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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 -- Happy Father's Day
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Summer 2022 Well-Being Guide
- TDSB and the OHR's Commission Right to Read Inquiry Report
- COVID-19 Reminders
- Committee Meetings this Week
- Operating Budget 2022-23
- Safe TO
- TDSB System Calendar
- Policy Consultations
- New Invitation - Ontario Legislative Page Program
- Worth Repeating - June's Heritage Months; Community Updates; Backpack and School Supplies Drive; TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
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Happy Father's Day
Celebrating all dads, stepdads and father figures today... and grandfathers and uncles and cousins and brothers and mothers who play double-duty... thinking of everyone who supports and nurtures children.
I lost my dad nearly 14 years ago and not a day goes by that I don't think of him... and my mom. Blessed with memories. Hope your hearts are full.
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National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.
Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.
In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.
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Summer 2022 Well-Being Guide
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TDSB and the OHR's Commission Right to Read Inquiry Report
A TDSB team made up of staff from a number of different departments has reviewed the OHRC recommendations and each department is now reviewing what resources, strategies and supports align with the recommendations. The team has also provided feedback to the Ministry of Education with regard to screeners and Literacy Curriculum and, together with all school boards, is awaiting further direction.
In the meantime, a number of steps are being taken or are in the process of being taken, including (but not limited to):
- Senior leaders have engaged in learning about the recommendations in the report.
- The Ministry’s immediate response to the Right to Read report was to produce the Effective Early Reading Instruction: A Teacher's Guide. This has been shared with all school leaders and educators and a webinar has been provided for all Early Years staff
- A Family and Caregiver Early Literacy Guide and a family/caregiver website has been created to support Early Reading and Oral Language.
- The Professional Support Services team, together with Special Education are currently investigating assessments that will align with recommendations from the Right to Read report.
- The TDSB Early Reading Framework was released to the system and families to outline the critical components of early reading instruction. Each aspect of this Framework is then further explored through professional learning including the scope and sequence of fundamental reading skills in TDSB’s Early Reading Website
- The Early Years team has provided professional learning opportunities to Principals and Vice Principals to understand the recommendations in the Right to Read Report
While there is more work to do, staff are already working to better understand and act on the report’s recommendations. We’re committed to using evidence-based reports such as this to ensure we are supporting all students within our system.
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COVID-19 RemindersPlease Continue to Wear a Mask
We are relying on everyone, regardless of the removal of mask mandates, to continue to wear a mask indoors if there is no physical distancing - cases may be declining, but we are still experiencing daily absences in schools of both students and staff due to COVID-19. Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others, especially those that cannot yet be vaccinated. COVID-19: Where to Get Vaccinated.
We will continue to engage with Toronto Public Health over the summer and before the end of August ensure we have the most up to date advice for reopening schools safely.
Mental Health and Well-Being
COVID-19 Case Reporting - Adding TDSB-wide Totals
Effective June 15, Board and school staff are no longer expected to report student and staff absences and closures to the Ministry of Education. The TDSB will continue to report on schools that have absences that exceed 30 per cent above the established baseline and will inform Toronto Public Health of those schools. We will also continue to report the system total of staff and student absences until the end of the school year. Weekly totals will be updated every Tuesday for the preceding week, here is the data from June 17.
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Committee Meetings This Week
Monday, June 20, 2022 - Special Finance, Budget and Enrollment Committee - 1:00 p.m. - AgendaWednesday, June 22, 2022 - Special Meeting - 12:00 p.m. - AgendaWednesday, June 22, 2022 - Planning and Priorities Committee - 4:30 p.m. - Agenda- 6.1. 2021-22 Third Quarter Business Operations Report
- 6.2. 2022-23 Toronto Lands Corporation Annual Plan
- 6.3. Sir Robert Borden 770 Don Mills Road: Land Exchange With the City of Toronto
- 6.4. Etobicoke School of the Arts: Parking and Recreation License Agreement
- 7.1. SafeTO: Toronto's Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
- 7.2. Review of the Need for the Scarlett Heights Property, 15 Trehorne Drive
- 7.3. Accommodation of Students From New Residential Developments at 38 Annie Craig Drive and 2150, 2169-2173 and 2189 Lake Shore Boulevard West
- 7.4. Addressing Instances of Anti-Black Racism and Hate in the Dr. Rita Cox – Kina Minogok Public School (formerly Queen Victoria Public School) and Parkdale Collegiate Institute Community
- 7.5. Combating Hate and Promoting Understanding: Update
- 7.6. Establishment of a Compliance Audit Committee Under the Municipal Elections Act, 1996
- 8.1. Implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (Trustees Brown and Doyle)
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Operating Budget 2022-23
Staff are recommending a 2022-23 Revised Operating Budget be approved at the Special Finance, Budget, and Enrolment Committee (FBEC) on Monday.
Based on feedback received at the 8 June 2022 FBEC, and subsequent amendments to the deficit recovery plan, the revised 2022-23 deficit is projected at $40.4M or 1.4% of operating allocation.
As outlined in this report, the TDSB’s 2022-23 projected deficit is primarily due to unfunded pandemic costs, ongoing Ministry funding shortfalls in a number of areas, and declining enrolment. It is important to note that without this deficit, and with adequate Ministry funding, the TDSB would be in a much more stable financial position.
TDSB staff and Trustees continue to advocate for additional and more stable funding from the province, including the reimbursement of pandemic related expenses and other revenue losses incurred, a commitment to fund the TDSB’s pandemic recovery plan, and additional funding to cover inflationary cost increases that are not currently funded by the Ministry. Should these costs be reimbursed to school boards, these supports would be sufficient to address the TDSB’s projected deficits in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Key Investments in the 2022-23 Budget While the 2022-23 budget contains reduction strategies needed to balance the budget, it also includes key investments, based on the approved budget drivers, such as:
- An additional 16 FTE social workers, 35 FTE child and youth workers and 15 FTE child and youth counsellors, totalling $6.5M.
- 40 FTE additional School-Based Safety Monitors, totalling $2.3M.
- Additional allocations in the following positions through the Supports for Student Fund and Learning Recovery Fund to help offset reductions caused by the end of Investment in System Priorities and Education Worker Protection Fund: Special Education Support Staff (101.0FTE), School Office Clerical (48.5 FTE), Lunchroom Supervisors (200.0 FTE) and Caretaking (108.5 FTE).
- 48 FTE central coaches and teachers were allocated to support early reading. The Board will also commit to reviewing the recommendations outlined in the Right to Read Inquiry report and invest resources to support direct instruction reading programs and other reading materials.
- $1.8M allocated to hire an additional 15 ESL teachers to support the increase in the number of newcomers to our system.
- $1.6M, in addition to the $5.4M in Ministry’s enveloped funding, to support Indigenous education.
- $2.1M to support the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement.
- $6.2M to support Model Schools for Inner Cities initiatives and schools above 150 on the Learning Opportunity Index, $3.5M allocated to Urban Priority High Schools (UPHS) and $8.7M to support student success initiatives.
- $1.8M allocated to support the TDSB’s Human Rights Action Plan.
- $8M for the 1:1 student device technology initiative and an additional $2M for other IT licensing and maintenance costs.
- $4.4M to support network infrastructure, connectivity, and security needs.
- $0.3M allocated towards supporting professional learning for the Combatting Hate and Racism – Student Learning Strategy, as well as four additional Equity coaches to support training needs.
Staff are also presenting for information, a draft 2023-24 and 2024-25 Deficit Recovery Plan, which will be used to inform staff’s work as they develop future years’ budgets.
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SafeTO
At this week's P&P Meeting, staff are recommending that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) formalize participation in SafeTO: Toronto’s Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, 2021.
The Toronto District School Board has a long-standing record of working with government partners, families, and community organizations to improve outcomes for the students and families we jointly serve. A responsive and equitable educational experience plays an invaluable role in strengthening children’s overall health and personal and academic success.
Education is one of twelve social determinants of health according to the Government of Canada. Investments have been made by TDSB towards additional mental health workers, recreational opportunities, employment initiatives, and student engagement experiences outside of the school day, along with Graduation Coaches, and student nutrition programs. Each of these serve as examples of some of the approaches TDSB has undertaken within its core mandate to address many of the serious issues impacting the quality of students’ lives such as food insecurity, racism, and youth disengagement. TDSB recognizes that these issues and others require greater collaboration across sectors and with communities to have sustainable and meaningful impact on the lives of children and families.
A coordinated proactive approach is necessary. This new strategy would prioritize well-being through a trauma informed approach to poverty reduction by addressing housing and food insecurity, and recognizing the toll of historical and current oppression, especially as it pertains to Indigenous and Black-identifying, plus other currently underserved communities of Toronto.
Further on March 23, 2022, the TDSB Board of Trustees recognized, “whereas, funding structures are limited, individual public entities cannot address the root cause of societal issues impacting our youth alone, and better outcomes for children and youth can be better achieved through a collaborative and strategic effort.” The SafeTO Plan outlines strategies to achieve community safety and well-being which is defined as “the ideal state of a sustainable community where everyone is safe, has a sense of belonging, opportunities to participate and where individuals and families are able to meet their needs for education, health care, food, housing, income and social and cultural expression.” Read the complete report - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes/Type/A?Folder=Agenda%2f20220622&Filename=6.1.pdf.
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TDSB System Calendar
There are many ways for parents/guardians and school community members to get involved, learn, connect and participate in TDSB activities and events. Visit this page often and see what's coming up!
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Ontario's Legislative Page Program
Applications for the Fall 2022 term are now open. We are accepting applications until July 11th, 2022.
For the Fall 2022 period, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Attend school in Ontario and be entering Grade 8 in the Fall of 2022;
- Be fully vaccinated by the start of the term (both doses and 2 week wait period); and
- Have an academic average of Level 4 or 80 % (or higher).
Each year approximately 150 young students from across Ontario are selected to participate in Ontario's Legislative Page Program. This unique educational program for Ontario students provides an opportunity to experience the provincial legislature in action and forge new lifelong friendships with peers from all over the province.
The program is designed for outgoing, high-achieving, community-involved students who have demonstrated responsibility and leadership. Legislative Pages meet key parliamentary and political figures, and learn first-hand about Ontario’s Parliament and the legislative process.
While at Queen’s Park, they are under the direction of the Page Program Coordinator who is a certified Ontario teacher. Pages also receive an honorarium during their term of duty.
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History and Heritage Months in June
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Community Updates Now Posted
To follow these current and potential projects, int the Ward click on the following links:
Select 2020 - Baycrest Public School - Sir Sandford Fleming Retrofit
Select 2021 - Memorial Park Stormwater Management Partnership Project
- The City of Toronto’s Midtown Toronto Storm Sewer Relief Project (MTSSRP) involves construction of an underground stormwater storage tank and a pumping station in Memorial Park. This work is part of the City of Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Program to help reduce the risk of future basement flooding. TDSB/TLC and the City are working towards an agreement that permits the City of Toronto to use TDSB lands at North Preparatory JPS (Memorial Park) which will also affect Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. The information from the information meeting on May 26, 2022 is posted https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Strategy-Planning/Search-All-Reviews/id/175.
Eglinton Junior Public School
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Backpack and School Supplies Drive
Backpacks and school supplies can be expensive. They can also wear out easily or are often lost or misplaced by students throughout the school year. They represent a difficult purchase for some students and for their families.
The TDSB is Canada’s largest and most diverse school board, with more than 247,000 students in 583 schools across Toronto. One in every three children live in poverty right here in our city and many of our students are new to Canada. We know that there are many students who are not equipped with school supplies for the school year. As we continue to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need is even greater for many of our families.
This year’s Backpacks & School Supplies Drive will run from March 1, 2022 to the end of September 2022. Individual donors and companies can help our students by making a monetary donation and/or a donation of new backpacks and school supplies. Tax receipts are available for these donations.
100% of all proceeds and in-kind donations go to benefit our students
NOTE: Due to potential health & safety, hygiene, sorting and storage limitations, the TDSB can only accept new items. Please contact BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca for more information about how to donate new items.
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TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
Since the start of the conflict, a number of schools across the TDSB have been holding fundraisers and collecting donations in support of the ongoing relief efforts in Ukraine. The launch of TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal complements these school initiatives and streamlines the process for schools and central departments to make new or additional donations.
The TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal will run until May 31, 2022. Tax receipts will be issued by the Canadian Red Cross (for all donations of $1 or more) and UNICEF (for all donations of $10 or more).
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
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. And please do not verbally abuse TDSB caretaking staff - I am hearing that when members of the public and caretakers onsite try and inform dog owners, they are met with threats and intimidation.
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School Year Calendar 2021-2022- The last day of class for elementary students is June 30, 2022
- The last day of class for secondary students is June 29, 2022
The first day of school for students in 2022-2023 is Wednesday, September 7.
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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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