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Hello Ward 7 Families,
Happy February! There's been so much sun and celebration this month. I've been thoroughly enjoying both and hope you are too.
Our first board meeting of the year took place on January 31st. It was a joy to hear our national anthem played on steel pan by students at Dr. Rita Cox - Kina Minagok PS. I also had the pleasure of sharing African Heritage Month remarks alongside Trustee Dawson, Trustee Willimans and Student Trustee Bell.
Last month I also joined colleagues for two days of professional development at the Public Education Symposium hosted by the Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA), where we had valuable conversations about Digital Media Literacy in the Age of AI; Indigenous Language Revitalization; Understanding Hate in Canadian Classrooms, Affirming Muslim Learners, and more.
Coming up, I look forward to seeing many of you at our February 13th Joint Ward Forum on Math Achievement and at the Parkdale JSPS African Heritage Month event on February 23rd, to which all are invited. February will also see the start of TDSB 2024-25 budget development with important opportunities for your feedback. Stay tuned for more information.
Wishing everyone an exciting month of Black History learning, Lunar New Year celebrations; a successful start to the second semester; and a happy Family Day weekend.
Yours in Community,
Debbie King
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Community Safety Reminders
I want to share a caution with local families about online scams that present potential risks to youth such as "gambling sites" that set large betting incredements and request payment by e-transfer. I encourage you to learn more about cybersafety and protecting young people from online scams.
I also want to acknowledge the work of Princiapls and staff at Humberside CI and Runnymede CI in effectively responding to recent threats to school safety and ensuring safety and support for the respective school communities.
Lastly, if you should you ever see 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.
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Ward 6 & 7 Forum: Math Achievement & Strategies
Tuesday, February 13th
6:30 to 8:30pm via Zoom
Together with Trustee Hassan, I invite all families to join us for a presentation on mathematics. This is a great opportunity to learn about TDSB's mathematics achievement action plan, including strategies and tools used to support student learning in elementary and secondary schools. Presenters include System Superintendent of Mathematics, Denise Humphreys; Mathematics Program Cooridnator, Jason To; and Runnymede CI Educator, Allie Dale.
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Ward 7 & 9 Social Gathering for Parents and Caregivers of Black Children
Friday, March 1st
6:00pm to 9:00pm in person at Alexander Muir/Gladstone PS
RSVP Here
This is an affinity space for parents and caregivers of Black children, as well as Black-identifying educators in Ward 7 and 9 schools. Join Trustee Dawson and myself in person for dinner catered by Heaven's Kitchen, an interactive West African drumming workshop, and brainstorm session related to Black student success. Childcare and language interpreation will be available.
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Ward 7, 9 & 10 Forum: Digital Media Literacy Workshop
Thursday, March 7
6:00 to 8:00pm via Zoom
Registration opens soon.
Together with Trustee Dawson and Williams, I invite all families to join us for a workshop on Digital Media Literacy in the Age of Artiticial Intellegence, presented by CIVIX. It can be challenging to sort fact from fiction online, and an increase in hate speech, alongside ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools, have made it even harder. This virtual workshop is designed to help parents and caregivers learn simple skills for spotting misinformation in the context of social media platforms and AI. Examples will include false/misleading as well as reliable information, drawn from a range of online sources.
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African Heritage (Black History) Month
At the TDSB, we are proud to celebrate African Heritage (Black History) Month during the month of February. African Heritage Month is an occasion to commemorate present and past individuals who helped shape the path of our future student leaders, while also celebrating the many achievements and contributions of numerous individuals with this heritage! This year’s chosen theme is Our Black Is… Our Black Is Resilient, Community, Beautiful, Unity, Joy, Self-Determination, Excellence, Empowering, Purpose, Brilliance, Engaging, Creative, Belonging, Tenacious, Powerful, Faith, Audacious, Powerful, Me…
For more information and activities, please visit the TDSB webpage, or follow the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement on Instagram and X/ Twitter.
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Chinese Heritage Month
TDSB’s Chinese Heritage Month is proudly recognized in February each year. This year we celebrate the Year of the Dragon: Majesty, Brilliance, Confidence, Leadership.
Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important celebrations for Chinese communities around the world. I encourage you to visit and follow @tdsbChineseHM for daily messages, and more information on festivities throughout the month.
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Director's Annual Report
TDSB Director of Education, Colleen Russell-Rawlins, shared the latest Director’s Annual Report at the January Board Meeting. I encourage you to read the report which outlines academic milestones, community engagement initiatives and all the new ways our community has continued to support high levels of achievement for every student.
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Historic Capital Revitalization Strategy Approved
This ambitious plan, approved at January’s Regular Board Meeting, will address challenges posed by aging school buildings, with safety, accessibility and energy efficiency and sustainability as priorities. The ten-year strategy aims to have no school buildings classified as “requiring extensive improvement” by 2035. Improvements will range from light retrofit to deep retrofit, replacement, or new construction. Schools will be categorized based on improvement needs, with identification, cost estimation, budgeting, and prioritization already underway. The initial phase is set to conclude by December 2024, paving the way for the commencement of the first projects in January 2025. Read more about the Capital Revitalization Strategy.Following is a highlight of items discussed and/or upcoming in this month's cycle of meetings. For complete commitee meeting agendas and minutes, visit the boardroom section of the TDSB website.
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TDSB to Create New Cell Phone / Mobile Device Policy
You may have heard that TDSB Trustees have approved the development of a comprehensive Cellphone/Mobile Device policy which will build on the existing Board Code of Conduct. This new policy aims to strike a better balance between educational use and minimizing distractions in classrooms. Staff will now create a policy development plan that will outline next steps including timelines and opportunities for students, staff and families to provide feedback as part of an extensive public consultation process. More information on this process will be shared as soon as it is confirmed.
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In the Boardroom This Month
A summary of decisions from the January 2024 board meeting are available here. Meeting agendas, reports and videos are availble here. Learn more about delegating to committees of the board here.
February 7 - Governance and Policy (GPC): agenda
- Policy P103, Flexible Working Arrangements, Phase 5
- Policy P102, Disconnecting From Work, Phase 5
February 14 - Finance, Budget and Enrollment Commitee (FBEC): agenda
- Contract Awards, Facilities
- First Quarter Interim Financial Report: 2023-24
- 2022-23 School Budget and School Generated Funds
- Student Device (1:1) Program
- Potential Areas of Focus to Balance the 2024-25 Budget
February 21 - Program and School Services Committee (PSSC)
February 25 - Planning and Priorities Commitee (PPC)
March 4 - Finance, Budget and Enrollment Commitee Special Meeting
March 6 - Next Regular Board Meeting
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2024-25 Budget Consulations
Over the next few months, TDSB Trustees, in collaboration with TDSB staff, will be working together to establish a budget for 2024-25. By law, school boards are required to balance their budgets by June 30.
At the January 29the Special FBEC, 2024, staff presented their Report - Projected 2024-25 Financial Position. At our Special Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee on February 14, staff will present their suggestions for dealing with a $35M deficit that begins the 2024-2025 budget
Funding for education is determined through a set of provincial benchmark costs for the major components of education operations, as well as the number of students. The benchmarks have never worked for Toronto students as they do not reflect the real costs of education. Staff are currently updating the Financial Facts document which outlines the gaps in ministry funding.
I encourage you to participate in our public consultations, which are an important part of this budget process. Below are the dates and times for upcoming virtual meetings. Please visit the budget website for more information.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 7 p.m.
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Review of Legacy Technical and Commerical Boundaries
Thank you to everyone who participated in the public consultations regarding the legacy technical and commerical boundary review which includes Western Technical Commercial School. Staff will present a recommedation for consideration and approval by Trustees at the February 2024 Planning and Priorities Committee meeting. Any approved changes would apply beginning September 2025. Learn more about the process and review the consultations on the TDSB website.
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Before and After School Care Program (BASP) Interest Survey
The TDSB recognizes Before- and After-School Programs (BASP) are an integral part of Early Years learning (see our P.022 Early Learning and Care Policy)
The 2024-25 Before- and After-School Program Interest Survey is available for the month of February. Families may also complete this survey by phone through the TDSB Child Care Services Office at 416-394-2072 option 2.
Please note, completing this survey does not guarantee that a BASP will be offered at your child’s school. If there is sufficient initial interest, families will be notified, and a separate registration to determine viability will take place through a third-party licensed before and after-school program.
Families who have questions about this survey and would like to speak to one of our team members may contact the TDSB Child Care Services Office at 416-394-2072 option 2 or CCS@tdsb.on.ca. More information about the survey is posted on the Board's website
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Kindergarten Registration
In the Kindergarten program, your child will develop their skills and abilities through inquiry and intentional play-based learning that includes math, science and literacy. Teachers and early childhood educators plan learning experiences where children are actively engaged in learning and thinking creatively.
Children who will be four by December 31, 2024, can start Junior Kindergarten in September 2024.
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Summer CampTO Registration
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Steps to Address Your Questions & Concerns
Here at the TDSB, we are always open to hearing your questions and concerns and make every effort to address them as quickly as possible. Your child's classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school's principal, the school superintendent, and me, your Trustee! For more information, visit www.tdsb.on.ca/Contact-Us/Steps-to-Address-Questions-Concerns.
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