Fair Funding for Students
Underfunding + Increased Costs = Cuts to Education
View HDSB Fair Funding for Students Infographic
The HDSB provides education for 67,000 students in 111 schools and learning centres across Halton. We have budgeted for a
$7.7 million deficit in the current year and are required by regulation to eliminate this deficit next school year (2024-2025). A reduction of this scale will involve cuts across the entire system which will affect student learning.
Funding
Over the last few years, funding for the HDSB has not kept pace with costs. We have experienced challenges similar to other Ontario school boards:
- 10-30% increased costs of contracted goods and services (non-staff costs)
- $6M in increased costs for mandated enhancements to CPP/EI, which are not funded
Budget Pressures
We are reviewing all areas of the budget. However, there are areas where the HDSB has historically spent more than the amount allocated by the Ministry. These areas include:
Changes to how education is funded have affected the HDSB directly:
- $20M less for special education
- $2.6M less for school operations
- $1M less for student transportation
- $299 less funding per student than similar boards ($1,272 less than provincial average)
What Can You Do?
Share this information with other HDSB families and your school council.
Contact your local MPP about these areas of concern:
Contact Your Local MPP
Areas of Concern
Cuts need to be made to eliminate HDSB’s $7.7 million deficit. In addition, the HDSB is experiencing declining enrolment and cost pressures which are not fully funded. As a result, next year’s budget proposes cuts of over $10 million.
The main funding pressures for the HDSB include:
- Education funding has not kept pace with inflation, while cost pressures have increased 10-30% since pre-pandemic, impacting the current deficit.
- Funding for staff, which is provided by the province, has not been adjusted to cover the extra $6 million in costs associated with the enhancements to Canada Pension Plans and Employment Insurance (CPP/EI) over the last four years.
- The funding provided for supply teachers is $10 million less than the actual costs.
- If the province appropriately funded CPP/EI cost and supply staff, our school board could be making investments, instead of making cuts.
These cuts will have immediate and long-term impacts on the quality of education for all HDSB students, higher class sizes for special education, kindergarten and secondary classes, the ability to maintain school buildings and grounds and replace learning resources and technology.
Many students fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time to help them to catch up by making investments in classrooms, targeted resources and mental health and well-being supports. This is not the time to be taking resources away.
Additional Information