Dozens of elementary teachers are being declared “surplus” at Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), with others being shuffled into long-term occasional positions.
According to a statement from the public school board’s director of education, Scott Miller, the institution has an “obligation” to align ministerial funding priorities with contracts.
“Due to declining enrolment across the province, the Ontario government has advised school boards to take a conservative approach to staffing in alignment with funding and enrolment projections,” Miller said.
This means the 2026-27 school year will reflect the current enrolment projections, despite the director of education saying the final budget process has not been finalized, to “adhere to contractual obligations.”
Teachers impacted by the decision could be recalled if they are qualified, and can still apply to job postings as the situation evolves.
“We know that this is difficult news for the elementary educators who are impacted, and we are committed to supporting their well-being throughout this process,” Miller said.
Ontario planning to reduce teacher training
This announcement comes on the same day the province let it slip that it is planning on changing the way teachers are trained in Ontario.
Currently, teacher education programs run for four semesters over two years, introduced by Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government in 2015. The proposed changes would condense the programs to 12 months over three consecutive semesters, saving students up to $3,000 in tuition, the province estimates.
“This change would get future teachers into the classroom faster, jumpstarting fulfilling careers and meeting the needs of communities across Ontario,” said Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, Nolan Quinn, during a press conference on Friday.
The changes are aimed at addressing the teacher shortage in Ontario. They will reduce the “time and cost barriers to becoming a teacher,” he said, modernizing the system and making it a more “nimble and responsive teacher education pipeline.”
CityNews Kitchener reached out to the Elementary Teachers Federation and the Ministry of Education for comment.
This is a developing story. More to come.