10% Budget Reduction Impact Statements

 

Government failed Dufferin-Peel Catholic students


NDP Leader Howard Hampton sent this letter to trustees of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.

I'm writing to express my solidarity with you, and to all of the democratically elected trustees of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, who Dalton McGuinty has removed from office to force cuts in your local classrooms.

The people of your community elected you to stand up for students and you have done so.

Sadly, McGuinty has failed students in your community. Four years ago, McGuinty promised to fix the education funding formula, end classroom cuts and respect democratically elected trustees. He's broken all those promises, and it's students in your community that are paying the price -- in the form of cuts to programs for struggling students, school cleaning budgets and continuing education.

Students and parents have had enough cuts. They elected you to look out for students' best interests and you have done your job. You have refused to do the dirty work of a government that has broken its promise to students.

Ontario's NDP is behind you every step of the way.

I am confident that in the weeks ahead you will receive much more support from other concerned Ontarians.

Board takeover guaranteed route to labour turmoil
Canada News-Wire
Wed 07 Feb 2007
Dateline: MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 7
Time: 05:00 (Eastern Time)

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - School support staff currently in new
contract negotiations with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
(DPCDSB) are warning that by seizing control of the board and skewing the
bargaining process, the McGuinty government has set the stage for guaranteed
labour turmoil.

1,100 school support workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public
Employees (CUPE) have been in contract negotiations with the catholic board
since November 2006. All indicators suggest that the Liberal-imposed
supervisor Norbert Hartmann will be pushing the buttons and controlling
decision-making on behalf of the Liberal government at the bargaining table
so that they can cut jobs and gut programs, says Ontario CUPE President Sid
Ryan.

"What the Liberals have done is set the bargaining process on a collision
course. Workers negotiate to improve their standard of living. The
government supervisor is there to make cuts on behalf of this government.
There is a clear divergence of interests here that sets the stage for
confrontation.

"But they've miscalculated and just upped the ante. What's now going to hit
the bargaining table is the flawed education funding model. That's what's
fueling program and job cuts. And that's what this round of bargaining is
now about," says Ryan.

Larry Stevenson, the president of CUPE 1483, representing custodial and
trades workers, says that the cuts Hartmann wants to make break existing
collective agreement rights and 80 plus cut-related grievances will be
filed. The Hartmann cuts include 37 custodial maintenance positions and $2.3
million from an already lean facility support budget.

"Contract negotiations are tense enough without this kind of political
interference," says Stevenson.

Similarly, CUPE 2026 president Tina DiVona, representing secretarial,
technical, and administration staff, says 40 or more grievances are being
filed as a result of the supervisor's proposed cuts, that would see 19
clerical staff lose their jobs and close to a half million dollars cut from
the clerical support budget.

"Clerical staff are in the same budget line as school supplies. We're tired
of being treated like we're no more important than erasers and paper towels.
Enough is enough," says DiVona.

 

Read....Norbert Hartmann's remarks from the Adminstration & Finance Committee Meeting - February 5th, 2007

 

Some cuts at board delayed


Deep financial cuts involving a revamping of the Catholic school board's kindergarten program has shifted into low gear-- for now.

Norbert Hartmann, the man appointed by the provincial government to make millions in spending cuts at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, is also postponing controversial staff reductions. Hartmann was appointed by Education Minister Kathleen Wynne last fall to balance the budget of the financially troubled school board and implement a two-year plan to eliminate the board's multi-million dollar deficit.

Hartmann was given power to make all the board's financial decisions. This week, the former high-ranking education ministry bureaucrat presented trustees and the public with an update on spending cuts already launched and the plan for implementing remaining spending reductions.

Some of the more controversial and far-reaching cuts included eliminating noon-hour busing for kindergarten students and creating a full-day, alternate-day program. Ending busing for French Immersion students, the board's Mississauga all-girls high school Holy Name of Mary and the Byzantine Rites elementary school St. Sofia raised significant public protest. A lengthy list of staffing reductions that included cutting child and youth workers, social workers, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, education resource workers, secretaries, clerical staff, special education teachers, teachers working with struggling students and literacy specialists generated strong labour union and parent opposition.

Hartmann revealed he is pulling the reins in on implementing many of these cuts-- postponing them until 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.

According to Hartmann, the merit of these measures, implementation timelines and possible alternative action must be considered before proceeding.

Some of those proposed staff cuts could impact existing collective agreements and must be discussed during upcoming negotiations or reworked to avoid breaking contracts.

"Until we actually work those out, how we proceed can't yet be determined," Hartmann said.

He also hinted the board may have to wait for the formation of a transportation consortium with the Peel District School Board before it can proceed any further with plans to cut busing to kindergarten and French Immersion classes. This joint governing structure between the two boards could produce even more efficiencies than the integrated busing system currently operated by the local school boards, according to Hartmann.

Queen's Park is requiring boards establish transportation consortiums by 2008.

It might be possible to reach deficit reduction goals without implementing those cuts, but transportation spending still remains a significant financial problem, he explained. "Even if we were balanced, we need to think about whether that is a worthwhile thing to pursue," he said of transforming the kindergarten program.

While Hartmann has not yet proceeded with the permanent elimination of some staff positions, the board has implemented measures to reduce staffing costs. Hiring freezes have been instituted in several areas. Also, lower paid new teachers are being used to fill long-term temporary positions instead of hiring higher priced retired teachers.

Cuts for the 2007/2008 school year will be implemented as part of the annual budget process. Trustees rejected an offer to participate in that process. They have refused to play any role in what is viewed as a gutting of the system.

Board members maintain financial problems are the result of government underfunding and a flawed grant formula. Hartmann said he was surprised trustees still refuse to offer advice on the best way to implement cost reductions.

According to Hartmann's report, steps taken last year reduced the board's forecasted 2005/2006 budget deficit to $2.4 million from $15.1 million. The 2006/2007 operating deficit is expected to fall below $4 million and the board's overall shortfall should be less than $9 million.

 

Catholic trustees reject plan

Jan 31, 2007

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board trustees voted unanimously last night to turn down an invitation to share some of the financial powers currently held by a Provincially-appointed supervisor.

After the supervisor, Norbert Hartmann, offered to let trustees regain control of the budget process, provided they worked towards a balanced budget, trustees passed a motion saying they would not make the cuts outlined in Hartmann's deficit elimination plan.

Hartmann said the decision by trustees was very disappointing.

"I'm going to take a few days to reflect and see how we go forward from today," he said.

Trustees have continuously refused to balance their budget, which stands at $15.1 million.

Hartmann was placed at the Board to come up with and implement a plan. He officially presented that plan to the Board last night, saying they could have a hand in implementing the cuts, and finding alternatives to cuts if alternatives were found.

With trustees again refusing to have a hand in making any cuts, Hartmann is expected to stay on and impose the cuts on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

In his report, Moving Forward Together, he will chop $11.5 million from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board budget in 2007-08.

Under the plan, he will force the Board to change school start times, charge for specialized programs and re-think its busing policies.

At the same time, Hartmann has given an extra year to balance the books.

Without trustees again refusing to making any cuts, Hartmann is expected to stay on and impose the cuts on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

Hartmann's plan will cut positions for 19 secretaries and caretakers, and for 30 high school teachers.

It will also cut the number of teachers for special education students.

Busing will be cancelled at Holy Name of Mary Secondary School, a regional all-girls' school.

Busing at St. Sofia will not be cancelled. There was much speculation that busing to the Byzantine Rite elementary school would be chopped.

Busing for the Extended French program will also be spared. At many schools, the start times of classes will be altered to coincide with bus schedules.

The Board will also recover costs by charging students $1,500 to attend the International Baccalaureate program. Previously, there was no cost.

The Reading Recovery literacy program is also facing cutbacks.

It was a long night yesterday at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board for Provincially-appointed supervisor Norbert Hartmann.

BUDGET UPDATE INFORMATION

Cuts coming at separate board
Cuts will affect busing, staff

ROGER BELGRAVE

The plan and timelines for implementing millions of dollars in spending cuts at the Catholic school board are expected to be revealed during a Jan. 30 public meeting.

Norbert Hartmann, the former education ministry bureaucrat appointed by Education Minister Kathleen Wynne to cut costs at the board, is scheduled to present his plan for restoring financial stability at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. The public meeting begins at 7 p.m. in board administrative offices, 40 Matheson Blvd. (at Hwy. 10).

There are several major cost reduction issues that must still be addressed and implemented-- including the transformation of kindergarten into a full day/alternate day program, changing school start times, eliminating busing for some students, hiring freezes and staff reductions.

Implementing full-day kindergarten would eliminate the need to provide noon-hour busing for thousands of students. This was proposed to save an estimated $1.3 million, according to board officials.

Completely eliminating busing for students attending Mississauga's Holy Name of Mary Secondary School, the board's all-girls school, St. Sofia School, a Mississauga Byzantine Rite elementary school primarily serving the Ukrainian community and all extended French schools would save another $1.5 million.

Reductions in the number of teachers working with at-risk students and students who require help with reading skills was also proposed to cut about $5.8 million in spending.

Cuts and hiring freezes for staff working in the special education department and with special education students has been presented as a possible avenue to saving almost $1 million.

Secretaries and clerical staff in administrative offices and schools are also up for reduction to trim almost $1 million in costs.

A freeze on hiring custodial staff-- leaving about 34 positions vacant has already been implemented with the hopes of saving about $1.4 million on the final 2005/2006 budget numbers.

The board reportedly met its cost reductions target for 2005/2006 budget year by ending the fiscal period with a $2.4 million deficit.

School board officials had at one time projected the year would end with a $17.1 million shortfall.