WRSD ends 2025 fiscal with lower-than-expected $500K deficit

Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) has ended the 2025 fiscal year with a $500,283 deficit — although the board says it could have been worse.

Originally anticipating a $1,875,480 deficit, the board approved the financial overview for the year ending Aug. 31, 2025 at its Nov. 21 meeting.

Significant factors for the lower-than-expected deficit include additional grant funds from Alberta Education and Childcare as well as the sale of the Eldorado Land in the Town of Drayton Valley.

However, deficit pressure on the budget was brought on in part by a new bus operator contract for student transportation, as well as a lack of Jordan’s Principle funding, which forced WRSD to announce dozens of layoffs in late 2024.

–

RELATED

–

New five-year contracts were signed with bus operators — Prairie Bus Lines and First Student — which added around $185,000 to the deficit.

Due to higher transportation costs, the division is considering charging transportation fees beginning the 2026/27 school year.

Bussing is a significant obligation for the division, as a social media post from WRSD asserts busses travel 11,076 km every school day — enough to travel across Canada twice.

Every year, students are transported an estimated 1.96 million km– enough to circle the globe five times.

The report showed that, as of Aug. 25, 2025, WRSD had total financial assets of $9.53 million (assets that are readily converted to cash) and liabilities of $5.50 million (accounts payable, pensions) for net financial assets of $4.04 million.

The audited statement shows revenue of $68,006,672 (a 10-year high) against expenses of $68,506,955.

However, enrollment — the biggest factor in determining provincial funding — has been trending down, and is projected to continue falling into 2025/26.