By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Facing an unprecedented $6.5 million budget compression, the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) voted at a special July 8 public meeting to defer adoption of its 2025–2026 budget. Citing a lack of final budgetary parameters from the Ministry of Education, the Council of Commissioners passed a resolution urging the Quebec government to reconsider its directives and give school boards more flexibility to safeguard student services.
The resolution, moved by Commissioner Eliza McKnight and adopted with one abstention, highlights what ETSB Chair Michael Murray described during the meeting as a “monumental reduction in resources” imposed under impossible timelines. The government notified school boards of the required compressions on June 12—just days before the end of the school year—after staffing assignments and major decisions had already been made.
“The choices imposed are not merely difficult, but agonizing,” Murray said. “We are trying to preserve the maximum of services to students that we possibly can.”
In the resolution, the board calls on the Ministry of Education to “revise the draft budgetary rules to significantly reduce the scope of the imposed compressions.” It also backs the Quebec English School Boards Association’s call to reinstate a previously available mechanism allowing school boards to use accumulated surpluses to offset budget shortfalls.
According to the text of the resolution, the ETSB determined that adopting a balanced budget under the new constraints would necessitate “substantial cuts to direct student services, including the elimination of the majority of decentralized ‘measures’ and increased reliance on community partners to fill service gaps.”
Commissioners were unanimous in denouncing the one-day consultation period provided by the government, calling it incompatible with responsible financial planning. The proposed rules were described as “unreasonable,” especially given the responsibilities of school boards to tailor services to local needs.
Director General Kandy Mackey emphasized the rapid and intense efforts by ETSB’s management team to assess all options. “Yes, tough decisions and so forth, but we really tried to do our best collectively to protect as much as we possibly could,” she said.
Murray praised the finance department and administration for “phenomenal” work under extreme pressure, noting that nearly all available flexibility had already been exhausted due to existing collective agreements, long-standing contracts, and previously planned spending.
Despite the efforts, the board is still awaiting final figures from the Ministry. Murray confirmed that an assistant deputy minister told him the final parameters would not be available until July 15.
Given the situation, the board unanimously resolved to defer budget adoption to a future meeting, either Aug. 26 or Sept. 23. The Education Act requires school boards to formally adopt their budgets no later than September 26.
Following the vote, Commissioner Mary-Ellen Kirby agreed with the board’s approach, calling it “a very sane approach to a rather insane situation.” She and others expressed full support for the resolution.
During the informal discussion period after the meeting adjourned, an Appalachian Teachers’ Association representative asked whether staff would be more directly included in the next phase of budget planning. “We work on the ground level… and we have some great recommendations,” he said.
Murray responded that wider consultation could be possible depending on the timing of the Ministry’s final directives. “I personally would be very interested if any of the unionized groups under the collective agreements have recommendations to make—to entertain them either in writing or in a meeting,” he said.
He also addressed concerns about lost surpluses. While the board had a modest surplus last year—estimated at about $80,000—it is no longer allowed to retain or apply that money due to the new rules. Additionally, the board continues to pay down a long-standing debt incurred in 2003 to fund a one-to-one student computer program, originally backed by a ministerial authorization.
Despite the financial strain, Murray reminded attendees that the board’s advocacy was not only on behalf of English school boards but also the French system, which, due to its direct accountability to the Minister of Education, faces limitations in publicly opposing the cuts. “We are in fact speaking not only on our own behalf… but I think on behalf of all of the school service centres,” he said.
The ETSB will revisit the matter at one of its two scheduled fall council meetings. In the meantime, Murray encouraged union members, parents, and other stakeholders to continue engaging and voicing their concerns.
A petition protesting the cuts—circulating among education advocates—has reportedly garnered over 150,000 signatures. “Maybe if enough people sign it,” Murray said, “it’ll get the attention of the government.”
The petition can be found here: https://www.assnat.qc.ca/fr/exprimez-votre-opinion/petition/Petition-11541/index.html