Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Non-Teaching Staff
Aside from classroom teachers and ECEs, the <strong>Commission</strong> notes that since 2002–03, staffing
has increased by more than 13,800 in non-teaching positions. School boards have hired 5,500
more educational assistants, 4,000 more professionals and paraprofessionals, 1,500 more
school maintenance staff, 800 more co-ordinators and consultants/teacher support services,
700 more school office staff, 550 more library and guidance teaching and non-teaching staff,
400 more principals and vice-principals, and 350 more supervisory officers and board
administration staff. 16 The <strong>Commission</strong> projects that about 70 per cent of these 13,800 new,
non-teaching positions must be phased out by 2017–18 through attrition and reductions,
representing annual savings of about $600 million. 17 This represents roughly 9,700 fewer
positions (a decline of 11.8 per cent) out of a total of 82,000 positions in place in 2010–11 for
these job categories; by 2017–18, overall staffing for these job categories would fall back to
about their same level as in 2005 through average annual attrition of about two per cent over
the next six years among non-teaching staff. Boards will also have to examine how the
number of non-teaching staff can be reduced in a manner that minimizes impacts on
school operations.
The <strong>Commission</strong> hopes that an environment of co-operation, transparency and informed
multi-year human resources planning will make this difficult process as manageable and
constructive as possible.
The <strong>Commission</strong> recognizes the benefits of strategic ministry and school board interventions
to improve education outcomes. The ministry has worked with school boards to provide
additional resources to schools with potential for improved literacy and numeracy results, and
to encourage the adoption of best practices. This approach aligns with research that indicates
a greater benefit from smaller class sizes in lower-income schools. 18 In light of this, the
ministry may set aside some of the savings from this for strategic interventions for
vulnerable groups.
16 Ontario Ministry of Education, “2002–03 to 2010–11 School Board Financial Statements,” “2010–11 Revised Estimates — Staffing FTE.”
Based on the revised 2010–11 estimate.
17 2010–11 School Board Revised Estimates – Compensation and Staffing for 2010–11 Education Sector Employees (2010–11 School
Year Basis).
18 Graham J. McKee, Steven G. Rivkin and Katharine R.E. Sims, “Disruption, Achievement and the Heterogeneous Benefits of Smaller
Classes,” NBER Working Paper 15812, March 2010, p. 22.
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