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Home My WebLink AboutSchool boards ‘blindsided’ as Ford government slashes program funding - Toronto Star - 12/15/2018 - Toronto Star - 12/15/201812/17/2018 School boards 'blindsided' as Ford government slashes program funding I The Star contentThis copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation- ready onnips of Toronto Star School boards 'blindsided' as For,1A government slashes program funding By KRISTIN RUSHOWY Queen's Park Bureau Sat., Dec. 15, 2o18 The Ford government hasilio in funding for programs that provideafter- school job - sc o s for needy teems, classroom tutors for kids, "student success" supports for racialized youth as well as a projectfocusing i e s, the Star has learned. The province's c received emails late Friday with the list of programs to be cut or that willsee funding reduced,have been scrambling weekend e out the financial impact, given the specialized rat money was promised y the previous Liberalgovernment ast March and may have already been spent. Gr F 1�� e „11 1, k,. s ' 1. ��,1 � 1 ,t,. �� j Ll 1 t j 9 0 I � 0 U 6� https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2018/12/15/school-boards-blindsided-as-ford-government-slashes-program-fundi ng. html 1/6 12/17/2018 School boards 'blindsided' as Ford government slashes program funding I The Star Grants were cancelled for tutors in the classroom, student success leade for racialized students, Indigenous -focused collaborative inquiry, and support for daily physical activity for elementary and secondary students, (MARTA IWANEK / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO) I Not all boards necessarily run each of the axed programs, and it may take weeks before each is able to clarify how it will impact students. "I have serious concerns," said Maria Rizzo, chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. "I'm sick to my stomach because I'm afraid of the steps that we've taken on poverty, on Indigenous education, and even in the Focus on Youth program - we've hired our kids, in the most vulnerable school communities, in the neediest neighbourhoods, just to give them a leg up." A spokesperson for Minister of Education Lisa Thompson said Saturday that sue funds must be "better managed so that they have the greatest impact on students] r MI -I W =01 � OF, OF F0101 P S _j, b s o j I J, S 9 (, (tl y0 U1 6 1 !". u bml b e N 0 W https://www.thestar. co m/po I itics/provi n ci a 1/2018/1211 5/school- boa rds-b I i ndsi ded-as-ford -govern me nt-sl as hes- p rog ra m -fu n d i ng. htm 1 2/6 12/17/2018 School boards 'blindsided' as Ford government slashes program funding I The Star Consultations on school curriculum will be about more than just sex ed, Ford Tories cut cultural funding, revamp tribunals in scramble for savings The EPO grant — which is taking a $25 million hit —" a a long track record of wasteful spending, overspending and millions of dollars of unfunded commitments," said Kayla Iafelice. "We have p.: `1M thorough review of the EPO Fund to ensure that it better aligns with the needs and priorities of Ontario parents, teachers and students whiL.; respecting taxpayer dollarsshe said via email. 1 1 1 mum P It, 14 ErIT� 71. T or Saturday to have a look at the numerous emails and attachments sent by the government about the EPO grants - which fund "other" education programs that are typically tied to government priorities and initiatives, and separate from general education grants. "I would hope that we are not going to be penalized in the middle of the year," Pilkey said. The government "told people in March that they would get all these EPO grants, and now its December." "At this point, we don't have any idea what the dollars are that are attached" to th cancelled programs in the Toronto board, she added. "The information is not gre at this point - but there seems to be about 10 that they're cancelling." I "Right now, we're not sure if it's raising any alarm bells. We're still trying to figure it out," she said Saturday. �Ig The timing, however, "is bizarre to me," P1e added. OF, 110St-jbs('11""it' t "I"P fujIS[' `91(,' fO�YOUF f I / u bc ir b e I14 0 W https://www.thestar.com/politics/provi ncial/2018/12/1 5/school-boards-bli ndsided-as-ford-govern ment-sl ashes- program -fundi ng. html 3/6 12/17/2018 School boards 'blindsided' as Ford government slashes program funding I The Star plipill;r1i III 11 1111111111 IIIIIIIpI 11 � 11 111 rr an 101=_ 014"1 amra U-s-Ims"W8 wrore "m Friday's email from the Ministry of Education, obtained by the Star, says it is "committed to supporting our students, so they have the skills to succeed in school, and in life," but also that "one of the government's top priorities is making life more affordable for individuals and families - while restoring trust, transparency and accountability to Ontario's finances." It notes the provinces $14.5 billion deficit "and that it "requires substantial transformation for the province to return to a balanced budget. This means tha-) Ontario needs to modernize the way education is funded and make sure that jorecious tax dollars are having the greatest impact in the classroom." Rizzo said the Toronto Catholic board's international languages instruction is safe, for this year - though noting funding was cut in half after the Progressive Conservative government took office, dropping from $6 million to $3 million. "Now we have a deficit," she said. o17,777r, .17cal-sc UIC ff=1 1111-00 11 U I board learned of the cutback, she blames the bureaucracy. "I'm not going to blame the government for doing something they didn't even know they did,"she added. Focus on Youth is a program that funds part-time positions for students who live in needy neighbourhoods to work with youth, and was started by the Liberals after a summer of deadly violence involving Toronto youth. The government's intentions are not clear, and these cuts "affect schools and are and communities and kids. Wouldn't you want to be open and transparent?" OF, `9(,'� fO�_ YOU P eft, S _j, b s I"", it', t,(), "K, fu-jL1S[,, 4/'1.!:)111 1 !". u bc ir b e I14 0 W https://www.thestar.com/politics/provi ncial/2018/12/1 5/school-boards-bli ndsided-as-ford-govern ment-sl ashes- program -fundi Ing. html 4/6 12/17/2018 School boards 'blindsided' as Ford government slashes program funding I The Star Focus on Youth summer program, test broadband, human rights and equity advisers, after school skills and development programs and other mental health and math supports. Grants were cancelled for tutors in the classroom, student success leaders for racialized students, Indigenous -focused collaborative inquiry, and support for daily physical activity for elementary and secondary students, as well as a program that is for "ensuring equitable access to post -secondary education." The Toronto board says such initiatives as community use of schools, Indigenous student leadership, as well as "parent reaching out" grants were not mentioned. RIMr I fi III III 1111111111 ig� I I III F1,1111 pgpii 111 .I Emu=. "Finance and other Peel District School Board staff are currently reviewing information received from the Ministry of Education on Friday," said Director of Education Peter Joshua in a statement to the Star. "It will take some time to analyze and identify the impacts of the ministry's funding decisions on programs and initiatives planned for the 2018-19 school year. When we've determined these impacts, we will communicate them to those who are affected by the changes in funding, including staff, students and families," Joshua said. The government memo says it has "carefully reviewed all ministry programs - including all transfer payments - and the government is now focused on making the necessary deons to reduce spending wherever possible. At the same time, Ontario is makin�o sure that students have what thekTj need to feel safe, suiii rted, and be successful in school. "At this time, the government has not made any decisions regarding the 2019-20 fiscal year. However, the government will keep balancing the budget as a top priority, and will continue to communicate with you in a timely and transparent manner." XTTNT-i T7 -3-- A -3 CCt1_ I- - 7 P S _j, b s Sl.,dl j I J, S 9 (, (tl y0 U1 6 u bml b e N 0 W https://www.thestar.com/politics/provi ncial/2018/12/1 5/school-boards-bli ndsided-as-ford-govern ment-sl ashes- program -fundi Ing. html 5/6 12/17/2018 School boards 'blindsided' as Ford government slashes program funding I The Star Mes, a TIFT-Mer Y *r*f1T* SC11400 FFarl 11-77-ustee, s lor =7 Mictren TITTV 771M.9 opportunities and resources — not fewer." I The education minister's office said the EPO funding decisions were based on whether projects "provided direct support to students in the classroom" and if they could be "delivered in a more cost-effective mechanism" and had "successful Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy A REPORT AN ERROR JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS J] ABOUT THE STAR Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com r o i�,j, eft, S _j, b s iE, t, S 9 (, f 0 �' YO U s 'cir�be NOW 4/ ",/l/) u b /�,,� https://www.thestar.com/politics/provi ncial/2018/12/1 5/school-boards-bli ndsided-as-ford-govern ment-sl ashes- program -fundi ng. html 6/6