WRDSB to lay off 106 elementary school teachers
More than 100 teachers at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) are learning they have been declared surplus will likely be out of a job as of Aug. 12.
In an email to CTV News, the board confirmed it made the decision to lay off elementary teachers who do not have permanent status after receiving initial budget information for the 2024-2025 school year from the province. The decision impacts around 106 teachers, the board said.
“We know and understand that this is difficult news for the elementary educators who are impacted, and we are committed to supporting their well-being throughout this process,” the WRDSB said in a statement to CTV News.
Union reacts
The union representing the teachers laid blame for the decision squarely at the feet of the Doug Ford government.
"This decision profoundly underscores the challenges educators and our public education system face due to inadequate funding. It is the first time since the Mike Harris regime that ETFO Waterloo has been in a surplus position,” Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Waterloo Region President Jeff Pelich said in an email to members shared with CTV News.
“The Minister of Education likes to tout that funding for education (including childcare) increased by 2.7 per cent. With an inflation rate of 3.7 per cent and an enrolment increase of one per cent, this is a cut to public education. It is our collective responsibility to hold the Ford government accountable for this.”
The union said, not only does this represent inadequate funding but also poor timing, as funding was only announced last week.
“I think that if the government had released funding announcements two weeks ago, three weeks ago, even maybe a month ago, we may not have been in the same situation,” said Pelich.
Pelich said teachers were impacted in every subject from French, to music, to English and math.
“[They’re] stressed, anxious, fearful, frustrated and sad,” he said. “A lot of these educators have been dreaming of a classroom, dreaming of being in front of students.”
Pelich expects many of them will be recalled in June, once the board receives further grant information from the province – but it won’t likely be in the same classroom.
“They've invested a year getting to know the students, getting to know the school, embedding themselves into the community,” he said.
The union hopes the impact to students is minimal, but isn’t sure what to expect.
“It's naive to assume that it will be business as usual for our school board,” Pelich said. “As funding is not keeping up with inflation or growth, we anticipate seeing fewer staff to support our most vulnerable learners, cuts to classroom supply budgets, and a vast reduction in central staff to implement Ministry initiatives.”
Ministry of Education responds
The Ministry of Education’s office told CTV News, it is up to individual school boards to allocate funding to specific schools, services or programs based on local need.
“School boards are in the best position to know what hiring decisions need to be made based on their own projections, financial circumstances, and staffing requirements stipulated in their local collective agreements,” said a statement to CTV, in part.
The ministry added that it has provided the WRDSB with $830 million for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, a $24 million increase from this year.
“We will continue to support Waterloo students by doubling funding to build schools and invest more in what matters most: reading, writing and math,” said a spokesperson for the minister’s office.
The minister’s office also pointed to the fact that many will still have jobs.
“If teachers receive surplus notices, it doesn’t mean that they are being laid off, it simply means that for example, they will not be teaching at the same school next year, but they are still employees of the school board.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.