
“It covers our immediate needs for the Laird building,” said board chair Kate Kading, during a break at the April 20 board meeting.
Kading said the board had reached a “unanimous consensus” to keep the school open, but had a “robust discussion” during a closed session regarding the other options: keeping the school as is or discontinuing one or more grades, either in the 2026-2027 school year or at a future date.
Kading suggested that a public meeting of electors held on March 18 factored greatly into the board’s decision.
“That was … where we saw evidence of beautiful growth in the community and people who were engaged and coming out to give their opinion. And they brought their small children, who weren’t school age yet,” said Kading, noting that there were other factors taken into consideration as part of the school review.
“I’m very proud of the conversations that were had around this school review. This is not an easy thing. It is the hardest thing that a trustee will ever do at the board table. The way the board moved through this, given the guidelines that were laid out by the Ministry, I think it’s very admirable.”