~Division Office
Transportation Fees Updated for 2026–2027
At their February 25, 2026, meeting, the Board of Trustees approved updated transportation fees for the 2026–2027 school year.
In-Town Transportation
The in-town transportation fee for students who are not eligible for provincial funding will increase from $200.00 to $280.00. This fee applies to students who live close enough to school that they are not funded for transportation by the province but who still wish to ride the bus.
An important change from the province starting in the 2026-2027 year: ECS to Grade 6 students will only be funded for transportation if they live 1.6 kilometres or more from the school; a change from the current 1.0 kilometre distance criteria. This means some families who previously accessed in-town busing at no cost will now need to pay the in-town fee if they wish their children to continue riding the bus.
Other Transportation Fees
The fee for students who request transportation to a school other than their designated school remains at $460.00, and the alternate site request fee stays at $50.00. ECS students are charged half the applicable rate.
The updated fees are intended to keep the transportation system operating on a cost-recovery basis, while keeping costs as affordable as possible for families.
Busing applications for 2026-2027 will open soon.
Board Approves Budget Framework for 2026–2027
The Board of Trustees approved a set of guiding principles and assumptions that will shape the division’s 2026-2027 operating budget. The framework provides direction for administration to begin building the detailed budget, which must be submitted to Alberta Education and Childcare by May 31.
The board confirmed that the budget will be balanced, meaning spending will not exceed expected revenue; the division is not in a position to allow deficit spending. Enrolment projections have been developed carefully by each school, and staffing levels are expected to remain similar to 2025-2026. No schools will be opened or closed. The budget will also reflect a new CASA Mental Health classroom and the continuation of the provincially funded K–6 classroom complexity team.
The provincial budget was released on February 26, 2026, and the division’s detailed funding allocation should arrive in mid-March. Administration will adjust the budget as needed once the division’s funding profile is known.
Alternate School Calendars Approved for 2026–2027
The Board of Trustees has approved alternate school-year calendars for several community schools and Vista Virtual School for the 2026–2027 school year.
An alternate calendar differs from the traditional September–June school year, which typically operates five days per week with breaks at Christmas and Easter. Alternate calendars may include schedules such as four days out of five or nine days out of ten.
Many Pembina Hills schools operate on alternate calendars due to the interconnected nature of the division’s transportation system and the distances between schools. Vista Virtual School follows an alternate calendar as it operates year-round, including during the summer months.
The schools renewing their alternate calendars include Barrhead Composite High School (Jr. High), Busby School, Dunstable School, Eleanor Hall School, Fort Assiniboine School, Neerlandia Public Christian School, Barrhead and Westlock Outreach Schools, Pibroch and Sunny Bend Colony Schools, Pembina North Community School, RF Staples Secondary School (Jr. High), and Swan Hills School. Schools develop their proposed calendars in accordance with PHSD Administrative Procedure 60-05 and the requirements of the Education Act.
2026-2027 Alternate calendars are available on the division and school websites.
BCHS Students to Travel to Europe in 2027
The Board of Trustees gave approval in principle for an international tour for students from Barrhead Composite High School. Approximately 15 students will be invited to travel to Switzerland, Italy, France, and Spain from March 23 to April 4, 2027. The trip is being organized through EF Tours, a prequalified travel vendor that meets the division’s safety and quality standards.
The tour will give students the chance to experience European history, art, and culture firsthand. Students will travel by plane, train, and boat between destinations. The trip is designed to support the curriculum by turning classroom learning into real-world experiences, helping students develop global awareness, independence, and language skills.
Approval in principle means the lead teacher can now begin sharing information with students and families and continue planning the trip details. All international tours must follow PHSD Administrative Procedure 60-03, which sets out requirements for student safety, supervision, and travel planning. Final trip details, including exact dates, will be confirmed as planning progresses.