About This Year's Budget Process
About This Year's Budget Process
At Toronto Catholic, our schools are strengthened by the voices of the families, students, and community members who support and care for our learners every day. Your perspectives help guide our planning and ensure we remain focused on what matters most: student learning, well-being, and success.
Last year, parents, guardians, and community members shared thoughtful questions, priorities, and ideas that helped inform our budget planning.
With ongoing financial pressures across the board, this year’s budget planning reflects the need to make careful choices while focusing resources where they matter most for students and schools. To date, the Board is on track to reduce the in-year deficit by a further 20% from $48.5 million to $39 million.
As we plan for the 2026-2027 budget, our commitment remains the same: to make careful, responsible decisions and deliver effective, equitable programs and services that support students across our system.
Why Your Voice Matters
Your feedback helps us:
- understand community priorities and what matters most for students
- keep planning focused on student learning and well-being
- strengthen transparency and trust in how decisions are made
- identify opportunities to improve programs, services, and supports
Your input also helps us better understand emerging needs and priorities and plays an important role in shaping both short- and long-term planning for our schools.
How to Get Involved
Below are a few easy ways to share your perspective and help inform our planning. As parents/guardians, students, and community members, your insights offer valuable perspectives on how our schools can best support students.
Ways to participate:
- Points with Purpose: Take part in an activity where you can allocate points toward the areas of the system that matter most to you.
- Your Voice in the Budget: Share a quick idea that would make a big impact at your school. Ideas will be shared anonymously for the community to view and like.
2. Your Voice in the Budget
What investments would make the biggest difference in students’ day-to-day learning and overall school experience in the upcoming school year?
Take a moment to share one quick idea. Every voice helps shape our schools. (max 140 characters).
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Bring back textbooks for students and printing and handwriting . Forget technology and computers. Let’s go back to the old way of doing thin
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Eliminate dangerous structures, add Playground to bishop Macdonell. Reduce screen time in classrooms/eliminate screen time at lunch/break
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
AC in all classrooms in the summer is essential. More hands-on STEM subjects. Students need to learn to think outside the box.
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Focuses on academic. More extra-curricular activities to build self-esteem and confidence (sports, math/sci competition, eco club, clubs)
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Focus on life skills and real world simulated experiences.
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Digital learning and hands-on experience. With how quickly technology is changing, the children need to understand how to use
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Outdoor experiences, hands on tools, vocational trainings,1&1 for struggling students, financial literacy or 2 days to work at Burger Kings.
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Improving the playground areas for elementary schools. Including the gyms.
Hands on and co-op learning capabilities for secondary schools.
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Invest in AC, updated textbooks, clean facilities, technology, student support, and safety to improve student learning and experience.
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Bring back the textbooks and less students per teacher ratios.
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
hands on tools, finances literacy, outdoor experiences, vocational workshop(sewing & baking),work experience at fast-food and swimming
2 March, 2026
Anonymous says:
Earlier math and sciences introduction to kids as well as technology(i.e. robotics, computer classes). Problem solving development.
More About the Budget Process
Our Current Financial Landscape
In June 2025, the TCDSB was placed under supervision by the Ministry of Education. A Ministry-appointed Supervisor is working to support the Board to strengthen its long-term financial position.
Staff across the system continue to play a key role in advancing the Board’s Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan, working in close collaboration with the Supervisor.
In June 2025, the Board approved the 2025–2026 budget with:
- $17.4M in savings and efficiencies, reducing the in-year deficit by 26% compared to the previous year.
- an in-year deficit of $48.5M.
As we prepare the 2026–2027 budget, the Board continues to face significant financial pressures driven by structural cost drivers, including sick leave, statutory benefits, and school operations, as well as recovering from an enrolment decline experienced during the pandemic.
