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Budget Process and Staffing Updates

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As in previous years, the budget planning and development process will move forward with a focus on supporting student achievement and well-being. This site is created to inform our community throughout the budget and staffing process by sharing latest news, critical timelines, and related reports.

Ministry of Education

Core Education Funding was announced on May 23, 2025

Budget Development Process Timelines

December: Key Parameters and Assumptions to Guide Budget Development
February to May: Executive Council and Finance & Facilities Committee to receive budget information to make decisions on school-based staff to meet collective agreement timelines
March 27: School Based Staffing Recommendations to Finance and Facilities Committee
May 23: Release of Ministry funding model for 2025/26
May to June: Finalize preliminary budget and recommendations based on information received from the funding announcement
By June 30: Approval of Budget and submission to Ministry

2025-2026 Budget Consultation

HWDSB’s budget consultation was available for the community to provide their input and feedback from Friday February 14, 2025 until March 6, 2025.

Budget Priorities

HWDSB budget consultation was made available for the community to provide input and feedback beginning Friday February 14 until March 6. Based on feedback the budget priorities for the 2025/26 school year were as follows:

Strong support for investment in student-facing roles (e.g., EAs, social workers) and classroom resources.
Literacy and math were identified as foundational and in need of early, targeted support.
Student well-being (mental health, inclusion, nutrition) and future pathways (e.g., SHSM, co-op, dual credits) were viewed as critical for engagement and long-term success.
Facilities and basic infrastructure like HVAC and washrooms were seen as essential and non-negotiable.
Respondents consistently asked for greater transparency, clearer communication about the budget, and more opportunities for meaningful local engagement.

Projected enrolment

HWDSB has projected its enrolment for 2025-26 based on the best information available at this time. The projections include an increase from 2024-25.

	2024-25	2025-26	Increase/(Decrease)	Increase/(Decrease)
	Revised Budget ADE	Projected Budget ADE	ADE	%
Elementary	37,789.50	37,909.00	119.50	0.32%
Secondary	14,447.75	14,475.38	(2.37)	(0.02%)
Total	52,267.25	52,384.38	117.13	0.22%

The key objective of the Budget Development Process, including Public Consultation, is to align the allocation of resources with the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, Indigenous Education Circle Strategic Action Plan, Equity Action Plan, identify school-based staffing requirements; identify budget challenges and opportunities, and the development of key messages to be included in the communication plan.