School Cuts Coming & Teachers Caution

March 30, 2010

Simcoe County’s elementary teachers have a message for pa rents: Pay attention.

In a series of radio ads, the Simcoe County Elementary Teachers’ Federation warns parents of cutbacks, including the likely elimination of the Reading Recovery program – which helps at-risk Grade 1 students to read.

Other reductions could include special education teachers, English as a second language teachers and special-education consultants who help classroom teachers meet the needs of all students, whether special needs or not, said SCETF president Janet Bigham.

"Not only are they eliminating the 7.7 Reading Recovery teachers, they plan on eliminating 17 special education teachers, ESL teachers and fourspecial education consultants," Bigham said.

"(These specialists) try to equip classroom teachers to help some of those at-risk students."

Simcoe County District School Board chairperson Brad Saunders wouldn’t comment on the proposed cuts, as the board begins work on its 2010/2011 budget, which is to be finalized in late May or June. This year’s budget totalled $473.5 million.

"We have not even begun our budget process, so all that is speculation," he said, although last year trustees voted to spare the Reading Recovery program one more year.

Nu mber crunching begins shortly, with a finance committee meeting slated for April 14.

The board is bracing for a grant reduction, as grants are tied to enrolment – which is declining.

Five years ago enrolment was just over 53,000 students and this year it hovered just over 50,500. For 2010/11, enrolment is forecast to dip to fewer than 50,000 – to 49,688.

"Between now and (June), we will be very busy ensuring we come up with a balanced budget, yet ensuring the interests of our kids will be looked after appropriately," Saunders said and added trustees will have to decide on cuts that result in the "least damage."

Bigham said budget cuts could impact mainstream students as well as those who need extra support.

Instructional services superintendent Lindy Zaretksy said the school board must refine how it meets diverse student needs while dealing with the budgetary realities.

"We continue to look at refining our service-delivery model to better meet the needs of all learners in the county. This may require redefining roles and responsibilities, refining other roles and examining how to best continue to build teacher capacity in our schools to meet the needs of all learners and to continue to support this building through the support delivery model," she said.

Other possible cost-reduction options include not just split grades, but triple grades, as well as having principals taking on some teaching responsibilities the teachers point out in their ads.

"We want people to be aware they can have a say. Call your trustee," said Bigham.

"We want to bring awareness to triple grades, closing classrooms an d teaching principals."

The budget process includes an April 14 finance committee meeting, at which trustees will privately discuss staffing, and an April 19 joint finance committee and special education advisory committee meeting. The first draft of the operating and capital budget would be presented May 5. Final approval is slated for June 23.