TDSB budget: A look at the proposed cuts

TORONTO – Sweeping changes to the Toronto District School Board’s budget will be made on Wednesday, with the proposed budget cuts set at $58 million.

Past policy has sought to minimize the impact on student services but faced with a growing deficit, the board says it must make cuts to these areas as well to balance its books.

Cuts to professional development for teachers, special education, and support services are on the proposed agenda.

Savings have already been made on several fronts, which include a travel moratorium and a reduction in staff expenses billed at $1.2 million.

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If passed, here’s a look at what some of the proposed cuts may entail:

Find efficiencies in operations and maintenance of buildings: $9.9 million
– Funding is allocated for snow removal, cleaning, heating, repairs and maintenance.
– The closure of under used classrooms.

Reduce professional development days: $4.5 million
– Fewer professional days means less time spent outside of the classroom for teachers while reducing the number of days a replacement is needed.
Restructure central administration: $2.5 million
– Redeploying non school-based principals, vice-principals and teachers.

Close buildings (over the holidays): $1.0 million
– Closures on Fridays during the summer and during the winter break.
– This would not affect summer school, day care and program sites.

Close cafeterias: $600,000
– Shut down 32 underutilized cafeterias.
– This is partly in response to the rise in alternative sources of food students rely on.

Realignment of professional support services: $400,000
– The current budget stands at $34.9 million, a reduction of about 1.4% of its budget.
– The school board will retain social workers and psychologists, while looking to build ties with the community and external partners for support to create more programs and initiatives.

Realignment of special education services: $300,000
– This may mean a reduction in central administration positions

Reduce administrative costs in continuing education administration: $200,000
– Savings in this area may involve a freeze on filling vacancies in the administrative levels

Reduce administrative costs in the international languages program: $100,000-120,000
– If the motion goes through, the board will reduce the size of this program’s central administration and it will undergo a review to reduce its deficit.