BUDGET UPDATE:
On Friday, May 10, TDSB staff received information from the Ministry of Education that increased the projected budget shortfall from $54.4 million to $67.8 million. On May, 13th, TDSB staff presented a proposed balanced budget to trustees, and then presented an amended version two days later, on May 15th, to the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (FBEC). Trustees are currently considering that proposed budget, and over the next few weeks, will deliberate and debate it at subsequent FBEC meetings and then eventually vote on its final form in mid-June as the budget makes it way through committee to Board on June 19th, 2019.
What follows below is an overview of the proposed budget. Please note that at this point in time, the proposed reductions are not final. The Board of Trustees has many challenging and difficult decisions to make over the next few weeks. A shortfall of $67.8 requires substantial cuts, and trustees are doing their best to continue to preserve programming, support student learning, and provide equitable allocation of resources to our unique populations.
Below is a brief summary of the proposed budget reductions. A more detailed outline can be found on the TDSB website by clicking
here. Please note that the more complete list of budget reductions found on the TDSB website (linked above) contains the dollar amounts associated with these programs as well as the rationale for the suggested reductions. I know the public will want to weigh in on the proposed budget. At the bottom of this section on budget, I am including instructions on how the public can share concerns and comments with the Board. But first, what follows is a brief overview of the proposed reductions.
Summary of Proposed Budget Reductions and Changes
**Unless noted, the changes below are proposed to begin in September 2019.
INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS (CONTINUING EDUCATION)
* Eliminate the Integrated Day and Weekend Programs.
* Continue to offer the After School programs to accommodate students.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM
* Eliminate the Elementary IB Program (Harrison and Windfields)
* Continue the Secondary IB Program with fee requirements (income based).
INTERNATIONAL VISA STUDENTS
* Increase tuition fees to offset the recently announced $1300 penalty fee that will now be collected by the Ministry of Education for each international student enrolled in a Board.
* Increase enrolment
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR FRENCH AND GIFTED PROGRAMS (two year approach)
* eliminate TTC tickets for secondary starting September 2019 for French Immersion, Extended French, and Gifted programming
* continue bussing and transportation for the 2019-2020 school year for grades SK-8 for French Immersion and Extended French; continue bussing and transportation for the 2019-2020 school year for Gifted programs for grades 4-8
* eliminate bussing starting September 2020 for French Immersion, Extended French and Gifted programs
SUPPLEMENTARY TEACHERS (YEAR 2, Changes for 2020-2021 school year)
* French Immersion & Extended French - Reduce the staffing allocations to meet actual program enrolment. Currently the system supplements these classes with a significantly higher number of teachers than required for enrolment. There will also be discussion of changes to the multiple system entry points into French Programs when the Recommendations from the 2017/18 French Program Review are presented to Board on June 4th.
* Gifted Programs - Reduce the staffing allocations to meet actual program enrolment. Currently, the Gifted Programs structure (number of locations and size of the programs) requires the Board to provide a greater number of teachers to serve students than would be required if staffed according to enrolment.
OTHER PROPOSED CUTS INCLUDE: reducing executive positions and support staff, reducing centrally assigned education staff, reducing itinerant music teachers/programs and coordinators, reducing STEM coordinators, reducing outdoor education (including closing 4 locations) and increase outdoor education fees, reducing school budgets, reducing professional support (psychology, language, etc) services, closing up to 3 Early ON centres, and reductions to caretaking and facilities. Currently there are no proposed reductions to Model Schools, or Special Education.
To see the complete chart of reductions in the 2019-2020 budget, please download the proposed balanced operating budget reductions and changes by clicking
here.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR CONCERNS KNOWN:
Make a presentation in-person before the FBEC committee on the following days at 5050 Yonge Street:
May 27 at 4:30pm
June 3 at 4:30pm
Email a written submission to
GeneralInquiries@TDSB.on.ca with the subject line "TDSB Budget Consultations."
The section of the TDSB webpage is regularly updated. To gain further insight into the budget process, alternatives not included in the proposed reductions, frequently asked Q and A's and much, much more, please take a look at the TDSB's budget webpage found
here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at
Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca.
LAST WARD 11 COFFEE MEETING FOR 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR -- June 12. 2019
These "coffee" events are informal gatherings where parents and constituents are invited for a roundable-style discussion of information sharing, best practices and interesting conversation related to education in our ward. We often have superintendents and sometimes even principals who drop by, so these are fun and engaging events.
As this will be our final coffee meeting of the school year, guests are invited to stay for lunch after the meeting.
Date: June 12, 9:15-noon
Location: Upstairs at Longo's, Leaside Location, 93 Laird Drive
