Abbotsford School District invites public to budget consultation
ABBOTSFORD — Families, community members and school district employees are invited to share their thoughts on the 2025-26 school year budget ahead of the Abbotsford Board of Education’s approval this summer.
Secretary-Treasurer Ray Velestuk shared key budget information with parents and community members at the first public budget meeting on March 13. Although no major service changes are expected, enrollment may increase by more than 130 students next school year, which could affect staffing and class sizes.
“One of the other assumptions that we have is that Classroom Enhancement Fund would be fully funded by the Province,” said Velestuk at the meeting. “So we believe we need another teacher that is responding to a school’s class-size composition needs, and we believe that we should apply under the [Fund] for them.”
Significant budget pressures, such as declining international student numbers, increasing teacher salaries and inflationary pressures, were also discussed at the public session. The next one is slated for May 8 at the School Board Office, 2790 Tims Street, or virtually through Microsoft Teams.
