A 1981 survey showed that while racial minorities made up 15 to 20 percent of the population of Toronto, Canada, the Toronto Board of Education had only 7.9 percent minority employees. In 1987 another survey was completed to determine if the representation of visible racial minorities had changed. This document is the first part of a two part report on the latter study. The following findings are discussed: (1) the percentage of racial minorities at the Board of Education remained the same, at 7.9 percent; (2) this level of representation was lower than the level in the total Metropolitan Toronto municipality work force; (3) the level was not uniform across job categories and departments; (4) the proportion of racial minorities in managerial and supervisory positions was 6 percent as compared to 5 percent in 1981; (5) Blacks and East Asians comprised one-third of the racial minority permanent work force; (6) in both the White and non-White categories there were slightly more female employees than male; and (7) 20 percent of White employees were employed in field positions compared to 9 percent of the non-Whites. Statistical data are presented in 6 figures and 11 tables. Six appendices include research documents and distribution tables. (VM)