Land O’Lakes Public School

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we move towards the last week of the 2025-2026 school year, I want to share a few important updates and reminders as we wrap up the year and begin looking ahead to September.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2026-2027 School Year Budget</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At last night’s Regular Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2026-2027 budget, prepared in accordance with Public Sector Accounting Board standards. The budget includes total revenues of $340.98 million and total expenditures of $345.76 million and is compliant with Ministry of Education requirements.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The full </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/budget_committee-1719463885020" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Budget Committee Agenda Package is available on the Limestone DSB website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, along with a new resource, </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/budget___financial_statements" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Budget Overview </span><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">– Your Guide to Understanding School Board Funding</em></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> available on the LDSB Budget and Financial Statements webpage.</span></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Budget overview document provides a more visual summary of the budget with highlights.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Motion Passed by Board of Trustees</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Board of Trustees passed a motion at last night’s meeting recognizing the challenges present in many classrooms and their impact on students, frontline educators, and support staff. The motion directs the Chair to write to the Ministry of Education, the Minister of Education, the Premier, local MPPs, OPBSA, CODE, and union partners, requesting additional funding to support the hiring of more frontline staff and will highlight that Limestone annually spends approximately $10 million beyond provincial funding to support special education.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reminder: P.A. Day – Friday, June 26, 2026</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A reminder to families that Friday, June 26 is a P.A. Day and there are no classes for students.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tri-Board Transportation: School Bus Information for the 2026-2027 School Year</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School bus information for the 2026-2027 school year will be available to families in July through the </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/student-portal/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tri-Board Student Portal</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">New students, as well as those with a change of address or school</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, must apply online by August 5 to ensure transportation is in place for the first day of school. Please visit </span><a href="https://triboard.ca" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">triboard.ca</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to apply for transportation and to access your student(s)’ busing details for September.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Year-End Letter to Students and Parents from The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Education and a Congratulations Letter from Edith Dumont, The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we move toward the end of the 2025-2026 school year, </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/year-end-letter-to-students-and-parents" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Education, has shared a message with students and families</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to mark this occasion. We have also received a </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/congratulations-letter-from-edith-dumont-the-lieutenant-governor-of-ontario" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">congratulatory letter for the Class of 2026 from Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for your continued support throughout the school year. As we approach the final days of classes, we wish all students, families, and staff a positive end to the school year.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Krishna Burra</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CEO/Director of Education</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone District School Board</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At its regular meeting on June 17, 2026, the Limestone District School Board of Trustees approved a&nbsp;$340.5 million budget&nbsp;for the 2026–2027 school year. This is a&nbsp;deficit budget balanced through the use of reserve funds.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The approved budget complies with Ministry of Education requirements and includes:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Operating expenditures&nbsp;of&nbsp;$316.8 million, representing a $73,000 decrease compared to the previous year.</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Capital expenditures&nbsp;of&nbsp;$23.7 million, allocated to school condition improvements and renewal projects.</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The vast majority of the operating budget is directed to student instruction and relates directly to classroom support. Capital funding is used to fund school condition improvements and school renewal projects.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Board continues to face financial pressures in several key areas, including:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Education</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff Replacement</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Transportation</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Statutory Benefits</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/cc327962-05b2-4cac-b89e-711e1e75ca27/2026-06-16-Budget-Overview.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260618134224" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2026-2027 Budget Overview</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (PDF)</span></li></ul>

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Education has shared a letter for students, parents and families: </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Students, Parents and Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To our amazing students: well done on finishing another school year! This is a good time to celebrate everything you have accomplished over the past several months. You worked hard, took on challenges, learned new things and continued to grow. You should be proud of all you have achieved this year.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As you begin your summer break, take time to rest, explore your interests, and enjoy time with family and friends. However you choose to spend your summer, I hope you make the most of the months ahead.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To the graduating Class of 2026, congratulations on reaching this important milestone. Graduation marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Whether your next step is college, university, an apprenticeship, the workforce or another pathway, I wish you every success in the years ahead.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As families look ahead to September and the start of a new school year, there are a few things to keep in mind. Ontario schools will continue to focus on helping students build strong foundations in reading, writing and math while preparing them for success beyond the classroom. Students in elementary schools will learn from the same core materials and benefit from a revised Kindergarten curriculum focused on foundational literacy, math and science skills. In Grade 7 and 8, updated History courses will include new mandatory content on the history of Black Canadians.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In high schools, students in Grade 10 History will have new learning about Black history, the Holocaust and Holodomor. Students will also be required to demonstrate financial literacy as part of earning their high school diploma. To help provide clearer expectations and a more comprehensive picture of student achievement, high school students will complete written final exams during a dedicated exam period, and attendance and classroom participation will form part of their final grade. Together, these changes will help students stay engaged in their learning and be better prepared for life after graduation.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope the summer ahead provides an opportunity to recharge and enjoy some well-earned time together. I wish you and your family a safe, happy and enjoyable summer.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Honourable Paul Calandra Minister of Education</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><a href="/documents/1fba83f3-9f1b-4d60-a77c-3bc15cd094c8/Year-End-Letter-to-Students-and-Parents.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260617152216" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Year End Letter to Students, Parents, and Families from The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Education - English</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (PDF)</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><a href="/documents/1466db2e-00ea-40f2-b63d-8d3f65d04a0d/Lettre-concernant-la-fin-de-l-ann-e-scolaire-l-intention-des-l-ves-et-des-parents.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260617152354" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Year End Letter to Students, Parents, and Families from The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Education - French</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (PDF)</span></p>