Sarah Smithies

Trustees, the Board, and the Province

I will fight to: Restore the $6.5 billion in education funding cut by the Ford government. Restore local, democratically elected boards, so that education decisions are driven by parents and local communities. Stop the sell-off of TDSB lands and school closures. Reduce class sizes, so every student receives the attention they deserve. Eliminate the $4.45 billion repair backlog, to make all schools safe and healthy. Restore critical student Supports, reverse staffing cuts to Education Assistants, and reinstate the Model School.

Bullying in Schools

I would prioritize safety, transparency and adherence to established board protocols, hold the board accountable for its own policies, and identify any existing gaps in the current frameworks and processes. Chronic funding gaps mean fewer crucial support staff, like guidance counselors and EAs. Class size and educator to student ratios need to come down, so that schools are safer and more equitable for all students. Policies and frameworks are not enough without the resources to fulfill them. Keep police officers out of our schools.

Class Sizes and Staffing

Caps need to be restored for Grade 4-8 classrooms and educator to student ratios need to come down. Cuts need to be rolled back for Education Assistants, ECEs, and lunchroom supervisors. The elimination of lunch room supervisors, for instance, doesn’t eliminate the need, it just eliminates its funding. Sadly, in Calgary, the board of education now directly charges families $350/per student for lunch room supervision. Funding cuts lead to the privatization of parts of the education system and the downloading of those costs onto families.

Special Programs and Program Access

The province slashed its targeted special education funding allotment to the TDSB by $6.4 million. The provincial supervisor authorized the elimination of 15 specialized diagnostic kindergarten classes tailored for young children with complex developmental and physical needs. To absorb the remaining students, the board raised the maximum occupancy in these classes from 8 to 10 children! These cuts are shameful. I will fight to restore critical student supports, expand special education supports, and reinstate the Model Schools program.