GECDSB begins budget planning with two public consultation meetings

Greater Essex County District School Board. (File)

The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) has begun preparing its budget for the 2026-27 school year.

As part of the planning process, the board will hold two public consultation meetings to gather feedback.

The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday April 14, and second on May 12, both at 5 p.m. at the board office at 451 Park Street West.

Shelley Armstrong, Superintendent of Business and Treasurer, GECDSB, said the board is looking to hear from parents, staff, students, and community partners such as child care centres and after school programs.

She adds it’s important for people to show up and share their views on what the school board should prioritize when deciding how to spend its Ministry of Education funding.

“It’s no secret that the board is under a financial deficit for its 2025-26 fiscal year, and as we’ve seen from the announced provincial budget for 2026, there’s not a lot of investment towards education,” Armstrong said.

She said special education is likely to be a top concern again.

“We’re just seeing more and more students coming to school where they have special education needs,” she said. “A lot of times we’re seeing those needs are becoming much more complex than they have been in the past which requires more support. We’re chronically underfunded in student transportation, so that would probably be another area that we would expect to hear more about.”

Armstrong said the public has a number of options available to them to share budgetary concerns including at the public meetings or directly with trustees.

“As well yes, reach out to their local MPP, or reach out to the minister of education and express what their concerns are with respect to funding, and the priorities that the government is setting with respect to [Junior Kindergarten] to 12 education,” she said.

Anyone who wants to speak at the meeting must submit a delegation request form by noon on the Friday before the meeting.

People can also share their feedback by emailing [e-mail].