The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is offering the public the chance to comment on its budget priorities in a move toward greater transparency on spending decisions.

Feedback will be accepted until March 2 as part of a process that will see trustees open a traditional budget workshop, scheduled for May, to the public for the first time.

The push for more consultation came from rookie trustee Todd White, who complained last year’s process left little time for him to sound out constituents because the budget was released shortly before an end-of-June approval deadline.

The 10 budget priorities – including early-learning strategies, expansion of all-day kindergarten and implementation of any decisions on school closures – and feedback forms are available at www.hwdsb.on.ca/budget.

“We’re not looking to go to the public to consult on 550 million dollars worth of board budgets,” treasurer Don Grant said on Monday in response to trustee questions on the level of input.

“We’re looking to consult with the public in terms of their concurrence, adjustment or changes to what the board has certainly imbedded in its current budget and what we see the board likely imbedding in future budgets.”