Dozens rally outside TDSB head office amid firing, suspension of 10 teachers at east Toronto school

A rally was held outside TDSB headquarters Tuesday afternoon in support of teachers at an East End elementary school.

Dozens of parents and supporters gathered outside the Toronto District School Board’s (TDSB) head office late Tuesday afternoon to call for the reinstatement of 10 teachers at an east-end school.

The rally, which was organized by Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT), the union representing the affected staff members at Bowmore Road Junior and Senior School, got underway at 4:30 p.m.

“Under provincial take over, two teachers fired, eight more suspended. This is absolutely unprecedented,” ETT president Helen Victoros said during the demonstration.

“This is an incredibly serious blow to all of these dedicated teachers, to the students, and to the entire school community. Parents love these teachers.”

‘Disasterous decision’: union

In a news release, ETT said it is “rallying to fight for the Bowmore 10, push back against the Board’s disastrous decision, and fight for the schools our students deserve.”

“Two weeks ago, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) unjustly fired two teachers at Bowmore. Last week, eight more teachers were suspended without pay. This is a serious blow to these dedicated teachers, their students, the school, and the entire community,” it wrote.

Elementary Teachers of Toronto called the recent staffing changes at the school near Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street East are shortsighted and irresponsible, saying the board’s actions have significantly disrupted the learning of hundreds of students.

It went on to say the firings and suspensions have created anxiety and chaos for children, their parents, and all of the staff at this school, and are contributing to a growing climate of fear among staff across the TDSB.

The loss of the teachers on Jan. 29 comes just days after the acting superintendent sent out letters informing parents and caregivers that the school’s principal and vice-principal would “no longer be at Bowmore.”

• READ MORE: ‘It’s been really tumultuous’: Parents fight back after 8 teachers suspended at east Toronto school in 1 day

On Monday, parent and school council co-chair Jenn Engels said parents want the teachers back and want to see a change in leadership.

She said problems at Bowmore have been present since September when the teaching model was changed for Grades 7 and 8. She also pointed to increasing issues with violence and bullying.

Engels said the staffing and administration changes all came after an ‘unsatisfactory’ school council meeting Jan. 14.

Minutes from that meeting were posted online and indicate that there was a discussion around school safety, one of several that have taken place since last spring.

“In April, parents from the gifted program approached the school council about bullying issues affecting their children. It became clear this was a whole-school issue,” the minutes read.

The minutes go on to list other types of incidents reported at Bowmore, including unwanted touching, use of racial slurs, children tricked into saying racial slurs, along with two classrooms being recently trashed and a fire set inside the school.

Some of the requests from parents included a clear plan outlining how safety, behaviour, and communications are being addressed, specific ways parents can partner with staff and administration, and fair and supportive application of expectations and consequences for all students.

Michelle Aarts, the elected school trustee for that area and the parent of a Grade 7 student at Bowmore, told CTV News Toronto that she’s comforted by the fact that “the system, leadership” are paying attention to what is going on at the school, even if these issues should have been addressed last fall when they first emerged.

Aarts, who also attended Tuesday’s rally, noted that concrete plans have yet to be put in place for the changes and the supports parents want to see.

New superintendent taking over school, board says

CTV News Toronto reached to the TDSB on Tuesday for further comment and explanation around the situation at Bowmore as no reasoning for the sudden administrative changes or suspensions has been provided.

We were instead referred to a letter from the board’s interim director of Education Stacey Zucker, which was sent to families at the school on Monday evening.

In it, Zucker said she has asked a new superintendent to take over responsibilities at Bowmore.

“After careful consideration, we felt that this shift was necessary as we work to rebuild trust at Bowmore,” she wrote.

The letter also states changes to improve school safety and provide additional supports.