Budget Process

2026–2027 Budget Development: Public Input

Lakehead District School Board is beginning the development of the 2026–2027 operating budget, and we welcome feedback from our school communities and members of the public.

The Board’s annual budget is a key mechanism for advancing the 2025–2029 Education Strategic Plan, guided by the principles of Belong, Succeed, and Reconcile.  The budget also plays an important role in supporting the Board’s Student Achievement Plan, with a focus on improving outcomes in Literacy, Mathematics, Graduation Rates, and Preparation for Future Success.

Guiding Principles and Budget Overview

As part of the budget development process, the Board has established Guiding Principles for the 2026–2027 Budget and an Understanding the Board’s Budget: High‑Level Overview.  These documents provide important context about how funding decisions are made and how resources are aligned with Board priorities.

Given ongoing fiscal constraints within the education sector, budget recommendations must be focused, realistic, and clearly connected to student achievement and student well‑being.

Funding Context

Ontario school boards receive most of their funding through Core Education Funding provided by the Province of Ontario. A significant portion of this funding is restricted to specific purposes, including:

• Special education
• Indigenous education
• Student transportation
• Mental health supports
• Capital projects
• Mandated staffing requirements

In a northern context, school boards also experience additional pressures, including:

• Long transportation routes
• Small and/or declining enrolment
• Aging facilities and limited local alternatives
• Weather and geographic factors that increase operating costs
• Challenges recruiting and retaining staff
• A strong reliance on schools as community service hubs

Together, these factors limit flexibility when balancing the annual budget and reinforce the importance of prioritizing limited discretionary resources to best support student learning, engagement, and well‑being.

Why We Are Seeking Feedback

Stakeholder input is an important part of the budget development process and helps the Board identify where discretionary funding should be prioritized to achieve the greatest impact within existing constraints.

Feedback will help inform Trustees as they consider system priorities aligned with the Board’s Strategic Plan and Student Achievement Plan.

How to Provide Input

Members of the school community and the public are invited to share their perspectives by completing the 2026–2027 Budget Input Feedback Survey:

👉 Lakehead District School Board – Feedback Survey for 2026-2027 Budget Input  – Fill out form

Public input is welcomed  via the survey, no later than (Day), March (Date), 2026.

2026-2027 Budget Process

Guiding Principles for 2026-2027 Budget Development – Appendix A
Understanding LDSB’s Budget – High Level Overview – Appendix B

Fiance Committee, Chair, Scottie Wemigwans

Finance Committee, Vice Chair, George Saarinen