I still have two children in the Toronto District School Board, so I received a survey earlier this week. Here's how it begins:
The TDSB has a structural deficit of $58 million– adjusted down from $70.3 million due to the elimination of the carbon tax. We'd like to hear your thoughts about some of the ways the Board might consider reducing its spending.
Here are some areas identified by staff where current Ministry of Education funding does not cover the full costs. While this survey has been developed by TDSB staff, it does not represent staff recommendations or final decisions. Any final budget decisions will ultimately be decided by school Trustees, as part of the budget process. For more details on the areas below, please read this report from the Finance Budget and Enrollment Committee.
Participation in this survey is completely voluntary and anonymous. All information collected will be used to inform the 2025 Budget Consultations. This survey platform also uses Google Translate, an automated translation tool that while efficient, may shift the meaning in certain questions depending on the language being translated.
There are areas under the board's full control, and areas under the board's partial control. What got my attention was this list of areas under the board's partial control and the request we "select the top 5 areas that you think the Board should reduce spending on and find efficiencies."
Did you catch that first line item? "Special education (e.g. programs and services to support students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, etc.)" That's bullshit.
If "special education" is on the table to be cut to save money, might I also suggest they add "mathematics" and "English" and "science". I couldn't help but notice core school function like this didn't make the survey, unless your child has a learning disability, physical disability, autism, etc.
Shame on the TDSB.
