October 2nd, 2026 – At our latest Elementary Concerns Committee meeting, ETT raised a number of concerns that members have brought forward since the beginning of the school year and through reorganization.
Our approach at ECC is straightforward: when members raise concerns, we put clear questions directly to the Board, record their answers, and report those answers back to you.
Here’s what we heard.
Class size — Seventh Street
ETT raised the Grade 1 class at Seventh Street that we understand currently has 24 students.
We asked the Board directly:
“What are you going to do about it?”
The Board responded that its Staffing Allocation data showed the school was compliant based on the count date.
ETT responded that our information is that there were 24 students on the count date and there remain 24 students in that classroom.
The Board committed to take the issue back to Staffing Allocation again.
ETT will follow up.
Reorganization
The Board told us that fewer than approximately 90 teachers were surplused from their schools through fall reorganization, although its representative cautioned that they did not have the exact number in front of them.
The Board also told us that all affected ETT teachers have been placed, there are currently no ETT layoffs or Board-surplus teachers, and the Board may actually need to hire from the occasional teacher roster.
Rohit Gupta’s designee characterized this year’s reorganization as one of the smoothest the TDSB has experienced in years.
We told the Board that this is not what we’re hearing from many of our members.
We shared feedback from our post-reorganization survey describing members being blindsided, inadequate consultation, disruption to classrooms and insufficient special education support.
Both things are now on the record: the Board’s assessment of reorganization and what ETT members are telling us about their experience.
Consultation when assignments change
ETT raised concerns about teachers having their assignments changed during reorganization without meaningful consultation.
The Board acknowledged the collective agreement requirement to consult teachers before changing their assignments.
The Board told us it has been reminding principals of this requirement and intends to provide further collective agreement education to administrators.
ETT will continue monitoring this issue and wants to hear from members where meaningful consultation did not occur.
Members on medical leave
We also asked what happens when a teacher whose assignment is changing is on medical leave.
The Board’s response was that these situations need to be considered case by case.
ETT specifically raised situations where a member’s medical restrictions prevent them from accessing Board email.
The Board agreed that where it knows such a restriction exists, alternative methods of communication should be considered and that the Board and union can work together to resolve those situations.
Vice-principals with teaching responsibilities
ETT asked what the Board requires when a vice-principal has a teaching responsibility.
The Board told us these assignments are being used less frequently and indicated that their use is expected to continue declining.
The Board also told us elementary principals will be reminded that these teaching responsibilities and timetables must be identified.
Most importantly, the Board told ETT that if members identify schools where this is not happening, we should bring those examples forward and the Board will follow up.
So please continue bringing those concerns to ETT.
Literacy, math and diagnostic tools
We asked whether new literacy and math tools being introduced this year are mandatory.
The Board told us that:
existing literacy screening requirements have not changed;
the French Acadience tool now has an online input option;
long-range planning templates provided by the Board are not mandatory;
the Grades 2 and 5 math scope-and-sequence pilot is voluntary and involves approximately 240 classrooms;
the Board does not consider the scope and sequence a scripted or “canned” curriculum; and
teachers participating in the pilot retain professional choice about which activities and resources they use.
ETT specifically raised concerns that optional resources can sometimes be communicated at the school level as though they are mandatory.
If that is happening in your school, please let us know.
Digital resources and student privacy
The Board told us that more than 4,000 previously accessible digital resources have been turned off while resources are reviewed for privacy, cybersecurity and data-governance requirements.
The Board told us that teachers can request that resources be reviewed and that those requests are being assessed for privacy and cybersecurity risks.
DD curriculum
Following up on a concern from our previous ECC meeting, the Board acknowledged that the DD resource ETT raised is an American product.
The Board said it was piloted last year, received positive feedback, and is now being accompanied by a resource guide and professional learning intended to address American terminology and other concerns.
The Board also acknowledged the difficulty of finding current, appropriate materials for these students.
ETT will continue to monitor member concerns about these resources.
Balanced-day schools
The Board confirmed that 13 schools are currently operating on a balanced-day schedule.
The Board told us that community meetings occurred at each school and that staffing committees were involved in the process.
Cybersecurity training — answer still outstanding
We asked a simple question:
Is the additional cybersecurity training being emailed to teachers mandatory?
The Board could not confirm that during the meeting.
The Board’s representative committed to check with IT and report back. They indicated that their own reading of the communication was that the additional 30-minute training did not appear mandatory, but they would verify that.
Until we receive that confirmation, this remains an outstanding ECC item.
MyCart and classroom supplies
We raised concerns from teachers—particularly teachers without homerooms—who are being told they do not have an individual supply budget.
The Board confirmed that teachers are not necessarily provided an individual or predetermined classroom budget.
The Board’s direction was that teachers requiring materials should speak with their principal and submit the requested materials through MyCart for approval.
We then asked an even more basic question:
“Are teachers expected to personally purchase paper or other basic supplies required to do their jobs?”
The Board did not give us a blanket yes-or-no answer.
Its response was that teachers should speak with their principal about what is required and what resources are available at the school.
ETT will continue pressing this issue because members should not be left without the basic materials required to do their jobs.
Keep telling us what is happening
ECC is only useful if the concerns raised at the table reflect what is actually happening in schools.
If what you are experiencing is different from what the Board is telling us, tell your ETT Executive Officer.
We will continue asking the questions, recording the answers, following up on commitments—and reporting back to you.
