The TDSB and TCDSB have now been supervised by the Province.
The takeover of our school boards cannot stand. Demand the removal the supervision of the TDSB and TCDSB and restore our democratic voice.
What does supervision of school boards mean and what can we do to stop it? Click below to see why this supervision is really a sham to divert attention away from the chronic underfunding of our schools.
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Supervision is when the province removes decision-making power from a publicly elected school board and appoints a supervisor to take control.
That supervisor can make financial decisions without public input and without community accountability. A supervisor will be appointed to enforce compliance—not to solve the board’s funding crisis.
The supervision of school boards is part of a ploy to take attention from chronic underfunding of our schools. All reports* cleared the TDSB and TCDSB of any financial mismanagement.
Supervision is an attempt to silence elected trustees from speaking the truth about the underfunding of our schools. It also silences local advocacy to improve student achievement and well-being.
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We believe it is because trustees - democratically elected - have been speaking out about the chronic underfunding of our schools. If the Province supervises the school board, there is no one who would be able to speak up on behalf of the local community like parents or students.
So the fact that the Province has underfunded Ontario school boards by $6.3 billion since 2018 would not be brought up by the Supervisor, since their only mandate is to report back to Ontario’s Education Minister and ensure compliance. -
Because of:
Chronic underfunding by the province
Inflation (costs have gone up, funding hasn’t kept pace) and structural deficits (where funding for Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance and Special Education haven’t kept up)
COVID-related reserve spending the province encouraged—and now won’t repay
Every student now receives $1,500 less than they did in 2018 (Building Better Schools, 2024), adjusted for inflation.
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Removing Local Autonomy and Public Voice
This proposed amendment would enable the Ministry of Education to remove local control and public voice from school boards and their elected trustees without a non-partisan, third-party investigation, based only on their opinion. This would remove all local control and transparency from policy, program, and budget decision-making.
Mandating Policing in Schools Instead of Investing in Real Student Supports
Additionally, the proposed amendment would “[Require] school boards to implement School Resource Officer (SRO) programs where they are offered by local police services starting in the next school year.” This is under the guise of “Promot[ing] student success and enhanc[ing] student, child and youth safety.”
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Trustees play an important role in making sure local parent and student voices are heard. Here is what we stand to lose without a publicly-elected school board trustee.
It’s important to note that in all other provinces (like Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) the elimination of school board trustees have been an abject failure and parents have asked for a reinstatement of trustees.
*Ontario Auditor General Report, Deloitte and Pricewaterhouse Coopers report all clear the TDSB and TCDSB of financial mismanagement.
Tell Your Story - It’s Imporant!
As we ramp up our efforts to pressure the government to take effective action on education, raising awareness of the situation in our schools is a priority. The campaign has the data needed to make our case, however first-hand information, straight from our schools, is needed as well. That's why stories from people throughout the education system are so important.
The campaign will start by gathering stories from the people working in our schools. Once the campaign is underway, stories will also by gathered from parents and community leaders.
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Welcome to the website of the Fund Our Schools Campaign!
We ♡ our schools. BUT there are problems in our schools that need urgent attention. This campaign wants to know how these problems are impacting YOU!
Damage caused by years of under-funding has been compounded by the COVID pandemic. The classroom situation is deteriorating. Short staffing is taking a toll in all job classifications. Violence in our schools is increasing. Stress levels are soaring. Parents are increasingly concerned. Entire communities are impacted. Many of us are exhausted from just coping.
Together we must ramp up our efforts to pressure the Provincial government to take effective action to address the problems in our schools. We have done it before, we can do it again!
Experience has taught us that, in order to win, we must put people power behind our policy papers and lobbying. The place to start is on the ground – in our schools. Raising awareness of the situation in our schools is the priority for getting the campaign underway!
STEP ONE is gathering stories from people working in our schools about the problems they are experiencing.
NEXT will be outreach to parents and community leaders.
