Nearly 200 Catholic teachers to be laid off in Windsor-Essex

Nearly 200 Catholic teachers will receive layoff notices by the end of the year, according to the union that represents them.

Brian Hogan, president of the local chapter of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, said 121 layoff notices have been handed out to elementary teachers. Another 60 notices of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board are expected to be given to secondary school teachers.

"That’s about 13 per cent of the [overall] teaching staff," Hogan said. "It’s the highest number - deeper - than ever before."

Hogan said the board often lays off more teachers than they actually need to.

Last year, Ontario appointed a supervisor to oversee the financial management and administration of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, which was the only board in the province to run an accumulated deficit.

"They continue to make drastic cuts," Hogan said.

Enrollment is also down at the board. In March, it said it faces an enrollment decline of 4.7 per cent this fall.

"You’ve got to come up with a strategy to mitigate enrolment loss," Hogan said.

"Recent decisions have been very, very frustrating."

The board has closed libraries and cut social workers.

"The one good thing is … the kids are getting good education," Hogan said.