A vote to eliminate programming and jobs as part of a multi-year plan for the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) did not sit well with a number of parents.
Programs such as the Reaching Individual Success and Excellence (RISE) will be “restructured” though delegations that appeared before the board at last Tuesday night’s meeting pressed the board not to go forward with its budgetary plan and instead keep the program intact in its current form.
Trustees Julia Burgess, Nancy Armstrong, Connie Buckler and Cathy Cooke were in favour, although some held their noses and noted there was “a lot of concern” even though they voted in favour. Trustees Kim McKinley and vice chair Christie Nelson were opposed. Trustees Ron LeClair, Sarah Cipkar and Linda Qin were not in attendance.
The board has a deficit of over $6 million and has to go from having a deficit that is 1.4 per cent of its funding allocation to one per cent. Over 60 jobs were cut due to the decision.
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) vice president Antonella Ciampa called decisions not to fund special education programs like RISE “deeply concerning” and said students enrolled in that program are, on average, two years behind what their peers are learning. She said it promotes growth and positivity.
Ciampa urged trustees to reject the plan, questioning whether they want to be known for balancing budgets or helping educators and students.
GECDSB board chair Gale Hadfield said the public board has always advocated for additional funding and “it’s not that we’ve been idle on that.”
Ilana Mizel noted her son is in the RISE program and it has been a “lifeline” for families like hers. The program has been “a beacon of hope” for many families.
“The program supports children who do not learn at the same pace of their peers,” she said.
Mizel added “a regular classroom is a barrier” and questioned whether children are being given the message they are not worth the investment. She suggested using funding from other areas.
“My child does not need a new chair or a new pencil,” she said. “He needs an education.”
Jacqueline Andersch, who also has a child in RISE, said her son is concerned about becoming lost or overwhelmed if RISE is no longer available and he has to go to a regular classroom. She said the program gives social and academic support to students.
“Special education programs are not a luxury or a line item to be adjusted at will,” she said.
Andersch added “no child deserves to be excluded, discriminated against or be made to feel less than.” She asked the board to advocate for children and “put the issue back on the province”
Francine Salinitri had concerns over the phasing out of the international baccalaureate (IB) program.
A motion was later made for current students to graduate from the program but director of education Vicki Houston indicated that would alter the plan and require funding adjustments.
Joanna Conrad also noted she has a child in need of special needs funding.
“Students need support within school and a place they can go every single day,” Conrad told trustees.
Conrad suggested letting the province come in and take over the board, stating “it’s time for them to step up, step in” and face the issues.
“Do you know what that means?” asked Buckler, with Conrad stating she believed the province would take a top-down approach.
“Don’t bank on that hope,” responded Buckler, with Hatfield stating unfunded expenditures would be what would be looked at.
OSSTF PSSP president Shelley Dean believed the board “can do better” and suggested other forms of funding the deficit. She told trustees the cuts were not sustainable and would not solve the issues they are facing.
Retired teacher Shannon Hazel said she worked in special education and that the board could also lose teachers due to a lack of support. If a program is restructured, people have to know what the new one would look like. It takes a team effort to support a student with special needs and Hazel said the loss of positions means the team loses members.
The decision can’t simply “be on the shoulders of ten trustees,” Hatfield added, and that a community approach is needed to advocate for students to the province.
“I know it’s a personal and emotional item for each of you,” she told the gallery. “This is not an easy decision by any stretch of the imagination. Trustees, just like you, care about kids.”
Buckler said it was “terrifically awful” that trustees had to make such a decision and thanked administration for coming up with a plan.
“I think this is hard for us all to swallow,” she said. “If we don’t do this now, the ministry will take over.”
Armstrong called advocating for additional funding is “a constant conversation” and asked if there is history to learn from. Hatfield said the public board has never had to be taken over by the province in her time but her understanding is that the board is not allowed to make decisions as that would be left to a provincially-appointed supervisor. She added she has made tough decisions as a trustee to eliminate “a category of employees” that weren’t funded and to close swimming pools in schools.
McKinley said board staff had “an impossible task” and thanked them for their work. She blamed a lack of provincial funding and voted against approving the plan, as she said she couldn’t agree “to do the ministry’s dirty work for them.”
The GECDSB is not a one-off, Hatfield added, “but we’re number one in terms of being in the worst position.” She said they have to comply with the province’s deficit reduction requirements.
“We have a legal obligation to comply,” she said. “We are bound by legalities.
We don’t have an option to comply or not with ministry direction. Trustees have a legal obligation to comply with the ministry. We have been directed by the ministry. We don’t have an option for compliance.”
Hatfield said it was “premature” when asked by Nelson of what new supports would look like, noting a consultation process is needed.
Burgess said two per cent deficits over funding allocations were allowed during the pandemic and if that were allowed now, the debate would not be happening.
“If the province comes in, their understanding is the bottom line,” said Burgess. “They won’t know the nuances of our area.”
Cooke acknowledged it was a tough decision but stated she has long believed RISE needs to be looked at anyway. She said it is an “awesome” program, but could be improved.
“There’s a lot of good but there’s a lot of things that could be better,” said Cooke. “There has to be some changes and it’s for the kids, in my opinion. I think we have to have some trust moving forward. I believe we can get to great places with special education, even with this (decision).”
Cooke added “we don’t have a choice” and defended her position that RISE can be improved.
“It needs to change and it’s needed change for a long time,” she said.
Following the vote, Hatfield asked the gallery be cleared due to disruptions from the public leaving the room that were upset with the decision.
Deficit reduction sees loss of jobs and programs at GECDSB
By Ron Giofu
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