“Work for all of the people of this province and make Ontario open for quality public services and student success.”

That’s what President of the Avon Maitland Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Kent Cleland, says the Ford government needs to do after the announcement of the loss of 34 elementary teacher jobs on the board.

Cleland says the 34 losses announced by the AMDSB are “devastating”.

The Avon Maitland Elementary Teachers’ Local says Ontario has cut the AMDSB budget by $2.6 million and decreased the average pupil funding by $54 per student, with the job losses a direct result of the budget cuts.

They say they have been trying to organize a meeting with Education Minister Lisa Thompson for 10 months with Thompson refusing to meet while requests to meet with Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece have also been unsuccessful.