Toronto's public school trustees slashed more than $80-million and balanced the board's budget early Thursday morning, averting a provincial takeover.
The cuts include spending reductions in information technology and board administration. As well as the school board's seeing increased revenue from parking.
“Our work is just beginning,” said Gerri Gershon, adding that it's now up to the province and the board to work together to fix the funding formula.
“We both have work to do.”
The vote — 14-7 in favour of a balanced budget — came after a night when ideology and politics divided Toronto's public school trustees as the deadline loomed to balance the board's books.
To approve the budget, the board combined two separate budget plans that were presented to it Wednesday night.
Trustees had rejected three competing plans, then about midnight were given a fourth, that had to be presented and discussed before another vote.
Although the 22 board members debated the options without consensus throughout the evening, there was little appetite for having Queen's Park take control.
“I don't trust a Liberal supervisor or co-management team to do a better job than this board to fight for our kids, fight for our schools,” trustee Josh Matlow told the meeting.
Mr. Matlow argued for a plan that included savings from cuts to professional development and administrative programs, increased revenue for parking and shifting $40-million from the capital to the operating side of the budget. It was rejected by a vote of 10-12.
The Toronto board, Canada's largest, is being watched closely by its Catholic counterpart, which also faces a deficit. Public school trustees have had a difficult time balancing the board's $2.3-billion budget in the past. In fact, the previous Progressive Conservative government put a supervisor in charge of the board because trustees refused to make spending cuts.
The current Liberals have no qualms about stripping recalcitrant boards of their power. A former bureaucrat has been put in charge of balancing the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board's budget after trustees refused to do so.
One of the things trustees made clear during Wednesday night's meeting was that they needed to send a strong message to the government that the funding formula must be changed.
“I'm not an agent of the provincial government ... and I won't do their dirty work,” said trustee Rick Tefler.
“We're managing tonight the province's problems and I'm not going to be a part of it,” trustee Chris Bolton said.
One plan that included closing schools, eliminating the jobs of 600 education assistants and shutting down swimming pools was previously rejected by the board.
Another budget scenario presented by a team of provincially appointed investigators suggested reducing spending on facilities by $40-million and making a number of other small cuts, which would leave most of the board's programs intact. It was defeated after a tie vote.
Before the meeting, trustee divisions were apparent. Left-leaning trustees, who have solidified in opposition to the province's education-funding policies, accused Ms. Ward and other trustees of trying to appease the government rather than stick up for students and staff.
“I believe that there's enough consternation about the cuts tonight that I don't see it as a clear-cut vote,” trustee Chris Bolton said. “What people have to remember is that trustees have a responsibility to the Toronto District School Board, not to the Liberal Party.”
But Mr. Matlow said his colleagues need to stop the petty political game. “I think everybody needs to get off their high horse. We need to find a resolution, and I hope people come to their senses.”
