Latest news with #schoolboard
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TDSB passes budget for 2025-2026 with plan to eliminate $34.4M deficit
Trustees for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) have approved a budget for 2025-2026 that includes a plan to balance the board's books over the next two years. The plan includes a number of cost-saving measures to eliminate a $34.4 million deficit, including a pause on issuing new Chromebooks for students in the coming school year in favour of recirculating devices returned by graduating Grade 12 students, a news release from the board said. It also includes a $9.5 million spending cut in operating expenses for central departments of the board that will have "limited impact" on services. Fees will also rise for some continuing education programming, the TDSB said. At a meeting in April, trustees heard the school board was facing a $58-million deficit for 2025-2026, with staff looking at a variety of options to balance the budget. Since then, trustees have passed more than $20 million in cuts, resulting in a current deficit of $34.4 million, a spokesperson for the school board said. One of the cost-cutting options on the table was closing school pools the board doesn't lease out, which would have saved an estimated $12.8 million. However that's not happening after public outcry. Pools and aquatics instructors will continue to be available to students and community members for another year, the TDSB said in a Thursday news release. Board staff are working on privately leasing more pools while also working with the City of Toronto on the use of TDSB pools, the release says. The budget must now be submitted to the Ministry of Education by June 30 for final approval.
CBC
16 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
TDSB passes budget for 2025-2026 with plan to eliminate $34.4M deficit
Trustees for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) have approved a budget for 2025-2026 that includes a plan to balance the board's books over the next two years. The plan includes a number of cost-saving measures to eliminate a $34.4 million deficit, including a pause on issuing new Chromebooks for students in the coming school year in favour of recirculating devices returned by graduating Grade 12 students, a news release from the board said. It also includes a $9.5 million spending cut in operating expenses for central departments of the board that will have "limited impact" on services. Fees will also rise for some continuing education programming, the TDSB said. At a meeting in April, trustees heard the school board was facing a $58-million deficit for 2025-2026, with staff looking at a variety of options to balance the budget. Since then, trustees have passed more than $20 million in cuts, resulting in a current deficit of $34.4 million, a spokesperson for the school board said. One of the cost-cutting options on the table was closing school pools the board doesn't lease out, which would have saved an estimated $12.8 million. However that's not happening after public outcry. Pools and aquatics instructors will continue to be available to students and community members for another year, the TDSB said in a Thursday news release. Board staff are working on privately leasing more pools while also working with the City of Toronto on the use of TDSB pools, the release says. The budget must now be submitted to the Ministry of Education by June 30 for final approval.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rochester school board primary: Meet the 4 candidates running for 3 seats
Voters in Rochester will have their pick between new contenders and familiar faces as they head to the polls for this month's Democratic primary, where four candidates are running for three seats on the city school board. This year's ballot features one incumbent ― current board president Camille Simmons, and three hopeful candidates: Heather Feinman, Vince Felder and Kareem McCullough. The Democratic primary generally serves to determine the winner of the November general election in heavily Democratic Rochester. Those elected will join efforts to promote stability in the district after a reconfiguration of schools and significant turnover in key leadership positions. The new members will come on board shortly after incoming superintendent, Eric J. Rosser, who is the district's fourth superintendent since 2020. Below are the four candidates for school board, in alphabetical order. Feinman is a first-time candidate and describes herself as a "boots-on-the-ground advocate" in Rochester. The Rochester mother has three children currently enrolled in RCSD and raised four others in the district. All seven had special educational needs. "I've spent years advocating for my own kids and for other families navigating a system that can often feel overwhelming," Feinman said. "... When I've faced barriers, I've fought to find solutions. I'm running because I want to be part of building a system that listens, responds, and works for every child." Feinman is heavily involved in the Rochester and school community. Some examples: She's served as president of a Parent Teacher Association at two schools (and volunteers with others), leads a Cub Scout Pack, volunteers with the League of Future Voters, graduated from the Parent Leadership Training Institute, and works with the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and Healthi Kids to push for policy changes. If elected, Feinman said she wants to "bring parent voice back into the process." "Our children and families are hurting," she said. "I want to uplift families and connect schools with community resources so that children are able to dream big." Her priorities include supporting mental health and trauma-informed care, strengthening community partnerships, advocating for LGBTQIA+ students and those with disabilities or other language needs, and investing in academic intervention, early literacy, after-school programs and policies that center equity. This is Felder's second bid at a school board seat after he fell short in the 2023 primary. Felder's political background includes six years in the Monroe County Legislature. He sponsored legislation that changed the name of Rochester's airport to honor Frederick Douglass and also has four years under his belt as the executive director of a child care center. If elected, Felder said early literacy is his top priority. "By the third grade, children should transition from learning to read to reading to learn," Felder said. "Children who read on grade level by the third grade have a much higher chance of graduating and going to college. Conversely, children who do not read proficiently by this age are more likely to drop out, be undereducated, and face a higher risk of incarceration. We must offer our children a brighter future." Felder said he is also focused on increasing community partnership. That would start by reorganizing the Office of Parent Engagement and Office of Family and Community Engagement into one department. Felder said he would like to see the board develop innovative programs to increase parent engagement, which he believes will help with attendance and student performance in the district. McCullough is a first-time candidate but no stranger to RCSD. The Rochester native graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School and started his 20-year career in public education in the district. From there, he served as a teacher, special education coordinator and school administrator in different settings across the U.S., Abu Dhabi and China. He has a master's degree in teaching and leadership and is pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership. "My work includes developing inclusive curricula, leading school reform efforts, and launching youth programs focused on mental health and violence prevention," McCullough said. "These experiences have prepared me to make informed, student-centered decisions and the ability to bring a collaborative, equity-driven leadership approach to the Rochester Board of Education." If elected, McCullough said his first priority will be addressing the district's high absenteeism rate. He called on the board to identify root causes and implement solutions that support student engagement. McCullough said RCSD should offer "alternative educational pathways" that reflect the diversity of its student body and their needs, talents and circumstances. The educator said he would also push the board to improve community engagement and set clear metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of certain programs and policies. "We must also move away from one-size-fits-all approaches ...," McCullough said. "Every young person deserves access to meaningful, relevant learning experiences that prepare them for life beyond the classroom." Simmons was first elected to the school board in 2021 and, in January, was selected by her peers to serve as board president. She is a Rochester native, an RCSD graduate and the parent of a graduate from the district. Simmons began her career as a youth advocate in city high schools and currently serves as the executive director of the local nonprofit, Leadership Rochester. "My lifelong commitment to this community ― combined with my background in social work, executive leadership experience, and passion for equitable education ― uniquely positions me to serve effectively on the school board," Simmons said. "I am ready to bridge experience, vision, and service to strengthen outcomes for all students." Since joining the board, Simmons said her focus has been on early literacy. If reelected, Simmons said she would advocate for "local accountability dashboards" to measure key factors that families and educators value, including school safety, mental health support, access to the arts and student voice. "Education should not only lead to graduation, but also develop free, independent thinkers ― students who are prepared for both college and career," she said. "... As a school board member, I would work toward shifting the focus of school accountability from test scores alone to a more holistic, community-centered model. This means incorporating indicators such as student well-being, family engagement, school climate, and culturally responsive teaching into how we measure school success." Early voting for the primary election will start June 14 through June 22. Hours vary by polling site. You can look up where you are registered to vote, and which polling place to attend, at Voters can also head to the polls on Election Day ― Tuesday, June 24. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The unofficial results from the primary election will be available after 9 p.m. on June 24 at and — Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at kcanne@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester school board primary election 2025: Candidates
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Schuylkill Haven school board unanimously approves 2.4 mill tax increase
Taxes are increasing for Schuylkill Haven Area School District residents. On Wednesday the school board unanimously approved a $26.4 million 2025-26 budget with a 2.4-mill increase. This brings the district's tax rate to 46.9 mills, meaning a tax bill of $4,690 for a property assessed at $100,000. Kimberly Umphrey, district manager, said at a meeting in May that an increase in state homestead/farmstead funding would provide another $49 in tax savings to the average property owner. Factoring in homestead/farmstead exclusions, the average homeowner will see an annual tax increase of $42. The budget includes a $2.5 million deficit, with the spending attributed to rising contractual salary, benefit and health insurance expenses and increasing costs for cyber charter schools and special education outplacement, officials said. 'This administrative team will do everything in our power to chip away at that deficit,' Fitzpatrick said in May. 'We do every year. We've already begun conversations about how we can share (staff) positions, how we can bring more kids back out of placement.' Last year's budget included a $1.7 million deficit, which was reduced to $320,000. Schuylkill Haven has $5.4 million in its reserve fund balance.
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
My son's old school board owes me an apology
On May 28, my son did something I didn't think possible just a few years ago. He graduated from high school with honors, and as a member of the school board, I handed him his diploma as he walked across the stage. If you'd told me this would happen five years ago, I would have laughed and then cried. My son, who has a learning disability, had been shut out of school during the pandemic. His grade point average fell from a 3.5 to a 1.5. For the better part of two years, I didn't see how he could get back on track. But while my son is now on a better path, I'm still dealing with the fallout of the school's treatment of him – and me. On June 12, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a case I brought. I'm asking that school board to apologize for violating my constitutional right to free speech. I exercised that right in defense of my special-needs son, only for my elected officials to try to get me fired and even investigated by the federal government. I've been fighting this battle since the summer of 2020, when the Chippewa Valley School Board announced that classes would stay virtual for the 2020-21 school year. By then, my son had already spent three months in virtual learning, and every day was worse than the one before. My son's learning disability means that he needs one-on-one time with teachers. I worried that if he didn't get that for a full year, his education and life would be permanently harmed. The school board held public meetings that summer and fall, and out of concern for my son, I showed up to all of them. But the board members showed zero willingness to listen, much less show leadership by reopening school. I got frustrated, no question. But I didn't act inappropriately. I've been a police officer for 27 years, so I know how to handle myself in public. But while I never crossed a line, the school board did. In December, the deputy chief at my police station called me into his office and read an email he'd received from a school board member. It accused me of "veiled racism," and when that kind of language is leveled at a police officer, the meaning is obvious. I should be fired – simply for speaking in defense of my son. How I wish that were the end of it. I kept going to school board meetings, and I kept my cool despite being targeted. The following October, however, the school board president submitted a formal complaint to the Department of Justice. He accused me of "threatening comments," and once again, the subtext was clear. The day before, Attorney General Merrick Garland had written his memo ordering the FBI to go after parents who criticize educators and school board members. The memo was an obvious invitation to those who wanted to silence parents like me, of which there were countless during the pandemic. My son's school board jumped at the chance. I have no idea if the Justice Department took action. But I do know the school board—an elected government body – tried to punish me for daring to use my right to free speech. I also know that while the school board was targeting me, my son's situation deteriorated further. In 2021, I moved him into a school in a neighboring district, and I also ran for an open seat on the board. But I refused to let the old school board get away with its actions. Which brings me to the Sixth Circuit. I got here after a district court ruled that while I was targeted, I didn't suffer any harm. That's true – the school board didn't succeed in getting me fired or otherwise punished. But that's irrelevant. Government officials shouldn't be let off the hook simply because their targeting failed. If the federal courts let that argument stand, government officials across America will go after their opponents like never before. They'll be free to frighten anyone who dares question them, silencing citizens who try to hold them accountable. I refused to be silent, then or now. I'm asking the court to recognize that my constitutional rights were violated. And I want the court to order the school board to give me an apology. I'm astounded that none of the elected officials who targeted me have said those simple words – I'm sorry. Thank God that despite their best efforts, I'm still employed, and my son finished his education with flying colors.
