Week of February 7, 2016 

Board Meeting Wednesday, February 10 - Public at 7pm

The Staff Recommendations on the Yonge-Eglinton Program Area Review passed unanimously at last week's Planning & Priorities Meeting and will be coming to Board for final approval Wednesday. The key recommendations include Hodgson becoming a 6, 7, 8 school, the elementary schools - Davisville, Eglinton, Maurice Cody and Oriole Park becoming JK-5 and Forest Hill Jr/Sr offering Extended French from 4-8. Once again, I appreciate not everyone agrees with all the recommendations but the decisions are made with the optimum learning environments for students in mind. Again, thank you to all the school parent representatives for giving of your time… and to Principals for their commitment to student learning environments and to Superintendent Tondat for her leadership through this process… following board I will continue to update when I understand next steps.

The New Elementary School Design Guidelines that were approved (as revised) at the Finance and Accountability Committee are also coming to Board for approval Wednesday. The report can be found by clicking here. From the Report…The Toronto District School Board Elementary School Design Guideline (the Guideline) is a handbook governing the design of new elementary schools, and renovations and additions to existing elementary schools, from junior kindergarten to grade 8. The primary audience for the Guideline is the Consultant Design Team, which includes the Architect as Prime Consultant and Sub-consultants. The Guideline allows the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to manage the design of new elementary schools, and renovations and additions, while providing the Consultant Design Team with a set of approaches, standards, and critical requirements to follow. It supports the TDSB’s objectives to:

• build durable, environmentally sustainable schools that inspire teaching and learning
• create rich learning environments that are flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of all students

At the outset of new projects, a New School Review Team (NSRT) will be formed to review the scope of the project, discuss site specific issues and examine schematic option(s) to be developed in accordance with the Elementary School Design Guideline. Specific terms of reference will be included in each project’s RFP. Two NSRT meetings are typical for most projects, with one community consultation meeting.

A Summary Deck with the highlights of the Design Guidelines can be found here.

There are many other items Wednesday - for the complete agenda click here. Here are some of the other items  of interest -

• Official Election Results for By-election in Scarborough-Rouge River, Ward 21 and Appointment to the Human Resources and Professional Learning Committee –  Neethan Shan has been declared elected as a member of the Toronto District School Board for the term of office January 26, 2016 to November 30, 2018 and that Trustee Neethan Shan be appointed to serve on the Human Resources Committee.
• Bannockburn - Toronto Lands Corporation Update on Disposition - recommends the TDSB maintain the 2.1 acre surplus declaration on the Bannockburn site; and, the TDSB permit the TLC to continue negotiations with public agencies and report back to the TDSB Board no later than its meeting of May 25, 2016 
• Championship Field Projects: Property Tax Assessment – recommends that, for the support and benefit of Central Technical School students and school com-munity, including the Central Technical School sports program, the Director monitor the progress and work with the operator to complete the Central Technical School field on time and to the terms of the minutes of settlement;  that the Director present a report on funding a quality field at Central Technical School, should the operator be unable to meet the terms of the agreement; and that the Director present a report providing an update on the matter, at the next meeting of the Planning and Priorities Committee.
• Science School Partnership Agreement - recommends that payment to the Science School at the Ontario Science Centre, for educational services rendered during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 year,
• Review of Committee Mandates – 
  • Ad Hoc Workgroup on Enrolment be discharged and financial and programming matters for its consideration be referred to the Budget Committee;
  • That the mandate of the Documents for Access, Transparency and Accountability Workgroup be to develop an open data policy encompassed within the Board’s information management framework, which will guide the implementation of an online platform where the public can access published Board data.
  • Governance Review Workgroup recommended to become a special committee of the Board with a mandate to provide ongoing review of Board governance practices, including proposed amendments to the bylaws and committee structure.
  • Policy Review Committee recommends the Committee recommends that the mandate be changed to review new and revised policies in accordance with the policy review schedule and to review new and revised operational procedures.
  • Health and Mental Well-Being Committee recommended to consider matters related to Health and Mental Well-being to guide and shape the work within the board,  public health matters that relate to the Board’s students and employees and to consider health and safety standards for children and youth in schools.

Accommodation and Program Review Policy and the Facility Partnerships Policy

In March 2015, the Ministry of Education revised two important guidelines that impact all Ontario school boards including TDSB. They include the Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline and the Community Planning and Partnerships Guideline (formerly the Facility Partnerships Guideline). The new guidelines were effective upon release and replaced the previous versions dated 26 June 2009 and 11 February 2010 respectively. An extensive consultation process engaging both internal and external stakeholders has been completed. Links to the draft policies are posted on TDSB’s main webpage. These policy changes are coming to Board in March 2016 for final approval. Please review one last time and if you have any comments, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Ward Forum - February 29, 2016 - 6:45, Sunny View Jr/Sr PS, 450 Blythwood Rd

I am very pleased to be co-hosting a Ward Forum with Trustee Gerri Gershon at the end of the month with special guest Dr John Malloy, Director of Education for the TDSB and Craig Snider who will discuss the 2016-17 budget and proposed recommendations to balance the budget. 

If you are unable to attend the budget ward forum in person, the TDSB will also be hosting an Online Budget Forum to hear from parents, students and the community on the 2016-17 budget.The Online Budget Forum will take place on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 8 p.m. To access the Online Budget Forum, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca on March 3 and click on the banner on the home page. During the Online Budget Forum, you will be able to watch a live presentation by TDSB Budget staff. Following the presentation, you will have the opportunity to submit your questions online. Questions will then be answered live by Budget staff during the forum.

As always, I value your input and feedback and look forward to our discussions on the 29th. 

New Invitations

Coalition for Children and Youth Mental Health Summit: Thursday April 7, 2016

The Ontario Public School Board’s Association (OPSBA) has asked that TDSB share information about the 2016 Summit on Children and Youth Mental Health. This year’s theme is "Moving From Policy to Practice through Collaboration".  The summit will take place from April 7-8, 2016. See for more information or visit www.opsba.org. 

Worth Repeating...

Tuning In: Workshop series for parents and caregivers of youth who use drugs - Starts Tuesday Feb 9th - Delisle Youth Services is pleased to introduce Tuning In, a new workshop series for parents and primary caregivers who want to learn information and skills to help them communicate with youth about drugs and drug use. Join us on 3 consecutive Tuesdays February 9th, 16th, 23rd from 7-9pm at Delisle Youth Services (Yonge & Eglinton). To register contact Maria Papadimitriou papadimitriou@delisleyouth.org

Councillor Joe Mihevc's Community Budget Town Hall - Feb 11 from 7-9pm, 2nd Fl Auditorium, Holy Blossom Temple, 1950 Bathurst Street and Councillor Josh Matlow's Community Budget Town Hall - Feb 11 from 7-9pm, Yorkminister Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge Street

Toronto-St Paul's Summit: Infrastructure, Sunday, February 21st - 3:30-4:00 PM Parliamentary Clinic 4:00-6:00 PM Roundtable at Holy Rosary Church Parish Hall, 354 St. Clair Avenue W (at Tweedsmuir Ave) Please join me and your other elected representatives from all levels of government in Toronto-St. Paul’s to discuss infrastructure. Panelists: Hon. Carolyn Bennett, M.D., M.P Dr. Eric Hoskins, M.P.P. Josh Colle, City Councillor, Ward 15 Josh Matlow, City Councillor,Ward 22 Joe Mihevc, City Councillor, Ward 21 and Trustee Jo-Ann Davis, TCDSB School Trustee.

School Council Appreciation and Information Evening - Please join us on Thursday, February 25 at Montecassino Hotel, Downsview, for a special evening to celebrate the work and contributions of school councils and parents to the education system. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful dinner, network with school council members, and participate in round-table discussions. Please see the attachment for details or visit http://www.tdsb.on.ca/parentconference to register.

TDSB Parent Conference 2016: Parents as Partners - April 16, 2016 The Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC), Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Partnership Committee and Model Schools for Inner Cities’ Parent Academies are partnering to bring one INCLUSIVE conference on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Please save this date in your calendar.  

Premier's Awards for Accepting Schools - Nominations are now open for the 2015-16 Premier's Award for Accepting Schools. This award recognizes “exceptional and innovative work being done in schools to create a safe and accepting school environment.” Application Information is available online. The application deadline is Friday, February 19, 2016 at 5 p.m. EST. 

HOLD THE DATE - Ward Forum, February 29, 2016 - 6:45 at Sunny View School, 450 Blythwood Rd

I am pleased to join with my colleague Trustee Gerri Gershon for a joint ward forum to hear from Dr John Malloy, our new Director of Education and discuss a presentation on our 2016-17 Budget by Craig Snider, Comptroller, Budget, Revenue & Financial Reporting - The Agenda will be finalized the first week of February.