How the school board cut $84M After eight gruelling hours of debate on five budget options, the Toronto District School Board early yesterday approved $84-million in cuts to stave off a government takeover. A primer: Q How did the board balance the budget? A The approved plan includes: - $40-million in savings by deferring maintenance for a year. - $8.7-million in cuts to board administration. - $5-million in reductions to information technology. - $500,000 from charging parking fees at school lots. -$1-million in the reduction of a maximum of 30 educational assistants through attrition. Q Will classrooms be affected? A Aside from the 30 education assistants who won't be replaced, Don Higgins, executive superintendent of business services, said, "schools will be ostensibly unaffected." The budget does not get rid of swimming pools, parenting centres, outdoor education or lunchroom supervisors, as previously proposed. Q How was the budget born? A The 11th-hour plan is a hybrid of two proposals -- one created by a provincial team of assistants and the other by a few trustees and board staff. Q How do the various players feel about it? Education Minister Kathleen Wynne "I really believe that school trustees having control of their boards is in the best interest of the pupils of the schools, the parents in the system, and it's really the way we need to move forward.'' Trustee David Shory ''To prune the tree a little bit ... so that it grows, we had to do that.'' Trustee Josh Matlow ''This budget was imperfect to everyone but it was a reasonable resolution to ensure that we balanced the budget.'' Q What's next? A TDSB trustees said the deficit is a result of provincial underfunding and an antiquated funding formula. Ms. Wynne said a new approach will be in place by budget time next year. The Toronto Catholic District School Board has a provincial team helping to balance its books. A government supervisor is dealing with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board's shortfall.
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