PEMBROKE, ON – June 29, 2026 – The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB) has officially presented its balanced budget for the 2026-2027 school year, reaffirming its dedication to student success, spiritual development and academic excellence. Guided by its mission to “educate hearts and minds in the way of Christ,” the $95.3 million financial plan prioritizes core academic growth, student wellness, and school condition improvements.

“RCCDSB has worked diligently to ensure this budget addresses the evolving needs of our students, with robust investments in early reading enhancements, special education, and literacy and numeracy programming,” shares Bob Schreader, RCCDSB Chair. “This budget aligns with the Ministry of Education’s Core Education Funding while ensuring our resources are allocated to support our vision of being an inclusive Catholic learning community.”

Strategic Priorities and Investments

The 2026-2027 budget focuses on several key strategic pillars designed to enhance student achievement and engagement:

• Faith Formation: The Board is prioritizing Catholic education and evangelization through support for religious education qualifications for teachers and adult faith formation for all staff. While also investing in our new Blessed and Beloved Family Life program for our students.
• Literacy and Numeracy: To support foundational skills, the Board has dedicated funding for specialized literacy teachers to work with Kindergarten to Grade 2 students. Additionally, an investment of over $146,000 in reading software and licensing supports early intervention, while $322,280 has been allocated for math support, interventions, and digital tools.
• Special Education: Recognizing the critical needs of diverse learners, the Board has invested $15.3 million into Special Education resources. The RCCDSB continues to advocate for increased provincial support to better assist students and educational support workers. 

Mental Health and Wellness: Mental health remains a core priority, with dedicated funding for social workers and attendance counsellors to support student well-being. A $100,000 investment has been dedicated specifically to summer mental health programs.

• Experiential Learning and Trades: To prepare students for future success, the budget includes significant funding for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs, and Dual Credit opportunities.
• Indigenous Education: The Board continues to advance its commitment to Truth and Reconciliation by funding Indigenous Education initiatives, including the work of the Indigenous Graduation Coach, an Indigenous Elementary Coach, and an Indigenous Education Instructional Coach.

Addressing Operational Challenges

While the budget remains balanced, the Board highlighted ongoing challenges regarding funding formulas. Notably, the Board faces a $1.2 million gap in covering staff sick leave costs, as provincial funding covers $1.1 million of an estimated $2.3 million expenditure. Additionally, the Board continues to supplement IT and learning technology funding by $1 million annually to bridge the gap left by static provincial funding, which has remained unchanged since 2007. Furthermore, although the Board received $13 million in Ministry funding for Special Education, it has committed a total of $15.3 million. To address this $2.3 million shortfall and maintain a balanced overall budget, the Board had to reallocate funds from other envelopes.

Infrastructure 

Infrastructure remains a key component of the 2026-2027 budget, with $9.2 million allocated for school condition improvements and $2.8 million for school renewal projects. 

The RCCDSB remains committed to its 2026-2027 theme: “As a community of believers, we strive to be instruments of peace, grace and hope.” This budget ensures that students continue to have the resources necessary to achieve their highest academic potential and grow in their faith.

The Board extends its gratitude to the budget team, the CEO, and the Senior Team for their diligent work in developing this balanced, Ministry-compliant budget.

Media Release- RCCDSB 2026-27 Budget