Sarnia

PC school funding impact still to be assessed

The head of the Lambton Kent District School Board says it's still too early to say if there will be teacher layoffs in the fall.

The Progressive Conservative government announced school board funding for the coming school year Friday.

Director of Education Jim Costello said they're still waiting for numbers specific to Lambton-Kent.

"We're reviewing the information that was released today in grants for student needs, but there were no numbers attached to it specific to a board, so the numbers that have come out are provincial numbers," said Costello. "In the next week or two we'll receive a technical paper from the Ministry of Education, and we'll go through that and we'll start to be able to see what the impact will be for the Lambton Kent District School Board specifically. At that time we'll know a lot more."

The province is marginally increasing overall funding to school boards.

Education Minister Lisa Thompson said they expect boards will not have to lay off teachers due to class size and e-learning changes, because of a new Attrition Protection Allocation.

Costello said they've read those comments but they're not able to make a determination until they see the actual numbers.

Earlier this month, the public school board issued layoff notices to 111 teachers, 52 in the elementary panel and 59 at the secondary level.

Read More Local Stories

New military crosswalk rendering. (Image courtesy of the Sarnia Legion Branch 62)

New military crosswalk in Sarnia to be unveiled

As part of a partnership between the Sarnia Legion Branch 62 and City of Sarnia, an unveiling ceremony will be held at the corner of Christina Street and Wellington Street on Sunday, June 7, at 2 p.m.

Members of the Sarnia Police Service entering a Tashmoo Avenue residence on June 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Sarnia Police Service)

Two men arrested in Tashmoo Ave. standoff

Sarnia police said the investigation began on May 29 after the victim was allegedly attacked by acquaintances at a residence near Tashmoo Avenue and Christopher Drive at Aamjiwnaang First Nation.