March 3, 2008

Swimming Pools in Schools

Dear St. Paul’s Residents:

As public representatives for St. Paul’s West, we are coming together in the spirit of co-operation to alert our midtown residents to the troubling situation facing the future funding for 78 swimming pools in Toronto schools.

Two of the school pools located in the neighbourhoods we represent, specifically Winona PS and Hillcrest CS (as well as Brown and Deer Park PS in St. Paul’s East), serve not only as locations where recreation and life skills programs are offered, but also as important community hubs. The City currently pays for almost the entire cost of operating the 33 swimming pools it uses to host City recreation programmes at the cost of $5.4 million per year. Within 4 years, the City will be paying for the entire operating costs for the pools in these schools, increasing the payment to $6.4 million (check numbers). For these 33 schools, the City-Toronto District School Board (TDSB) agreement provides that for 2008, the TDSB will cover $1 million of operating costs, decreasing to zero within 4 years.  The agreement also provides that the TDSB is responsible for the capital costs associated with the upkeep of those facilities.

This leaves the TDSB also covering both the operating and capital costs associated with the remaining 45 pools. The total operating costs for the TDSB for these pools is in excess of $10 million.  With no source of additional revenues other than Provincial education grants, TDSB trustees are faced with the unenviable task of choosing between classroom funding or funding swimming pools. The Provincial government must recognize the importance of properly funding BOTH and that they must forward the necessary funds to do this as part of the TDSB budget. We believe that the Provincial government has a natural role in a partnership with the City of Toronto and the TDSB. 

In our neighbourhood, the closure of the 45 pools will hit residents directly as Winona PS pool will need to be decommissioned if Provincial funding is not secured.  The Hillcrest CS pool will probably be saved for the moment as it is part of the group of school pools where the City runs its programmes. We are clear in our view that children and families in St. Paul’s West will be poorer for the loss of this community pool (in addition to 44 other pools). These facilities provide valuable sports, recreation and life skills opportunities for children and families. We ask you to join us and express your support for swimming pools in Toronto schools and the urgent need for the Provincial government to do its part by investing in these pools for our children and families. 

The province is deflecting their responsibility by arguing that this is an issue between the TDSB and the City.  However, the province controls the school funding formula and has not provided the revenue necessary to keep the pools open.  At the same time, surely the City with its financial difficulties cannot be asked to accept another sideload to pay for the cost of school pool facilities that it does not own nor that are not part of city programming.  

The Provincial government needs to be part of the solution here.  They need to accept responsibility that these are their schools and their pools.  We urge you to join us and call on the province to address the financial issues and allow the school pools to continue to serve our residents.
 

Sincerely,

Josh Matlow     
TDSB Trustee, Ward 11, St. Paul’s 

Councillor Joe Mihevc
Ward 21, St. Paul’s West