Happy Mother's Day
To all mothers with their own children and to all who mother others' children (like most teachers, education workers and administrators!) Happy Mother's Day!
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TDSB Director John Malloy to Retire
Sincere congratulations to John Malloy, Director for the past 5 years at the TDSB who announced his retirement last week - John will be leaving the Board in November. The Board of Trustees will now begin a comprehensive search process for a new Director of Education.
"John has been an exceptional, caring and effective leader. When he came to this Board, we were in a very different position than we are today and after many years of turmoil we were ready for a fresh start, one that John provided. Thanks to John’s leadership, tireless work, dedication, and willingness to have hard discussions — and help us as a board to make hard decisions — the TDSB is now seen as a model of excellence in equity and instruction in North America. John led the way for that success. John will be deeply missed and I know my trustee colleagues and all staff sincerely wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement from the TDSB.” - Robin Pilkey, Chair, TDSB
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Wash.Distance.Save Lives.Please wash your hands. Keep physical distance.
Stay healthy.
Save lives.
We are all in this together.
"The power to change the story is entirely in our hands. So thank you, thank you to the residents of our city, thank you to business owners, thank you all for doing this, but we can still do better, we must do better, and we need your help to get there." Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health
Other Important Links:
Together, let’s demonstrate our appreciation and let the helpers know how much we value their service and commitment. #Helpers
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Coping with Learning from Home
It is essential that we prioritize Mental Health and Well-Being during Covid-19. Staff have recently added under the General Mental Health and Well-Being Resources Coping with Learning from Home.
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Special TPH Meeting Approves Motions for Response and Recovery Planning
Thank you to Toronto Public Health for working with school boards - "public health knowledge and expertise must inform each and every step of our recovery process."
Media Release by Councillor Joe Cressy, Chair, Board of Health - May 7, 2020
The Toronto Board of Health assembled for a special virtual meeting today, to address the City of Toronto's response to the COVI0-19 pandemic and transition towards recovery planning...
In addition to short presentations by Dr. de Villa and City staff, the Board considered a number of motions to address both the continued response work required, as well as preparations for recovery and eventual restart. Living with the reality of COVID-19 and the threat of potential future outbreaks, the Board considers all recovery measures through a public health lens.
A number of approved motions focus on the City's actions for recovery planning. As part of the recovery approach, it is requested that the Medical Officer of Health focus on the following issues:
- Increase public space for physical distancing and improvements to road safety
- Explore permanent housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness, including supportive housing
- Guidelines for safe operation of farmer's markets and community food markets
- Expand case and contact tracing
- Work with impacted communities and stakeholders, including Indigenous and Black communities, the non-profit sector, and Toronto's four school boards
The Board of Health will continue to promote active engagement with the Provincial and Federal levels of government, regarding ongoing work on urgent housing and homelessness challenges, testing capacity, and supply of Personal Protective Equipment for front-line workers.
Recovery will not happen overnight... Any measures to reopen the city must be balanced by public health data and evidence...
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Friday Night Memo from the DM and Minister of Education
On Friday, May 8 the Chair shared a memo she received from Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education and Nancy Naylor, Deputy Minister at 5:35p.m.The memo went to Directors and Chairs - it was titled Updates on Continuity of Learning for the Extended School Closure Period. The memo was copied to Trustee organizations and Union leadership.
In the Memo, was the following statement “... parents expect their child’s educators to strive toward as normal a learning environment as possible during this period”.
I responded on Twitter that there is nothing normal about this... it is emergency remote learning during a pandemic.
We are currently engaged in a ThoughtExchange process with parents. Prior to receiving this memo, our Director spoke to working through expectations for our educators and think about more face to face type opportunities but at the same time, realizing it is a complicated topic, not every grade level is as appropriate as others and it does not work for all families and many teachers find themselves with children at home as well. And of course, there are overall concerns about equity of opportunity and access. The Director has been working with our teacher unions to figure out next steps. And on Tuesday, we have the opportunity to discuss - both in our Emergency Meeting and Special Board where an Emergency Motion re Remote Learning and the importance of connection for students will be moved. (see below). Please join the meetings to listen to our discussions - a summary of which will be provided next week.
Please also note there was nothing in the memo about back to school timing. May 31 is still the date we have, although the Minister said later in the weekend that a decision will be made next week. Please know staff are working around the “what ifs”. School buildings and buses are not built for social distancing so what are the options? Contingency tables are looking at what different hybrid models would look like when the schools re-open with health and safety of students, families and staff at the forefront of conversations. We will keep listening, planning and communicating what we do know.
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Delegation Process - Addressing a CommitteeDelegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the Toronto District School Board; however, oral delegations to address a committee of the Board will be presented by phone. To submit a delegation request (written or oral), please refer to the information here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations and email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email.
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Upcoming Committee Meetings
The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Due to the closure of all schools and administration sites at the Toronto District School Board, all standing committee and regular board meetings will be held virtually and broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings
May 12 (Tuesday) Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting) (Electronic Meeting) 4:30 p.m. Agenda. The purpose of this meeting is to provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Board on the continued implementation of services during school closures, creating a successful path to the post-COVID reopening of schools and other potential learnings from the pandemic period.
- 4. Report From the Director of Education (Oral Update)
- 5. Report From the Chair of the Board (Oral Update)
- 6. Report From Representative on the City's Board of Health (Oral Update)
- 7. Report From the Directors on Ontario Public School Boards' Association (Oral Update)
- 8. Report From the Chairs of the Governance and Policy Committee, the Program and School Services Committee, the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (Oral Update)
- 9. Report From Representatives on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee (Oral Update)
- 10. Reports From Student Trustees (Oral Update)
- 11. Emergency Motions (to be presented)
- 12. Other Questions, Insights and Advice From Trustees to Staff (to be presented)
May 12 (Tuesday) Special Meeting (Electronic Meeting) 6:30 p.m.
- 8. Transition Funding Supports - Therefore, be it resolved: (a) The Chair send a letter to the Minister of Education requesting that recovery funding be provided to school boards through the Grants for Student Needs to ensure students’ successful return to the classroom as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including funding for:
i. mental health and well-being supports, including staffing and resources for intensive social work and psychological supports;
ii. additional staffing and resources to address gaps in literacy and numeracy, as well as build educator capacity in digital learning;
iii. transitional staffing resources including additional special education funding;
iv. transitional staffing resources for children with special needs, many of whom will have been without therapy or respite care for an extended period;
v. additional student success teachers to aid students in the transition from elementary to secondary schools;
vi. addressing the substantial information technology gaps in the system, including replacing budgets that boards used to purchase IT and Internet service during the course of this pandemic; provide ongoing support to continue supports for IT and Internet; and begin
funding IT devices for students at a 1:1 ratio without requiring boards to reallocate funds to purchase IT;
(b) That the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association be encouraged to advocate for the six points at Part (a) above;
(c) That the member boards of OPSBA be copied on the letter from the Chair - 9. Remote Learning: Importance of Connecting With Students - Therefore, be it resolved that the Director: (i) facilitate discussions with all employee groups and seek feedback from parents and students to determine best practices for ensuring meaningful, consistent, interactive remote engagement and learning between educators and students, among students, and between parents/caregivers and teachers; (ii) provide necessary supports for educators to help implement any changes going forward, if required; (iii) present a report to the Board at the earliest opportunity, on next steps with regard to the initiatives at parts (i) and (ii) above.
May 13 (Wednesday) Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee 4:30 p.m
- 5. Contract Awards
- 5.1 Contract Awards, Facilities
- 5.2 Contract Awards, Operations
- 5.3 Student Information System Project Plan and Selection Process - It is recommended that the contract award to PowerSchool LLC for the provision of a new Student Information System (SIS) be approved.
- 6. Budget Matters
- 6.1 Update on Budget Timelines for the 2020-21 School Year - The Grant for Student Needs (GSN) is the primary source of funding for school boards. At this time the TDSB has not received any information on the release date of the GSN and the associate technical documents. Therefore staff have revised the budget timelines to allow for a later release of the GSNs. In order to not have to keep revising the schedule on a weekly basis, staff have taken the approach of revising the schedule every two weeks until more information is provided by the Ministry
- 6.2 Update of Financial Forecast for 2019-20 and Impacts of COVID-19 - This report provides an update to trustees on the financial impacts of COVID-19 on TDSB’s budget. In particular, the report outlines the impact of the extension of the announced closure to May 31st and provide forecasts should the shutdown extend to the balance of the school year. This report also provides initial information about new details and considerations being reviewed by staff for developing the 2020-21 budget as a result of COVID-19.
Although the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) have not yet been released, staff
continue to work on developing the 2020-21 budget using known and anticipated
information, including the consideration of pressures related to COVID-19. Some of the
items staff are considering are:
Impact of collective agreements
Transitional supports for students and staff when school re-opens to ensure student achievement and well-being of both staff and students
Operational requirements post COVID 19 such as caretaking, student supervision, and transportation
- 6.3 Transportation Update on Changes to Bell Times in 2020-21 - When the Board passed its 2019-20 operating budget, it included a two year implementation plan to balance the Board’s budget. The plan included budget changes for 2019-20, as well as planned reductions for the 2020-21 school year. Phase Two of planned changes for the 2020-2021 budget year included adjusting bell times to improve route efficiency, thus saving the Board $2.5M annually. This report provides an update on how schools, parents/guardians and staff were notified, provides some feedback and adjustments since first proposed and outlines the final plan for implementation
- 6.4 Update on Davisville Junior Public School/Spectrum Alternative Senior School Geotechnical Investigation - The purpose of this report is to provide the Board with additional information regarding the significant additional construction cost claim for below grade site preparation, excavation and material removal work - part of the Davisville Junior Public School and Spectrum Alternative Senior School replacement project and considered as an “Extraordinary Cost Item” for the Ministry of Education (EDU).
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Student Trustees ElectionStudent Trustees represent the voice of approximately 247,000 students in the TDSB. They are elected members of the Board and sit alongside the adult Trustees at board and committee meetings and act as a link to students, the Board and school communities. Student Trustees are members of the Student Senate and work closely with Student Senate Executives and school communities to empower and promote student voice and engagement across the district.
Interested students, in Grade 10 or 11, are asked to apply online by Thursday, May 14, 2020. Official candidates will be asked to prepare a short campaign video, which will be posted online to promote their candidacy and help students make an informed decision when voting. Voting will take place online on Thursday, June 11, 2020. For details, click here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/TDSB-Student-Senate/Student-Trustees-Election
Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19, Student Senate Elections will be held separately in the Fall.
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While warmer weather won’t slow the spread of COVID-19, closing schools will, suggests research led by St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada – WEBWIRE – Friday, May 8, 2020 - Dr. Peter Jüni
Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health have found that hot weather doesn’t help in the fight against COVID-19 -- but that closing schools does... The authors studied 144 geopolitical areas around the world with more than 375,000 COVID-19 cases by March 27. They published their results in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) May 8 – the first peer-reviewed global study outside of China to show that climate is unlikely to play a role in transmission.
The bad news: the researchers found no evidence that countries experiencing warm weather in March had any advantage over colder climates. The good news: public health interventions, specifically restrictions of mass gatherings, school closures and other social distancing measures, proved highly effective.
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Startling disparities in digital learning emerge as COVID-19 spreads: UN education agency
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021
Pending Ministry Approval
The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive.
First day of classes for all students is September 8, 2020 (please note there is no school for students on September 4)
- The last day of class for elementary students is June 29, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (full year) students is June 25, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (semestered) students is June 28, 2021
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