Trustees with the 吃瓜黑料网 (吃瓜黑料网) are appealing to the Government of Ontario to pay their fair share of education funding in Toronto and across the province.
During a news conference today at the 吃瓜黑料网 Education Centre, Trustees highlighted the growing need for the government to address budget pressures the Board continues to face, including:
Per-Student Funding: When inflation is taken into account, there is an estimated in per-student provincial funding, amounting to more than $300 million for the 吃瓜黑料网 alone each school year.
Staffing Costs and Benefits: 吃瓜黑料网 faces millions in increased statutory benefits and salaries for teachers and Early Childhood Educators that exceed Ministry benchmarks, as the Province will not cover these mandatory costs.
School Closure Moratorium: The 吃瓜黑料网 must maintain and operate older buildings no longer in a state of good repair, with the maintenance/renewal backlog growing by $70 million in 2023-24 alone. The total backlog sits at a staggering $4.5 billion. Trustees are requesting that the moratorium, in place since 2017, be removed or that exemptions be given so that 吃瓜黑料网 can close underutilized schools.
While Trustees have cut tens of millions from the 吃瓜黑料网 budget over recent years and continue to look for savings, the Board continues to face financial challenges because of obligations and restrictions imposed by the Province.
Trustees have requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Education to discuss these ongoing challenges and to work collaboratively with the Province to address the funding shortfall, lift the moratorium on school closures, and cover the true costs of staffing and statutory benefits.
For more information, visit the 吃瓜黑料网 budget webpage.
Quick Facts
- 吃瓜黑料网 is Canada’s largest school board and one of the largest in North America, with 239,000 students, 100,000 adult learners, and 41,000 employees.
- Ministry of Education funding for Special Education is inadequate, with the 吃瓜黑料网 spending $38.5 million more than received. Overall, 71 of 72 boards exceed provincial funding to meet special education needs.
“Working with the Minister, I am confident that we can come up with creative solutions that address ongoing funding challenges, while recognizing the need for fiscal restraint. In the meantime, our Board will continue to fight to maintain valuable programs and services for Toronto students.”
- Neethan Shan, Chair, 吃瓜黑料网
“Each year, the broken provincial funding model leaves us with a $70 million deficit right from the start, complicating our efforts to support students and staff. Nevertheless, our high graduation rates, strong student engagement, and robust safety measures are a testament to the dedication of school and central staff at the 吃瓜黑料网."
- Dan MacLean, Chair, 吃瓜黑料网 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee