World Health Organization names the new coronavirus: Covid-19 - The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease.

Letter February 10, 2020
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/0/docs/Medical%20Officer%20of%20Health%20Letter%20-%20February%2010%2C%202020.pdf

On behalf of the Toronto District School Board, I am writing you to express our deep concerns with how your government is publicly communicating information about the coronavirus, in particular, the lack of translation.

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in North America, made up of a large number of people and communities that represent various cultures, backgrounds, religions and languages. Here, at the TDSB, nearly one-quarter of our students were born outside of Canada and, collectively, our school communities are home to more than 120 languages.

The containment of the coronavirus continues to be a high priority for health officials and the public; however, your public communications about the virus – including your website, letters and other informational materials – have only been issued in English. This is a major concern when Toronto, and all of Ontario, is so linguistically diverse. It is important that our communities receive clear information about the virus and containment strategies, and we believe it is your government’s responsibility to consider the diverse languages that make up our communities, city and province.

In saying that, we ask that you translate all public communications and information – including your website – about the coronavirus into multiple languages that represent the people and communities of Ontario.

We look forward to your response and action on this matter.

For the latest updates, click https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Labour-Negotiations

School boards and unions share a commitment to public education and work together towards positive labour relations. The collective bargaining framework for the education sector features a two-tier bargaining process, involving both central and local bargaining. Learn more about the process.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) announced that both unions will be participating in a one-day walkout (full strike) on Friday, Friday 21, 2020.

Child care centres located in elementary schools will be permitted to stay open. Please contact the child care provider directly for more information. TDSB Extended Day Programs will also be open to currently enrolled students for a full day of programs. EarlyON Child and Family Centres will operate during their regular hours. 

Should the strike continue as planned, all International Languages Elementary and African Heritage classes would be cancelled on strike days only. However, all adult non-credit programs, such as Adult ESL and Learn4Life, will continue to run.

In addition to all TDSB secondary schools, Adult High Schools and Night Schools offering secondary credits will also be closed to students. Secondary e-Learning classes and any out-of-school activities (e.g. field trips, sports, etc.) will be cancelled.

ETFO Previous Updates

Below is the latest information available with regards to activities and events happening in our schools. According to the TDSB’s Labour Contingency Committee, these decisions were based on a number of factors, but first and foremost was the ability of our school administrators to take part and/or organize. Amid the ongoing job actions, school administrators are taking on a number of additional duties at the same time they are doing all the things they would normally be doing to manage day-to-day school operations and engagement with students and parents. This information has been shared with PIAC and school councils. I am sharing the decisions of the Labour Contingency Committee below -

Before and After School Activities (Elementary) Ward Forums and School Council meetings will continue. If they involve outside speakers or presentations, they also can continue. If they occur on a strike day, they would be postponed or relocated. Other activities, including those organized by school councils, are being postponed or cancelled.

Before and After School Activities (Secondary) Given the current OSSTF labour sanctions, secondary teachers are permitted to continue their involvement in extracurricular activities. Therefore, when before and after school activities have the participation of teachers and the support of principals, those activities (i.e. Semi Formals, Parent Teacher Interviews, athletics, musical events and competitions) may continue.

During School Day Activities (Elementary School) The TDSB’s Labour Contingency Committee is currently reviewing the range and scope of activities that take place during the school day and anticipate making a decision on how these may continue by the end of the week.

For the complete agenda, click https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes

5. Opportunity for Oral Updates From Co-Chairs of Community Advisory Committees

6. Options for Reducing the Distribution of Single-use Plastic Items - The following report will outline the types and quantities of single-use plastic items distributed by the TDSB and propose the most viable options for reducing their distribution. 

7. Caring and Safe Schools Annual Report 2018 - 2019 - Over the past three years in the Toronto District School Board, significant attention has been placed on challenging streaming through a number of key areas including early years, special education, academic programming and disciplinary processes in suspensions and expulsions. We have seen substantial positive change through our improved understanding of systemic racism, resolving conflict through more cooperative ways and removing barriers for students. Specifically, there has been an overall decrease in student discipline measures as well as a narrowing of the gap of the overrepresentation of certain groups of students who are suspended and expelled. The foundation of this work is through a commitment to professional learning and supporting staff to examine bias, power and privilege as they relate to the student discipline process and encouraging the application of human rights, anti-racism and anti-oppression principles. 

8. Written Notices of Motion

8.1 September as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month (Trustees Story and Chernos Lin) - Therefore, be it resolved that the Toronto District School Board annually recognize September as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month and September 9 as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day.