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| Shelley Laskin, Trustee
Toronto District School Board
Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence & Toronto-St Paul's
416-395-8787
Shelley.Laskin@tdsb.on.ca
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In this Issue -- Celebrate Pride!
- New Toronto Holocaust Museum
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Labour Negotiations
- TDSB 2023-24 Budget
- Committee and Board Meetings This Week
- Beyond Knowledge: Preparing students for an uncertain future
- Permit Updates
- Summer Programs
- New Invitations - Christie Pits Riot Immersive Experience - ends June 16; Indigenous Arts Festival returns June 17 & 18 at Fort York
- Worth Repeating - Summer 2023 Well-Being Guide; Working at the TDSB; Useful Links; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds; School Year Calendar 2022-23; Approved 2023-2024 Calendar Italian Heritage Month
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Celebrate Pride!
Flags are flying proudly at all TDSB schools and administration sites.
Please join the TDSB contingent as we march in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25th. Stay tuned for more details! Find out more here.
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New Toronto Holocaust Museum Opened
I was honoured to attend the Official Opening of the Toronto Holocaust Museum Friday morning along with Director Russell-Rawlins, Chair Chernos Lin and colleagues Trustee Pei and Trustee Lulka Rotman and many other dignitaries and politicians from all levels of government.
The Museum's Mission - The Toronto Holocaust Museum is a space for education and dialogue about this vital history and its ongoing relevance. The Museum serves as a powerful and growing force against antisemitism, bigotry and hatred in all its forms. Our state-of-the-art facility is the premier destination for Holocaust education in the city showcasing cutting edge technology, including interactive Holocaust survivor testimony stations at the core of each exhibit space and augmented reality tablet tours. The Museum deepens the public’s knowledge and understanding while, inspiring visitors to think critically about the tragedies of the Holocaust and to make connections between the Holocaust, world events, and contemporary Canadian life.
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National Indigenous Peoples Day
June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to celebrate and learn from Indigenous Peoples about the diverse cultures, histories, experiences, creations, perspectives, and achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. Staff and students are able to access programming through MyPath.
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Labour Negotiations
TDSB and CUPE Local 4400 Reach a Tentative Agreement
On Friday, June 9, 2023, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has reached a tentative agreement with the Board’s 20,000 education workers who are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4400. The tentative agreement must still be ratified by both the TDSB and CUPE in the coming weeks. This vote will happen as soon as practicably possible, but no later than Friday, June 30, 2023. CUPE and the and the Government of Ontario reached a tentative agreement earlier in November, 2022.
CUPE Local 4400 represents a wide range of support staff at the TDSB including office and clerical staff, Designated Early Childhood Educators, Educational Assistants, Instructors, Caretakers and Lunchroom Supervisors.
Please note neither the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), or the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) have concluded negotiations with the Government of Ontario which comes before local bargaining. Learn more about the Collective Bargaining Process.
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TDSB 2023-24 Budget
Boards are required to submit a balanced budget per section 231 of the Education Act: Under the regulation, the Board can have a deficit of 1% (up to max of reserve balance) without requiring permission from the Ministry. 1% is approximately $28 million. However, the Board had a 1.4% deficit in 2022-23 and required approval from the Ministry for the deficit. As part of last year's approval, the Board provided a 3-year deficit recovery plan. This year, 2023-24 is year 2 of the 3 year plan that committed to a $15.1 million deficit in 2023-24.
Summary of Options to Balance put forward by staff
- Increase in SIP Special Education Allocation +$5.00
- Central staffing -$5.60
- Central department reductions -$1.70
- General interest courses -$0.60
- Review of other grants and possible efficiencies -$4.60
- 1:1 device deployment -$9.00
- Additional virtual school enrolment +$0.30
- Use of POD $$12.00
As a result, the current projected deficit, should the Board approve the staff options is now at -$14.9M, less than $15.1 million (committed to by deficit recovery plan).
I am still committed to moving the following motion at the June 13 meeting. I am hoping colleagues support to ensure full swim programming in all operating pools.
Business Arising: 2023-24 Updated Projected Financial Position: Addition of Aquatic Instructors
The Board decided: That consideration of the following be deferred to the final budget proposal: Whereas, following the vote on reducing aquatic instructors, staff realized that with 80 aquatic instructors, the swimming programs for students would indeed be reduced at 8 elementary and 12 secondary schools; and Whereas, the Board did not intend to confirm this implementation of a reduction to swim programming; Therefore, be it resolved: That the Director be asked to pause the current program reduction implementation and add back a complement of aquatic instructors to ensure full programming for students in all schools with pools for 2023-24. As per the staff report, this would mean the addition of 6FTE aquatic instructors.
Please click here to read the deck presented at our Joint Budget Ward Forum that provides the information to date including staff options.
This week, FBEC is meeting Monday to hear deputations and on Tuesday will discuss a staff report on the comments from the Budget Ward Forum.
Staff will present the final proposed budget to Trustees at FBEC on June 20, 2023, and to Special Board on June 22, 2023. The budget is due to the Ministry on June 30, 2023.
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Committee and Board Meetings This Week
We welcome members of the public to bring forward issues and concerns they have through a delegation, which is addressing a committee of the Board of Trustees (by speaking virtually, in person or submitting a written statement). Our Delegation Procedure is designed to set out a consistent and easily understandable process for the public and to manage the process in a fair and equitable manner. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations
Delegates are encouraged to make their needs for accommodation known in advance of the Committee meeting when they send their request by e-mail to delegates@tdsb.on.ca by 4 p.m., two (2) working days before the committee meeting day.
Monday, June 12, 2023 - Special Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee - 4:40 p.m. - Boardroom - Deputations
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 - Special Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee - 4:30 p.m. - Boardroom
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - Regular Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. Public Session - Boardroom
- 1. P034, Workplace Harassment Prevention for Non-Human Rights-Code Harassment Policy: Annual Review
- 2. P047, Naming Schools and Special Purpose Areas Policy Review: Phase 5
- 3. Policy 103, Flexible Working Arrangements: Update
- 4. Disconnecting From Work Policy, Phase 1
- 5. Student Interest Program Specialized Schools and Programs Policy: Review
- 1. Contract Awards, Operations
- 2. Contract Awards, Facilities
- 3. Student Transportation, Contract Awards
- 4. Contract Awards, Summer Approval Process 2023
- 5. Design Consultant Contract Award, Mass Timber Replacement School at Poplar Road Junior Public School
- 6. Design Consultant Contract Award, Podium Elementary School and Exterior Play Space Design Guidelines and Design of New Podium School for Sugar Wharf Public School
- 7. Community Use of Schools, Permit Fee Increase
- 8. York Memorial Collegiate Institute: Project Update
- 9. Extended Day Program Review
- 10. Proposed Options to Balance the 2023-24 Budget
- 1. Toronto Lands Corporations: Annual Capital and Operating Budget
- 2. 2023-24 Toronto Lands Corporation Annual Plan
- 3. 2022-23 Q4 Leases and Licenses for TDSB Operating Schools
- 4. Community Access Agreement, Blake Street Junior Public School, 21 Boultbee Avenue
- 5. Community Access Agreement, General Brock Public School, 140 Chestnut Crescent
- 6. Community Access Agreement, JR Wilcox Community School, 231 Ava Road
- 7. NBE3U/UC English, Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices: Gradual Implementation Plan
- 8. Program Area Reviews for New Arts-Focused Central Student Interest Programs at Westview Centennial Secondary School Woburn Collegiate Institute
- 9. Background to the Future Revision of Procedure PR598, Pupil Accommodation Review
- 10. Amendments to the Special Education Plan, 2023-2024
- 11. 529 Vaughan Road Building, Community Planning and Partnerships Lease Agreement With Oakwood Vaughan Community Organization
- 12. Review of the Need for the 200 Wilmington Avenue Property and the 2245 Lawrence Avenue West Property
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Beyond Knowledge: Preparing students for an uncertain future
This paper outlines an emerging vision, rooted in common aspirations shared in recent conversations across the Ontario Education Partner Discussion Table, and system priorities that education partners have identified to realize this emerging vision. Beyond knowledge takes what was heard throughout many months of comprehensive discussions and outlines the following:
- Education partners’ hopes for Ontario’s students and an emerging shared vision
- Proposed priorities for system action and change to support the realization of this emerging vision
- Remaining questions and considerations that need to be discussed and unpacked further through continued engagement with partners and the government.
This paper is meant to be the start of a conversation to clarify and refine a shared vision and priorities for the future of Ontario’s schools. The key recommendation is that the provincial government create a new Partnership table, modelled on the structure and stakeholders of the Education Partner Discussion Table, to work collaboratively on making the vision outlined in this paper a reality in the years ahead.
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Permit Updates
The TDSB is now accepting Permit Applications for September 2022 to June 2023.
Permit Renewal - For organizations to keep permit renewal rights, all renewal applications should be submitted by June 23rd, 2023. Applications that are submitted after June 23rd will be processed in the priority sequence stipulated in TDSB Procedure PR666 - Community Use of Board Facilities.
Early Closing Schools 2023 /24 - TDSB is currently reviewing its Operational budget and the outcome of this process may result in some of our schools closing early due to reduced caretaking allocations. We anticipate that we will have full information before the end of June. For any schools impacted by the outcome, permit applicants will be notified and assisted in securing alternative spaces.
Local Neighborhood Support Program (LNSP) Permits - Organizations that currently hold LNSP permits can apply now to renew permits for the 2023 – 2024 school year.
Booking date - Please note that our schools are not open during Christmas Break (December 23, 2023, to January 5, 2024) and March Break (March 11-15, 2024). Please be sure to exclude these dates and all Statutory Holidays so that your application can be submitted successfully.
An annual permit fee increase, based on CPI, is now due for 2023-24. According to the most recent information from Statistics Canada, the Consumer Price Index for All Items for the province of Ontario from January 01, 2022, to December 31, 2022, was +6.3%. Permit fees will be increased by 6.3% for permits beginning September 1, 2023, except for outdoor fields for which the new fees will be effective January 1, 2024. The fee schedule for 2023-24 is available on our website: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/Permits/Permit-Categories-and-Fees.
If you have any questions, please contact the TDSB Permit Unit at (416) 395-7666 or by email at permits@tdsb.on.ca.
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Summer Programs
At the TDSB we provide a wide range of enriching summer programs for children, youth and adults. There is still space in many programs. Click to find out more.
Elementary
Secondary
Special Education and Inclusion
Adult
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Christie Pits Riot Immersive Experience - ends June 16
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Christie Pits Riot that took place in Toronto in August 1933. To commemorate this moment in history, the TDSB’s Jewish Heritage Committee in collaboration with the Italian Heritage Committee have been offering TDSB students a chance to learn about the largest race riot in Canadian history. Together, both committees created a program designed for students in Grades 8 and 10 to learn about the riot through a re-enactment developed by The Hogtown Collective - this is the last week the play will be performed at Christie Pits in the Northwest Ball Diamond - performances are at 10 am and 1:15 pm Tuesday through Friday - if you are around the park, you are welcome to watch the production with our students.
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Indigenous Arts Festival returns June 17 & 18 at Fort York!
Experience the Na-Me-Res traditional Pow Wow, shop the outdoor artisan market, enjoy live performances and art installations and explore Indigenous food vendors. Plan your weekend: http://toronto.ca/IAF
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Summer 2023 Well-Being Guide
The Summer Well-Being Guide is created by TDSB-Mental Health and Well-Being-Professional Support Services Committee & Systems leadership team.
As we look toward the end of the school year, there may be excitement as well as thoughts and feelings that bring forward a need for support. Our Summer 2023 Well-Being Guide is a place to learn about Culturally Responsive and Identity Affirming resources and activities to make the most of this time of year, while supporting and improving our mental well-being. Please click here for the complete Guide available in multiple languages.
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Working at the TDSB
Our staff members are the backbone of our system. Becoming a part of the TDSB team means joining a talented community of educators and support staff dedicated to enriching the lives of all students and helping them to achieve success. Check here.
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
A reminder to dog owners (and I know not all of you have kids at school). Dogs are not allowed on school property at any time. Many people are surprised to learn that TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property. Section 6.10 PR523 Access to School Premises prohibits canines on our properties “at any time” (except service animals).
Please respect children’s play spaces.
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School Year Calendar 2022-23- Last Day of School - June 30 - Elementary
- Last Day of School - June 28 - Secondary
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Approved 2023-2024 Calendar
Secondary School Year Calendar for 2023-2024
The updated Secondary School Year Calendar for 2023-2024 is available online. This calendar includes PA days, exam days for final evaluations, Board and Statutory holidays, and other notable school year details.
For the 2023-2024 school year, no PA days are scheduled before the first day of classes. The first day of school is Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
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Community Safety & Support
If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.
If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.
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