The provincial change to the K-3 initiative will see little change for the Hanover School Division this coming year.

On Tuesday the province made the announcement  to no longer limit school division's K-3 classes to 20 students. Instead, the province has given more flexibility to school divisions to be creative and design a K-3 program which suits their specific needs.

Superintendent Randy Dueck says the province will still provide them with the $960,000 funding for the program adding this means both the budget and mill rate for next year will stay unchanged from the proposed budget last week. The division had approved the 2017-2018 budget, contingent on this funding being provided.

Dueck adds the province has made it clear they don't see a particular benefit to the 20 class size in terms of student education, and he agrees.

"I think they're probably right. We need to keep our class sizes low, but 20 itself is not necessarily ... you go to 21 or 22 and you have a completely different scenario, and it's not the case. So, they've understood that and I think I appreciate that they have responded to that in the way that they have."

Dueck adds the Mitchell Elementary School addition request was filed to the Manitoba Public Schools Finance Board under the 20 K-3 initiative.

"We need an addition at Mitchell Elementary School regardless of whether it's 20 K-3, because that school has just grown and we have classes in every nook and cranny of that school right now."

He says they will look into whether they need to switch their request from being filed under the 20 K-3 initiative to being filed under an increased need due to continued growth.

Read More:
K-3 Classes No Longer Limited To 20 Students
HSD Raises Taxes For 2017-18 Budget