The "Board" will be decidied to adopt the proposed 2009-2010 budget without change at its 24Jun09 meeting. The current proposal is viewed by some parents as a deficit reducing budget. a total debt reduction of $5,000,000,000 is expected over 2 years. The operating budget of the TCDSB was balanced last year and a portion of the debt was paid down. This budget proposes a larger debt reduction through a "focused delivery" approach that involves the centralization of special education. This has resulted in the loss of the Special Eduaction teacher at some schools. In addition some Education Assistants have been removed from schools. 
The consultation process initially planned for 5 weeks was extended briefly to allow for feedback. The delegations received on 17Jun09 raised concerns on the loss of existing programs that had proven their value as well as a general sense of uncertainty on the direction the board was taking. The absence of response to concerns raised was also cited as problematic.
With the written delegations submitted on the 19Jun09 the consultation process formally closed. TAPCE as well as other parent groups called on the Minister to help the TCDSB in the same measure it has helped the TDSB. It is hoped that the Ministry will take into consideration the inadequacies of the funding formula to address some of the legacy issues still unresolved from the uploading of ratepayers taxes to the centralized system. It is also beleived the the debt reduction path taken by the supervisory team can be changed to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable student and families.
Below delegations /responses shared for your consideration:
tapce-letter-to-the-minister-re-tcdsb-budget
presentation-by-sylvia-menezes-tcdsb-meeting-june-17-public
written-delegation-to-the-supervisor-for-19jun09

Some parents are expressing dismay at the lack of responsiveness from the Supervisory Team. To some, it appears that the silencing of Trustees has turned into a vendetta at the expense of our children. Certain parents who took time out to deliver oral presentations on the 17th and/or written delegations by the 19th now view that process as a farce. The "Board’s" announced cancellation of the Arrowsmith program for students with learning disabilities is particularly troubling. These parents were told at the delegation evening to contact their principal in September to make arrangements for programming and placement.

The budget issue has been referred to CPIC to address parent concerns by a Ward Representative. It is hoped that this body will be able to address the matter at its next meeting in September. In the meantime, TAPCE will be pursuing the matter with the Ministry. We will be calling on OAPCE and our other education partners to assist in addressing any negative implications of the budget approval process and how this decision is implemented.

See Press Release & Article from Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com/article/656311

Filed under: News