Results of TDSB’s Mandatory E-learning Survey

In November, I wrote to you to let you know that my motion to direct the TDSB to survey our communities about mandatory e-learning passed unanimously. The TDSB has now completed its survey of a random sample of parents/guardians and students, and all secondary school teachers, to better understand their views and level of support for the Government of Ontario’s plan for mandatory e-learning for all secondary students.

The results show that most students, parents/guardians and secondary school teachers do not support the government’s plan to make e-learning a mandatory requirement for graduation, nor do they believe that it will benefit students.

I felt it was important for our communities to have a chance to voice their concerns about this policy and for the results to be made transparent to our public.  The Toronto District School Board values the input of its school communities and will share this important information with the Ministry of Education.

I want to make it clear that the board is not against e-learning, but our survey found that there are significant concerns among students, parents and teachers relating to making e-learning course a mandatory requirement of graduation.   Our recent survey tells us that most students, parents/guardians and secondary school teachers believe that it will not benefit students. It is possible that our school communities may believe this because the government has not provided enough information about its e-learning plans or it has been poorly communicated. We fear that the lack of information on mandatory e-learning courses could harm our students’ achievement and well-being levels and, ultimately, hinder their graduation and post-secondary education plans.

Since the plan for mandatory e-learning was announced several issues continue to rise without a clear government response; these include:

         -the mandatory nature of the plan, the timing and the lack details for parents/guardians,                students and staff;

         -potential risk to students who need individual and in-person time with teachers;

         -the challenges for students who are not accustomed to learning in this environment; and

         -issues of fairness for students who may not have access to high speed internet service              that online learning requires or live in parts of Ontario that don’t have access to reliable              internet

Because of these concerns, and the concerns that the TDSB has heard from our school communities through our recent survey, we ask that the Government of Ontario re-consider their plan for mandatory e-learning. The summary of results is available online at www.tdsb.on.ca/thepulse.

Ward 9 Equity Committee Meeting February 4, 2020

Thanks to all who joined our Ward 9 Equity Committee session “Let’s Talk Equity”.  We had some very inspiring discussions about how to talk to our kids about race, the data on streaming, anti-black racism and gender identity. There is so much more to do together as a ward equity committee. We will be organizing a next meeting and will share the date and location when it is available. I am sure that our co-Chair Alexis Dawson would agree with me when we say thanks as always to Oakwood CI for hosting and to our truly incredible TDSB team of Alison Games San Vicente, Michelle Munroe, Karen Murray, and Ilana David. So grateful for all of you and for sharing space and knowledge with us!

Suspensions, absenteeism in grade 4, predictors of post-secondary access

Report shows pathway to post-secondary education starts in elementary school

Data from the Toronto District School Board show that the majority of students suspended at any time, students in self-contained special education programs, and/or students who missed more than 10% of classes in grade 4 do not go on to post-secondary education.

A report - based on data that follows TDSB students all the way from elementary school through to grade 12- suggests that there is much more involved in post-secondary access than academic achievement in a few subjects. It points to growing recognition of the potentially greater importance of competencies such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making as crucial to academic and workforce success. 

Redefining Risk: Human Rights and Elementary School Factors Predicting Post-Secondary Access

February 27th forum –  POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Due to the ongoing labour action and the need for the support and presence of our really hard working school administrators from Ward 9 at the “Transition to High School” Ward Forum, I have decided to postpone this event.

I am concerned about creating additional work, in the evening, for our Principals and Vice-Principals during these very challenging times. Out of respect for them and their time, I hope you will understand and support this postponement. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. stephanie.donaldson@tdsb.on.ca

Information About Coronavirus

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

Please check the TDSB website for information on the virus https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/Supporting-You/Health-Active-Living/Coronavirus.

Please note the Ontario government website https://www.ontario.ca/page/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov will be updated daily.

The health and safety of all students, staff and school communities is our top priority. In partnership with public health officials, the Toronto District School Board is closely monitoring the current situation with regards to the novel coronavirus. 

As always, it is important to remember to cough into your sleeve, wash your hands as washing your hands properly can help prevent the spread of the germs and if you feel sick, stay home and/or seek medical advice.

At the February 6th board meeting, during my report in from Toronto’s Board of Health, I put a motion on the floor, that passed, calling on the Chair of the TDSB. To write to the provincial government to translate into multiple languages, all public communications about Covid-19. Grateful to my trustee colleagues for support this motion that resulted in the letter below:

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

Chair Calls on Government to Translate Coronavirus Info - Tuesday, February 11, 2020

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.

Labour Update

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.

Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) - Update: February 12, 2020

Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) - Update: February 12, 2020

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.

As with previous strike days, the TDSB would have no other option but to close all elementary schools (JK-8) and all secondary schools (9-12) to students on Friday, February 21 as there would not be sufficient supervision to ensure their safety. Parents/guardians should make alternate arrangements for their children on this day, if required.

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.

Read the letter sent to parents/guardians on February 12 about Friday's one-day walkout. 

ETFO Previous Updates

OSSTF Previous Updates

Communication to School Councils re Activities

TDSB’s Labour Contingency Committee (senior staff) are meeting daily to address emerging issues, which in some cases require rapid decisions. "As you can appreciate, these are unprecedented, highly complex times and we are nowhere near “business as usual” at the TDSB right now."

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.

Committees This Week
Program & School Services Committee Agenda Wednesday, February 19, 2020 4:30 p.m.

Committee Room A, 5050 Yonge Street

All committee and board meetings are open to the public - should you wish to speak to an item on the agenda at Committee, click https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations.

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.