Toronto Catholic school trustees found a way to balance their budget Monday night, but it came at a high cost for teachers and maintenance workers.
As part of their plan to eliminate a $14 million deficit, trustees voted to lay off 85 teachers and 32 support staff such as caretakers and secretaries. They also voted to cut contract child and youth workers. Those cuts in particular will save the board more than $5 million.
The cuts were made despite a staff report which noted that such a move would "cause upheaval for a large number of students."
However, trustees have been under enormous pressure by the province to balance their books. In late May, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne sent in an investigator to examine the board's finances and to determine whether the board needed a supervisor to step in and manage their financial affairs.
The investigator, Pierre Filiatrault, is expected to report back this week.
Wynne appointed the investigator after a report revealed trustees were getting reimbursed for outlandish expenses.
Meals and alcohol, cell phones, cameras and even a car allowance were all expensed by trustees.
Last week, trustee Mary Cicogna handed in a request for reimbursement for a trip to Florida that she took with her husband. She said she spent a part of that vacation visiting Ava Maria University, a Catholic facility she said is looking to attract Canadian students.
However, on Monday night, Cicogna withdrew her request.
"Not because it is an inappropriate expenditure," she said in a letter distributed at the meeting. "I feel that it is necessary to do this in order to begin the process of restoring public confidence."
Tuesday night's meeting was highly attended by parents and community members who are upset with the board's financial management.
One resident said trustees should look at cuts in their own offices before cutting services at the school.
