Chris Cummings Acclaimed Board Chair, Karen Torrie-Racine Elected Vice-Chair at CDSBEO Annual Board Meeting

Kemptville – Chris Cummings, Trustee for City of Brockville, Town of Smiths Falls, and Leeds County, has been acclaimed to his second term as Chair for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.

Chair Cummings addressed trustees and senior administration at the November 18th Board Meeting.

“It is an honour to serve another term as Board Chair. I am continually inspired by this exceptional team, and I am grateful for your trust and unwavering dedication to our schools. I look forward to building on our progress in the year ahead and will continue to do my very best to represent this outstanding board.”

Karen Torrie-Racine, Trustee for the City of Cornwall and Glengarry County, was elected to her first term as Vice-Chair of the Board. She has served as a Trustee since 2022.

“I am honoured to be elected Vice Chair of CDSBEO. My involvement with the board began many years ago as an active parent in Cornwall, later serving on the Catholic Education Coalition and as the first Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee. Supporting Catholic education has always been close to my heart, and I am excited to take on this new leadership role alongside Chair Chris Cummings and my fellow trustees.”

The 2022-2026 CDSBEO Board of Trustees are:

• Jennifer Cooney – Trustee, Lanark County
• Christopher Cummings – Trustee, City of Brockville, Town of Smiths Falls, and Leeds County
• Brent Laton – Trustee, Grenville County and Elizabethtown-Kitley Township
• Karen McAllister – Trustee, Dundas and Stormont Counties
• Donna Nielsen – Trustee, City of Cornwall and Glengarry County
• Karen Torrie-Racine – Trustee, City of Cornwall and Glengarry County
• Sue Wilson – Trustee, Prescott and Russell Counties
• Junior Malunda – Student Trustee, 2025-2026
• Heidi Baumann – Associate Student Trustee, 2025-2026

Director’s Annual Report Presentation:

The 2024-2025 Director’s Annual Report was presented to the Board of Trustees during the November 18th board meeting. This report underscores the numerous accomplishments of the Board and examines successes in areas such as student achievement, faith development, and program initiatives aligned with the Board’s strategic priorities.

The 2025-2025 Director’s Annual Report is now available for viewing on the CDSBEO website at cdsbeo.on.ca.

2024-2025 Financial Statements Presentation

The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario’s 2024-2025 financial statements cover the fiscal period from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025. The board’s goal is to nurture safe, supportive, and healthy learning environments, emphasizing transparency and accountability in financial resources.

Enrolment figures show steady growth in both elementary and secondary students over the past four years. Total revenue for 2024-2025 is $240.9 million, primarily from provincial grants, municipal taxes, and other sources. Expenditures total $241.2 million, with salaries and benefits accounting for 75%, followed by contractual services and supplies.

Key financial pressures include staff replacement costs, utilities, snow removal, software, and overall inflation. The board presented a compliant in-year accumulated deficit and maintains compliance in the School Board Administration and Facilities and Transportation envelopes.

The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario operates 39 elementary and 10 secondary schools across eight counties. The CDSBEO offers excellence in Catholic education through provincially leading programs to approximately 14,000 students.