After approving its 2016-17 operating budget this week, the Toronto District School Board will still need to find an additional $5.8M in savings during the year to address its $21-million deficit.
In a news release issued Wednesday, the TDSB said that a balanced budget had been approved and the budget identifies a number of cost-saving measures to address the deficit.
A savings of $6.8M was found by reducing central department budgets and restructuring central and Facility Services positions, the TDSB said.
In March, TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird confirmed to CP24 that the board was looking to eliminate teaching jobs in this year’s budget. He said the move was only due to declining enrolment and therefore would not have an impact on class sizes.
In a report to the budget committee, it was suggested that 38 elementary teaching positions, 64 high school teaching positions and 45 early childhood educator positions be eliminated in time for the next school year.
In total, the budget identifies $15.2M in savings but $5.8M will still need to be found throughout the year, the TDSB said.
“Staff will continue to review operational expenditures to look for efficiencies,” the TDSB’s statement read.
In terms of spending, the budget includes an investment of $575,000 to continue implementing system-wide WiFi and $750,000 for classroom information technology.
The TDSB will also be reorganizing central staff to create four new learning centres, a move the TDSB says will enable staff to “be more responsive to schools, and better support teachers and administrators in improving student achievement.”
