The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the two major local unions representing educators have released sharply different estimates of how many teaching positions will be reduced in the coming school year. The unions — the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) and OSSTF Toronto — presented figures that add up to 607 positions, while the board’s spokesperson described a much smaller adjustment of about 289 roles. Officials from the board attribute the change to an anticipated drop of roughly 5,000 fewer students, and emphasize that staffing counts continue to change until the school year begins. These divergent public totals have set off a debate about classroom capacity, supports for vulnerable students and the transparency of planning decisions.
Union leaders have outlined how their total was calculated, breaking the numbers down across elementary and secondary programs and by specific staff types. The unions warn that the proposed reductions would reach deep into programs that serve students with additional needs, including English as a second language supports and targeted interventions in so-called model schools that receive extra staffing. The board, meanwhile, says its own projection reflects known enrolment trends and a need to balance budgets while keeping as many classroom positions intact as possible. Both sides have urged public scrutiny, and advocates say any loss of adults in schools risks larger class sizes and fewer supports for students who need them most.
Numbers and how they diverge
According to the unions, the cuts would remove about 483.5 elementary full-time equivalent positions and 123.5 secondary positions, totaling the union figure of 607. The ETT provided a further breakdown: roughly 254 elementary classroom teacher roles, about 72 elementary ESL positions, and a large reduction of approximately 145 staff from the board’s learning opportunities or model school program. The OSSTF noted additional secondary reductions, including about 23 ESL staff across panels. These totals are framed by unions as cuts that will remove caring adults and essential supports in many buildings, particularly those serving lower-income communities and Indigenous alternative schools.
Board response and enrolment context
The TDSB spokesperson, Ryan Bird, provided a different estimate, saying the district expects about 289 fewer teaching positions relative to current staffing. The board links its projection to the projection of 5,000 fewer students and notes that staffing decisions remain fluid until enrolment is finalized. Bird stressed that numbers are not final and that the board must balance operational realities with classroom needs. The board has also been asked for a full breakdown of where the anticipated reductions would fall, including the status of model schools and ESL staff, and Global News has requested that level of detail to clarify how programs and neighbourhoods might be affected.
Union leaders and political response
Union representatives say the impact goes beyond simple accounting. Michelle Teixeira, president of the OSSTF Toronto Teacher Bargaining Unit, warned that fewer adults in schools mean fewer supports and larger class sizes for students. Helen Victoros of the ETT attributed responsibility to provincial actions, pointing to the appointment of administrator Rohit Gupta last August by Education Minister Paul Calandra to oversee the board’s finances and operations. A letter from the minister at the time promised that the takeover would direct more resources into classrooms; unions say subsequent decisions have moved in the opposite direction and describe the new numbers as a wake-up call for parents and the public.
Political reactions and calls for funding change
Political voices also weighed in. Ontario NDP education critic and MPP Jessica Bell criticized the oversight and warned that these cuts would compound existing problems, saying students already contend with overcrowded classrooms and aging buildings after what she called eight years of funding cuts under Doug Ford. Unions demanded reversal of the proposed reductions and urged a funding formula that prioritizes resources based on student needs. Alongside calls for policy changes, union leaders highlighted concerns about the process itself, saying that the board has not posted the information publicly, held consultations, or given trustees and the public adequate opportunity to question the numbers.
What comes next
Both sides say they want clarity. If the board’s lower figure proves accurate, union leaders say staff and families would be relieved, but they remain skeptical until a full, auditable breakdown is published. The TDSB has been asked to provide more detail on where reductions would occur and how programs in vulnerable neighbourhoods would be protected. For now, the disagreement centers on differing interpretations of enrolment projections and budget pressures, and it underscores long-standing tensions over school funding, administrative oversight and how best to maintain supports for students as enrolment shifts.
Transparency and timelines
As staffing continues to adjust in the weeks ahead, both trustees and community members are pressing for transparent reporting and opportunities to ask questions. The unions stress that teachers, support staff and families should be part of any conversation that changes the makeup of school teams, while the board points to fluctuating enrolment and fiscal duties as factors shaping decisions until the new year begins. Public requests for detail and ongoing media inquiries aim to ensure that decisions affecting classrooms are made with full public scrutiny and with attention to the students most impacted.
