Manitoba Schools Struggle with Shortage of Portable Classrooms

Manitoba communities are struggling to accommodate rising student numbers as portable classrooms become increasingly scarce. Seine River School Division (SRSD), located southeast of Winnipeg, requested 10 portable classrooms this spring to start the new school year while waiting for a new high school in Ste. Anne.

SRSD Superintendent Colin Campbell explained the challenges: “We had to renovate library space, and now we have to add more students to the current classroom space, so class sizes increase.” The province currently has 679 portables available, but all are in use, and no new portables have been ordered.

Delayed Provincial Procurement

In response to growing demand, the province issued a request for proposals from companies to sell or lease portable classrooms capable of holding up to 25 students on August 18. The deadline for submissions has been extended twice and is now set for October 8.

Education Minister Tracy Schmidt acknowledged the pressure in areas experiencing record enrolment growth, such as Steinbach and Ste. Anne. “We know there is demand in pockets of the province,” she said, highlighting the need for additional classroom space.

Impact on Schools

Nine of the portables requested by SRSD would have been allocated to Ste. Anne’s complex, which houses roughly 1,000 students across high school, elementary, and French immersion programs, as well as La Broquerie’s K-8 Arborgate School. One unit was intended for St. Adolphe School.

Campbell noted the difficulty of managing without additional portables: “It's sometimes quicker to get portables. You ask for both and hope you get one. Unfortunately, we're not getting anything there at this time.”

In the meantime, Ste. Anne and La Broquerie have repurposed library spaces to create temporary classrooms. Two additional temporary classrooms have been added to each library to accommodate growing student populations.

School Trustees Voice Concerns

Trustees expressed frustration during recent board meetings as they struggled to identify short-term solutions. Robert Rivard, a trustee covering Ste. Anne and La Broquerie warned, “I think this is an issue we can't wait on. I mean, what are we going to do for next year? Take the music rooms, take the libraries, take any spare space?”

Rivard continued, “Our schools don't have any spare space. So then what are we going to do? Tell the kids you can't come to school; we don't have a classroom. Because it's getting to that point if they can't do the portables at least.” The board has requested a meeting with Schmidt, marking the first time they will meet the Education Minister since she took office in January.

Provincial Response

Schmidt previously met with the Town of Ste. Anne led the NDP caucus members on September 22 to discuss education and community issues. She acknowledged that using library space as classrooms is less than ideal. “I understand that cutting up a library space isn't ideal for classroom learning. That's not what I want as a parent, and that's not what Manitoba parents want,” she said.

The province has dedicated $59 million for school additions within its $200-million school capital budget. This includes funding for portables, gym upgrades, and school renovations.

New Schools and Future Plans

SRSD board chair Christine Roskos expressed cautious optimism, noting, “We've received an announcement that we'll be getting a new school, so I believe it is successful.”

SRSD was initially promised a new regional high school in Ste. Anne was in March as part of a provincial announcement for 11 new schools. The first four schools will be built in Winnipeg, West St. Paul, and Brandon, following a flexible K-8 design template adaptable to local needs.

Ste Anne’s new school is expected to follow a design suited for a high school and vocational education. Ministry officials are scheduled to meet the SRSD administration in October to start construction in 2027.

Changes in Government Plans

The 2025-26 school capital budget also includes $79 million for the start and continuation of eight school construction projects across Manitoba. Plans for nine schools using public-private partnerships, announced by the previous PC government, were halted by the newly elected NDP in 2023.

A vocational high school in Ste. Anne had been in the planning stages under the previous administration. A 15-acre parcel was purchased for $1.3 million in 2022, intended for the high school and eventual French immersion and elementary school programs.

Schmidt stressed the new government’s approach: “Unlike the previous government, we are not going to make announcements that we cannot fulfil. I sympathize with the community that they have had broken promises. We understand the urgency.”

Challenges Ahead

As enrolment continues to rise, Manitoba schools face ongoing pressure to provide adequate learning spaces. Without additional portables or new schools in the short term, libraries, music rooms, and other shared spaces are being converted to classrooms, putting strain on resources and staff.

While plans for a new high school in Ste. Anne offers hope for long-term solutions; interim measures remain critical. Education stakeholders emphasize the need for swift action to ensure that students have safe, functional, and appropriate learning environments.

The shortage of portable classrooms in Manitoba highlights the challenges of keeping up with rapid population growth and school enrolment. With existing facilities stretched to capacity and new construction years away, communities like Ste. Anne and La Broquerie must navigate temporary fixes while awaiting long-term solutions from the province.