TDSB OKs balanced budget but trustees aren't happy

Some blame province for inadequate funding, which has led to staff cuts

- ISABEL TEOTONIO

Toronto District School Board trustee Rachel Chernos Lin said Wednesday that she was "a little bit nervous about this budget" because it requires "a lot of heavy lifting" from staff, who must find operational efficiencies and reduce absenteeism.

Trustees at the Toronto District School Board voted Wednesday in favour of passing a balanced budget for the 2024-25 year, with some criticizing the province, saying they are woefully underfunded and have been “managing the decline” in public education.

The board faced a deficit of $35.3 million, but much of the discussion at the late-night board meeting centred on how to save $3.8 million.

Trustees settled on further reducing staff absenteeism to save $3.5 million and to save $300,000 by giving schools the ability to charge for repairs to Chromebooks, which students are given for educational use.

Trustee Neethan Shan said that although the debate was about finding $3.8 million in savings, the TDSB actually found $26 million in savings to fully cover the budget gap.

“This is actually a cuts budget,” he said, warning that after repeated cuts, over many years, schools will look dramatically different from what they once were.

Shan said the province isn’t properly funding the TDSB, noting in recent years there have been cuts to staff and insufficient funds to address issues of safety and violence. “We end up being bullied, to be frank, every year into this position,” he said, adding that trustees are fearful that if they don’t pass a balanced budget, as required by the Education Act, the province will take over the board.