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I've seen some people (including a TRUSTEE or two) advocating for using their school board's reserves to lower class sizes in September.
Let me give a super-simple explanation why that is a REALLY BAD IDEA.
#SafeSeptemberON #UnsafeSeptemberON
#onted #onpoli
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Let me give a super-simple explanation why that is a REALLY BAD IDEA.
#SafeSeptemberON #UnsafeSeptemberON
#onted #onpoli
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So ONT gets BILLIONS from the fed gov't for COVID recovery and, instead of putting some of that $$$ into making schools safe for children, @Sflecce tells school boards to USE THEIR OWN RESERVES ($500M total in Ont) to pay for extra safety measures, like more staff.
Okay...
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Okay...
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Staff payroll is a PROV responsibility. This is why @fordnation was so bent on 
class size avgs over the last few yrs. To save $$$.
For every 22 Ss, they were paying for 1 T; now it's 23:1.
They don't want to pay for more, even just for a yr or two during an emergency.
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class size avgs over the last few yrs. To save $$$. For every 22 Ss, they were paying for 1 T; now it's 23:1.
They don't want to pay for more, even just for a yr or two during an emergency.
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WHY NOT?
I don't know for sure but I suspect...
1. Post-pandemic, parents will be unwilling to return to the substandard, over-crowded status quo.
2. Hiring more Ts increases union membership. And these guys HATE unions. More union members = harder to bust.
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I don't know for sure but I suspect...
1. Post-pandemic, parents will be unwilling to return to the substandard, over-crowded status quo.
2. Hiring more Ts increases union membership. And these guys HATE unions. More union members = harder to bust.
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RESERVES are like savings accounts for emergencies/local needs/improvements. It takes a long time to put aside bits of their budget every yr to save that $$$.
These needs can include anything from emerg repairs to extra social workers/EAs or supporting vulnerable students.
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These needs can include anything from emerg repairs to extra social workers/EAs or supporting vulnerable students.
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PAY ATTENTION HERE...
Forcing boards to use their savings is an attempt to STARVE boards of the little financial autonomy they have.
And should they need some of that $$$ back to deal with local needs, the provincial gov't cries "MISMANAGEMENT!" and takes over the board.
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Forcing boards to use their savings is an attempt to STARVE boards of the little financial autonomy they have.
And should they need some of that $$$ back to deal with local needs, the provincial gov't cries "MISMANAGEMENT!" and takes over the board.
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For many reasons, including (but not limited to)...
their privatization agenda
contempt for public edu/educators
disregard for children's safety...
Ford and Lecce should NOT be in the business of managing public school boards!
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their privatization agendacontempt for public edu/educatorsdisregard for children's safety...Ford and Lecce should NOT be in the business of managing public school boards!
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If the gov't is withholding $ from EDUCATION, even in a crisis, it is highly unlikely they will give them back some of that cash for local priorities, should the need arise.
Scratch that...they WON'T give them that money.
And then public school boards will FAIL students.
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Scratch that...they WON'T give them that money.
And then public school boards will FAIL students.
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Anyone involved in or pays attention to board business *knows* this.
So to see ppl "in the know" saying boards should dip into their savings for extra staff is unsettling at best.
They're clearly not in it for the kids. And they don't believe in QUALITY PUBLIC EDU FOR ALL.
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So to see ppl "in the know" saying boards should dip into their savings for extra staff is unsettling at best.
They're clearly not in it for the kids. And they don't believe in QUALITY PUBLIC EDU FOR ALL.
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This has *nothing* to do with lack of $$$.
The province has the money but where they spend it is driven by IDEOLOGY and not public interest.
Look around and see where Ford *does* spend money.
SPOILER ALERT: It's not on YOU.
#SafeSeptemberON or #UnsafeSeptemberON ?
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The province has the money but where they spend it is driven by IDEOLOGY and not public interest.
Look around and see where Ford *does* spend money.
SPOILER ALERT: It's not on YOU.
#SafeSeptemberON or #UnsafeSeptemberON ?
10/10
One last one so it's easy to find. A primer on reserve funds and how they are intended to be spent.
11/ https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/980446/v1
11/ https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/980446/v1
