TDSB Trustee Anu Sriskandarajah
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! I hope that you and your family had a safe and enjoyable summer. We are all hoping and working towards a successful school year.
After more than two years of the pandemic, we are preparing to welcome students and staff to a more stable school year in September. While most COVID-19 measures have been lifted by the Ontario government, the health and safety of our school communities remains our priority. The TDSB will continue to monitor the pandemic and follow the guidance and direction from the Ministry of Education and public health officials.
2022-23 Operating Budget
At the last Board Meeting of the 2021-22 school year, we approved the 2022-23 operating budget. The $3.4 billion budget includes investments in mental health supports, early reading coaches, additional ESL teachers, student safety, resources to combat hate and racism, and technology for students. However, the budget also includes a projected deficit of $40.4 million which is mostly due to the lack of adequate pandemic funding and decline in enrolment across the system. The TDSB will be using its reserves to balance the operating budget for the 2022-23 school year.
As the trustee for our ward, my colleagues and I continue to advocate for more funding from the province, including reimbursements for pandemic-related expenses and other revenue losses as a result of the pandemic. I will also be advocating for a commitment to fund the TDSB’s pandemic recovery plan (a motion moved by me and my colleague Trustee Rajakulasingam), and additional funding to cover increases in costs due to inflation that are not being funded by the Ministry of Education. Should these costs be reimbursed to school boards, these supports would be able to address the TDSB’s projected deficit.
Additionally, due to declining enrolment and the elimination of the one-time Ministry pandemic funding, it is not possible for the Board to keep the same number of staff as last year. Therefore, there will be a small number of staff reductions to align staffing with the number of students. During a difficult budget year, it is not possible to keep current staffing levels with thousands fewer students attending the TDSB without additional funding from the Ministry of Education.
Policy Consultations
I encourage residents to read the alternative school policy, provide your comments, or ask any questions or clarifications by reaching out to us at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Policies-Procedures-Forms/Policy-Consultations.
- Alternative Schools (P062) – Please complete the survey – E-mail comments until September 27, 2022 to anna.catalano@tdsb.on.ca.
Congratulations Executive Superintendent Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini! Please join me in congratulating Executive Superintendent for Scarborough, Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini, in her new role as Director of Education for the Hamilton School Board. She was an absolute pleasure to work with and worked tremendously hard for the students of our ward. We will miss her but know she will serve the students of Hamilton well. The Board is currently undertaking a search