Will There Be Job Loss at the TDSB Tonight?

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 4, 2012) - Tonight the Trustees will be voting on whether there will be massive cuts to schools staff as they receive the Staffing Allocation 2012-2013 Report from Senior Staff. "We have not changed our minds that these cuts will negatively impact student achievement, special education and safety if implemented", said CUPE 4400 President John Weatherup.

"Regular Program Educational Assistants are still needed in the half day kindergartens, to work with the children who don't speak English and, most importantly, with the children who are not yet diagnosed nor receiving special help for their special needs", said Giselle Burton, Unit C Vice President.

"School Office Staff are the front line in the schools, and are the first persons seen by parents when they enter the schools. If you take so many away, you are not only taking away the glue that holds a lot of things together, you are forcing the schools to undergo massive disruption as bumping kicks in", said Katie McGovern.

Two weeks ago, Senior Staff put forward a plan to the Trustees meeting as Human Resources Committee. After discussion, they agreed to NOT recommend the report, but to send it on to Board for discussion.

Services to be cut include:

• Regular Program Educational Assistants - a loss of 430 FTE positions (these are the services that were to be protected for a five year transition period, with several years still to go on that pledge)
  
  
• School Office Staff - a loss of 134 FTE positions (both elementary and secondary)
  
  
• Special Education - positions will be lost but the numbers are unknown at this time.
  
  
• Caretaking - a loss of 10 FTE positions
  
  
• School Based Safety Monitors - a loss of 6 FTE positions
  
  
• Aquatic - a loss of 2 FTE positions
  
  

NOTE: FTE means Full Time Equivalent