Fund Our Schools Campaign Continues To Call for Desperately Needed Increase in Provincial Funding for Education
The Fund Our Schools campaign in Toronto continues to call for a desperately needed increase in Provincial funding for education. On April 2nd, over a hundred workers, parents, and students gathered in front of the TDSB headquarters at 5050 Yonge to protest the cuts coming to the TDSB.
Many had come out to depute in the days and weeks leading up to the April 2nd rally - a sign of the growing frustration with the crisis in underfunding in our schools. More than 140 individuals sign up to speak to the Board which culminated with the rally on April 2nd.
Pressure against more cuts to the TDSB is beginning to have an effect. The TDSB has extended its budget schedule to allow for more engagement with the public. There are now four Budget Town Halls scheduled for the remainder of April and beginning of May. Backed by public pressure, progressive trustees are now attempting to save programs which were facing cuts from under-funding.
They are pointing the figure to the provincial government who has – since coming to power in 2018 – cut education funding to $1,200 less per student per school per school year. Recognizing this, the TDSB has made multiple requests to the Province to help with the Board’s deficit – requests the Province has denied to date.
To be clear, unless education workers, teachers and parents speak up and speak out, publicly-funded education will continue to suffer with more and more cuts. Pressure on the provincial government must continue so that important programming like adult and outdoor education is not cut, and that all schools have enough educational assistants to ensure every child is getting the attention they need.
The Fund Our Schools campaign is building capacity, and gearing up to take the fight directly to Conservative MPPs who are responsible for the ongoing cuts to our schools. On May 11th, the Fund Our Schools will be on the ground with workers, parents, and allies, to make sure that communities are aware their MPP is responsible for the crisis we see in our schools.
Jennifer Huang from Fund Our Schools deputes at TDSB Meeting
Join the Fund Our Schools campaign for mass distribution of leaflets in target ridings on May 11th to tell MPPs to FUND OUR SCHOOLS!
