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OPSBA in the Media – April 2019

2019 4/5 | Connects Page, OPSBA in the Media

Ontario school board group concerned about class size, e-learning
MuskokaRegion.com, Apr. 30, 2019
TORONTO — The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association is reviewing the 2019-2020 Grants for Student Needs for impacts on school boards across Ontario, but continues to have strong concerns regarding the impact of proposed increases in secondary class sizes and the implementation of mandatory e-learning.
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Northern school boards fret for future as teaching positions phased out
Kristin Rushowy, The Toronto Star, Apr. 29, 2019
Ontario’s northern boards have smaller high school classes — and under changes by the Ford government, they have more to lose.

While boards across the province worry about how to handle the loss of teachers and course offerings as high school class sizes jump from an average of 22 to 28, in the north the current average is closer to 18.
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OPSBA advocates for students: class size and e-learning concerns remain
Port Stanley News, Apr. 29, 2019
Toronto, April 26, 2019 – The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA)
is reviewing the 2019-2020 Grants for Student Needs (GSN) for impacts on school
boards across Ontario but continues to have strong concerns regarding the impact
of proposed increases in secondary class sizes and the implementation of mandatory
e-learning …

Ontario government decreases per-student funding for school boards
Ottawa Sun, Apr. 27, 2019
Ontario is cutting the amount of money school boards receive per student, which advocates say will mean fewer services and supports for kids.
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Province cuts per-pupil funding
Michael Lee, The Sudbury Star, Apr. 27, 2019
The true impact of the Ontario government’s latest funding announcement for school boards won’t be known until more information is received, Near North District School Board education director Jackie Young says.
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Ontario spends $330 million to avoid teacher layoffs
Bay Today, Apr. 26, 2019
Ontario’s government says it will spend $330 million on a “Priorities and Partnerships Fund” to avoid teacher layoffs while a new education plan is implemented.

“With attrition protection funding support in place, school boards should have sufficient funding to avoid laying off teachers who may be impacted by our proposed changes,” says Lisa Thompson, Minister of Education.
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OPSBA advocates for students: class size and e-learning concerns remain
Ontario News North, Apr. 26, 2019
TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) is reviewing the 2019-2020 Grants for Student Needs (GSN) for impacts on school boards across Ontario but continues to have strong concerns regarding the impact of proposed increases in secondary class sizes and the implementation of mandatory e-learning.
More

Last year, this Peel high school teacher finally landed a full-time job. This year? A layoff notice
Kristin Rushowy, The Toronto Star, Apr. 17, 2019
Marta Bedard comes from a family of teachers — mom, sister, aunts — and “essentially grew up” in her mother’s elementary classroom in Peel Region.

After leaving a career in public relations to become a teacher herself, Bedard spent years as a supply before finally landing a full-time position at Brampton’s Turner Fenton Secondary School last June.
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As Ontario education funding rises by less than inflation, critics call it ‘rolling back the clock’
Kristin Rushowy, The Toronto Star, Apr. 11, 2019
The Ontario government will spend $1 billion more on education over the next three years, mostly to meet the costs of growing enrolment and a new child-care rebate — an amount critics said won’t even cover inflation.
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High school classes of 46? That’s where Halton board warns Ford government changes to education could lead
Kristin Rushowy, The Toronto Star, Apr. 10, 2019
The Halton public school board is warning that classes could balloon to 46 students as the Ford government cuts the number of high school teachers over the next four years.
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Ontario government to cut 3,475 teaching positions, provincial memos say
Kristin Rushowy, The Toronto Star, Apr. 5, 2019
The Ford government is planning to cut 3,475 teaching jobs over the next four years in a move that will save $851 million, according to education ministry memo, obtained by the Star …