CUPE Education Workers Raise Concerns Regarding PVNCCDSB Staffing Cuts

CUPE 1453 stated that they expressed deep concerns over the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) escalating staffing issues, which would result in the reduction of at least 23 educational assistants (EA) for the next school year, as reported on Thursday.

CUPE workers protesting in front of Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith’s Action Centre formerly located on Water Street in 2022. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The union representing over 700 education workers at PVNCCDSB. The latter’s board stated that they are implementing staff reductions despite already facing a severe shortage of support staff, according to CUPE.

The move is unacceptable and will only exacerbate the already dangerous conditions in PVNCCDSB schools, according to Nora Shaughnessy, President of CUPE 1453.

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing understaffing of Educational Assistants within our schools,” she said. “This chronic shortage places an immense strain on our workers, leading to significant mental and physical health challenges. Our EAs are being pushed to the limit every day—and now the Board plans to cut even more of them? It’s completely unacceptable.”

CUPE says the chronic shortage of EAs has led to escalating physical and mental health issues among staff, many of whom are working through breaks and lunches to meet the needs of students. According to a CUPE survey of Local 1453 education workers, over 96 per cent of EAs say they face violent or disruptive incidents at work and half say it happens every day. Overburdened and unsupported, EAs are facing burnout and an increased risk of workplace injury.

“Our members are forced to manage growing caseloads with fewer resources,” said Shaughnessy. “They’re running on empty—and students are paying the price,”

CUPE says this not only affects the workers but also the students. With fewer EAs in classrooms, students who rely on one-on-one or specialized support are being left behind. Classrooms are frequently evacuated due to violent episodes, disrupting the learning environment and putting both students and staff at risk.

CUPE continues to state that simultaneously, rising enrolment is adding new classrooms but without a corresponding increase in custodial staff. This means these spaces are not being properly cleaned or disinfected, compounding health and safety concerns for everyone in the school community, continued Shaughnessy.

“The Board continues to ignore the very real consequences of understaffing,” she explained. “Despite raising these issues repeatedly at health and safety and labour-management meetings, PVNC Catholic refuses to even acknowledge the workplace violence crisis unfolding in its schools.”

CUPE 1453 stresses that workplace safety must be non-negotiable and urges PVNC Catholic trustees and management to take immediate action.

PVNC says they are not reducing the number of special education workers.

They provided a statement rejecting that claim:

“The 2025–2026 budget includes funding for 300 Special Education Workers—an increase from 289 in the 2024–2025 budget. Special Education Workers include Educational Assistants, Autism Spectrum Disorder Workers and Itinerant staff.”

According to PVNC, this year’s draft budget also includes:

• An increase of 3.2 full-time equivalent Special Education Teachers

• Maintained staffing levels in Social Work, Speech-Language Pathology and Psychological Services.

In 2025–2026, PVNC Catholic says they are projected to support 1,972 pupils identified as exceptional, up from 1,921 in the current year. They claim their staffing decisions are informed by a careful analysis of student needs, enrollment trends and available funding.

PVNC also states that they recognize that the number of staff in place at the start of the school year is often lower than the number working by the end of the year. This is a regular and well-established part of PVNC’s staffing process, as each fall, as enrollment is confirmed and individual student needs are reviewed, additional positions are allocated to ensure appropriate levels of support across the system, according to Stephen O’Sullivan, Director of Education.

“Educational Assistants and support staff are essential to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students,” he said. “We are grateful for their ongoing dedication, and we remain committed to investing in the support our students need to thrive.”

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PVNC Catholic Literacy Team Given 2025 Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Award

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board has been awarded Dyslexia Canada’s 2025 Educational Excellence Award for its outstanding commitment to evidence-based literacy practices, announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

The award recognizes the leadership of Superintendent of Learning Sheila Piggott, Literacy Consultant Lindsay Bowen, and Reading Coaches Maggie Sullivan, Sarah Hurley, Kate Keating, Kathleen Laroque and Dan Chronowic. It also honours the broader team of coaches and expert advisors from 2022 to 2025.

“We’re honoured by this recognition from Dyslexia Canada. It reflects the thoughtful, collaborative work of so many—reading coaches, educators, principals, and central staff—who have embraced change with a shared commitment to doing what’s best for students,” said Sheila Piggott, superintendent of learning. “This work continues to evolve, but we’re encouraged by the progress we’ve made together in building a stronger foundation for early literacy across PVNC Catholic.”

The team’s work is rooted in the recommendations of Ontario’s 2022 Right to Read report, according to a press release.

PVNC Catholic established a central literacy team and funded seven reading coach positions, supporting over 170 classrooms across 30 elementary schools.

Throughout the 2023–2024 school year, the Board expanded training for all K–6 educators, Special Education staff and principals, embedding structured literacy practices system-wide.

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Photos: PVNC Students Get Hands-On Experience With Indigenous Skilled Trades Day

Around 215 Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic students from 26 schools got their hands-on learning experience at the Indigenous Skilled Trades Day at Trent University on Wednesday.

Zain Kailsli, 12 (left), gets a hands-on quilling lesson from Sandra Moore of Creators Gifts Fabric & Art (right). All Photos by David Tuan Bui.

There were 30 tradespeople vendors, with nearly half as Indigenous, showcasing their respective trades. These including quilling, hide scraping and more. Other trades were present at the event that included framing, carpentry, welding and others.

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PVNC School Board and CUPE Local 1453 Reach Local Collective Agreement

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board announces that it has reached a local collective agreement with CUPE Local 1453, approved on Feb. 7.

file photo.

PVNC employs about 800 CUPE members, representing support staff such as custodians, maintenance staff, secretaries, educational assistants, early childhood educators, learning commons specialists, paraprofessionals and central IT employees among others.

A tentative agreement was reached on Jan. 24 after eight days of local bargaining, and it was ratified by local CUPE members on Jan. 28. Trustees approved the agreement during a special board meeting held on Feb. 7.

“This agreement is a reflection of a commitment to working together to negotiate in good faith and reach a deal that benefits the Board and CUPE Local 1453 members. I am pleased that a deal was reached, and I couldn't be happier for the members of CUPE Local 1453,” said Nora Shaughnessy, president of CUPE Local 1453.

CUPE and the Ontario government reached a tentative central agreement in November, which was ratified by the union in December.

The collective bargaining framework for the education sector features a two-tier bargaining process involving both central and local bargaining. Central bargaining typically includes significant monetary and policy issues (e.g. compensation, benefits and paid leaves), while local negotiations typically involve non-monetary issues or matters specific to the local board.

“We are so pleased to have reached this agreement with our dedicated support workers. It’s an indication of the strong working relationship we enjoy with our CUPE partners,” said Joan Carragher, director of education. “I thank all the hard-working members of the bargaining teams on both sides for their dedication to the process and their spirit of collaboration and cooperation.”

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CUPE Announces Potential Strike On Monday If Deal Not Struck With Ontario Government

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is set to strike again on Monday after rejecting the Ford government’s negotiation offers and citing that the proposed contract would “further harm” Ontario schools.

CUPE workers originally had a strike on Nov. 4 and continued on Nov. 6. Photo By David Tuan Bui.

Laura Walton, president of the CUPE school board’s bargaining unit, said the union has given its notice of a province-wide strike for Monday.

“From the beginning, we’ve been focused on improved jobs for education workers and improved services for students. For us, there is no one without the other,” said Walton. “It’s incredibly disappointing that the Ford government categorically refused to put money on the table to give students the type of learning environment they need.”

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) has Tweeted that they intend to strike Monday if a deal is not reached.

CUPE, the union representing support workers in our Board, has provided notice that it intends to commence a strike (full withdrawal of services) on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 if it does not reach a central agreement with the provincial government before then.

— PVNCCDSB (@PVNCCDSB) November 16, 2022

The School Boards Collective Bargaining Act requires that school board workers give five days’ notice before striking.

On Nov. 7, the Premiere Doug Ford said they would repeal Bill 28 which stripped the ability to strike and deem it illegal if the CUPE would cease all striking action. CUPE agreed to withdraw and go back to the bargaining table to renegotiate.

Schools had re-opened for students after two days from the CUPE strikes that consists of roughly 55,000 workers.

CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) central bargaining committee has been negotiating for 167 days. During this time, they have made progress on the wage front, having reached a reported “middle ground” with the Ford government and the Council of Trustees’ Associations (CTA) on wage negotiations.

CUPE workers had been advocating for a six per cent wage increase, down from their original ask of 11.7 per cent over four years. They are also seeking more full-time staff in schools.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce expressed “disappointment” that negotiations with CUPE have failed, noting that this strike notice was issued only a few days after talks restarted.

“We are disappointed that only a few short days after talks restarted, CUPE has filed notice to once again shut down classrooms. Since resuming talks, we’ve put forward multiple improved offers that would have added hundreds of millions of dollars across the sector, especially for lower-income workers,” he said in a Tweet. “CUPE has rejected all of these offers. We are at the table ready to land a fair deal that invests more in lower-income workers and keeps kids in class.”

We offered $335 million more over four years for CUPE workers alone.

So, why are we here? pic.twitter.com/QZFxQ8Iu9r

— Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) November 16, 2022

Lecce says the government will remain at the bargaining table in hopes of reaching an agreement in time to avert what Walton said will be a “full strike.”

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Clarington Trustee Kevin MacKenzie Elected As PVNC School Board Chairperson

Clarington trustee Kevin MacKenzie has been elected as Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board chairperson for the 2022-23 term during the inaugural meeting at the Catholic Education Centre on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

MacKenzie has served as a trustee for four years, having first been elected in the 2018 municipal election. He served as the board’s vice-chairperson from 2021 to 2022. 

“Since first being elected to the board of trustees in 2018, I have been consistently awed and inspired by what our students and staff can achieve when provided the opportunity to thrive,” said MacKenzie. “I am honoured to take on this new leadership role. I have long wished to serve and give back to my community and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees as we pursue the board’s mission to accompany our students and strive for excellence in Catholic education.”

During Tuesday’s inaugural board meeting, Peterborough County trustee Jenny Leahy was elected as the board’s vice-chairperson. Leahy, who retired from her 18-year career as an executive administrative assistant at PVNC in July 2021, joined the board of trustees in May 2022 as an appointee. She was re-elected to the position during this year’s municipal election on Oct. 24.

Newly elected trustees Mike Ayotte (Peterborough), Joshua Glover (Clarington), Mary Ann Martin (Kawartha Lakes) and Kathleen Tanguay (Northumberland) also joined the board table on Tuesday.  

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Peterborough School Board Communication Services Team Wins National Award

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board won an Award of Distinction for its Everyday Hero Staff Recognition Program during the 2022 BRAVO! Awards Gala hosted by the Canadian Association of Communications in Education (CACE) on Monday.

Communications officer Alyssa Cymbalista (left) and communications manager Galen Eagle (right) celebrate their awards during the CACE gala on Monday. Photo courtesy of PVNC.

CACE recognizes and honours exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communications, marketing and engagement through this awards program each year.

“Our communications staff provide effective communication strategies to stakeholders across the district,” said Joan Carragher, PVNC director of education. “This award recognizes their exemplary work. It is a very well-deserved honour for a communications program that highlights our amazing staff and supports our multi-year strategic plan.”

The Everyday Hero Staff Recognition Program was developed as a strategic communication project to acknowledge the efforts of a range of school board staff and to help further the “Valuing Relationships” strategic priority set out in the board’s 2021-2025 strategic plan.

The CACE BRAVO! Awards are the only Canada-wide awards program specifically designed to recognize excellence in school board communications.

“We are thrilled and honoured to receive this national recognition from the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education,” said Galen Eagle, PVNC manager of communications. “We were looking for a creative way to demonstrate to our employees how much they are valued. The Everyday Hero Staff Recognition Program has been a huge success story for us, allowing us to pay tribute to employees who lift-up those around them and go the extra mile for their peers, students and the families we serve.”

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Driver Shortages Causing Bus Disruptions In Local Schools, Close To 40 Bus Routes Cancelled

According to a joint press release between PVNC, KPR and STSCO, Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) says families should have back up transportation plans as close to 40 bus routes have been cancelled for Monday, September 14th servicing local public and Catholic schools.

STSCO has been informed that, due to an area bus driver shortage, First Student bus company will have to cancel 38 school bus routes for both morning and afternoon runs on Monday, September 14th. The cancelled routes are listed on STSCO.ca by school.

Some local bus companies continue to have difficulty hiring and retaining drivers during the pandemic, an issue that many transportation consortia across Ontario are facing. As a result, STSCO warns that bus route cancellations and delays may be a daily occurrence in the weeks ahead.

Any disruptions will be posted on a daily basis on the STSCO website to give parents and guardians as much advance notice as possible.

Families in both Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board are asked to monitor STSCO.ca in the mornings and evenings, sign-up for automatic notifications and follow @stsco_ca on Twitter for information on cancellations and delays.

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PVNC Raises $27,500 To Sponsor Syrian Family

The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board presented Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with a cheque for $27,500 Tuesday (October 13th) as part of an ongoing fundraising effort to sponsor the relocation of a Syrian refugee family to Canada.

Barbara McMorrow (right), Director of Education for PVNC, presents Sister Ruth Hennessey of Peterborough’s Casa Maria Refugee Homes with cheque for $27,500

In early September, the PVNC community was moved by the Syrian refugee crisis to hold a board-wide fundraising effort. Working with Casa Maria, a non-profit organization that supports and offers safe temporary shelter to refugees, PVNC identified a family of seven who have fled war-torn Aleppo and are now in limbo in Saudi Arabia. Relatives of that family, themselves refugees who have recently relocated to Toronto, toured three PVNC schools in September to tell their story and put a face to the international refugee crisis.

“When we put the call out to our Catholic school communities and the staff at our board office to help support this family, the response was incredible,” PVNC Director of Education Barbara McMorrow says. “Sponsoring a family has offered our community a tangible way to make a difference in what is otherwise an overwhelming crisis.”

Casa Maria has now filed the paperwork for the seven family members, and the sponsorship process to bring the family to Peterborough is underway.

UPDATE: Here are pictures of the family members...

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