OrilliaMatters received the following letter from MPP Jill Dunlop in response to an open letter from John Winchester published on April 22 and a followup letter published May 13.
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Open Letter to John Winchester:
I thank you for contacting my office and myself about the issues that face our local schools.
On behalf of the families of Simcoe North, I want to thank you for your 30 years of dedication to the families of our community, including my own.
As of last week, my office has responded directly to you in regards to your correspondence concerns. We are eager to clarify our requests and find you the information that you require.
Let me turn to your questions regarding the Ontario Government’s education plan. As you know, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all funding solution for education.
Decisions regarding school resources, including class organization, course offerings, and staffing, are best made by those with first-hand insights on the needs of particular communities and schools.
Our Government understands that student success at schools in Simcoe North is built off of different needs than those found in say Timmins or in Toronto. That is why our education plan provides local school boards with the resources they need to best set their students up for achievement.
To do so, we have increased funding for our schools to a total of $30 billion with supplementary investments in capital projects, special needs education, and improved student transportation.
These additional funds award school boards here in Simcoe North, and across the province, the flexibility to use and move their resources as they deem adequate for their annual budgets.
As a result of this increased funding, which includes $1.6 billion in teacher job-protection investment, no school board in Ontario should be laying off teachers due to our education reform.
Changes to courses, class organization, and staffing for this year, and every year, are made by local boards. By increasing their funding, we are ensuring that school boards have the necessary resources to make the best decisions for their students’ success.
We have great respect for the work our school boards do and we will continue to partner with them in improving our children’s education.
I look at our education system as an MPP the same way I look at it as a mother. Like all parents, I want to ensure that our children have every tool for success.
Our plan ensures that every dollar spent on Ontario’s public education system prioritizes student achievement and works to better prepare our students for the world that awaits them on graduation day.
I look forward to continuing to work with you Mr. Winchester to resolve your concerns and to better our local classrooms.
Jill Dunlop
MPP, Simcoe North
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