November Update – Trustee Sara

It has been an incredibly busy month, and I would like to admit upfront that this update in no way includes all of the important activities on the go - it would just be too long!

This month at the TDSB, trustees were appointed to committees for the upcoming year. I will continue to serve, as I did last year, on the Governance and Policy Committee, and the Applegrove Community Complex Board of Management. I have also taken on new roles as a Trustee representative on the Urban Indigenous Advisory Committee, and as co-chair of the Community Use of Schools Advisory Committee. Find the list of all committees here.

I am continuing to hear concerns around Antisemitism, Islamophobia and Anti-Palestinian racism in and around our schools, but also on social media - and how this is impacting our children. I am reading every message, and I truly hope our Minister of Education and the province are reading them as well.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario blog recently featured some resources on digital citizenship. There are also resources on facing online hate for parents and teachers.

It has been one year since I began serving our community as trustee. I want to thank you for putting your trust in me, and also invite you to share with me your thoughts on how you think it's going and how I might better represent our community.

Take care,

-Sara

Sara Ehrhardt
TDSB Trustee, Toronto-Danforth

Reducing Respiratory Viruses

If you have symptoms, remember to stay home, and follow extra measures like wearing a well-fitted mask in all public settings including schools.

Toronto Public Health shared important information with schools on reducing the spread of respiratory viruses and accessing vaccines. Find the Toronto Public Health message here.

This COVID infographic is available online here.

Government Budget Consultations

Public consultations for 2024 municipal and provincial budgets have started. I would encourage everyone to express support for increased funding of public schools.

Some additional areas you could consider making note of are children and youth mental health, childcare, school food programs, and children’s recreation. Many of these areas are funded through Education, Children’s Services, and Public Health.

Municipal Budget Consultations: *Note the online survey runs until November 30, 2023. I would encourage everyone to complete it!

Provincial Budget Consultations: This also includes an online survey that will close on January 31.

Board News

You can access agendas and minutes for all committee meetings once they are posted and information on delegating during committee meetings.

TDSB Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy 2023-2032: This was recently approved and released. Of particular note is a study that will consider the relocation of French programming from Riverdale CI into Danforth CI. Find more information on key studies that relate to Toronto Danforth here starting on Tab 4-23.

TDSB Capital Priorities: The TDSB Capital Priorities have also been released, with the top priority for the TDSB being a replacement school for Kapapamahchakwew - Wandering Spirit School located on Phin Ave. The desire is to build a new school in this same location to provide a truly decolonized environment for Indigenous students and Communities across Toronto. Find more information on capital priorities here.

Recent Motions:

Support for Students Without Legal Immigration Status and Newcomer/Refugee Students and Families: I was pleased to support this motion, which I hope will help ensure all newcomer children - whatever their status - can access school, in line with their international human right to education.
Apprenticeship Pathways: This fall the Ontario government released a public consultation on a proposal to allow students to leave school after grade 10, without a high school diploma, to pursue apprenticeships. I put forward a motion with Trustee Shelley Laskin for the TDSB to participate in the consultation, to reject the proposal, and to advocate in support of youth being able to stay in high school while pursuing apprenticeships. This is important for upholding both children’s and workers’ rights. I am pleased that the motion received strong support and am grateful to the Toronto Labour Council and to People for Education for their work on this. Find more on the issues with Ontario’s proposed apprenticeship plan here.

Read the text of both motions here.

Correction: In my October newsletter there was an error in the link to the motion on fostering kindness and respect. Find the motion on page 48 here.

In Our Community

Holiday Markets: Local east ender Kate Dupuis (@drkateTO) has put together a ‘googlemap’ of all of the upcoming holiday markets she is aware of. Find the holiday market list here.

Community Care: Winter is here, vulnerable members of our community need our collective care and support more than ever. There are many places to contribute in our community. Toronto Foundation for Student Success does so much in our schools, and I want to share information on their Emergency Fund. Any TDSB principal, teacher, or professional support services staff member can apply to this fund for a one-time only maximum of $500 per student. Find out more and support the TFSS emergency fund here.

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