TDSB weighs cutbacks to staff as funding drops

The Toronto public board is looking at axing hundreds of teaching positions — some because of declining enrollment — as well as teachers and staff who serve special education students because of funding cuts from the provincial government.

Trustees will vote on the cutbacks at a meeting Wednesday night.

If approved, the changes are not expected to lead to any teacher layoffs because of attrition.

The board is estimating a small jump in enrollment in elementary schools — 200 students — and a drop of 2,200 students in its high schools, as a result of changing demographics.

The proposal before trustees includes:

Elementary teachers: Losing 98 positions, from 10,807 full-time equivalent positions, down to 10,709.

High schools: Moving from 5,065 to 4,896.5 full-time positions, a decrease of 168.5.

Special education teachers: cutting 22 elementary and 5.5 secondary teacher positions.

Special education support staff: Loss of 33.5 positions, from 2,486 to 2,452.5.

English as a second language: 59 fewer elementary teachers, 34 fewer secondary.

School secretaries: Loss of 8.5 fulltime positions, from 1,052 to 1,043.5.

Loss of two elementary vice-principal positions, loss of three at the secondary level.

No changes to the ranks of educational assistants, early childhood educators, school-based safety monitors (also known as hall monitors), lunchroom supervisors, swim instructors, food program assistants (working in high school culinary arts programs) or caretakers.

The Toronto Catholic school board is also considering cuts to its teaching ranks and special education staff as it grapples with a $42.55-million shortfall.

It is considering axing all 57 primary and junior literacy intervention teachers, as well as its remaining 45 teacher-librarians — replacing them with lesser-educated library technicians, who earn roughly half the salary — as well as reductions to special education staff who serve the neediest students.