Hamilton board considering cutting 136 positions, blames government cuts
Hundreds of Hamilton students walked out of class today to protest education spending cuts
Hamilton's public school board is considering cutting as many as 136 positions for next year.
A report that will be reviewed by the board's Finance and Facilities Committee Thursday evening recommends the decrease, which includes 80 high school teachers and 23 educational assistants.
"Trustees are angered that we are being faced with these cuts from the Ford government," said Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) chair Alex Johnstone, vowing "trustees will not let a single job go until we have done everything we can to protect every job."
Hamilton's Catholic school board said staff haven't finalized staffing numbers for next year yet, but chair Pat Daly has previously said he expects a reduction of more than 100 positions.
Lisa Thompson, Ontario's Minister of Education, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
News of the potential cuts came as hundreds of Hamilton students and thousands across the province walked out of class to against education spending cuts.
The HWDSB pointed to the elimination of the Local Priorities Funding this summer, uncertainty around grants, school closures and openings, along with changes to class size funding and an anticipated decrease in overall funding for the possible reductions.
"We are all concerned and parents should be concerned as well," said Johnstone who described staffing as the "single biggest challenge" the board is currently facing.
A 'bare bones' education system in Ontario
She added the board's primary concern is how reduced staffing will impact students.
"Our focus is not on dollars and cents. Our focus is on students."
Tonight trustees will consider options including attrition through retirement to cut down on staff without job losses, said Johnstone.
"The reality is though, even if we can manage in the first year some of the staff reductions through attrition that does not necessarily mean it is manageable in future years."
Johnstone said she's not sure if trustees will pass the report, saying she suspects they may ask for more details to ensure every option has been examined.
"This is a bare bones budget we are being presented with. It is a bare bones education system that has been handed down by the province."