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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
- Eid Mubarak
- June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Award Winning Teachers
- Feeling Overwhelmed?
- Warm Weather Update
- Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Resource Survey
- Funding/Expenditure Snapshot 2024-25
- 2024-25 Operating Budget Recommended by FBEC - The Path to Balance
- Advocacy Continues - Fully Fund School Board
- Committee and Board Meetings This Week
- Reporting Hate - In Our Schools and In Our Communities
- New Invitations - Construction of City's Davisville Aquatic & Community Recreation Centre - Virtual Meeting June 18 at 6:30; TD Summer Reading Club; Backpack and School Supplies Drive
- Worth Repeating - PrideTDSB; Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy Pre-Consultation; Phased-in Start for Student Transportation; 2024 Summer Well-Being Guide; Secondary Alternative School Review; Mental Health Resources to Support Students and Families; Summer Programs; Need for Aquatic Instructors; Please Keep Safe... and Keep Others Safe; Vaccinations; Useful Links; 2023-2024 Calendar; 2024-2025 Calendar; Dogs Are Not Allowed On School Property - How to Report; Community Safety & Support
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Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the dads, fathers, uncles, grandpas and those who are father figures - to those fathers-to-be and those fathers we have lost... thank you to all who support our kids - may you be surrounded by love. I miss mine everyday...
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Eid Mubarak
Happy Eid al-Adha! Eid al-Adha, commonly translated as the Feast of Sacrifice, is the second of the two main Islamic holidays alongside Eid al-Fitr. May all who celebrate find joy, renewal, and spiritual growth.
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June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
On June 21, for National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Toronto District School Board recognizes and celebrates the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada.
June 21 is a day of significance for many Indigenous Peoples. It marks the day when the Sun is closest to the Earth. It is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples celebrate Summer Solstice. It is a time that reminds us to remain grounded, humble and appreciative. It is usually celebrated by coming together with family and community for a feast. Traditional foods are an important aspect of the feast as they signify connection to the land and animals.
The Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC) has organized several opportunities for engagement with Indigenous artists, authors, and speakers through various virtual workshops and panel discussions. These experiences assist in building our understanding of Indigenous cultures, ways of knowing and being.
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Award Winning Teachers
Congratulations to TDSB educators Cory Cattell from Zion Heights Middle School and Chris Cabacungan from Forest Hill Junior and Senior Public School who have received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM and the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, respectively. Recipients of the Teaching Excellence Awards are celebrated for their exceptional contributions to education, and we are incredibly proud of Cory and Chris – and grateful for their positive impact at the TDSB. Please read more here.
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Feeling Overwhelmed?
Are your kids feeling overwhelmed? Kids Help Phone can help. "Many people have searched it online, shared it with someone they trust or just said it to themselves — “I feel overwhelmed!” With everything going on in your world, these types of thoughts and feelings are valid. It can be helpful to practice strategies to manage these moments in ways that work best for you. On this page, you can watch a video (featuring a character trying to finish their chores) for ways to navigate overwhelming experiences now and in the future."
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Warm Weather Update
We are expecting days of extreme heat this week that can prompt Environment Canada to issue Heat Advisories. These temperatures can and do have an impact on students and staff. To learn more about how the TDSB does its best to beat the heat on these days, please visit our Hot Weather Webpage. I wish we had the funding to do more.
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Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Resource Survey
DEADLINE APPROACHING: Please complete this survey by June 17, 2024.
A new survey, distributed by the Ontario Coalition for Children and Youth Mental Health will gather information about what parents and caregivers need and want when it comes to resources to help them improve their awareness and support of mental health and well-being in children and youth. The results of this survey will be used to develop new resources, designed to meet their needs, both in terms of the information or topics covered to the format they will be delivered in, such as videos, presentations, or online learning resources. By completing the survey, parents/caregivers can help the Coalition to develop accessible resources tailored to their needs and make supporting children and youth mental health easier. Complete the Survey.
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Funding/Expenditure Snapshot 2024-25
The Ministry of Education released their Core Education on April 26, 2024 - Some of the key changes were:
- Labour related increases - 1.25% for teaching staff; 1/hour for education workers
- The implementation of the 2021 census updates.
- The transportation grant has increased by approximately 3.5%.
- A small increase in Special Education funding for the Special Incidence Portion (SIP) and Specialized Equipment Allocation (SEA)
- The Clean and Safe Supplement has been eliminated. This represents a reduction of $1.8 million.
- A 2% increase to the non-staff portion of the school facilities fund.
Key Changes to Responsive Education Program (REP) Funding
- The "Math Recovery Plan" funding has continued
- The REP to support Early Reading and Reading Intervention has continued.
- The $11.1 million of funding to fund staff to support de-streaming and transition to high school has been discontinued. This has an impact on the 2024-25 budget as the majority of positions supported by this funding were included in the school based staffing
Total projected operating expenditures for 2024-25 are estimated at $3.5 billion.
- Instructional Expenditures – 87%
- Supplies and Services – 7%
- Fees and Contractual – 4%
- Other – 2%
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2024-25 Operating Budget Recommended by FBEC - The Path to Balance
The Board is required to submit a balanced budget to the Ministry of Education and this report meets the Director of Education’s statutory requirement to present a balanced budget to the Board of Trustees.
On April 2, 2024, a report was presented to the Board’s Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (FBEC) that showed a projected deficit of $43.5 million
At that time, Trustees approved reductions of $17 million (Reduction in Central Staffing - $ 5.0M; Reduction in Replacement Cost Budget - $ 7.0M and Reduction in School Facilities Budget - $ 5.0M), resulting in a deficit of $26.5 million. When the Core Ed and REPs were released and the changes from Bill 124 were implemented, $8.8 million was added to the budget. Therefore, the starting position for the 2024-25 projected deficit is $35.3 million.
At a Special FBEC on May 30, 2024, Trustees approved a motion that discontinued offering weekend programs at Camp Kearney. The approximately $300,000 in savings was requested to be used to offset user fees for outdoor education day trips. This motion has not been approved by Board but also does not have an impact on the overall budget. Therefore, the motion does not change the financial position of the Board.
At the June 13 FBEC, therefore, the starting deficit position remained at $35.3 million.
Staff informed FBEC that they were implementing Operational Efficiencies/Fee Increases to adhere to board policy – as these were operational changes they require no vote. These include changes to expenditures for general interest/seniors daytime courses and permit fees explained below.
Staff data indicate that general interest/seniors' daytime courses exceed revenues by over $600,000; although staff proposed an elimination of these programs, the Trustee motion of April 4, 2024 paused this proposal. That said, in order to work towards following the Policy P019 that states “Community programs should be fully funded by user fees and other revenues”, staff are changing the fee structure and will review additional ways to fully fund general interest programs. In addition, by staff following the Trustee motion of April 4, 2024 with regards to International Languages by continuing to implement the recommended 25 student pre-register minimum, there will be cost savings. Staff informed FBEC they will continue to look for efficiencies in other areas of continuing education while continuing to provide existing programs. They are planning to save $2.0 million this budget cycle.
Policy P011 Community Use of School Facilities, provides guidance to staff on Permit Fees. There are two areas of the policy where staff are making adjustments to be compliant: “Permit holders will be charged for ancillary costs including staffing of nonscheduled custodian services, media and technology specialists, stage crews, security officers and parking attendants, as required” and “User fees in Category A1 and A2 are subsidized through the Ministry of Education Community Use of Schools grant and are subject to the limit in funding.”
The trustee motion states that staff “Review and consult with partner organizations on the TDSB’s permit fee structure and subsidies and present a report to the Planning and Priorities Committee on recommended changes.” As a result, staff have indicated to permit holders that fees may increase in January 2025. Not adhering to policy is resulting in a budget pressure of $5.6 million. Staff recognize that to implement a change of this magnitude will take a gradual approach and therefore have only suggested a $2.0 million savings in 2024-25.
Proceeds of Disposition (POD) are received when the Board sells a property and the Regulation states that Boards can request exceptions to use POD in other areas than capital repairs although they are not a sustainable way of balancing the budget. Staff explained that included in the current budget is $22 million related to the amortization of the employee future benefits liability but that the liability will be fully amortized halfway through 2025-26 and this will start to free up $22 million annually in the budget. In addition, the $5.5 million of budget pressure related to the REP for transitions to high school and de-streaming not being renewed cannot be addressed during the 2024-25 budget but will be addressed in 2025-26. As a result, staff would support a one-time request of up to $27.5 million to assist in balancing the 2024-25 budget
After the staff presentation at the FBEC meeting, Trustee Li, seconded by Trustee Aarts moved that FBEC direct the Director to:
- i. implement strategies as presented in the report to the Planning and Priorities Committee on June 11, 2024, namely, Strategic Workforce Engagement and Attendance Support, to further reduce average staff absenteeism days by at least 0.5 days to realize $3.5M in budget savings;
- ii. implement adjustments to the 1:1 Device program agreement to allow schools to recover device costs from parents where appropriate, with special allocations made to support families with need, to realize at least $0.3 million in savings;
- iii. send a request to the Ministry of Education to use $27.5 million in Proceeds of Disposition to cover budget shortfalls in the fiscal year 2024-2025.
FBEC also approved a motion by me and Trustee Aarts, that staff reconsider their decision to remove the senior’s discount from General Interest/Seniors’ Programs and make up the operational difference through fully implementing the 1:1 Device Repair Recovery Cost ($200K) and meet with the Friends of Learn4Life similar to the way staff are delaying the implementation of Permit changes as they meet with the Community Use of Schools Community Advisory Committee and come back to FBEC in October cycle to report back.
We were not able to get to the Business Arising Motion re: 2025 Federal, Provincial and Municipal Budget Consultations. Trustees MacLean and I moved it, on behalf of Trustee Ehrhardt. It will be discussed at Board.
Earlier during the Committee meeting, Trustee MacLean and I introduced the following as business arising following the matter, Education Capital Projects Status Update - that FBEC recommend that the Chair respond the letter from the Minister of Education received on June 13, 2024 with specific regard to addressing the inaccuracies contained within the letter.
What does all this mean? FBEC is recommending a balanced 2024-25 Operating Budget to the Board for approval. The Board will discuss the recommendation at its meeting on April 19. Please see the chart below.
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Advocacy Continues - Fully Fund School Boards
The Board continues to advocate to the Ministry of Education to fund items responsible for our Structural Deficit that are not within the control of the Board. These are worth repeating
Statutory Benefits
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP) has been gradually increasing from 4.95% in 2019 to 5.95% in 2023. In 2024, a second additional contribution rate was added.
- Employment Insurance (EI) has also been increasing over this period of time. There has not been a corresponding increase in funding.
- The total underfunding for these statutory benefits in 2024-25 will be $35.2 million.
Difference in Funding for Teachers' Salaries vs Actual Cost
- In 2014, the Province began Central Bargaining and came up with a central teacher grid. Funding for teachers is based on this grid.
- At that time, the TDSB grid was higher than the central grid leading to an unfunded amount per teacher
- The amount continues to increase annually as the centrally bargained percentages are applied. The amount that is unfunded in 2023-24 is $22.3 million.
Cost of Operating Under-Utilized Schools Due to Provincial Moratorium
- TDSB has more capacity than it has students that results in underutilized schools and the potential to consolidate schools to reduce operating cost,
- The issue is that the Provincial moratorium on school closures prevents TDSB from consolidating or closing schools,
- In addition, the Ministry eliminated the “top up” grant that recognized that it costs the same to operate an underutilized school as a fully utilized school and then prevented Boards from being able to fix this issue. The top up grant for TDSB was approximately $35 million in 2014-15 and enrolment has decreased since this time.
Replacement Costs for Sick Leave
- The Putting Students First Act changed the allocation of sick leave in 2012.
Since this change, School Boards’ Co-operative Inc. (SBCI) says that the Provincial average use of sick days has doubled from 8 to 16 days. - Each sick day costs the Board approximately $5.6 to $6.7 million in replacement costs.
Bill 124
- The underfunded amount of the retro payment is $33 million, of which $7 million relates to capital projects and Proceeds of Disposition (POD) will be requested.
- This will increase the 2023-24 operating deficit by $26 million and will use all of the Board’s internally restricted reserves.
- The impact moving forward is an annual budget pressure of $5.5 million.
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Committee and Board Meetings This Week
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 - Special Program and School Services Committee - 7:00pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda
NOTE: The purpose of the meeting is to continue unfinished business from the Program and School Services Committee on June 5, 2024 -The discussion will continue June 18th at a Special PSSC beginning at 7pm. The reason that oral delegations are not accepted at this point is that it is contrary to the rules of the Board. All delegates must speak at the beginning of a meeting. This is the rule because the community should be heard before the Trustees deliberate. That happened at the meeting on June 5 – anyone could have applied to speak then when the report was on the agenda – those that did were accepted. The meeting went too late so the committee recessed until the next time they could meet. The meeting did not end. This meeting is a continuation of the first meeting’s discussion. The community can't speak in the middle of Trustee deliberations which is what is being requested. There is nothing nefarious in this rule.
- 4.1 Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy Update, 2024
- 4.2 Caring and Safe Schools: Annual Report, 2022-2023
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 - Regular Board Meeting - 7:00pm - Public Session - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda- Matter Postponed From Previous Meeting
- 15.1 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 4 (Part B), May 15, 2024
- 5. Support for Newcomer Students and Families Including Refugee Claimants and Student Without Legal Immigration Status [referred without recommendation]
Committee Reports - 16.1 Governance and Policy Committee, Report No. 05, Wednesday May 29, 2024
- 1. Parent Involvement Advisory Committee: School Fundraising and System Priorities Fund
- 2. P029, Employment Equity Policy: Phase 5
- 3. School Choice and Student Interest Program Admission Policies and Practices
- 4. Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy, New Policy Phase 2: Status Update
- 5. P096, Student Use of Services Animals in Schools Policy Review: Phase 1
- 6. Review of Policy P100, Student Interest Programs [referred without recommendation]
- 7. Student Governance [referred without recommendation]
16.2 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (Special Meeting), Report No. 09, May 30, 2024 - 1. 2024-25 Projected Financial Position and Options to Balance
- 2. Business Arising: Outdoor Education Options to Balance
16.3 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 05 (Part A), June 5, 2024 - 1. The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, Year 2 Update, 2024
- 3. Amendments to the Special Education Plan 2024-2025 [referred without recommendation]
- 5. Review of the Current Financial Literacy Implementations Within the Curriculum [referred without recommendation]
16.4 Program and School Services Committee (Special Meeting), Report No.5 (Part B), June 18, 2024 - To follow
16.5 Audit Committee, Report No. 2, June 10, 2024 - 1. Annual Insurance Update
- 2. Internal Audit Department and Engagement Status Update: June 2024
- 3. Regional Internal Audit Team (RIAT) Engagement and Status Update
- 4, 2024 External Audit Services Plan and Public Sector Accounting Standards Update
- 5. School Generated Funds Analysis Engagement Report
- 6. Audit Committee O. Reg 361/10 Requirements, Work Tracker
16.6 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 5, June 11, 2024 - 1. Toronto Lands Corporation: Tri-Party Land Exchange With Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes
- 2. Accommodation of Students From Residential Developments at 413-431 Roehampton Avenue, 55 and 65 Broadway Avenue, 2161 Yonge Street, 73 and 75 Broadway Avenue and 117 and 127 Broadway Avenue
- 3. Attendance Boundary Changes for Avondale Public School, Bayview Middle School, and Hollywood Public School and Accommodation of Students From Residential Developments in the Avondale Public School Area .
- 4. Days of Significance Calendar: Update
- 5. Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation: Update
- 6. Strategic Workforce Engagement and Attendance Support
- 7. Leadership Regarding Artificial Intelligence and Education
- 8. Cricket Development
16.7 Director Search Committee, Report No. 1, June 12, 2024 [For receipt]
16.8 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Report No. 10, June 13, 2024 - 1. Community Use of Schools Community Advisory Committee: Permit Fees, Community Use of Schools Grant and Current Fee Revenues Correlation
- 2. Contract Awards, Facilities
- 3. Contract Awards, Operations
- 4. Borrowing Facilities
- 5. Melody Junior Public School: Community Planning and Partnership Lease Agreement With Kerry's Place Autism Services
- 6. Construction Tender Award: Addition and Renovation at McKee Public School
- 7. 2024-2025 Budget Estimates
- 8. Business Arising: 2025 Federal, Provincial and Municipal Budget Consultation [referred without recommendation]
- 9. Contract Awards, Summer Approval Process
- 10. Capital Projects Status Update
- 11. Business Arising: Letter to the Minister of Education
- 17 Written Notices of Motion
17.1 Establishment of a Bylaws Review Special Committee (Trustees Aarts and Laskin)
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Reporting Hate
In Our Schools
If you are a staff or a student or a parent/caregiver, and you are a victim of/or witnessing an incident of racism, bias, or hate in our schools, please report it to the school's principal, who has a duty to investigate all incidents. Each time an incident takes place in a school, it is to be recorded in a portal which then begins a system response. We have a responsibility to educate against hate. For more information, please visit the webpage for Reporting an Incident of Hate or Discrimination Involving or Impacting Students. If you experience it, or witness it, report it. Please.
Complaints regarding social media postings should be sent directly to the TDSB's Human Rights Office at humanrightsoffice@tdsb.on.ca. The intake process is being centralized in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.
In Our Communities
Report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. We will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviour aimed at specific communities. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.
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Construction of City's Davisville Aquatic & Community Recreation Centre - Virtual Meeting June 18 at 6:30
We are all excited about the start of construction of the eagerly anticipated Aquatic Centre on the site of the Davisville school. As part of the first steps on the construction of this project, we would like to invite you to attend a virtual meeting where staff form the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division will provide information on how the students, staff and community will be safe on site during the construction of the new facility.
DATE: June 18, 2024
TIME: 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Online meeting via MS Teams REGISTER ONLINE HERE.
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TD Summer Reading Club
The TD Summer Reading Club helps families to support engagement with reading initiatives with the Toronto Public Library. This is Canada’s biggest bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests and abilities. This free and accessible Club celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories, and inspires kids to explore the fun of reading their way. The program will launch on June 10. After this date, children of all ages can sign up for the club online or in-person at a TPL branch and get a reading kit. Please see additional information: https://www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca/
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Backpack and School Supplies Drive
This year’s Backpacks & School Supplies Drive will run from March 1, 2024 to the end of September 2024. 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. For more information about how to donate new items, please contact the Business Development department at BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca.
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PrideTDSB
June is Pride Month at the TDSB! It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. TDSB school communities are encouraged to hold intentional sessions with their students about issues related to 2SLGBTQ+ communities as well as the impact of homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia on TDSB students, staff, and community members. Join the conversation by using #PrideTDSB.
Join US at the 2024 Pride Parade!
We are thrilled to invite students, staff and their families and friends to join the loud and proud TDSB contingent as the Toronto PRIDE parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Pride Toronto is encouraging marchers this year- bikes, scooters, rollerblades or any of other energy efficient mode of transportation- are welcome! We're asking all walking TDSB participants to gather between 1:00 to 1:15pm at Asquith Green Park (west side of Church St.,1 block north of Bloor) For details, please click here.
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Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy Pre-Consultation
We are currently developing a Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy and your input is important to us. We want to hear from parents/guardians/caregivers, students, and community partners.
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Phased-in Start for Student Transportation
Please be advised that the Toronto Student Transportation Group will once again be implementing a phased-in start for the 2024-25 school year. Starting Tuesday, September 3, transportation will begin for students with special education needs (excluding those in the gifted program) who travel to school on minibuses, minivans, taxis and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Bussing for all other eligible students will begin on Monday, September 9, pending driver availability.
Student Transportation Parent Portal
Parents/guardians/caregivers with children who take the bus to school are encouraged to sign up for the Student Transportation Parent Portal to access important information and updates. Note: You must register for the portal with the email address on file at your child’s school. Contact support@torontoschoolbus.org for any issues with the registration process.
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2024 Summer Well-Being Guide
You will find resources, community connections, events and ideas for parents/caregivers/guardians to promote mental and physical wellness during the summer months. The resources in this Guide are culturally responsive with many resources for students with disabilities/special education needs.
The Guide has been translated into the top 23 TDSB languages spoken and is accessible.
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Secondary Alternative School Review
There are 21 Secondary Alternative Schools across the city. These schools are designed to be small and offer unique and innovative approaches to learning. Currently, nearly 1,100 secondary students are enrolled in these programs. To support this review, we will be launching a survey that seeks to gather feedback on TDSB's Secondary Alternative School programs. Participation in this survey is entirely voluntary and anonymous, ensuring that respondents can provide honest feedback without any privacy concerns.
The data collected from this survey will be important in informing the Secondary Alternative Schools Program Review, helping us understand the strengths and areas for improvement within our alternative education offerings.
Please find the survey link here.
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Mental Health Resources to Support Students and Families
Summer Programs
TDSB summer programs are now open for registration!
Grade 8 Summer Reach Ahead Opportunity
Current Grade 8 students are eligible to register for the e-Summer Full Credit Summer Reach Ahead course (GLD2OE). Successful completion of this course counts towards the Ministry of Education’s mandatory e-Learning credit requirement. Registration for the Reach Ahead course has begun! Learn More.
e-Summer School Registration (Grade 10-12 Credit Courses)
A reminder that registration for July and August e-Summer School courses has now begun! View the list of course offerings online. To register, students should connect with their home school Guidance Counsellors. Learn More.
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Need for Aquatic Instructors
In order to operate swim programs in our schools with pools, we need two on-site aquatic instructors. Sadly, the TDSB has had a shortage of aquatic instructors since schools reopened from COVID. If you know of any aquatic instructors, please, have them complete the application - the board has been advertising and I have been advertising on Twitter since the end of last year. Here’s the link directly to the posting for applicants to apply. https://tdsb.sabacloud.com/Saba/Web_spf/CA1PRD0033/jobs-Support/career/jobdetail/jobrq000000000002580. Thanks!
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Please Keep Safe... and Keep Others Safe
Layers of protection work to help reduce virus spread. For example:
😷wear a well-fitted mask
🧼wash hands often
🏠stay home if sick
💨choose well ventilated spaces
🛡️stay up-to-date with your vaccines
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2023-2024 Calendar 2024-2025 Calendar
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Dogs Are Not Allowed On School Property - How to Report
Please contact 311 if you see dogs in school grounds so they can log the concerns and please also call TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620. Tracking the concerns will allow us to build the case for increased surveillance.
At our recent Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, the staff report confirmed the following -
Dogs on school properties have been an ongoing challenge for many years despite the “no dogs permitted” signage. There have been examples of dog owners taking their dogs off leash or even leaving their dogs unattended in a school yard, or within the kindergarten or childcare enclosures. There have been incidents of off-leash dogs chasing as well as biting students, members of the public and staff. Dog feces and disposal bags are frequently left on the school grounds impacting the student use and enjoyment of outdoor activities.
Signage is posted near the entrances, such as gates or openings in the school ground fencing (refer to Appendix A for a copy of the signage) that clearly indicates TDSB school grounds are private property and dogs are not permitted on school board property. Section 6.10 in PR523, Access to School Premises prohibits canines on TDSB properties at any time (except service animals).
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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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