Calling the Greater Essex County District School Board just the latest casualty in a string of Ontario school boards hit hard by the Ford government's cuts to education, the Windsor area's three MPPs have issued a statement.
The school board will layoff 70 full-time workers as it balances its budget for the 2019-2020 school year. Trustees approved the budget Tuesday night.
"Children and families count on schools being full of qualified and attentive adults to support kids," read the statement issued by Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky, and Essex MPP Taras Natyshak on Wednesday. "Doug Ford's cuts, which now include taking away another 70 full-time, front-line education workers at GECDSB, mean bigger class sizes, less one-on-one support for students, fewer education workers to support students with special needs, and fewer adults in every school."
The Ford government pledged during the election campaign to balance the province's books. Ontario's deficit is $13.5 billion.
Related story: Pending Windsor area public school cuts hurt students, say teacher unions
The NDP MPPs said they have heard from parents and students worried about the impact of larger class sizes and fewer course options will have on education.
