Parents fight back after 8 teachers suspended at east Toronto school in 1 day

Parents at an East End school are pushing back after the co-chair of the school's council says eight teachers were suspended in a single day.

Parents at an elementary school in Toronto’s east end are fighting to have 10 teachers reinstated after the school council co-chair says they were either fired or suspended this month.

The push comes amid news the principal and vice-principal are also no longer at the school, according to letters from the superintendent obtained by CTV News Toronto.

“It’s been really tumultuous,” Jenn Engels, who has a daughter in Grade 7 French Immersion at the school near Gerrard Street East and Coxwell Avenue, told CTV News Toronto on Monday.

“It’s so demoralizing. Despite being a really big school, it’s a really tight-knit community.”

Engels said there are around 300 students in Grades 7 and 8 who have been impacted by the absent teachers.

She said families at the school are feeling frustrated by a lack of accountability, transparency, and meaningful communication from the board.

“I have felt over and over they have tried to sneak something past us,” Engels said, adding the problems started early in the school year, when Bowmore’s shared teaching model that was in place for more than 20 years was abruptly ended.

Engels said teachers had taught certain courses and students rotated. Under the new model they must now cover a wider range of subjects, which she said led to extra curricular activities disruptions.

• READ MORE: This TDSB school swapped its teaching model for some grades mid-September. Students, parents want to change it back

Then on Jan. 14, Engels said there was an “unsatisfactory” meeting with parents about a separate issue around safety, violence, and bullying.

She said in the days that followed, the principal along with two teachers were let go.

Last Thursday, Bowmore’s vice-principal was let go and eight teachers were suspended.

“I have no issue with these teachers. I think (they) were caught up change management fiasco,” Engels said.

“We want our teachers back, all of them back. We want change in leadership at the superintended level. I think even if we get a principal, new administration, I don’t think anyone has trust it won’t potentially be the same.”

TDSB responds

In an emailed statement to CTV News Toronto, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said it is “committed to ensuring that all our schools are safe places to learn and work.”

“We are actively working to address parents’ concerns, including bringing in additional supports to the school. With regard to questions about staff changes, we are very limited in what we can share about personnel matters for both privacy and legal reasons,” the board said.

CTV News Toronto asked the TDSB several questions to confirm details of the suspension and firings, but none were provided.

We have also obtained letters from the board that were sent to families explaining that teachers are away and will be returning between Feb. 4 and 10, with occasional teachers filling in. The reason or reasons for the teachers’ absences were not stated in the letters.

Board ‘committed to addressing’ concerns

Shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, the TDSB shared a letter with CTV News Toronto that was sent to Bowmore parents and caregivers by the TDSB’s interim director.

“We hear your concerns and are committed to addressing them,” Stacey Zucker wrote.

“School safety is of paramount importance to the TDSB. ... Matters that have been brought to the school’s attention have been investigated and have been or are in the process of being addressed.”

Zucker goes on to say the board has asked the Regional Internal Audit Team, a Ministry-funded arms-length organization to the TDSB, to add Bowmore to its list of schools to audit with respect to safety, rules and procedures.

She also said the TDSB will be investing in cameras at the school, making accessibility improvements, and receive a new principal as of Feb 17.

‘We want our children to be safe’: parents

Outside Bowmore on Monday, some parents were reacting to the teacher suspensions and changes at the school.

“It’s just really worrying. We want our children to be safe. That’s the most important thing,” said one parent.

“I just don’t know what to do right now. It seems like every time something is brought up more actions are taken by the school board that we are not aware of and things change,” added another.

Engels believes what Bowmore is going through is not unique.

“I think we are the canary in the coal mine of what’s happening to public education in Ontario,” she said.

Upcoming rallies planned

Elementary Teachers of Toronto is organizing a rally in support of Bowmore on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. outside the TDSB’s office in North York.

On Wednesday, Bowmore families and supporters will also be gathering in the front of the school for a rally.