Residents in View Royal and across the region have until April 6, 2026, to share their thoughts on the proposed 2026-2027 budget for the Greater Victoria School District 61. The school district is currently facing a financial shortfall, and public input will be considered before the final budget is decided at a special board meeting on April 8, 2026.
The district, which serves approximately 18,000 students including those in the Esquimalt family of schools that encompasses View Royal, is navigating a $3.5 million funding gap. While a structural deficit of $5.1 million exists, the district plans to use a $3.6 million surplus from the previous year to help cover costs, leaving about $1.6 million in required savings.
Proposed measures to address this deficit include a $250,000 reduction to middle school music programs, which represents a 20 per cent cut to current funding. Other potential changes involve reducing hours for high school career centres, as well as cutting positions for counsellors in adult continuing education and lowering the available hours for speech and language pathologists and psychologists.
These decisions are being overseen by Official Trustee Sherri Bell. Bell was appointed as the sole decision-maker for the district in January 2025 by BC Education Minister Lisa Beare, following the dismissal of the nine elected school board trustees due to disagreements regarding school safety plans and police presence in schools.
Carolyn Howe, president of the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association, has spoken out against the plan. She argued that the district is prioritizing administrative costs over essential support services for students. Community members can submit their feedback through the official online form until 4:00 PM on April 6.
