Oh, they're at it again... threatening to close this and scrap that. Sigh. And it seems as though, once again, it's a legacy passed down from the chop-happy Harris government.This time it's 78 Toronto District School Board swimming pools.
In an age of what is called a childhood "obesity epidemic."
In an age when they encourage ALL children to learn how to swim to prevent drowning deaths.
In an age when good, clean fun is harder and harder to find.
Double sigh.
So here's what you can do to protest this silliness:
"Please come to the next Education Action: Toronto meeting to develop a strategy to prevent the closure of 78 School Swimming Pools.
There will also be a discussion of an overall policy position to strengthen our public schools in opposition to an increasingly destructive set of provincial policies.
Education Action Meeting: April 7, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 9:30 pm,
Location: 65 St. Clair Avenue East (just east of the St. Clair subway on Yonge).
This is an incredible waste of taxpayer's money. Each pool represents at least a $3 million investment of tax dollars. Closing 78 of them is mothballing over $200 million in taxpayers' investment. It costs $12 million to operate the pools each year.
The province should be responsible for paying for these pools since they now control the education taxes that used to pay for their upkeep. Prior to 1997, Toronto's public schools were entirely funded through our local education taxes.
"Please come to the next Education Action: Toronto meeting to develop a strategy to prevent the closure of 78 School Swimming Pools.
There will also be a discussion of an overall policy position to strengthen our public schools in opposition to an increasingly destructive set of provincial policies.
Education Action Meeting: April 7, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 9:30 pm,
Location: 65 St. Clair Avenue East (just east of the St. Clair subway on Yonge).
This is an incredible waste of taxpayer's money. Each pool represents at least a $3 million investment of tax dollars. Closing 78 of them is mothballing over $200 million in taxpayers' investment. It costs $12 million to operate the pools each year.
The province should be responsible for paying for these pools since they now control the education taxes that used to pay for their upkeep. Prior to 1997, Toronto's public schools were entirely funded through our local education taxes.
In 1997 when the provincial government took control of local education taxes and imposed its funding formula, it stopped funding swimming pools, outdoor education centres, parenting centres, adult education programs, etc. The funding formula has also led to ten consecutive years of cuts to staff and programs.
For the past decade, Trustees have kept the swimming pools open by taking money from other areas of the budget. Now, faced with yet another shortfall, Trustees are throwing in the towel and have agreed to close the pools."
Vanessa
For the past decade, Trustees have kept the swimming pools open by taking money from other areas of the budget. Now, faced with yet another shortfall, Trustees are throwing in the towel and have agreed to close the pools."
Vanessa
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