File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / zurijeta.File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / zurijeta.
London

School board warns of ripple effect of cuts

The Thames Valley District School Board is warning the provincial government its planned cuts to education will have many negative repercussions for students, particularly those in rural schools.

On behalf of Trustees, Board Chair Arlene Morell sent a three-page letter to Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson on Wednesday. In it, Morell states, while the board does not anticipate any teacher layoffs, it does have "significant concerns" about how reduced funding will harm students.

"We propose deeper consideration of larger class sizes and its impact on our students, not only in the area of teaching and learning, but also as it relates to mental health, well-being, and student safety," the letter states. "The relationships that our teachers have with students is critical in providing guidance, support, mentorship, and coaching, and significantly impacts personal development. Larger classes will impact the management of student behaviour, and connections with their teachers as caring adults."

Under the provincial changes announced last month, the average class size for Grades 9 to 12 would go from 22 to 28, while the average class size for Grades 4 to 8 would be upped to 24.5, from 23.84.

Those changes will "significantly impact" programming for high school students, limiting the range of courses that can be offered. The most likely courses to be affected are technology, trades, family studies, locally developed, Native Languages, and specialized programming, Morell wrote.

"This problem is only exacerbated in smaller schools, where there is less enrollment and flexibility than in our larger schools. Among the most vulnerable are our rural schools that will have even greater difficulty providing resources required by our students," the letter states.

It goes on to note that a recent survey found more than 50 per cent of secondary school students listed substance abuse, physical environment, mental health, and safety overall as their biggest concerns.

The proposed changes to class sizes in secondary schools is expected to reduce the school board's base teacher funding by approximately $17-million, once fully implemented in four years.

"As all Boards have an obligation and requirement to honour collective agreements, the attrition funding provided by the Ministry of Education over the four-year period does not address the significant funding shortfall," the letter states.

Morell also urged the ministry to seek advice from boards that have first-hand experience in the implementation of full-credit eLearning courses. She notes that while some students thrive using this technology, others struggle. The Ford government is making it mandatory for students to complete four eLearning credits in high school before they can graduate, starting in 2020.

In elementary schools, the loss of funding, specifically for early childhood educators, will "impact the delivery of programming."

"Additionally, with the proposed changes in funding to community-based supports for students with autism, we remain concerned about the impact of these changes on our schools and the students that they serve," Morell wrote. "We know that our most vulnerable students require additional supports to achieve success."

The letter concludes with an offer from the board to work with the provincial government and the Ministry of Education to "develop equitable solutions" that meet the needs of students, staff, and the community.

The full letter can be read by clicking here. 

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