Toronto District School Board Faces Backlash Over Student Shuffle

Students have been reassigned, teachers relocated, and classes merged at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) as part of a significant reorganization effort this year. This annual adjustment aims to balance student enrolment and class sizes in Ontario’s elementary schools. However, many parents are expressing frustration over what they describe as a particularly disruptive process, exacerbated by a lack of local trustee representation.

Katrina Matheson, a parent organizer with the Toronto Schools Caregiver Coalition, criticized the timing and nature of the changes. She stated, “These reorgs feel reckless and demoralizing to families in a system that is already extremely stressed by understaffing, high teacher absences, and a lack of comprehensive curricular materials.” Many parents have reported that the adjustments made this year are the most drastic they have witnessed in September, a month when children typically form bonds with classmates and teachers.

The TDSB oversees 470 elementary schools, with 441 experiencing some level of staff or student movement this year—an increase of eight schools from the previous year. The exact number of individuals affected remains unclear. Traditionally, the TDSB has maintained average class sizes below the provincial average, a strategy that cost the board nearly $30 million last year. For grades 4-8, the average class size stood at 24.1 students, slightly below the provincial target of 24.5.

In an effort to meet provincial requirements regarding class sizes, TDSB staff have been tasked with realigning classes. This has resulted in some students being moved from their established routines, while teachers have been reassigned across different classes or schools. Matheson noted that many schools are losing teachers due to unexpectedly low enrolment figures. She has received concerns from parents at nearly 30 schools, who feel that the decisions made do not prioritize student learning and well-being.

The reorganization is set to take effect on September 18, 2023. At the Toronto Catholic District School Board, similar restructuring efforts will unfold over the coming weeks, with an emphasis on stability and student well-being. Both boards are currently under provincial supervision due to financial difficulties, which has resulted in trustees losing their decision-making powers.

Helen Victoros, president of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto, pointed out that this year has seen more staff changes than in recent memory. “The board said we’re down by about 3,100 students. But spread out over 470 schools, that’s only five or six students per school. Why are we looking at over 300 teachers being moved?”

The board’s reorganization has also impacted sites that support students with complex needs. Victoros emphasized, “This will have a detrimental impact on the students in these programs, and on teachers trying to attend to their students’ needs with less resources and larger class sizes.” Some specialized programs have seen increases in class sizes to comply with ministry class size caps. For instance, diagnostic kindergarten classes have expanded from eight to ten students, while junior classes for students with mild intellectual disabilities have grown from 14 to 16.

As parents express their concerns, many feel that the organizational changes are primarily based on numerical data rather than the unique needs of students. Without local trustees to voice their needs, parents have taken it upon themselves to reach out to board staff, the government-appointed supervisor, and the Ministry of Education. At Lynwood Heights Junior Public School, parents attempted to petition against a teacher transfer but were unsuccessful. They are now planning a protest, voicing their dissatisfaction with the lack of response to their concerns, particularly in Scarborough Agincourt, where many families are not native English speakers.

Aaron Kucharczuk, a parent at Faywood Arts-Based Curriculum School, expressed his discontent with the changes at his children’s school, where two teachers will be lost due to an enrolment drop of 27 students. He noted that class sizes are already large and are expected to grow even further. Despite his attempts to seek clarity from senior board staff, he has received no substantial responses, describing the situation as “very demoralizing.”

In Ontario, school boards project their student enrolment figures each spring, but actual numbers can fluctuate significantly by the time of “Count Day,” which for the TDSB was on September 11, 2023. These figures determine staffing levels, which may necessitate reorganization to comply with provincial regulations and collective agreements.

The provincial government mandates that the average kindergarten class size remain at 26 students, with no more than 29 students per class. For grades 1-3, most classes must contain 20 students or fewer, while the maximum is capped at 23. Although there is no strict cap for grades 4-8, boards are expected to maintain an average of 24.5 students.

Ana Ledo, co-chair of the parent council at Roselands Public School, noted that her school lost a teacher, resulting in the merging of a Grade 2-3 class and the redistribution of its students into other, larger classes. She highlighted that the school serves a low-income community where many students face behavioral challenges without adequate support. “We need smaller class sizes,” she asserted, adding that without trustees, there is no one to advocate for their needs.

As the TDSB navigates these significant changes, the impact on students, teachers, and families remains a pressing concern for many within the community.