Parents pull their kids from class to protest mouldy portables

TORONTO – Parents pulled their children from school Friday morning as part of the ongoing fight to improve conditions at Secord Elementary School.

At least two dozen parents showed up to the school at 10 a.m. to protest what they say are unsafe conditions in the portables behind the school.

“I find the smell very offensive,” Rachel Spurell said. “We’re not a third world country. This is ridiculous. This is Toronto and we’re sticking children into mouldy portables. Enough.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I find the smell very offensive," Rachel Spurell said. "We're not a third world country. This is ridiculous. This is Toronto and we're sticking children into mouldy portables. Enough."

Parents held signs saying “fixes are not enough” and “our kids matter” while students chanted “take away our portables” along the property fence line.

Global News has previously reported on mouldy tiles, leaky roofs and water damage in the buildings.

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is starting work to replace the roofs this week.

Local trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher was at the event and said there isn’t enough money in the board’s budget to provide a permanent fix.

“$50 million for the entire TDSB can’t possibly be enough money to look after these additions,” she said. “There isn’t enough money to cover $3 billion worth of backlog.”

She blames the Ontario government for limiting funds on capital projects.

The MPP for Beaches-East York, Arthur Potts, was on hand and ended up in a heated debate with Cary-Meagher while there.

“We are looking for an application from this area for the capital funding in this program,” Potts said. “Which is not, to my knowledge, happened yet.”

“You are absolutely incorrect,” Cary-Meagher said. “Don’t give me that crap about the Board of Education is the problem. The province is the problem.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You are absolutely incorrect," Cary-Meagher said. "Don't give me that crap about the Board of Education is the problem. The province is the problem."

The exchange included Phil Pothen, whose children will be attending the school in the next few years.

“You’ve added an extra layer of bureaucracy that delays this sort of thing,” he said.

Those involved in the school’s parent council said their families have been caught up in a political battle while they continue to argue for a better learning environment.

The decision to protest and remove the children from school was made at a meeting Wednesday night.

“Parents and students are very concerned about the safety of this building,” parent and co-chair of the school council Heather Tormey said. “It’s time for it to go. Proper investment is needed by the TDSB and by the province.”

The next TDSB board meeting is scheduled for October 29.