Education union condemns staff cuts at Sudbury Catholic board

Sudbury Catholic cited declining enrolment during recent budget meeting, but projections in a provincial document said enrolment would increase in next school year

CUPE 5569 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) have issued a press release to “strongly condemn” the Sudbury Catholic District School Board decision to cut its staff to balance the 2026-2027 budget. “The board recently notified CUPE 5569 that two speech pathologists and two library technician positions will be cut for the upcoming school year,” said a press release. “Additionally, the school board is reducing two designated early childhood educators from permanent full-time positions to casual positions.”

The cuts also include one secondary teacher consultant, the board told Sudbury.com last month. The board is also slashing tutoring services due to lack of funding. Board communications staff clarified that tutors are contract positions that end every year on June 30.

CUPE 5569 represents more than 350 education workers at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, including early childhood educators, educational assistants, office staff, library technicians, social workers and other front-line support staff “who help keep schools safe, inclusive, and functioning every day,” said press materials. The union and OSBCU are calling on the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to reconsider these staffing reductions. “These cuts are creating significant stress and uncertainty for our members,” said Corry Allair, president of CUPE 5569, in a press release.

“When positions are eliminated, the impact doesn't disappear with a budget line. The work still needs to be done, and that responsibility is pushed onto fewer staff,” he said. “Over time, that means increased workloads, reduced services, and fewer opportunities for students to receive the support they deserve.”

But the union and Sudbury Catholic seem to be having a difference of opinion about whether the school board will see declining enrolment during the next school year or not. During the June 25 Sudbury Catholic budget meeting, CEO Morris Hucal said the board expects its 2026-2027 enrolment to be down by approximately 190 students. CUPE 5569 points to projections in a provincial document (see pg.

60) showing enrolment increasing at the board by 184 students. Total core education funding for the board is projected to increase by almost four per cent, approximately $4.46 million, and the Learning Resources Fund is projected to increase by close to 10 per cent at $1.86 million, while classroom staffing funding is expected to increase by approximately $938,580, said the union press release. “The question seems less about whether funding exists and more about how available funding is being prioritized locally,” said Allair, in a press release.

She said “when funding is increasing and more students are entering our schools,” she finds it difficult to understand why workers are being cut. “Our members aren't just names on a spreadsheet; they are the frontline safety net for our kids,” she said. “Cutting speech pathologists and library technicians directly hurts early literacy and early childhood development.

“When you eliminate these roles, you are telling parents that their kids will wait longer for help or go without it entirely. Our community deserves to know why a board with millions in new funding is choosing to give our students less support, not more.” Sudbury Catholic said the enrolment figures provided in the provincial document are based on estimates submitted during the provincial funding process, but the board is currently projecting declining enrolment, as was stated during the recent budget meeting.

“As with all school boards, those projections are monitored and refined throughout the budget development process as new registration data and local trends become available,” said a statement from the board. “Our enrolment projections are developed using a combination of census data, historical enrolment trends, registration data, staff experience and local knowledge.” The board said that given the inherent uncertainty in enrolment forecasting, it develops its budget using a conservative planning approach and the best information available at the time decisions are made.

“The board will continue to monitor enrolment throughout the school year and make adjustments as appropriate to ensure resources remain aligned with the needs of students,” said the statement. The board added that as part of the 2026-27 budget planning process, “several staffing adjustments were made after a careful review of current student needs, program delivery requirements, overall staffing capacity, available funding and a projected decrease in student enrolment at SCDSB. “While these roles are valuable in supporting student learning and well-being, these decisions were made to ensure services and resources continue to prioritize and align with the evolving needs of our community while maintaining safe, inclusive, and effective learning environments for all our students.”

The OSBCU said the situation reflects a broader crisis facing Ontario's publicly funded education system, where boards continue to make difficult staffing decisions despite growing student needs. “What we are seeing at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is part of a larger pattern playing out across Ontario,” said Joe Tigani, president of the Ontario School Board Council of Unions, in the press release. “Education workers are essential to student success.

They support students with special needs, maintain safe learning environments, and ensure schools operate effectively every day. When these positions are cut, students and families feel the impact,” he stated in the release. “Students deserve the supports they need to succeed.

That requires investing in the education workers who provide those supports every day. The OSBCU stands with CUPE 5569 members as they continue to advocate for quality public education, good jobs, and the services students depend on.”