By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
As the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) prepares to implement significant budget reductions, the Appalachian Teachers’ Association (ATA) says it is concerned about the potential impact on students—particularly those with special needs—and is calling for broader consultation in the process.
The ETSB is facing a $6.5 million cut to its operating budget, about five per cent, as part of the Quebec government’s $510 million reduction to education spending across the province. The cuts come on top of $200 million slashed earlier this school year.
ATA President Timothy Croteau said in an interview that teachers are anxious about the months ahead and want to ensure that decisions are made with their input. “We’d love to hear from the employer, and we’ve asked that they meet with teachers as well,” he said. “Only meeting with administrators doesn’t get the word out there enough for the rest of us.”
Croteau said the union has heard the cuts may affect classroom services, student aides, and programming that supports vulnerable learners. “It might actually affect their direct services—especially our special needs children. We already don’t have enough,” he said.
He also emphasized that many provisions in the teachers’ collective agreement are designed to directly support students, such as class size limits and access to specialized resources. “It’s not just about teacher salaries,” he said. “Those agreements are built around children.”
The ATA is asking that collective agreements not be affected by the cuts and that the school board look for efficiencies in other areas. One concern is the board’s use of oversized classes, which Croteau said can reduce direct student support. “We’d like to prioritize smaller class sizes,” he said. “Because that means more direct services to students.”
Croteau noted that some schools are already exploring fundraising efforts to compensate for expected losses. “We don’t think that should have to happen,” he said. “This is a government responsibility.”
He added that many teachers support the board’s emphasis on attachment-based learning, which relies on additional time spent with students outside of formal instruction. “Those extras—like field trips—are part of how you build strong relationships,” he said. “And those are the things being cut.”
Croteau also questioned the provincial government’s claim that education funding is increasing overall. Both local MNAs—Geneviève Hébert and Isabelle Charest—have cited a $1.1 billion increase to the 2025 education budget and a 58 per cent rise since 2018.
“They keep saying there’s more money, but we don’t agree it’s reaching classrooms,” he said. “It shows how out of touch they are with teachers and students.”
The ATA is calling for more inclusive conversations as decisions are made. “We’re the ones living it, every day,” Croteau said.
Education Minister Bernard Drainville’s office was contacted for an interview but did not respond before this article went to print.
Subscribe to read this story and more
