Parents worry as teacher cuts, labour strife loom

Parents of Ottawa high school students are bracing for the loss of hundreds of teaching positions and the possibilityof job action.

Last week, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) joined boards across the province in confirming thathundreds of teaching jobs could disappear over the next few years, in the wake of education changesannounced in the Progressive Conservative government's Aprilbudget.

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"Parents are right now upset about [the] changes," said Carmen Parsons, whochairs the parent council at Sir Robert Borden High School and has twochildren in high school.

"They'renot happy," she said. "And I don'tthink everybody knows exactly how to express that, or to advocate for what we want."

'Detrimental impact'

The PCslaid outsignificant changesto Ontario's education system ahead oftheirfirst-ever budget, includingbigger class sizes for Grades 4to 12, new elementary math andsex-edcurricula, and a province-wide ban oncellphonesin classrooms.

Its controversial plan to eliminatenearly 3,500 teaching positions in Ontariowould eventually save$290 million a yearfrom the education budget, according to a memo to school boards obtained by CBCNews.

At an OCDSB meeting last week, staff warned that the changes could mean the loss of 250 to 300 full-time equivalent teaching positions locally at the high school level within four years.

Nathalie Schiebelhas three children in high school and is on the parent council at Woodroffe High School.

"We don't want to panic, but when you hear that number, about 300 positions, that is a big number. And it's hard to see how that's not going to have a detrimental impact," said Schiebel.

"I really don't see how you can take that many positions out of the system and have it continue to function as well as it is right now. And even right now, there's room for improvement."

Board wants parents as allies

OCDSB chairLynn Scottsaid the board has not hit the panic button yet.

Scott said she hopes thatif the board offers timely information about the impact of the changes, the province will realize what's at stake.

She said the province will get the message if parents advocate for their children, similar to the recent protests over changes to autism funding in Ontario.

"If it means that we need to take away supports that are really benefiting students, that's not good for kids," said Scott.

The fear of looming job action, Scott said,is also makingthe school community nervous.

"When there's uncertainty out there [and]everybody's on edge, people don't do as well at their jobs. That's not good for kids either," said Scott.

"So let's roll up our sleeves and figure out the best ways to make this work."

Students speak up

But recent comments by Premier Doug Ford, calling members of the teachers' union "thugs," hasratcheted up the threat of difficult negotiations for the next collective agreement.

The current agreement ends in August.

Schiebelsaid parents have a lot to balance, and while the added uncertainty is starting to wear themdown, it's not stopping the students from speaking up.

She was impressed with her teenage daughter's decision to participate in a walkout earlier this month over the changes.

• In their words: Why Ottawa high school students walked out

"She's a smart kid, and they're all pretty smart kids, and they can figure it out," Schiebel said.

"They have a pretty clear picture of what's going to change for them, and they're the ones that are going to be impacted."