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Week of August 22, 2016 - First Update 2016-2017 School Year
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First Update of the School Year!
Although classes don’t start until after Labour Day, with committee and board meetings this week, I thought I’d begin my regular weekly e-updates. I hope you and your families are having a greatsummer.
If you are receiving this update, you were either on my my distribution list at the end of last school year or signed up to receive electronic messages from Ward 11 through the board website. I understand that situations change and should you no longer wish to receive them, please click on the link at the bottom to “Opt Out”.
I am always looking to learn more about local school successes, issues and priorities. If you have something to share or wish to speak with me, please do not hesitate to e-mail Shelley.Laskin@tdsb.on.ca or call and leave a message at 416 395-TRUS (8787).
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Who's Your Superintendent?
As mentioned previously, Superintendent Sandra Tondat has been assigned to a different Learning Centre and Ian Allison, Kathleen Garner and Leila Girdhar-Hill are our new Superintendents of Education with the following Ward 11 schools -
Superintendent Ian Allison - Brown Junior Public School, Cottingham Junior Public School, Davisville Junior Public School, Deer Park Junior and Senior Public School, Eglinton Junior Public School, Hodgson Senior Public School, Maurice Cody Junior Public School, North Toronto Collegiate Institute, Northern Secondary School, Oriole Park Junior Public School and Spectrum Alternative Senior School
Superintendent Kathleen Garner - Hillcrest Community School, Humewood Community School, J R Wilcox Community School, McMurrich Junior Public School and Winona Drive Senior Public School Superintendent Leila Girdhar-Hill - Cedarvale Community School, Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, Forest Hill Junior and Senior Public School and West Preparatory Junior Public School
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Chris Moise, Avtar Minhas and Alexandra Lulka Elected TDSB Trustees; Neethan Shen on Leave Chris Moise was electedTrustee for Ward 14 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) in a by-election on June 20 and as a result of two by-elections held on July 25, Avtar Minhas has been elected as TDSB Trustee for Ward 1 (Etobicoke North), while Alexandra Lulka has been elected as TDSB Trustee for Ward 5 (York Centre). The by-election results can be found at www.toronto.ca/elections/. Congratulations to former Trustee Ward 1, Michael Ford, who was elected as Councillor in the same by-election. And at a Special Board Meeting earlier this month, Trustee Neethan Shen, Ward 21 (Scarborough-Rouge River) requested an unpaid leave to run in the provincial by-election on September 1, 2016 and the Board approved.
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Labour Updates (from the TDSB website) - The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) - August 18, 2016
In response to media requests for a status update on contract negotiations between the TDSB and the Toronto chapter of the OSSTF, the Board issued the following statement: We are optimistic about negotiations with OSSTF. Bargaining sessions are set for the last week in August and we are hopeful that a fair and reasonable agreement can be reached. In the event that negotiations continue into the school year, our hope is that OSSTF keeps to their word that any job action will not affect such things as extracurricular activities. In terms of the issues, if both parties are to be successful in negotiations, we are best to keep our discussions about outstanding issues at the bargaining table and not bargain through the media. We believe we can overcome our differences. As soon as we have more information, we will update the media, parents and students about what to expect in September.
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Meetings this Week
Budget & Enrolment Committee - Monday, August 22, 4:30pm - Items of Interest- School Excursion Website Fees - Business Services, with the assistance of Communications and Legal Services, is launching an internal School Activities Directory using a SharePoint website to assist teachers and principals with the selection of excursion vendors. Once the vendor review is completed, their information and applicable forms are added to the SharePoint website where teachers can access this information to plan their excursions. When a new excursion activity is identified, the Educational MeritReview Committee will meet to determine if the activity has educational relevance to students. We estimate that at fullimplementation there will be approximately 250 to 400 vendors onthe site, available to schools.This website will be available to schools in the fall of 2016. During the first year, feedback will be sought from schools and teachers to ensure that the site is meeting their needs. In addition,data on excursion vendors used by schools will be reviewed. The benefits of this new website are as follows:
- Provides teachers with a listing of pre-qualified vendors for excursions and thereby reducing much of the administrative work and processing delays associated with planning process. Previously, teachers had to contact the vendor to obtain information and then submit them to the Legal, Business Services and Risk Management departments for review.
- Increase efficiencies by only having to vet a vendor once and establishing standard forms and contracts to be used by schools.
- Vendors are pre-screened based on various requirements, including current relevant police reference checks, insurance, safety standards and emergency plans.
- Provides a method of tracking excursion vendor usage for central analysis by Teaching and Learning and Business Services departments.
- Improved payment processing and claiming of tax rebates.
- Research and Analysis Conducted by the Ad Hoc Workgroup on Enrolment - On 12 May 2016, the Budget and Enrolment Committee requested the research and analysis that was conducted by the Ad Hoc Workgroup on Enrolment. The Ad Hoc Workgroup on Enrolment was established by the Board in 2014. Over the course of 2014 and 2015 the Workgroup looked at a significant amount of data on enrolment trends. A presentation was created to summarize the findings. The presentation included a collection of maps to provide geographic context and a review of the literature on school choice determinants and declining enrolment issues and strategies.The purpose of this report is to provide the research and analysis to the Budget and Enrolment Committee.
- Appendix A contains the presentation prepared for the Ad Hoc Workgroup. Some of the data in the presentation has been updated with the most recent figures from the 2015-16 school year.
- Appendix B contains the collection of maps that show geographic relationships and trends.
- Appendix C contains the literature review on school choice determinants and declining enrolment issues and strategies prepared by Research and Information Services.
- Appendix D contains the marketing and communications strategy.
Regular Board Meeting - Wednesday, August 24, 7:00pm Public Session - Items of Interest
- Finance and Accountability Committee - Davisville Junior Public School/Spectrum Alternative Senior School Replacement School: Architect Selection -
On motion of Trustee Laskin, the Finance and Accountability Committee approved the follow-ing, in accordance with the Board’s Policy P017, Purchasing (a)That Snyder Architects be retained to provide consulting services for the replacement of Davisville Junior Public School/Spectrum Alternative Senior School; (b)That the Toronto Lands Corporation be authorized to take the lead role, with support from Facilities Services, to negotiate an agreement with the City of Toronto for a parks, forestry and recreation community hub on the Davisville Junior Public School site; and (c) That the Toronto Lands Corporation provide a progress report no later than December 2016. -
Audit Committee - Declaration of Surplus Property: Thistletown (925 Albion Road) - It is recommended that Thistletown (925 Albion Road) be declared surplus to the needs of the Toronto District School Board and transferred to the Toronto Lands Corporation in order to initiate the process for disposition, with the goal of retaining community services currently operating on this site. Thistletown was officially closed as an operating school in 1985 and has been an active City-run community centre for the past 31 years. The Board approved TDSB staff to continue discussions with the City of Toronto to confirm the City’s interest in acquiring the Thistletown site, and to report back to the Board in fall 2016 before taking further action with respect to disposition. On 12 July 2016, City Council approved the direction for the Thistletown site:http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2016.EX16.21
- Notices of Motion - February as Chinese Heritage Month and Invitation to Minister of Education
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| Hold the Date -
Public Open House Concerning New School, Child Care and Midtown Hub at Davisville Junior Public School/Spectrum Alternative Sr School Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 7-9 p.m. at Hodgson Sr PS
Parents and residents of the Davisville/Spectrum community are encouraged to attend a public open house to receive information about the status of the project and provide community feedback on site planning parameters for the design of a new school, child care and midtown hub. Watch for the notice shortly!
Worth Repeating...
Ward 11 Forum Representatives Needed
At our first ward forum in the fall we will need to elect new Ward representatives to both the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (Information on PIAC is available by clicking here) and the French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (information on FSLAC here).
it is important that our Ward is represented at the table. If you are an interested parent who would like to interact directly with trustees and senior staff at the Board level to provide us with your best advice, please contact me for more information.
Lastly... Back to School Links of Interest
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