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WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL. I hope everyone had a great holiday and that 2018 is a great year. Please find updates on things happening in Willowdale and throughout the Toronto District School Board. Stay warm and safe during the month of January. Hopefully we've seen the last of the Arctic air . Warm Regards,
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January is Tamil Heritage Month @ the TDSBThe TDSB is celebrating Tamil Heritage Month and this year’s theme is Pillars of our Past; Shaping the Path Ahead.
Students across the system are invited to learn about the rich culture of Tamil heritage and how their ancestry can shape their future. Through essays, original artwork and public speaking contests, students across the TDSB shared how the narratives and history of our cultural past shape our identity as Canadians today.
January was chosen as it coincides with one of the most important celebrations for Canadians of Tamil heritage, the Thai Pongal Harvest Festival. Over 75 million Tamil people around the world irrespective of their religion celebrate Thai Pongal. This celebration offers thanks to the sun and cattle for an abundant harvest. Join us at TDSB Tamil Heritage Month Events:
Tamil Heritage Month Launch
Tuesday, 16 January 2018
4:30 pm – 6 pm
Toronto District School Board
140 Borough Drive, Scarborough
Meeting Room 3 /4
Tamil Heritage Month Celebration Event
Saturday, 27 January 2018
9 am – 3:30 p.m.
Woburn Collegiate Institute
2222 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough
Wishing that this festival is one which brings good luck and prosperity, and hoping that it is joyous, and fills your days ahead with happiness. Have a wonderful Pongal.
Alexander
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Organizational Board Meeting - Dec.4th, 2017
Every year at the organizational board meeting (usually December 1st) Trustees choose or are elected to the committees that they wish to sit on for the coming year.
TDSB Trustees meet at least nine times during the year for regular meetings of all trustees. There are also three standing committees and one permanent committee that meet and present reports at the regular Board meetings.
Members of the public are invited to bring forward issues and concerns to the appropriate standing committee through the delegation process. The delegation procedure helps manage this process and ensures a fair and equal forum. Learn more about how you can make a delegation.
I've included information about the committees that I am involved with this year in the section below. If you'd like to learn more about the committees, the process for making a delegation or joining a community advisory committee get in touch with me and I can help.
Chair of the Board: Robin Pilkey
Vice Chair of the Board: Jennifer Arp The committees that I belong to are listed below with their mandates:
Governance and Policy Committee
I sit on this committee as Chair. Trustee Shelley Laskin is Vice-Chair of the committee. Mandate
The Governance and Policy Committee considers and make recommendations to the Board on governance and policy matters referred to it for consideration.
Planning and Priorities Committee As the chair of the Governance and Policy committee I am also automatically a member of this permanent committee of the Board. All Chairs and Vice-chairs are members of this committee along with one more representative from each standing committee. For the full membership click here.
Mandate
The Planning and Priorities Committee makes recommendations to the Board on:
(a) the development and coordination of a strategic plan for the Board, in consultation with the Director and the standing committees;
(b) the Boards inter-governmental relations;
(c) the development and management of plans for senior leadership succession;
(d) professional development for members of the Board;
(e) other issues referred to it from time to time by the Board or the Chair of the Board; and
(f) facility and property matters, including property disposition, major capital projects, boundary changes.
I am also a member of the following committees:
Special Education Advisory Committee: Vice Chair; Equity Policy Advisory Committee: Member; Aboriginal Community Advisory Committee: Member;
House Committee: Member For a complete list of all committees and their memberships and mandates click here.
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Board Meeting - Dec.13th, 2017
- At the December 13 Board meeting, Trustees voted to have TDSB senior staff conduct a full review of the recommendations of the Enhancing Equity Task Force Report.
- Following a closer examination of the recommendations, the Director of Education will present high level proposals for next steps to the Planning and Priorities Committee on January 31, 2018
- No final decisions will be made on January 31, 2018.
' - Community members will have the opportunity to share their thoughts as part of the committee process. Please visit the TDSB website for updates on the process and how you can get involved / make a delegation.
CLICK HERE
If you need assistance or have questions, contact Araz Hasserjian at araz.hasserjian@tdsb.on.ca
- Following approval of the high level next steps, more specific action plans will be created and community members will have additional opportunities to share their voice. The details about how to do this will be clearer once trustees and staff have discussed it. You can contact me anytime to share your ideas and opinions: Trustee Alexander Brown
- Equity is not about taking things away from students who are thriving, but rather enhancing supports for those who are falling behind.
I have also attached the updated report that was passed by the Board on Decemeber 13th, 2017:
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Overcrowding in Willowdale schools In 2014 I made a committment to pursue the issue of overcrowded schools in Willowdale with the goal of ensuring that local schools were accessible and walkable for all students living in the area. Decades of rapid residential condominium development, without sufficient support for school infrastructure, has led to schools that are no longer able to accommodate new students in particular areas of the ward. Other schools and areas of the city are quickly becoming "full" as well. Boundary changes, addition of portables and increased busing have been solutions used by the TDSB to address the issue, but we all know that these are not suitable long-term solutions to a growing problem. On October 30th, the Minister of Education committed to meeting our accomodation needs in Willowdale but did not make a firm commitment to reviewing and changing the out-of-date regulations preventing the TDSB from collecting a charge or development fee for each new condo unit built - known as Education Development Charges. We need this to help us build and expand schools as well as keep them in good maintenance. On December 13th, the board passed the following motion allowing the Director of Education to start a legal review in court of the government regulation (Ontario Regulation 20/98) that prevents us from qualifying for education development charges (EDC).
I will keep you informed about the progress on this court challenge. RATIONALE:
EDCs serve a critical function in assisting boards to meet their statutory mandate under the Education Act (“the Act”) by having new development fund certain new education capital costs. The Supreme Court of Canada has confirmed that EDCs are an integral part of land use planning and that because school boards have no ability under the law to oppose development due to inadequate pupil accommodation, the only way they can address pupil accommodation pressures from growth is to avail themselves of EDCs. The unavailability of EDCs to the TDSB due to operation of Section 10 of the EDC regulation (“Section 10”) is subject to a valid and tenable legal challenge.
On December 13th the Board decided:
(a) That the Director engage other interested stakeholders and approach the Province seeking their agreement to: - (i) delete Section 10 of O.Reg. 20/98, Education Development Charges of the Education Act;
- (ii) amend the definition(s) of Education Land Costs in the Education Act to include the capital cost of new construction
(b) That the Director be authorized to commence an application for judicial review seeking relief in the general nature outlined in Appendix “A”, and to take whatever action is necessary in the course of these proceedings to ensure a timely hearing of the matter and/or resolution of the proceeding on terms they may deem acceptable.
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TDSB Releases Facilities Information: Condition of Schools
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The Facility Condition Index (FCI) rating is a measurement of the condition of a school building. It does not reflect on the safety of the school building.
As of September 2017, the TDSB’s repair backlog is $3.7 billion, up from $3.5 billion last year.
While funding for school repairs has improved, it is not keeping pace with the growing backlog. We continue to work with the Ministry and advocate for adequate, predictable, long-term funding. Learn more. This is another reason that I have been pushing (as has the TDSB) for a change in the Education Act that would allow us to collect Education Development Charges (see article above) to deal with maintenance backlogs.
Information about the Facilty Condition of your child's school can be found on the school landing page. Use THIS LINK to locate your child's school and look for the Renewal Needs and FCI on the left-hand side. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
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| Avondale Elementary & Alternative Schools
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...to this (September 2017) | |
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This is an update on the construction of the new Avondale Public Schools building. In December, TDSB staff brought a motion to the board asking for direction to use approximately 2.4 million from proceeds of disposition (money from the sale of school board properties) to complete the addition of the third floor to the Avondale site. On 20 April 2017, the Ministry of Education approved funding of $6,153,450, based on the preliminary pre-design estimated cost of the third floor addition. The revised estimated cost for the complete design and construction of the third floor is $7,830,350. In addition, upon further investigation, it was determined that the best way to accommodate the increased kindergarten enrolment associated with the increased capacity of the building was to reconfigure classrooms on the ground floor into properly sized Full Day Kindergarten rooms at a cost of $737,843. This results in a total shortfall of $2,414,743 above the currently approved funding. NB: The Ministry of Education recently approved the additional $2.4 million in funds needed for the completion of the third floor without the need to use school board generated funds from the sale of school sites. This is good news. We will continue on schedule to open the school in September 2018. We are planning an Open House event prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year. However, I cannot provide an exact date for an open house at this time. I will let everyone know when we have a firm date set.
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Kindergarten Registration 2018 in February
Registration for all TDSB Kindergarten programs begins in February.
Although parents/guardians still have the option to register their child in person at their school, for the first time this year, they will have the option to access the TDSB’s new Online Registration System to begin the process, before visiting their school in person to finalize the registration.
Access the online registration system will go live on February 1st, 2018.
For more information, please click here
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Going to High School?High School is an exciting time, full of opportunity and a chance to explore a variety of programs as students start planning their experience. I've included a link to the website as a valuable resource full of information about the wide range of learning opportunities available to students at the TDSB as they make decisions that will influence their experiences throughout high school and beyond.
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January 2018
Choices 2018 Guide reviewed with Guidance Counsellors, Parents/Guardians
February 2018
Optional Attendance (OA) Requests due
Confirmation of OA requests ReceivedMarch 2018
Grade 9 course selection sheets submitted to secondary schools
Parent/Teacher interviewsMay / June 2018
Promotion, Transfer, Retention (PTR) decisions made Useful Links:
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Optional Attendance
Each year in December, schools are classified as limited or closed to optional attendance based on the space they have available for the upcoming school year. A school classified as limited can accept students on optional attendance.
A limited school is not obliged to accept all students who apply on optional attendance. Acceptance is conditional upon space being available in the appropriate grade and program.
A school classified as closed cannot accept any students on optional attendance. Only students residing within the school's attendance area will be accepted.
The website has now been updated with optional attendance status for admission in 2018. Many schools that are limited have their available spaces filled in the spring. Please confirm if a limited school has space available by calling the school directly.
Please Note the Following:
Priority of placement in the requested school will be based on a lottery if applications exceed the space available at the requested school.
If admitted, a student is expected to continue at the requested school until graduation.
It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to deliver the application to the school or schools of choice
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SCHOOL ADMISSION - SEPTEMBER 2018
Applications must be received by Friday, 16 February 2018.
A lottery, if necessary, will be held to determine the successful applicants.
Parents/guardians will be informed of acceptance or non-acceptance no later than March 9, 2018.
Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer by Friday, 23 March 2018.
Applications must be received by Friday, 2 February 2018.
A lottery, if necessary, will be held to determine the successful applicants.
Parents/guardians or students 18 years of age or older will be informed of acceptance or non-acceptance prior to Friday, 16 February 2018.
Parents/guardians or students 18 years of age or older must confirm the offer of admission by completing a course selection sheet by Friday, 2 March 2018.
No student will be admitted into a junior high level for grade 9 and at all secondary grade levels through optional attendance after Friday, 2 March 2018 unless the student does not have a timetable at another school.
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Toronto Ward Boundary Review: Willowdale (Ward 12)
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On January 10, 2018, Trustees will be considering a recommendation regarding the configuration of TDSB Ward boundaries for the 2018 municipal election (and until 2026) at the Governance and Policy Committee meeting. Details of the meeting can be found here - click.
Last December 2017, the Ontario Municipal Board agreed with the City's ward boundary reconfiguration from 44 wards to 47 city wards. TDSB ward boundaries must follow City ward boundaries - 22 school board wards must fit into 47 City Wards. Under the Education Act we cannot add new school trustee wards.
The recommendation before the committee:
Five Options for realigning the TDSB’s Trustee Wards were developed with Trustee input and discussed during a public consultation process in October/November 2017.
Based on feedback and analysis, the Consultant Team for the TDSB Ward Boundary Review is recommending that the TDSB choose between two options for the new alignment of the Trustee Wards: Option 2 : Electors;
Option 5: Learning Centre Boundaries.
The maps are attached below.
- In summary, if we choose Option 2 - Elector parity, the size of the current school board ward (Willowdale/Ward 12) would be reduced and several schools would be transfered to another trustee ward. In the Map below, TW 214 represents the reconfiguration of Ward 12-Willowdale. The schools that are shifted to TW 205 include Cameron PS, Churchill PS, Yorkview PS, Willowdale MS, Claude Watson, Earl Haig Secondary, McKee PS. These would all be part of the new City Ward 28.
- If we choose Option 5 - Learning Centre Boundaries, there is no change in the size or shape of the current Ward 12-Willowdale as we know it now. There would be no change to the number of schools - none added or removed. For Willowdale, this is a status quo option.
- In both cases - Options 1 and 2 - a new City Ward is added. The city wards are labelled as (28), (29) and (30) on the maps below and in the report. If we go with Option 2, the number of city wards in the TDSB Willowdale Ward would be two: (29) & (30). If we choose Option 5, the number of city wards in Willowdale would be three: (28), (29) & (30).
As the local trustee, my preference is to maintain the status quo option and follow the Learning Centre boundaries (option 5). But I am also not opposed to Option 2 which would focus on greater elector parity and reduce the number of schools that I would represent. If you have any comments or concerns, please contact me anytime and share them with me - alexander.brown@tdsb.on.ca. As always, I look forward to your comments.
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Winter Weather & Student TransportationFrom time to time, it may be necessary to cancel student transportation, classes and/or programs due to severe weather. On rare occasions, severe weather makes it necessary to close schools, administrative offices or sites.
With approximately 246,000 students in our schools and sites each day, any decision to cancel buses, classes and/or programs or to close sites can have a significant impact on thousands of families across Toronto. This decision is not taken lightly. When schools remain open on days with inclement weather, parents/guardians make the final decision on whether to send their children to school and they can keep children home from school if they so choose.
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Traffic Safety in School Zones
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Grade 9-12 Poster Contest Winner - Earl Haig SS | |  |
Grades 1-3 Poster Contest Winner - Cresthaven PS | |
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Grades 6-8 Poster Contest Winner - Zion Heights MS | |  |
Grades 4/5 Poster Contest Winner - McKee PS | |
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Look for these posters in schools across Willowdale in 2018. Thank you to all students who entered the Traffic Safety Poster contest.
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Over the past few years, I have been working with School Advisory Councils and local city councillors to help make school zones safer for our students and pedestrians. This is easier said than done.
One initiative that I am working on with Councillor John Filion's office is to bring back the Watch Your Speed electronic signs. You can read the city report here. In the report there is a list of schools that had the signs and a map showing the locations. I will push to get as many of these back as possible. I may need your help to ask the city to put them in place. I will keep you informed. From the report: These devices have shown to be effective in reducing the speed of traffic and reducing excessive speeding (over 10 km/h above the speed limit) over a long-term application. As a result, this report recommends that permanent speed display signs be considered as a countermeasure for speeding issues in school zones under the Toronto Road Safety Plan (RSP). It also sets forward a series of mandatory requirements and prioritization guidelines for assessing candidate schools should the RSP recommend deployment. Another initiative is the addition of an extended cross walk signal at Doris Avenue where many Earl Haig Secondary school students cross when they are heading over to Empress Walk and the mall. Even though there is a cross walk at Empress Avenue, a short distance from the point where students are crossing, efforts to redirect people to the stop lights have been futile. I have watched as cars slow down to a complete stop to allow students to cross. It's an accident waiting to happen. The proposed plan is to extend the cross walk from Empress Avenue all the way over to the point where people are crossing illegally. There is a similar cross walk on Bayview Avenue where pedestrians and cyclists cross when using the hydro corridor. It sets a precedent for a similar installation on Doris. I hope to have both of these initiatives completed in early 2018. Thank you to school council chairs and reps who continue to advocate for safer school zones. Your efforts are comendable and necessary.
In October 2017, I held a Traffic Safety Ward Forum and invited school council members, parents and community members. Not many people turned up for the event which was packed with useful information. I am preparing a condensed 20 minute video of the meeting with all of the relevant information included. This will be shared with everyone before the end of January. I have a number of PLEASE SLOW DOWN (pictured above) signs available for schools in Willowdale. If you would like to receive 4-5 of these signs, contact me at this link: Please Slow Down
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Stay Healthy During Flu Season
In Canada, flu season tends to run between October and April. The Ontario government is encouraging Ontarians to avoid getting sick this flu season by getting their annual flu shot.
Toronto Public Health is recommending that whenever students and staff experience flu-like symptoms, they are sent home and do not return to school until they are no longer infectious to others. Therefore, ill students and staff should be symptom-free (especially from vomiting and diarrhea) for at least 48 hours before returning to school.
The primary concern is for the health and safety of all students and staff. Please note that no special measures are required when there is a case of influenza in a school or daycare. However, everyone should do their part to stop the spread of the flu. As parents, you can also assist by:
- reminding children to wash their hands often especially after using the washroom and before and after eating
- reminding children to cover their sneeze and cough
- watching for symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and/or high fever
- informing the school if your child is ill
- keeping your child at home when he/she is ill
For more information, please visit the Toronto Public Health website www.toronto.ca/health, contact your family doctor, or Telehealth Ontario. 1-866-797-0000.
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