Premier Doug Ford’s oft-repeated claim — trumpeted locally by his MPP for Simcoe North, Jill Dunlop — that “not a single teacher” will lose their job due to provincial reforms is “factually inaccurate,” says Jodi Lloyd, the chairperson of the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB).
Lloyd says 23 secondary school teachers (full-time equivalents) who were declared redundant last week have, in fact, lost their jobs. (Twenty-eight other positions declared redundant last week will be re-hired.)
On top of the 23 job losses, 19 retiring teachers will not be replaced, Lloyd said.
“We are a growth board and we will have 450 more students next year,” said Lloyd. “So, we’re adding those students, but losing 42 teachers through retirements and (job losses).”
Our OSS transportation lab is pretty full with lots of work to be done and this is why our classes are always to capacity (24 students). @JillDunlop1 why am I redundant? Are the skilled trades dying? @OSSWOODWORKING @ParryAutomotive @BayAutomotive @SkilledTradesON @fordnation pic.twitter.com/SNSukecB3q
— OSSTransportation (@TpierceMr) 1 May 2019
As a result of fewer teachers, Lloyd estimates that 252 fewer courses will be offered to local students next year.
“There is no way to say this will not impact students negatively,” said Lloyd.
Lloyd also noted this is the first of a four-year phase-in of the government's plan to raise class sizes from 21 to 28 at secondary schools. "This is likely what we can expect to see each year," said Lloyd.
The long-time Orillia-area trustee said the government’s “spin” is misleading.
She cited a letter to the editor in OrilliaMatters yesterday in which Dunlop declared: “Contrary to reports, we are making these innovative updates without a single teacher losing their job.”
Lloyd bristled at the statement. “That is factually inaccurate,” said Lloyd. “And, it’s disrespectful to teachers who are, in fact, losing their jobs.”
When asked to comment specifically about Lloyd’s assertion and the job losses in Simcoe County, Dunlop provided the following statement:
“As has been said, no teacher will lose their job due to class caps or e-learning,” wrote Dunlop.
“I thank (the SCDSB) for sharing their concerns and all the information they have provided my office over the past weeks,” said Dunlop, vowing to “continue to work with them and provide more information on our government’s plan for student achievement.”
Last night, at the school board’s business and facilities committee meeting, trustees and staff met to discuss the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) funding that was announced late Friday.
In a news release from Barrie-Oro-Medonte-Springwater MPP Doug Downey that day, the long-time Orillia lawyer announced the SCDSB would be getting an increase of $2,377,000 in funding compared to the previous year.
“This is terrific news for families throughout the region,” Downey said in the news release.
Lloyd disagreed.
She said based on numbers from the current school year, the board received about $12,000 per pupil through GSN funding. Based on adding 450 students, the board would have expected about $5.4 million in additional funding — or almost twice what it actually received.
Despite being asked to speak specifically to Lloyd’s contention that the board is recieving less per student due to increased enrolment, Dunlop did not address those concerns.
The Simcoe North MPP, however, reiterated the provincial funding for the 2019-20 school year is projected to be $24.66 billion, an increase of $47 million over the 2018-19 school year; she also stressed the SCDSB was getting an additional $2.37 million.
“These investments are intended to enhance the learning environment for teachers and students,” said Dunlop.
Lloyd also noted the government’s $1.6 billion in attrition funding, which is meant to help mitigate the loss of teachers, still leaves a big funding gap in Simcoe County.
“We have a relatively young staff,” said Lloyd, noting there are complicated formulae involved in the funding equations.
But the bottom line, she says, is 23 teachers have lost their jobs.
Publishing the funding numbers without context is misleading, she said.
“We have 52,000 students and about 6,000 staff and a budget of $600 million,” said Lloyd. “So, you’re talking an increase of $2.37 million on a $600-million budget … that context is important.”
She said it amounts to politicking.
“Education is too important, in my opinion, to be politicized,” said Lloyd. “It doesn’t serve the public well.”
Lloyd said she has reached out to Dunlop several times to talk about the issues.
“It’s disappointing that (no local MPP) has contacted me as trustee and chair of the board," said Lloyd.
Dunlop said she welcomes the opportunity to meet to discuss the issues.
“My office and I are happy to work directly with Simcoe County District School Board and the Ministry of Education to bring clarity and further information to this issue,” she said.
