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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 -- HOLD THE DATE - Ward 8 Virtual Forum: School Building in Toronto: Where Are We Now? Tuesday May 7, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
- TDSB Trustees Appeal to Provincial Government to Address Underfundin
- Committee Meeting This Wee
- Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy
- Monday, April 22 is Earth Day!
- Armenian Genocide
- Reporting Hate - In Our Schools and In Our Communities
- New Invitations - Jewish Heritage Month - May 2024 - The Mouse who Danced The Hora; tdsbCREATES Events April 24 and May 23; Panfest Vybz: A Celebration of Music, Arts, & Community - May 9, 2024; Applications for Ontario's Page Program; Backpack and School Supplies Drive
- Worth Repeating - Summer Programs; April is Latin-America History Month and Sikh Heritage Month; Create a Meaningful Connection with Your Child in a Hyper-Connected World; 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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Ridván greetings to those of the Baha'i faith who are celebrating this important 12-day festival celebrating the beginnings of the Faith.Chag Sameach to our families celebrated Passover this week beginning with the first Seder Monday night and lasting 8 days.
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HOLD THE DATE - Ward 8 Virtual Forum:School Building in Toronto: Where Are We Now?
Tuesday May 7, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
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TDSB Trustees Appeal to Provincial Government to Address Underfunding
Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Chair, Rachel Chernos Lin, was joined by fellow Trustees today in calling on the Ministry of Education to address significant funding challenges being experienced by Canada’s largest school board.
Over recent years, the TDSB has approved a number of operational cuts to programs and services to reduce its deficit. However, these adjustments have not been sufficient to eliminate the deficit in its entirety (as outlined in a recent letter to the Minister of Education). Despite these reductions and operational efficiencies, the Board continues to grapple with a significant structural deficit created, in part, by the following factors:
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI):
The statutory benefits (CPP and EI) rates have increased over the last six years without a corresponding increase in funding. CPP has been gradually increasing from 4.95% in 2019 to 5.95% in 2023. In 2024, a second additional contribution rate was added. Similarly, EI has also been increasing over this time. Taken together, the total underfunding for these two statutory benefits in 2024-2025 will be $35.2 million. This funding shortfall amounts to more than the TDSB’s current deficit.
Salary Gapping:
There remains a significant gap in funding for teacher salaries. In 2014, the province began Central Bargaining with teacher unions and came up with a central teacher grid to fund salaries. The funding that the Province provides to the TDSB in grants to pay for teachers is based on this grid. At the time this was negotiated by the Province, the TDSB grid was higher than the central grid. The difference between what TDSB teachers make and what the Ministry funds continues to increase annually. In 2023-2024, the unfunded amount was $22.3 million. This funding shortfall is just slightly less than the TDSB’s current deficit.
Moratorium:
The provincial moratorium on school closures, in place since 2017, takes away the TDSB’s ability to consolidate underutilized schools to reduce operating costs. The Ministry eliminated the “top up” grant that recognized the costs that are incurred by operating underutilized schools and yet prevents school boards from being able to fix this issue and provide students with the breadth of programming that they deserve. The “top-up” grant for the TDSB was approximately $35 million in 2014-15. If this grant were reinstated, the TDSB would not have a deficit. If the moratorium were lifted, or the TDSB were allowed exemptions on a case-by-case basis, as mentioned in our letter dated April 15, 2024, the TDSB would be in a different financial position and be able to proceed with modernizing schools for 21st-century learning through consolidation.
COVID-19 Expenditures:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the TDSB incurred substantial expenses to ensure the safety of students and staff. The Government of Ontario and Toronto Public Health provided safety directions that were critical to maintaining the confidence of everyone we served during the health emergency. In following these directions, the TDSB incurred approximately $70.1 million in pandemic-related costs not covered by the Ministry of Education. If the TDSB had been reimbursed for these emergency costs, the TDSB would at least have reserves to support the current deficit.
To gain feedback from their communities, Trustees are also launching three Budget Town Hall Meetings (east, west, central) beginning next week.
Quick Facts- The TDSB currently faces a projected $26.5 million deficit for 2024–25.
- The Ministry has provided the TDSB with approximately $130 million in additional funding since 2019, with most of the funding accounting for salary increases. The increase in per-pupil funding is approximately 8.5%. However, once inflation is accounted for (over the same period was 13.8%), there has in fact been a reduction in per-pupil funding.
- Since 2019, the TDSB has approved $64.7 million in reductions. This does not include $17 million in reductions committed to in the 2024–2025 budget.
The TDSB requires a ‘New Deal’ that acknowledges the unique challenges of Canada’s largest school board. The Ministry of Education must fund our school board to cover the true operating costs in the City of Toronto and the unique populations we serve. We cannot continue to operate under outdated funding models that fail to address our students’ current and future needs adequately.”
- Rachel Chernos Lin, Chair, Toronto District School Board
Budget Town Halls
We want to hear from you...
- Friday, April 25 - 6:30-8:30pm
West End Budget Town Hall (In Person)
Library, Weston Collegiate Institute
100 Pine St
- Monday, April 29 - 6:30-8:30 pm
East End Budget Town Hall (in-person)
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute
145 Guildwood Parkway
- Tuesday, April 30 at 4:00-6:00pm
Budget Town Hall (Hybrid)
Boardroom, 5050 Yonge Street
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Committee Meeting This Week
Wednesday, April 24 - Governance and Policy Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda
- 5.1 Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy Phase 2 Work Plan
- 5.2 P034 Workplace Harassment Prevention for Non-Human-Rights-Code Harassment Policy Annual Review
- 5.3 Special Education Identification Placement and Appeal Delegation of Authority
- 6.1 PR743 Employee Interim Measures Pending Investigation New Procedure
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Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy
At this week's GPC, the Policy Development Work Plan for the proposed Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy is on the GPC Agenda on Wednesday. The Trustees’ resolution directs staff to amend the 2023-2024 Policy Review Schedule to accommodate the development of a new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy. In accordance with the policy development process, an interdepartmental working group was established and the draft Policy Development Work was developed, along with a critical path outlining timelines.
During the pre-consultation phase, staff will be engaging multiple participants and stakeholders, including the Board’s Community Advisory Committees, parents/guardians/caregivers, students, Student Senate, school councils, Student Equity Collective, Toronto Indigenous Collective, unions and professional associations, and reference groups. Pre-consultations are expected to be conducted for approximately 65 calendar days, through various consultation methods, and will allow staff to gather input to inform Policy content.
As part of the policy development, staff will also consider legislative requirements, government policy directives, and the Board’s operational requirements. The proposed policy content will be supported and informed through a jurisdictional scan of comparable policies, procedures, and best practices in school boards across Canada and internationally.
Upon completion of the pre-consultation phase, staff will prepare a draft Policy and will conduct regular consultations on the draft Policy for approximately 60 calendar days.
Public consultations are expected to be conducted between September and November 2024. It is expected that the draft Policy will be presented to the Governance and Policy Committee in February 2025 and to the Board of Trustees by the end of February 2025 for final approval.
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Monday, April 22 is Earth Day!
Celebrate Earth Day by spending 20-minutes cleaning up your schoolyard or a neighbourhood park. This can be on any day, not just on the 22nd.
School cleanups should have approval from your school principal.
Talk to your caretaker about getting bags and gloves.
The City no longer provides free cleanup supply kits to schools.
Safety tips and waste sorting guides will be provided to all registered schools.
All participating schools will receive a certificate of participation from the City of Toronto.
ResourcesSafety Tips from the City- Wear appropriate and protective clothing (boots, gloves, rain jacket, hat, sunscreen).
- If possible, use tongs to handle waste items (dollar store salad tongs work)
- Bring a first aid kit; students should be accompanied by a person trained in first aid.
- Be mindful of vehicles when near or adjacent to a road.
- Do not work on unstable or slippery ground (ravines, river banks), in tunnels, or near stormwater management ponds.
- Only pick-up litter (including masks). Leaves, twigs and plants can remain on the ground.
- Avoid stepping on shrubs, bulbs, and flowers.
- Do not pick up or move heavy objects such as tree limbs.
- Do not pick up dangerous items (needles or syringes, metal, chemicals, medical waste) – if on school property, report the location of these items to your caretaker; if on public property, call 311.
- Hazardous waste such as batteries, aerosol containers, fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), helium and propane tanks/cylinders, should be set aside from recycling and litter.
- Report suspicious items to Toronto Police Service via their non-emergency telephone number at 416-808-2222.
- Celebrate Earth Day by spending 20-minutes cleaning up your schoolyard or a neighbourhood park.
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Armenian Genocide
I was glad to attend the commemoration of the 109th anniversary of the Aremian Genocide today organized by the Armenian Community of Greater Toronto. Please read the ANCC Message here reminding us that as we mark this anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we are reminded of the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) – who today have been forced from their ancestral homeland by a genocidal Azerbaijani regime hell-bent on the eradication of the Armenian people.
The Armenian community recognizes April 24 as Martyrs' Day, the day when the mass murder and ethnic cleansing of more than 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire began in 1915. To this day, Turkey continues to deny the killings as a genocide - as witnessed today, the generational trauma of genocide has had a permanent impact on the Armenian nation and continues to affect the psyches of the descendants of its survivors in Canada today.
We reaffirm our obligation to remember and learn from past crimes against humanity... and as school board, educate against all forms of hate.
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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.
Toronto Police provide new online option to report hate-motivated graffiti
Toronto Police Service is launching a new option for the public to provide information to police about hate-motivated graffiti in their neighbourhoods. The web form, available on the Service’s website, provides an additional avenue for the public to alert police to hate-motivated graffiti, so officers can attend, gather evidence and arrange for the hate-motivated graffiti to be removed as quickly as possible. This reporting mechanism will be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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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Jewish Heritage Month - May 2024 - The Mouse who Danced The Hora
Jewish Heritage Month is recognized at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) during the month of May. The TDSB’s Jewish Heritage Committee’s (JHC) program for 2024, as in previous years, is part of the committee’s commitment to plan annual educational opportunities and enrich the curriculum for further learning about Jewish heritage and culture. Each year we choose one grade or division to focus on with a program and in some years, we have been fortunate to work with other organizations to provide larger scale programs.
This year, the Jewish Heritage Committee is focusing on students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 using the book The Mouse Who Danced the Hora by Pamela Mayer, illustrated by Christine Davenier, to teach our youngest students about diversity and equity through Jewish wedding traditions, and learning to dance the Hora.
Please follow the Jewish Heritage Committee on X: @TDSB_JH. Please visit the JHC website for other resources.
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tdsbCREATES Events April 24 and May 23
The TDSB Arts Department invites you to attend tdsbCREATES events celebrating student creativity this spring!
Performing Arts Festival, April 24, 2024, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
at Daniels Spectrum - Ada Slaight Hall, 585 Dundas St. E. Grade 7-12 students will share original works in dance, drama, music, and spoken word for an audience of peers and receive feedback from a panel of artist mentors. (Extremely limited seats available)
tdsbCREATES Celebration and Exhibition Opening, May 23, 2024, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
at Daniels Spectrum - Ada Slaight Hall and Hallway Galleries, 585 Dundas St. E. Please join us for an evening celebrating student creativity through art, film, fashion, dance, music, and spoken word performances.
tdsbCREATES is a board-wide Arts initiative connecting local artists with classrooms to foster creativity while exploring visual arts, dance, drama, spoken word, film, music, and multidisciplinary arts. This program focuses on process and engagement through the Arts while celebrating student voice, powerful ideas, and creativity for all. tdsbCREATES is a project of the TDSB Arts Department delivered in partnership with the Toronto Arts Council with administrative support from Prologue Performing Arts.
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Panfest Vybz: A Celebration of Music, Arts, & Community -
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 6-8 p.m.
Winston Churchill CI
This free community event celebrates Carnival culture through Arts such as costuming, dance, drumming and steel pan music. All are invited to join us to enjoy student and professional performers and a series of fun workshops.
Presented by the TDSB Arts Department in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement
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Applications for Ontario's Page Program
Applications for the fall 2024 term are now open. We are accepting applications until June 15th, 2024. For the Fall 2024 period, applicants must attend school in Ontario and be entering Grade 8 in the Fall of 2024 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.
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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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Summer Programs
At the TDSB we provide a wide range of enriching summer programs for children, youth and adults.
Elementary
Secondary
Special Education and Inclusion
Adult
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April is Latin-America History Month
This year’s upcoming theme is Weaving Our Legacies: Returning to Our Collective Path | Enlazar Nuestres Legados: Volver a Nuestre Camino Colectivo.
The “e” in Nuestres was purposefully chosen to disrupt the dominant and default patriarchal binary gender grammar system of the colonial language of Spanish. The intentional use of the letter “e” as gender inclusive was created by LGBTQIA+, gender non-binary, and feminist communities in what is recognized today as Latin-America. (https://callmelatine.wordpress.com/). Please follow us on Twitter where quotes will also be shared: @TDSBLAHM
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April is Sikh Heritage Month
This year’s the Sikh Heritage Month’s theme is Chardi Kala (The Positive and Uplifted State of Mind). According to Sikh beliefs, Chardi Kala is a state of mind that radiates positive energy, optimistic attitude, strong confidence, and virtuosity. With true belief in the supreme power of the Almighty and the oneness of humanity, this state of mind can pave a way for the well-being and happiness of all.
The Sikh Heritage Committee is continuing with its Podcasts series that began last year. This year, we’ve added two new podcast episodes that reflect our current theme of Chardi Kala (The Positive and Uplifted State of Mind):
The Wrap-Up Celebration will be held on Thursday, April 25 from 9:30-10:30am. We're delighted to have keynote speaker Tina Singth, outstanding student performers and inspiring remarks from Director Russell-Rawlins and Chair Chernos Lin. Join via the Live Webcast.
Lastly during the month of April, Sikh Canadians recognize Vaisakhi, also known as Khalsa Day, which celebrates the Sikh New Year across Ontario. This year Khalsa Day will be celebrated on Sunday, April 28 in downtown Toronto at Exhibition Place This celebration is the third largest parade in Canada with thousands of individuals joining in the festivities! We hope you are available to join the festivities and celebrate!
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e-Summer Update
2024 e-Summer School Registration - Grade 10 - 12 Credit Courses
Registration for July and August e-Summer School courses will begin on Monday, April 22, 2024. A list of courses being offered can be found here. Students are asked to connect with their home school Guidance Counsellors to complete their 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 e-Summer course counts towards the Ministry of Education’s mandatory e-Learning credit requirement. Registration begins on Monday, April 22, 2024.
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Create a Meaningful Connection with Your Child in a Hyper-Connected World
The Northern SS Council is inviting you to "Create a Meaningful Connection with Your Child in a Hyper-Connected World." The event will take place in the Northern Auditorium on Thursday, April 25th at 6:30 pm. We're pleased to invite parents and guardians of students attending midtown schools to attend this free event.
Families can register for the event by using the link below:
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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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Vaccinations
Measles is increasing and spreading in every region of the world. It can cause a fever, rash, runny nose, red eyes & more. It spreads through the air and close contact when a person infected with measles breathes, coughs, or sneezes. If you think you have the virus, stay home & contact your doctor. Learn more: http://toronto.ca/measles-fact-sheet.
Vaccines are available from your primary health care provider or at a TPH community clinic for school-aged children, by appointment. Visit TPHbookings.ca for more information.
All children attending school between ages 4 to 17 need to be immunized according to Ontario's Immunization Schedule. If you are unsure of your child’s vaccination status, check their yellow card (Ontario Immunization Record), TPH’s Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) or by speaking with their primary health care provider.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines
We are still in the midst of respiratory illness season, and it is not too late to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and the flu. Both of these vaccines continue to be available at your local pharmacy and doctor’s office. The updated COVID-19 vaccine better protects against the new Omicron XBB variant. You can get the updated COVID-19 vaccine if you are aged six months and older and it has been at least six months since their last COVID-19 dose or infection (whichever is longer). It is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time or around the same time. Learn more about where to get the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine.
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2023-2024 Calendar
Please ensure you check these dates before scheduling events. Please also note the PA Day originally scheduled for Friday, April 19, 2024 has been rescheduled and will now occur on Monday, April 8, 2024.
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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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