The Ontario budget and recently released GSNs had few surprises for school boards, particularly in the wake of the Drummond Report’s recommendations.
The funding proposed will impact operational decisions and perhaps some policy decisions that school boards will be making. There will also be an impact on bargaining between school boards and their unions, as the Province has only identified funding in the GSNs consistent with its position with the unions. These however, are not surprising. But, the talk of school board amalgamations was unexpected.
The Ministry of Education has not yet identified its plans for these amalgamations. But it is not anticipated that any Catholic and public school boards would be amalgamated, nor is it anticipated that any French language and English language school boards would be amalgamated.
Those who remember the significant amalgamations of the late 1990s, will be familiar with the disruption and many operational and legal issues that resulted. These issues had a significant impact on some school boards. There were also financial costs to amalgamation, despite the goal of creating lasting efficiencies and savings.
For those school boards that might be identified for amalgamation, this may be a very unstable and troubling period, because it will be occurring at the same time that school boards are anticipated to be negotiating with their local unions, given that Provincial talks and PDT agreements are now less likely. School boards may also have to address significant legal issues resulting from the need to harmonize collective agreements, operational issues and policies and procedures.
The changes could be many, or few.Avis de non-responsabilité
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