Superintendent Alain Laberge says the division is ready, after what he calls “a very busy summer.”
“We are putting the final touches on our newest school in Sage Creek, Winnipeg, along with many schools getting air condition repairs, new paint, and then there’s the regular summer maintenance projects. Altogether, over $1-million was spent. So yes, a lot of work this summer.”
While most of the major construction took place at the newest DSFM school, facilities in the southeast like La Broquerie, St. Pierre, Ste. Anne and Lorette were far from quiet as janitors and maintenance crews worked on upgrades.
“You know, our janitors, they need their holiday in July like everybody. They want to be with the family. So, we have to work around their day off request. It was not easy, but we did it. They work very hard polishing the floors and cleaning,” said Laberge.
DSFM enrollment is climbing, especially in the southeast
Laberge says the division is growing again this year, with just over 6,500 students enrolled for 2025-26, with 90 new teachers and 154 buses on the road.
“We may see a 2% increase this school year. We believe it’s because a lot of new families have moved into the province, but in particular in La Broquerie, Ste. Anne and Lorette. We call some of those schools ‘rural-urban’ because they are close to Winnipeg. Newcomers arrive in the city, they get a job, they get stable, and then they move to the southeast, because they want a better quality of life. And you know, houses in Lorette are more affordable than in Winnipeg.”
Finding teachers was a challenge
One of the biggest shifts this year came from retirements.
“We had 54 teachers retire in June. Very well deserved,” Laberge said. “But then we needed to fill 54 vacancies, plus the growth. So we hired over 90 new teachers across our division.”
He admits finding teachers isn’t always simple, especially for smaller rural communities or specialized subjects.
“Music, gym, advanced science, those are more difficult to fill,” he said. “In big schools, a chemistry teacher maybe only teach two courses many times. But in a rural school, that same teacher might teach biology to grades 10-11-12, plus some math. It is a challenge.”
Still, Laberge is optimistic.
“Our administration says we are in good shape. And if our teachers succeed and they are happy, they will stay with us for good. They know the students, they know the parents, and they become part of the community.”
Back to Basics for Students and Families
Looking ahead, Laberge is most excited about a new pilot project that takes teaching “Back to the Basics.”
“Last year we banned cellphones in school. Now it is routine. Our students know they can't bring phones to school. Then we suggested that students and teachers have less time on the computers and phones. Which means that after five o’clock, they don't answer their cellphones or reply to emails. Even if parents call, nobody will answer after 7 p.m.,” he said. "It's for better mental health for our staff."
This year, the focus shifts to homework and reading.
“For example, for the Grade 2 to 8 students, we want them to read, read, read at home. In French. We believe that homework should be done in the classroom. So that at home, parents should not be stuck explaining homework. They just listen to their children read,” he said.
Schools as community hubs
Something else important to Laberge is the importance of connecting each school to its community.
“We want every school to have its own community feel. Their own motto, their own flavour,” he said. “If in the town there are farmers or gardeners, perhaps we can sell their produce in the school. Perhaps we can organize a big gathering, where we can eat together, and bring the community. This is important for the students and the community.”
With classes set to begin, families in St. Pierre, La Broquerie, Ste. Anne, Lorette, and those across the southeast are about to see these changes in action. And for Superintendent Laberge, that’s the exciting part.
“I have a lot of work to do, yes,” he said. “But I am very happy for what is coming this year.”