A group of parents in Toronto is voicing their concerns regarding the lack of accountability from the provincially-appointed Toronto District School Board (TDSB) supervisor. They are launching a letter-writing campaign in hopes of reversing recent cost-cutting measures that they believe will detrimentally impact their children's education.
The parents assert that many of the cuts are particularly severe at individual schools, significantly affecting students' learning experiences. Each letter written by the parents highlights the "unique circumstances at each individual school community," yet they share common themes such as "reduced transparency," ongoing budget and staffing cuts, diminished opportunities for parent engagement, and the loss of crucial programs and support systems believed to be essential for student success.
Sameer Sayed, a parent from Grenoble Public School, has expressed his deep concerns about his child's future for the first time in nearly a decade. He points out the removal of class size caps for Grades 4 through 8, stating, "That class-sized gap could be removed, and when it says removed, there is no upper limit to it. So that's a big concern for us as well, in terms of how many students will be there." Grenoble Public School, with approximately 900 students who speak around 70 different languages at home, is facing the potential loss of key services, including the Parent, Caregiver, and Community Engagement Office (PECCO), a resource the community deems essential.
Sayed emphasized the significance of PECCO, noting its role in connecting families with vital resources such as food, housing, and settlement opportunities. He believes that having a dedicated team to assist families is "paramount." Grenoble is identified as one of over a hundred TDSB model schools that serve some of Toronto's most vulnerable populations and are now at risk of losing their essential programs.
While some cutbacks are widespread, like the closure of outdoor education centers, others are tailored to specific schools. For instance, Annette Street Public School is experiencing cuts to essential staff roles, including vice principals and lunch monitors, while some classrooms are even being sealed off to reduce custodial costs. Jessica Besser-Rosenberg, a member of the Annette Street PS school council, remarked, "When you don’t fill teaching positions, when you cut outdoor education, when you seal classrooms in the school in order to save money on custodians, this all impacts our kids." She has reached out to the TDSB supervisor with a plea to reopen classrooms and halt staff layoffs.
Since provincial oversight began last year, the TDSB has seen nearly 800 job cuts, which include teachers from elementary education, English as a Second Language (ESL), and model schools, in addition to special education assistants and lunch supervisors. Parents are alarmed by the loss of community-focused events, particularly at Perth Junior Public School, where the cancellation of a beloved holiday market is causing distress. Emily Antze, a member of the school council, voiced the importance of this market, saying, "It brought together families, it was an opportunity to do some holiday shopping, and it generated funds for our school council." The event's cancellation was attributed to perceived risks involved, further isolating the school community.
CityNews attempted to engage with TDSB supervisor Rohit Gupta for comments, but he declined to speak. A spokesperson did state that Gupta recognizes the importance of acknowledging family concerns and is in the process of forwarding relevant issues to appropriate staff members at the school board.
The timeline for the TDSB's continued operation under the supervision remains uncertain. Past statements from the Minister of Education suggest that oversight could last one, two, or even three years, continuing until he is assured that the TDSB has regained solid financial footing.
