WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government is directing the province’s school divisions to hold the line on salaries for executive employees such as superintendents, secretary-treasurers, and secretaries, and cut the overall number of management staff by at least 15 per cent.

In a letter sent Thursday to school board chairs, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen outlined no compensation increases are to be given for the next two years with increases of 0.75 per cent and one per cent to follow in years three and four.

The directive, which the government said is in line with other departments, comes as Manitoba Education announced a 0.5 per cent increase in overall funding for school divisions for the 2020/2021 school year.

"Their wages have more than doubled the increase of inflation so we think this is a reasonable step but most importantly that money will be reinvested into the education system which will augment the 6.6 million dollars more that's being invested into the system," Goertzen said on Thursday.

The opposition said it isn't convinced the money being saved through staffing will flow back into classrooms.

"We're seeing a cut and then we're seeing a distraction and that's really what the frustration is all about," said NDP education critic Matt Wiebe.

The spending decision amounts to a $6.6 million overall increase, but some school divisions will see a decrease in funding due in part to declining enrollment, the phase-out of the Tax Incentive Grant and other factors.

"In those areas where there's higher enrollment, they'll naturally get more funding. In those areas where there's a decrease in enrollment they'll get less funding," Goertzen said.

School divisions will receive no less than 98 per cent of their previous year’s operating funding.

"15 per cent is a number that will be difficult for school boards to contend with but not impossible," Manitoba School Boards Association president Alan Campbell told CTV News.

But Campbell said those won't be the only tough decisions. He said some divisions are dealing with a third straight year of reductions under the province's funding formula.

"There is no way that that doesn't impact the number of teachers that you have in your division."

Manitoba’s K-12 school system is funded provincially and through local property taxes.

In addition to the directives announced this year, the province is once again requesting school divisions limit local property tax increases to two per cent. It’s the third year the measure has been put in place and the province said all divisions have complied.

The government has also released a document showing out-of-province travel expenses for school division officials which amounts to a total of around $1 million. The minister noted in a news release the disclosure of travel expenses is similar to what’s in place for members of the legislative assembly and cabinet ministers.

Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education is conducting a review of the system which includes looking at the quality of education, governance, and funding. A final report is expected to be finished next month and made public in March.

Legislation requires the province to announce funding for schools before February.