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The Toronto District School Board may cut up to 200 support staff members to balance its $17.7-million deficit. But trustee John Campbell says don’t worry just yet.
School trustees discussed suggestions for cost reductions at its budget meeting Wednesday, including cutting staff to save $20 million and trying to get the ministry to fund whole departments, such as special needs students.
“It’s still very preliminary,” Campbell said.
“As a school board, our options are limited because 86% of our budget is in staffing. Part of the reason we do an excellent job with special needs students is because we overspend what the province gives us in that area.”
The budget committee will meet again on March 10 and make “major staffing decisions,” Campbell said, which will be discussed at a trustee seminar in February.
“It’s going to be an important day because, then, we’ll have more information on the early childhood educators going to the 71 schools that already have education assistants in them,” he said.
“You’re not going to see teacher reductions or ballooning class sizes. (Support staff and education assistants) are likely what we’d see (cut).”
For too long, the TDSB has been holding on to properties that are only half full of students, but is finally grappling with the issue of selling off these buildings, Campbell said. He also said the board is expecting more funding from the province for improving student enrolment.
“Our enrolment position for next year will be 4,000 students better than what we anticipated,” he said.
“The anticipated $17-million deficit is problematic because the actual deficit is more like $53 million. We take capital dollars that are supposed to be for repairing buildings and we use that money for routine maintenance. So our deficit position would be worse or the schools would fall into disrepair.”
JENNY YUEN, TORONTO SUN 28th January 2010
The Toronto District School Board may cut up to 200 support staff
members to balance its $17.7-million deficit. But trustee John Campbell says don’t worry just yet.
School trustees discussed suggestions for cost reductions at its budget meeting Wednesday, including cutting staff to save $20 million and trying to get the ministry to fund whole departments, such as special needs students.
“It’s still very preliminary,” Campbell said. “As a school board, our options are limited because 86% of our budget is in staffing. Part of the reason we do an excellent job with special needs students is because we overspend what the province gives us in that area.”
The budget committee will meet again on March 10 and make “major staffing decisions,” Campbell said, which will be discussed at a trustee seminar in February.
“It’s going to be an important day because, then, we’ll have more information on the early childhood educators going to the 71 schools that already have education assistants in them,” he said.
“You’re not going to see teacher reductions or ballooning class sizes. (Support staff and education assistants) are likely what we’d see (cut).”
For too long, the TDSB has been holding on to properties that are only half full of students, but is finally grappling with the issue of selling off these buildings, Campbell said. He also said the board is expecting more funding from the province for improving student enrolment.
“Our enrolment position for next year will be 4,000 students better than what we anticipated,” he said.
“The anticipated $17-million deficit is problematic because the actual deficit is more like $53 million. We take capital dollars that are supposed to be for repairing buildings and we use that money for routine maintenance. So our deficit position would be worse or the schools would fall into disrepair.”
JENNY YUEN, TORONTO SUN 28th January 2010
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