Ahead of a vote on its 2025-26 budget, the union representing public elementary school teachers provided insight into the challenges it has undergone.
The Greater Essex County District School Board of Trustees (GECDSB) met on Tuesday afternoon to hear the presentation on its budget for the next school year.
However, before the presentation by Business Superintendent and Treasurer Shelly Armstrong, the head of the Greater Essex ETFO provided comments.
Mario Spagnuolo provided a summary of the feedback received from ETFO members, which in part discussed how provincial cuts affected their work in the classroom.
"Reducing staff impacts student success," said Spagnuolo. "Fewer resources hinder teaching and learning. Increased workload and stress on educators cost the board financially and impact classrooms. Vulnerable students are most affected by the cuts that are being proposed."
Armstrong indicated in her presentation that the budget submitted on Tuesday is a deficit spending plan. Despite an increase of over $18.3-million in revenue for the 2025-26 school year, a deficit of $988,924 remains on the books. Operating with a deficit will require the approval of the Ontario Ministry of Education.
In November 2024, the trustees approved a financial recovery plan required by the Ministry since the board agreed to run a $6.4-million deficit for the 2024-25 school year. This included 62 proposed cuts in special education.
Spagnuolo reiterated his previous position on the effect of those cuts.
"It becomes increasingly challenging to pull students for a small group or one-on-one instruction when other students in the classroom struggle with self-regulation and working independently," said Spagnuolo.
Armstrong said special education is one of five areas where budget allocation is inadequate. The other areas included supply staff, statutory benefits, student transportation, and Justice Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity (JIED).
The board passed the $545-million operating budget.