TDSB passes new operating budget

CTV Toronto: Budget battle within TDSB Naomi Parness shares her front-row seat as the budget battle continues within the Toronto District School Board.

The Toronto District School Board voted Wednesday to pass a new $2.9 billion operating budget without making cuts to music programs.

There had been fears that the board might slash itinerant music instructors, an idea rejected Wednesday by trustees.

“There’s a victory here tonight,” Trustee Chris Glover told CP24. “The Toronto District School Board has one of the best music programs in the country and we’re going to be able to maintain that for at least another year.”

Glover, a vocal opponent of cuts to music programs, said the board will still have to find a long-term way of funding music programs in schools.

“The real problem that we’re going to be facing is that already there’s a projection of another $30 million shortfall for next year…. We really need the province to step in and fix the funding so that the funding formula doesn’t generate an annual cycle of cuts.”

The new budget also held off on introducing fees for International Baccalaureate students, an idea that had been floated as a possible revenue tool. While it was never officially part of the budget, trustees shot down the proposal Wednesday.

Trustees still managed to approve $27 million in cuts to help make up a nearly $30 million budget shortfall. Cuts included a reduction in the number of maintenance staff and maintenance supplies.

The board will now look to make up some $8.5 million of the shortfall through other savings during the school year.

More private meetings are planned over the next day to deal with the board’s capital budget.

The board’s meeting is officially recessed until Thursday at 7 p.m. when trustees will reconvene to deal with the remainder of the agenda.