TDSB to re-assign over 500 teachers to virtual school
Posted October 7, 2020 12:42 pm.
Hundreds of elementary school teachers will trade the chalkboard for the keyboard next week as Canada’s largest school district continues to adjust to soaring enrolment in online education.
The Toronto District School Board plans to re-assign about 570 teachers to its “Virtual School” platform in an effort to ensure all students taking classes online have access to a full-time teacher.
Spokesperson Ryan Bird says many of those students have been without an assigned teacher for two weeks.
“At the same time, we also have significantly lower class sizes in our in-person Bricks and Mortar schools right now which I recognize as ideal when it comes to physical distancing,” Bird said.
“But we don’t have the funding to stack classes that in some cases may be 8 or 10 in a class that should hold 24.”
More than 63,000 elementary students have opted for virtual learning this year, according to a statement the board sent to parents yesterday.
In a recent memo sent to parents, the TDSB said 324 schools will lose at least one teacher, while 136 schools will see no change.
12 schools will gain 1 to 2 teachers.
