The Greater Essex County District School Board will neither confirm nor deny that 145 teachers have been declared redundant.
The board only received word of its provincial funding allotment for next year on Thursday, and a draft budget isn't expected until June, but the number of teachers declared redundant is double last year's.
In June 2025, 70 teachers were declared redundant.
"School boards across the province are experiencing declining enrolment, and the Greater Essex County District School Board is facing similar pressures," said Communications Officer Madeline McEachren. "As set out in the current Collective Agreement, the timeline for informing staff is late April, and this timeline was adhered to."
President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario Greater Essex, Mario Spagnuolo, confirmed the board has declared 145 teachers redundant, including some who teach English as a Second Language, coaches, and math coaches.
Spagnuolo said once the board breaks down the provincial funding numbers, it'll have a better idea of how many teachers will actually face layoffs.
"The numbers typically go down, and it should only get better," assured Spagnuolo, pointing out school boards only received a one per cent boost in base funding this year, below the rate of inflation.
While the board projects enrolment for September in the spring, in the past few years, enrolment has been higher than expected because of late registrations for kindergarten.
"We remain hopeful that many employees will be recalled as vacancies arise during staffing and with the typical increase in enrolment leading into September," added McEachren.
