School boards are feeling the pinch when it comes to hiring qualified employees.
In fact, Near North trustees have voted to send a letter to the Minister of Education and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association to advocate for relief measures to alleviate critical staffing shortages.
In a news release by the Board, no solutions are suggested.
Craig Miles, Director of Education, in a report to the Board says, “Across the province, staffing shortages are occurring in all employee groups of the education sector including but not limited to, bus drivers, office and operational staff, custodial staff, educational assistants, early childhood educators, and educational assistants, teachers, administrators, varied support staff, mental health and special education experts. "
Myles says the issue impacts student safety, day-to-day operations, quality of education, access to education, implementation of ministry initiatives and overall well-being of students, parents, families, and staff across the system.
"The burden has far-reaching implications as all staff attempt to mitigate circumstances amongst increased public scrutiny and demands for data from a growing variety of sources.”
The report noted staff is making "heroic efforts" to ensure the quality of care and engagement in learning that students deserve, despite situations that threaten "burnout and an increase in emerging student behaviours."
Superintendent Gay Smylie told the Board that support must come from the Ministry of Education, and that as occasional teachers run out of the number of days they are allowed to work, the situation will become "critical."
