Ward 7 Report from the June 4, 2013 Meeting
1. We received an update that Trustee Atkinson is recovering and has moved into a facility to focus on rehabilitation.
2. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss the TDSB budget.
The board is facing a funding shortage primarily due to the funding formula and declining enrollment.
In the past, the board has overtime attempted to address this issue by closing underutilized schools, reducing maintenance and utility costs, reducing administrative costs and increasing revenue from charging fees.
Budget shortfall for this year is $55 million.
Plans to reduce budget shortfall:
3. The meeting concluded with a discussion around topics for discussion next academic year. There is a desire for more parent input and engagement. Please let me know if there are items that you would like to have discussed at Ward 7 meetings or concerns that you would like addressed.
There was some discussion about organizing parents to advocate for more provincial funding for schools to deal with the chronic annual budget shortfalls.
4. I am available to meet with anyone interested in being Ward 7 Rep next year.
Mike Schreiner
Ward 7 Rep
2. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss the TDSB budget.
The board is facing a funding shortage primarily due to the funding formula and declining enrollment.
In the past, the board has overtime attempted to address this issue by closing underutilized schools, reducing maintenance and utility costs, reducing administrative costs and increasing revenue from charging fees.
Budget shortfall for this year is $55 million.
Plans to reduce budget shortfall:
- Reduce central staffing
- Reduce service contracts for facility services
- Use technology to operate more efficiently
- Reduce reading recovery lead teachers
- Reduce spending for travel, furniture and equipment
- Review partnership criteria
- Savings in Continuing education programs
- Reduce school and central discretionary budgets by 4%
- Reduce Itinerant Music Program (note that this was defeated at the TDSB board meeting on June 19)
- Reduce operating/education program grants (e.g., outdoor ed)
- In-year savings
3. The meeting concluded with a discussion around topics for discussion next academic year. There is a desire for more parent input and engagement. Please let me know if there are items that you would like to have discussed at Ward 7 meetings or concerns that you would like addressed.
There was some discussion about organizing parents to advocate for more provincial funding for schools to deal with the chronic annual budget shortfalls.
4. I am available to meet with anyone interested in being Ward 7 Rep next year.
Mike Schreiner
Ward 7 Rep
