Currently, many of the worst elements of the Mike Harris funding formula remain:

• The benchmark in the formula for teachers does not reflect the actual costs, so boards employ fewer teachers than contemplated by the funding formula.4
• The funding formula never adequately provided for the costs of operating and maintaining buildings.5
• There is no funding line for educational assistants, so boards must find money for their salaries from other budget areas.
• The funding formula has not been adequately modified to take into account the different costs associated with maintaining buildings of vastly different ages, sizes, and architectural design.6

The Challenges Continue

These flaws explain why many school boards are still facing the spectre of closing schools and cutting programmes as a means of balancing budgets.  Although much has been made of declining school enrolment at a time of increased funding, few have pointed out the fact that there are certain fixed costs associated with running a school, regardless of the number of students.  Utility costs don’t decrease just because there are fewer students in the building.

Ontario’s elementary and secondary schools are still under funded.  As long as this continues, there will be constant pressure on school boards to cut programmes and services, and further entrench privatization.  More than ever, we need active, fighting school board trustees who demand that Ontario children not be short-changed.

2006 School Board Elections – Get Active

Next year, many trustees will earn more – the first increase since the salaries were cut during Mike Harris’s first term.  As such, it is hoped that school board trustees elected in 2006 will have more time to devote to school advocacy – we need to make sure they’re advocating for students, teachers and staff.

For more information on labour endorsed school board trustee candidates please contact your local labour council.