Ontario Government Reviews Underused Schools, Parents Voice Concerns

Parents in Ontario are expressing anxiety as the provincial government, led by Premier Doug Ford, has confirmed a review of underused schools across several school boards. This initiative raises concerns regarding the future of smaller specialty schools, particularly if the current moratorium on school closures is lifted.

Elizabeth Garkowski, a parent with children attending a small school, voices her worries about potential cuts. “Right now, my daughter is failing to receive some vital supports, and her education is suffering, and I think that should be the priority,” she stated in an interview with CityNews. Garkowski emphasizes that “our kids are not a budget line.”

In an official statement, the Ontario Ministry of Education, under Minister Paul Calandra, indicated that supervisors in various school boards have been tasked with reviewing surplus properties and reporting back to the ministry. The focus is on ensuring that educational resources are effectively directed back into classrooms. The province has taken control of six school boards since Calandra’s appointment, citing issues of mismanagement, including the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Despite the announcement, the government has assured that the moratorium on school closures remains in effect for the time being. “Which schools are they? That’s the one thing I’m concerned about… what does he consider as being a surplus school? That’s not really clear,” expressed Sandra Huh, another concerned parent.

The timing of the review has drawn scrutiny from opposition leaders. John Fraser, leader of the Liberal Party, questioned the government’s motives, stating it seemed suspicious that the administration would initiate a review after taking over the boards. “If we take a look at this government’s record… there’s always somebody outside of government whose going to benefit from the sale of that land or the sale of that building,” he remarked.

Huh added to the concerns, stating, “I’m really concerned this minister is just coming in to sell off these schools. The land in Toronto is very valuable.”

The current moratorium on school closures was first introduced by the previous Liberal government in 2017 after facing backlash from parents and critics. They argued that school boards were closing institutions to balance budgets rather than prioritizing the needs of students and communities. While the moratorium has remained under Ford’s Progressive Conservative government, school boards have repeatedly requested its lifting, arguing that the costs associated with maintaining facilities with low enrollment adversely affect their financial health.

Garkowski pointed out the broader issues at play, saying, “I feel like we’re pointing the fingers everywhere at why it’s failing and why the system is cracking instead of just addressing the elephant in the room that we’re all very well aware of that we’re billions of dollars underfunded.”

The New Democratic Party Education Critic, Chandra Pasma, echoed these sentiments, stating, “That just speaks to how dire the financial situation has been. The funding hasn’t been keeping up [and] school boards have had to cut to the bone. I don’t think that’s the solution. I think the solution is providing funding so that we can maintain our community schools and every child has the resources they need in the classroom.”

Calandra has assured the public that the Ontario government will not consider lifting the moratorium on school closures in rural areas, but parents remain anxious about the implications of the ongoing review and the future of their local schools.