"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am very pleased to present the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board's Budget Report for the 2026-27 school year," said Lori Di Castri, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "As stewards of your trust, our priority is to ensure that the collective voice of our community guides our financial decisions. This budget represents a deliberate approach to governance and one that pairs strict fiscal accountability with an unwavering dedication to our mission as a Catholic school board. Through this roadmap, we ensure resources are distributed equitably to safeguard long-term stability while directing funding precisely where it impacts students most: in our classrooms, technology infrastructure, and special education supports."
This year's budget reflects a direct response to public input gathered from community participants who shared their top priorities across 14 survey questions. The community overwhelmingly identified classroom environment and frontline staffing as their absolute top priority to protect. As such, the board has made a significant investment by adding 17.9 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) classroom teachers and 4.0 FTE Educational Assistants directly to schools. To fully balance the budget under unfunded statutory mandates and severe inflationary pressures without cutting single core frontline roles, the senior administration team deliberately streamlined system bureaucracy, reducing central board administration positions by 4.0 FTE through attrition and structural realignment.
"Welcome to the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board's Budget Report for the 2026-27 school year," stated Karyn Bruneel, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Education Officer. "As we map out our financial plan for the upcoming year, our core purpose remains both clear and deeply rooted. We wish to cultivate Christ-centred communities where every single action flows naturally from our faith. Our focus is on sustaining just, inclusive spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and genuinely empowered to flourish. This budget serves as a practical roadmap that reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering personalized support and securing equitable access to growth, opportunity, and success for every learner."
In addition to daily operating expenditures, the board is heavily investing in local infrastructure to accommodate intense enrolment and facility utilization pressures across the region. Major capital expenditures have increased by 291.7% to a total of $39.56 million, driven largely by a $32.1 million investment towards a new Catholic secondary school build in Owen Sound. The infrastructure plan also designates $800,000 towards engineering and preparatory build work for a new elementary school in Mildmay. To keep older and rural facilities safe, structurally sound, and well-maintained, the board has earmarked $3.7 million for renewal projects such as HVAC replacements, roofing repairs, and accessibility upgrades, while a final $1.6 million is directed toward digital infrastructure refreshes and cybersecurity safety tools.
With full compliance verified across all regulatory markers by the Financial Services team, the CEO/CEdO, and Board of Trustees, the complete budget estimates package will be officially submitted to the Ministry of Education to meet the required June 30, 2026 submission deadline.
Media Contact:
Business Services Department
Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board
799 16th Ave., Hanover, ON N4N 3A1
Phone: 519-364-5820
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bgcdsb.org