15.PROPOSED CLOSING OF SCHOOLS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT TASK FORCE WITH THE TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.

Councillor Frances Nunziata, Ward 27, York-Humber

(October 29, 1998)

WHEREAS the Progressive Conservative Party pledged during the last provincial election campaign that, if elected, their government would make no cuts to education funding; and

WHEREAS the new provincial school funding formula, based on square feet per student, includes hallways, gymnasiums, washrooms, libraries and boiler rooms in the square footage calculations, has in fact resulted in cuts to education funding that will force the closure of 130 schools by the Toronto District School Board and at least 30 schools by the Toronto Catholic District School Board; and

WHEREAS this square footage formula of 100 square feet for elementary students and 130 square feet for secondary students has no educational rationale and is an unacceptable method for determining educational funding to communities in the province; and

WHEREAS the allocation of office space for MPPs is, on average, 900 square feet, but has no relation to the funding provided to the MPP to operate their legislative office; and

WHEREAS this new educational footage formula will result in the closure of schools in the constituencies of York-Humber and York-Eglinton that will have a negative impact on the quality of education, and will be devastating to neighbourhoods in the York community;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the York Community Council, request that the Toronto Board of Education declare that it cannot facilitate the closing of schools for the Harris Government, and rejects any educational funding formula based on square footage which will result in the closing of schools throughout the City; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT the York Community Council request that City of Toronto Council establish a joint task force with the Toronto District School Board to co-ordinate opposition to the new provincial funding formula, explore alternative funding mechanisms, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to all Toronto area MPPs.