See Yourself in Limestone

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is proud to recognize outstanding staff members for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to student success through its annual staff awards.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Each year, the Board presents the Barry C. O’Connor Excellence in Education Awards and the J.C. McLeod Excellence in Teaching Award, celebrating individuals who make a meaningful difference in schools and across the district.</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Barry C. O’Connor Excellence in Education Awards</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Barry C. O’Connor Excellence in Education Awards recognize the vital contributions of support staff who play an essential role in creating positive learning environments for students. Established to honour excellence across a range of roles, the awards highlight the dedication and impact of staff working behind the scenes and alongside students every day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recipients are recognized across several categories, including clerical and secretarial, custodial and maintenance, educational services staff, educational assistants, early childhood educators, central office staff and administrators, and other support staff and volunteers.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Congratulations to the 2025–2026 recipients:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Central Office Staff:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Carrie Propper</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Clerical:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Amanda MacDonald</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Custodial and Maintenance:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dana Price</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Educational Services:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Christa Cox</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Educational Assistant:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Beth Malott</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These individuals demonstrate excellence in their roles and contribute meaningfully to the success and well-being of students and school communities across Limestone.</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">J.C. McLeod Excellence in Teaching Award</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The J.C. McLeod Excellence in Teaching Award honours exceptional teaching and celebrates educators who inspire, support, and empower students each day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Named after J.C. (Colin) McLeod, former Director of Education for the Lennox and Addington County Board of Education from 1969 to 1983, the award reflects his longstanding commitment to recognizing excellence in teaching.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Congratulations to this year’s recipients:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Elementary:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Allison Madden</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Secondary:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Adam Lynn</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These educators exemplify excellence in teaching through their commitment to student learning, innovative practices, and dedication to supporting every student’s success.</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Honouring Excellence</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All award recipients were recognized and celebrated at the June 2026 Board Meeting, where they were presented with their awards in front of trustees, senior staff, and colleagues.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board extends sincere congratulations and thanks to all of this year’s recipients for their outstanding contributions and for making a positive difference in the lives of students, in every classroom, every day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/479a95c7-6a1e-4428-ad1c-fc042de7599e?fingerprint=ppb20260622181720" alt="2026 06 18 Staff Awards" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<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>