CUPE 7575 is condemning recent statements from Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) administration suggesting further cuts may be coming as the board faces a growing special education deficit. 

According to a London Free Press report, Education Director Bill Tucker warned that “every department will be under scrutiny” as TVDSB projects a $2.5 million special education shortfall for 2025–26, contributing to an overall deficit of $5.6 million. The board’s supervisor of financial services, Dave Munroe, attributed part of the deficit to “higher absenteeism” among educational assistants (EAs). 

CUPE 7575 represents over 2,100 educational assistants and student supervisors throughout the TVDSB.  

“Educational Assistants are not the cause of this deficit — they are the victims of a system in crisis,” said Rebecca Avey, President of CUPE 7575. “To suggest that EAs taking necessary sick leave is responsible for financial mismanagement is offensive and completely ignores the realities in our schools.” 

CUPE 7575 represents educational assistants and student supervisors who are on the front lines of increasingly violent, understaffed, and under-resourced classrooms. “Violence in schools is at an all-time high,” Avey said. “When an EA is injured or traumatized at work, that is not absenteeism — it is a workplace injury caused by a lack of supports and staffing.” 

Despite declining enrolment, the needs of students have become more complex, increasing the strain on front-line staff. Absenteeism is a symptom of burnout, understaffing, and unsafe working conditions, not a lack of commitment from staff.  

CUPE 7575 also raises concerns about executive compensation, “While the board puts ‘every department under scrutiny’ and warns of more cuts, we see high-level supervisors being paid salaries as high as $350,000 a year. It’s unacceptable to target some of the lowest-paid workers,” said Avey. 

CUPE 7575 is calling on TVDSB to stop scapegoating educational assistants, invest in school safety and student supports, and prioritize front-line staffing. 

“Our members show up every day for the most vulnerable students,” Avey said. “They deserve more support — not blame.”