The Toronto District School Board is telling high school teachers they may be “bumped” out of their current positions — and possibly laid off — because of provincial cutbacks.

In a memo obtained by the Star that was sent out Wednesday morning to local members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, the board advises that teachers who find themselves without jobs at their current schools will be able to “bump” into jobs held by those with less seniority.

Such a move is unheard of at a time when enrolment is growing, said Leslie Wolfe, president of OSSTF Toronto, and indicates some teachers may find themselves without jobs come September.

“This will create even further disruption for student programming in schools,” said Wolfe.

In the memo, the board says “please know that we understand the anxiety and uncertainty that may be created for teachers who find themselves in this position.

“Indeed, the decision to bump was not undertaken lightly. Rather, it was dictated by the need to ensure that if terminations are required that the process by which this happens will adhere to the letter and spirit of the collective agreement.”

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Teachers will be informed by the end of June if they are surplus, and “be assured that we will make every effort to place teachers into positions as the secondary staffing process continues throughout the months of June, July and August.”

But Wolfe said bumping only happens “when a board doesn’t have enough money or places to guarantee a spot” for all current teachers.

The Ford government has started a four-year process to axe thousands of teaching positions — mainly in high schools — across the province.

The Toronto public board alone will lose more than 1,000 teaching positions, among them 800 secondary teachers in total. That means 4,800 fewer classes or course sections.

The provincial government has provided funding to ensure that no teacher is laid off because of its attrition plan.

However, with cuts to a number of education grants, as well as the way some teacher leaves are staffed, that leaves a number of positions unfunded.

“It’s the other cuts that are creating” this particular issue, Wolfe added.

As schools grapple with the loss of teaching positions as average class size is boosted by six students — from 22 to 28 — and the resulting loss of course offerings, students across the province have had to redo their timetables.

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But while Wolfe warned of more turmoil to come, Education Minister Lisa Thompson blasted the TDSB for saying teachers could lose their jobs.

“I would suggest that TDSB probably has an opportunity where they could sharpen (their) pencil,” Thompson told reporters at Queen’s Park.

“You know they mismanaged funds in previous years, and the fact of the matter is, they have a $3-billion budget and we are confident that they can find one cent on every dollar.”

However, TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird said there are two factors at play with regards to bumping.

Bird said 90 more secondary teachers are coming back from leave than are going on leave, and a further 65 teachers in central positions may return to the classroom this fall, depending on the board's budget.

The funding for those two categories is not covered by attrition funding from the province, Bird said. “At issue is the rules around the attrition-protection funding,” he said. “We are hopeful that most bumped staff will be placed by the end of summer.”

Bird said the board is already facing a $67.8 million shortfall, $42 million of which is because of provincial cuts.

Meanwhile, the chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board said bumping is not an issue for its teachers.

“We do not have the same rules. We do not bump,” Maria Rizzo said. “We can declare (teachers) surplus and then they have the right to compete for any open position.”

The Catholic board issued surplus notices last month, It expects to know how many positions it will have for the fall by May 31, and will start placing surplus teachers in spots vacated by those who retire, change position or move schools.

Rizzo said while cuts to education grants means the TCDSB will lose 18.5 secondary school positions, all of that board’s high teachers will have a job this fall.

“I guarantee that 100 per cent of our secondary school teachers will have a job in September and will not be laid off,” she said. “We have something in the collective agreement that protects (high school teachers) at least for one year, so they cannot be laid off.”

With files from Robert Benzie and Isabel Teotonio

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