Ontario Public School Boards’ Association Public Education Symposium (PES)
I enjoyed the opportunity to meet with trustees from across the province on Thursday and Friday last week at the PES. I participated in a workshop with T. G. Goertz from OPSBA, Kris Rushowy, Education Reporter at the Toronto Star and Alana Guinane, teacher at Hodgson Secondary School on Social Media and its value for education.
Among the value
- Need to provide parents and constituents with board and school news using the same tools the audience is using
- Build personalized relationships with key followers and influencers
- Great opportunity for unfiltered listening and discussions
- Positive media coverage - direct access to reporters and newsrooms
- Opportunity to share unique content (i.e. news, appropriate videos, etc.)
Among other issues, we spent a lot of time discussing the Collective Bargaining Process and the need for school boards to provide government with our best advice on how to move forward as well as our concerns with lack of extra-curricular, gaps with capital funding and budget concerns in general. Amongst the angst, however, was a welcome surprise appearance by Premier Designate Kathleen Wynne in her first public speech since winning last weekend’s Liberal leadership. She informed us that she had already reached out to her caucus, opposition parties and union leaders to find a way to move forward and told us “school boards are critical... to the health of the publicly funded education system... I want to reassure you that the process going forward is going to change. It’s going to be different. We are going to restore that respectful dialogue.” Although she has publicly said she will not “tear up the imposed contracts”, she also made it clear “the process over the last few months in the relationship between education and government has not been what it should have been.” I have the pleasure of knowing the Premier Designate for over 20 years... first meeting as involved parents in the former Toronto Board of Education. We worked together on an equitable school document, and of course, during the Harris years as colleagues at the TDSB on the Need to Succeed Budget. When asked for my comments, I said “She has the perfect tone because she knows the sector because she has lived and breathed education. If anybody has a hope of changing the channel (with teachers), she's our best hope.” I truly believe that... I only hope we can all be a little patient and allow her a chance to have the needed conversations to rebuild relationships amongst the sector. For those of you interested in politics of a partisan nature, you might find the following article regarding the new Premier Designate’s options an interesting read in The Little Education Report http://www.thelittleeducationreport.com/index.html
BUDGETS AND STAFFING
I thought it might be helpful to remind you of our budget process.
In February, Trustees start the budget process in earnest as staff provide them with preliminary projections for budget decisions; trustees begin to consult on budget options – in fact, tomorrow evening we have a Budget Seminar scheduled to understand the preliminary numbers.
In March, Trustees are asked to approve school staffing levels for the following year (this includes classroom teachers, early childhood educators, educational assistants, principals, vice principals, school office clerical staff, caretaking, school-based safety monitors and lunchroom supervisors). This is critical because school staffing represents over 80 percent of TDSB's total budget. Staffing levels are based on projected enrolment by grade as the province provides staffing through grants to boards based on different formulas. As you know, staffing for FDK students (both teachers and Early Childhood Educators) are based upon a board-wide average of 26:1; elementary and secondary have different staffing ratios.
Board decisions about school-based staff allocations must take into account legislative requirements including the Ministry Primary Class Size directives, Collective Agreement provisions, available resources as well as make an appropriate balance between maintaining stability and responding to changing needs
This staffing report is before the Board at this time because staff allocation decisions are required by early March in order to be ready to open schools in September 2013, implement the staffing process as defined by Collective Agreements and prepare for budget setting in June.
After the Province has tabled its budget, the Ministry of Education announces the Grants for Student Needs (overall funding structure for all public school boards across Ontario). Staff prepare budget projections (these are rough estimates based on the Ministry announcement) for Trustees on the Board's Budget Committee to begin considering.
By early May, the Ministry of Education provides TDSB with the precise numbers on our specific funding allocations for the upcoming year. Staff update their budget projections with the new information and update the draft budget plan with their recommendations to Trustees.
This final draft plan is considered and a final budget is approved at a meeting of the entire Board of Trustees in June.
Schools have formed classes based on class size projection and teacher allocation. In schools that have enrolment above projection, classes are larger.
Schools report enrolment data to the Planning Department the first weeks in September. Staff in Employee Services analyze enrolment and staffing information to develop options for reconfiguration of classes – some schools lose staff; some gain. Reorganization occurs for schools before the end of September.
Unfortunately, over the last number of years the TDSB trustees have had to make tough decisions in order to balance our budget which is a legislative requirement. Last year we had to cut nearly $109M from our operating budget. This year we are projecting to have to cut another $50M. Staff are currently analyzing options to bring forward to Trustees for consideration and as mentioned, we will begin to consult with our communities in February.
We try our best to keep the cuts away from programs and services to students, but that is not always possible. 95% of TDSB revenue comes from the Ministry of Education through Foundation Grants and Special Purpose Grants. It is the enrolment and student demographics that determine funding levels. And there is a gap between student needs and funding we are provided. I will do my best to make the best decision possible within the constraints imposed and continue to advocate on behalf of the students in the ward, and in our board for the necessary funding from the province so all students can succeed to their full potential. But as we advocate, we must make decisions based on the current realities.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Optional Attendance – Please note the deadlines
The procedures, conditions and timelines relating to optional attendance are described in the Optional Attendance Policy and the Optional Attendance Operational Procedure. Each year in January, schools are classified as limited or closed to optional attendance based on the space they have available for the upcoming school year. A school classified as limited can accept students on optional attendance. A limited school is not obliged to accept all students who apply on optional attendance. Acceptance is conditional upon space being available in the appropriate grade and program.
Elementary – Applications must be received by Thursday, 14 February 2013
Form 545A: Optional Attendance Application, Elementary and Junior
Secondary – Applications must have been received by Friday, 1 February 2013
Form 545B: Optional Attendance Application, Secondary
