Neither 'efficiencies', 'best practice' nor supporting student safety

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 16, 2012) - "The chaos we predicted when the Trustees voted to permanently get rid of 134 full time equivalent positions in the schools is starting to become visible" said John Weatherup, President of the 12,000 member Toronto Education Workers. "We are starting to hear from more and more parents as they realize their well respected and loved secretaries will be gone next year as more than 200 members leave the schools", he said.

"Over 1,300 letters have been sent to the schools telling our members that they may be surplus, bumped to another position or, ultimately lose their job as the system "readjusts' to the cuts and subsequent reorganization" said Unit C Vice President Giselle Burton. "There could be more", she continued, "as the process to staff the schools rolls out over the next couple of weeks."

Responding to the claim, made by various TDSB spokesperson, that school safety will not be affected, Unit C Vice President Anna Hutchison asks: "How can anyone assure crucial programs like 'Safe Arrival' will be given the attention it needs and deserves if almost 63.5 positions in the elementary schools alone will be shed?"

"These cuts - and the ones to come as the Trustees struggle to chop $125 million from the budget before the end of June - are NOT about efficiencies nor have any relation to 'best practices'", said Weatherup. "They are about trying to fit into the discredited funding formula that has NEVER worked for the special needs, programs and situations for large cities, especially Toronto."

"Let's be clear: this is about putting the needs of the budget before the needs of the learners," concluded John Weatherup. "Whether the present government intended to or not, they are completing the anti-education 'death by a thousand budget cuts' plan of the Harris Tories."