Some staff members at west-end Toronto high school refuse to work due to safety concerns

Some staff at a west-end Toronto high school are refusing to work due to what they're calling unsafe work conditions, including allegations of assault, threats and disorganization within the school.

Staff say the problems began at the old campus of George Harvey Collegiate Institute at the beginning of the school year when hundreds of students from York Memorial Collegiate Institute were moved there following the devastating fire at their school in 2019. 

 Usha KelleyMaharaj, a science teacher at the school, said the 13 staff members refused to work after the situation escalated last week following a large fight involving dozens of students and some teachers. 

"Some of those teachers were harmed in the process," said KelleyMaharaj, who spoke outside the school Wednesday although she is not one of the staff members refusing to work.. 

"We are scared and angry," she said, adding that the anger is "building and bubbling."

After the fire at York Memorial, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) transferred the students directly to George Harvey, then moved them to their own building at Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy. 

KelleyMaharaj says she believes the issues have stemmed from the TDSB's decision last year to return the students to George Harvey this September, merge the two schoolsand rename it York Memorial Collegiate

York Memorial Students told CBC Toronto last year they felt more comfortable at Scarlett Heights and didn't want to return to George Harvey, which they see as a rival school.

"We were willing to merge but the merger was rushed," said KelleyMaharaj, adding that it has "resulted in a situation where things have spiraled out of control."

She said the board promised to renovate George Harvey to ensure the facility was in order before the merger. However, she said, the renovations are incomplete and the board replaced all the administrators with a new team that was unfamiliar with the students.

The school sent out an email to parents on Tuesday. 

"In this particular situation, there were concerns about school safety. These concerns were discussed yesterday. Discussion continues today and tomorrow. The school is doing it's best to arrange for coverage of classes by other staff members and administrators," the email reads.

"All students remain safe." 

CBC News has reached out to the TDSB for clarification on why students could not stay in Scarlett Heights. A superintendent was to be made available for questions at 4 p.m.