Rainbow District School Board approved a budget of $266.4 million for the 2025-2026 school year at a Special Board Meeting held on June 24, 2025. To balance the budget, $258,382 will be withdrawn from reserves. This amount is within one percent of the Board's operating revenue, as per the limitations set by the Ministry of Education. Along with the budget, trustees approved an in-year deficit plan to align expenditures with revenue.
Rainbow District School Board Chair David Farrow said the budget ensures students continue to receive quality programs in quality facilities. "We are proud of the programs that we offer inside and outside of the classroom," he said. "Our instructional leaders, teachers and support staff give students every opportunity to achieve their full potential."
He added: "The budget reflects our ongoing emphasis on student well-being and achievement, which remains the focus of decision-making. We are channeling funds into teaching and learning where they will have the greatest impact on student success."
The budget maintains programs and services adjusted to include the terms and conditions of collective agreements as well as inflationary pressures, such as increases in the cost of utilities. Additional investments from the Ministry of Education are also reflected in the budget, including ongoing resources for early reading, math, the trades, mental health and safe schools.
When classes resume this fall, the Board is projecting an enrolment of 14,196 students. Enrolment projections consider historic retention rates, the flow through of each grade, and information on population growth or decline.
The base funding provided by the Ministry of Education, Core Education Funding, consists of six pillars - Classroom Staffing Fund, Learning Resources Fund, Special Education Fund, School Facilities Fund, Student Transportation Fund and School Board Administration Fund.
Core Education Funding for 2025-2026, which has increased by approximately two per cent, has been adjusted to account for a new funding approach to purchase equipment for students with special needs, the third year of a new funding framework for student transportation, and capital allocations for school renewal projects.
In addition to Core Education Funding, the Ministry of Education invests in Responsive Education Programs which provide targeted funding for specific initiatives. The Ministry will continue to invest in early reading interventions and resources, digital math tools, math facilitators and demonstration classrooms, Indigenous graduation coaches, skilled trades and apprenticeships, as well as special education and mental health support for summer learning.
Churchill Public School students Beren Kiziloglu, left, and Dacian Radu solve a math problem.
Funding has also been allocated to screen students for early reading in the second year of Kindergarten as well as Grades 1 and 2. This will ensure children are assessed at a young age in order to build strong literacy skills, the foundation for all learning.
Funding will ensure the ongoing improvement of broadband, including network connectivity, network infrastructure, network security and related network operations. Funding has been provided for the second year of a three-year commitment to install vape detectors in schools.
A total of 76.7 percent of the budget, or $204.5 million, has been allocated to salaries and benefits. Just under eight percent of the budget (7.8 percent), or $20.8 million, will go towards supplies and services, which includes the operation and maintenance of facilities, school budgets, and computers in schools. A total of 7.7 percent, or $20.5 million, will go towards fees and contracts, including the transportation of students to and from school. Rainbow District School Board will receive $15.7 million in school renewal and school condition improvement funding. This represents 5.9 per cent of the budget.
The budget provides the financial framework to enable the Board to achieve the priorities in its strategic plan which will enter its fourth year of implementation. There are six priorities in Strategic Directions 2022-2027 - Student Success and Achievement, Literacy and Numeracy, Truth and Reconciliation, Mental Health and Well-Being, Environmental Education and Sustainability, and Equity and Inclusive Education.
In 2025-2026, Rainbow District School Board will operate 29 elementary school buildings and 9 secondary school buildings in Sudbury, Espanola, and Manitoulin Island. The Board also offers other programs - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program, Cecil Facer School, N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, Children's Treatment Centre, O'Connor Park, Applied Behaviour Analysis program, Restart, Simulated Healthy Independent Living Opportunities (SHILO) program, Attendance Centre, Mishko-Ode-Wendam, Northern Support Initiative, Frank Flowers School and Barrydowne College operating at Cambrian College.
