Public school board approves $1.7-billion budget

Student achievement and well-being are the focus of the York Region District School Board’s (YRDSB) $1.7-billion 2026-27 budget.

“As we approached the 2026-2027 budget, the Board focused on making decisions that reflect current student needs and long-term sustainability,” said Board Chair Ron Lynn.

“The input we received from students, families, staff and community members helped inform those decisions and ensure the budget remains responsive to the communities we serve across York Region,” he added.

The balanced budget aligns resources with a projected decline in student enrolment. “Balancing the 2026-2027 budget required staff to carefully plan for declining enrolment and rising costs in light of the need to deliver high-quality programs and services in a responsible, sustainable way,” said Associate Director of Education and Chief Financial Officer Vidyia Maharaj.

The budget allocates resources to several high-priority areas, including an additional investment of $2 million in Specialized Equipment Amount to support students with special education needs, an additional investment from the Ministry of Education of $3.6 million in curriculum resources to support consistent access to materials across schools and an additional investment of $1.6 million from the Ministry to support classroom materials and supplies.

“The 2026-2027 budget prioritizes investment in student success by continuing to direct over 97 per cent of staffing funding to employees who work directly in schools and classrooms,” said Robert Kolosowski, chair of the Finance and Property Standing Committee. “Through extensive review and discussion, the Committee worked to ensure the Board’s resources continue to be directed to priority areas while addressing ongoing financial pressures.”

The YRDSB is the third largest school district in Ontario with 216 schools.