School board cuts are "child abandonment"

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 13, 2012) - The union representing 12,000 Toronto District School Board employees has slammed the cuts to be voted on this evening as child abandonment.

"As a society, we are responsible for educating our children," said John Weatherup, president of CUPE Local 4400. "Failing to provide the necessities for their well-being in terms of education is nothing short of abandonment."

"It is time for TDSB Trustees to once again come to the defense of our city's students and communities, by refusing to make further cuts to our school system."

"Dalton McGuinty, who at one time prided himself as the 'education premier', has failed to fix the funding formula for education. The responsibility for these cuts lies squarely on his shoulders. He must now intervene at the TDSB before more damage is done."

"The most vulnerable students in our schools - special-needs students and students struggling to learn English - will see their Educational Assistants simply vanish. The McGuinty government is creating ever wider cracks for students to fall through."

"Cuts to school office staff will jeopardize safe arrival programs in elementary schools and cuts to School-based Safety Monitors will reduce school safety."

"These cuts are being made with a blunt instrument and will harm our schools and the students they serve," said Weatherup.