Rally to call for reinstatement of all Student Support Workers

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) is protesting cuts to education. The rally is set for tomorrow outside of the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) office and MPP Steve Clark’s office in Brockville. It runs from 4:00 to 5:00pm. 

The OSSTF says the protest is in response to the board’s decision to eliminate all Child and Youth Workers and Behaviourists (Student Support Partner) positions. The UCDSB passed its final budget for 2019-2020 last week.  

The OSSTF is seeking the reinstatement of all Student Support Partners. The OSSTF says these professional intervene in at least one suicide crisis per week, create and implement safety plans for at-risk kids and prevent self-harm almost daily. 

There is no contingency plan in place for frontline mental health support, according to the OSSTF.