By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) is grappling with significant cuts to funding for its francization programs, a development that threatens the program’s future and impacts both staff and students. In a Sept. 30 interview, ETSB Chair Michael Murray outlined the extent of the cuts, the impact on the board’s operations, and the uncertain path forward.
The school board’s francization efforts have expanded significantly in recent years, growing from a modest base to accommodate between 400 and 500 full-time equivalent students. This growth aligned with the Quebec government’s push to improve French language skills among immigrants, refugees, and new arrivals, helping them integrate into Quebec society and find employment.
However, despite this progress, the board’s recent budget allocation, which arrived in July—two months late—was unexpectedly cut back to 2021 funding levels. “We’ve ramped up the program over the last three or four years, thinking it was in line with the government’s objectives,” Murray explained. “And then, suddenly, in the budget we received, funding was cut back to the 2021 levels.”
Murray expressed frustration and confusion over the cuts. Initially, the board hoped it was a mistake, but they later confirmed that the reduction was intentional. The delay and the cuts left the board with little time to react, and so far, no clear solutions have emerged. “There was a certain amount of disbelief and incomprehension to get answers from the authorities,” he said. “We found out it was not an accident or oversight but an intentional decision.”
Adding to the challenge is the complexity of the adult education funding structure. Francization programs are funded on a historic activity basis, meaning the board’s recent expansion efforts haven’t yet been reflected in the budget. “The budget this year is based on activity from years earlier,” Murray noted. “We’ve been ramping up, understanding that eventually there would be compensation, but we’re not there yet.”
