The District School Board Ontario North East has locked in its spending plan for the year ahead, approving a balanced 2026-2027 budget that directs more dollars into local classrooms. The decision came during a special board meeting on June 9, 2026, and directly affects students and staff at Ecole Secondaire Cochrane High School and other schools across a sprawling region from Temagami to Hearst, including Cochrane and Smooth Rock Falls.
The newly approved budget totals $188,288,235 and is balanced without cuts to core programming. Of that amount, $167,786,895 is set aside for day-to-day operations such as teachers, support staff, and classroom resources, while an additional $20,501,340 is earmarked for fixing up aging school buildings and other facility upgrades. The budget marks a notable jump of roughly $25.4 million over the previous year’s $162,904,426 plan.
Board Chair Dr. Jonathan Byer said he was pleased the board could keep the books balanced “given the current provincial context.” The spending package also includes funds to hire more people. The board approved a total of 1,137.6 full-time equivalent positions for 2026-2027, up by 31.9 positions from the 1,105.7 positions in the current year, reflecting a commitment to put more staff directly in front of students.
Cochrane’s trustee, Dennis Draves, sits on the board’s Finance and Property Committee. Draves represents a zone that takes in both Cochrane and Smooth Rock Falls. Local families can look for the budget’s impact when the new school year starts this fall, with the extra funding expected to shore up everything from special education supports to graduation coaching for Indigenous students, and keep school facilities in better shape.
The board serves 6,977 students across 25 elementary schools and 10 secondary schools, including Ecole Secondaire Cochrane High School where Kevin McRae is principal and Summer Nickoshie serves as Indigenous Student Trustee. Board officials say the budget lines up with Ministry of Education rules and fits into the board’s long-term plan to lift student achievement and belonging.
