Committee of the Whole,  Wednesday, April 10, 2019 4:30 p.m. Boardroom Committee Room A, 5050 Yonge Street

5. Toronto Lands Corporation Reports
5.1 Presentation on the Toronto Lands Corporation -  To be presented
5.2 Management Report to the Board, February 2019
6. Reports From Trustees Appointed to the Ontario Public School Boards' Association
6.1 OPSBA Directors' Report, February 2019
6.2 Preliminary Discussion re OPSBA 2019-20 Priorities 
7. Staff Reports
7.1 New Guiding Principles for the Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy - In the fall of 2018, a more detailed review of the drivers was identified in the action plans related to the implementation of the TDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) to ensure alignment with the goals of the MYSP and consideration of the TDSB’s commitment to human rights, equity, accessibility and inclusion. It is recommended they be approved.
Equity of Access
1. Neighbourhood schools that meet the needs of all students
2. Optimal elementary school size of at least two classes per grade
3. Optimal secondary school size of at least 1,000 students
4. Consistent attendance boundaries
5. School locations that support active transportation
6. Minimal transitions 
Efficient and Flexible Learning Space
7. Optimal utilization rate of 90%
8. Minimal use of portables
9. Flexible buildings and sites
10.Different models of school organization 
8. Written Notices of Motion
8.1 Letter to the Minister of Health re Cannabis Regulations and Creation of Sale of Edibles (Trustees Donaldson and Story) - Therefore be it resolved: That the Chair write to the Ministry of Health to support the recommendations of the City of Toronto’s Board of Health, which are consistent with the Board’s policy, currently under development, Restrictions on Alcohol, Drug and Tobacco Use.

Special Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Wednesday, April 10, 2019 6:00 p.m. Boardroom Committee Room A, 5050 Yonge Street

Budget Matters
4.1. 2019-2020 Projected Financial Position - To be presented

Yonge-Eglinton Phase 2 PART - The public consultation phase of the Yonge-Eglinton Phase 2 Program Area Review is currently underway. Parent representatives from Bedford Park PS, Eglinton Jr PS, Glenview Sr PS, Hodgson MS, John Fisher Jr PS, and Northlea E & MS are attending a series of Program Area Review Team (PART) meetings with School Principals, Superintendent, Trustees, and TDSB Central Staff to consider accommodation solutions with the aim of reducing enrolment pressures at local schools. The role of the PART is to review data, discuss impacts of proposed changes, and come up with recommendations that will be shared with the Board of Trustees. During this process, we are committed to keeping parents/caregivers and community members informed, and to give you the opportunity to provide feedback, share ideas and to ask questions. Public meetings will take place on Monday, May 6, 2019 and Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Hodgson MS (282 Davisville Avenue) from 7 - 9pm to  provide feedback and to ask questions. The same information will be presented at each of those two meetings. 
 
Presentation material from each of the Program Area Review Team meetings as well as additional resources will be posted on the TDSB’s website:
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Strategy-Planning/Accommodation-Reviews -- Under ‘Current Program Area Reviews’, select:  Bedford Park PS, Eglinton Jr PS, Glenview Senior PS, Hodgson MS, John Fisher Jr PS, Northlea E and MS.

The presentation from the first Program Area Review Team (PART) meeting as well as a Frequently Asked Questions document are currently online.

Hodgson MS - If you have been following along, given the need to build additional capacity at the school beyond a 12-classroom addition, TDSB Planning and Facilities staff have been working with the Ministry since early 2018 to advocate for a larger addition at Hodgson MS. The TDSB submitted a business case in November 2018. No response has been received to-date. TDSB staff will continue advocating for a project that meets the long-term accommodation
needs for the area and will update the community once a decision has been received
from the Ministry.

Updated Hodgson MS FAQs have now been posted online:
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Strategy-Planning/Accommodation-Reviews - Under ‘Other Reviews’, select:  2017 Hodgson MS Addition. 
Hodgson Middle School Questions and Answers – Updated April 4, 2019 

Thanks to information tweeted by Dr Carole Campbell, an analysis of EQAO results from 2013 to 2018 do not support the government assertion that our students are failing math. Now I am the first to advocate for changes to EQAO and for the full implementation of the report Dr Campbell helped author - Findings and Recommendations from the Independent Review of Assessment and Reporting Ontario: A Learning Province - Executive Summary. But, for this purpose, EQAO shows what investments in education provide.

Yes, as you can see from the Chart below, Grade 6 Math needs attention but all other results have improved - and please remember that these results represent percentage of students who get a "B" - not fail. By the time students get to Grade 9, 84% of students taking academic math get a B or above.

And huge strides have been made in graduation rates - up 23% 

We need continued investments in public education to keep excellence in the system. 

From the TDSB website

Ministry’s Increases to Class Size Averages & Teacher Job Losses
The Ontario Ministry of Education is increasing class size averages in elementary and secondary schools and the magnitude of those changes will have negative impacts on the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Read TDSB's Letter to Minister of Education Regarding Class Size Changes.

The Ministry’s increase to the class size average in Grades 4 to 8 and in high schools is projected to result in more than a thousand teachers (1000) no longer instructing TDSB students over the next four years. Here is how those increases will impact the elementary and secondary school levels at the TDSB:

Class Size Average Increase and Teacher Job Losses – Elementary
The Ministry is increasing the class size average for Grades 4 to 8 to 24.5 students. If our average elementary class size were to change to 24.5 students, it would result in the permanent reduction of 216 elementary teachers at the Toronto District School Board. That reduction in the number of teachers is projected to cost the TDSB a shortfall of approximately $9.6 million in the coming budget year. We continue to work with the ministry to help them understand this situation and to advocate for funding to deal with the shortfall.

The Toronto District School Board, similar to many other Ontario school boards, has in its collective agreement a class size average that is lower than the province’s new average of 24.5 students. In our collective agreement, the elementary class size average is 23.24. We must honor our collective agreement and to do so requires us to have 216 more teachers than the number of teachers we would require to meet the province’s new average of 24.5. By raising the class size average, the government will reduce funding for school boards. The government will achieve reductions in teachers province-wide by not replacing retiring teachers.

Class Size Average Increase and Teacher Job Losses – Secondary
The Ministry is increasing the secondary school class size average from 22 to 28 students over the next four years. The magnitude of that change in class size means the TDSB will have 800 fewer high school teachers by the 2022-23 school year. There are significant and far-reaching challenges associated with reducing this many teachers in high schools including:

In short, a reduction of 800 teachers represents an order of magnitude that is unprecedented. Furthermore, new requirements that high school students take on-line courses may also reduce the number of high school teachers.

Following Wednesday night's meeting we will begin to get a sense of the magnitude of change provincial government decisions will require... and that is before we completely understand the impact of the Grants for Student Need (GSNs) which we understand will follow shortly after the provincial Budget on April 11. As always, I will continue to keep you posted... but there is no question, we are concerned.

In last week's update, I mentioned although students and parents have not been asked to complete the consultation. However, this week in the Legislature, Minister Thompson invited everyone include students and parents to provide your opinion. Here are the links to access the two guides for the consultation process:
Class size: https://efis.fma.csc.gov.on.ca/faab/Memos/B2019/B09_attach1_EN.pdf
Hiring Practices: https://efis.fma.csc.gov.on.ca/faab/Memos/B2019/B09_attach2_EN.pdf

Last week I also included links to advocacy groups. Please find them here. This week I can add that West End Parents for Public Education has created an incredible action tool kit. You can download it at (link: http://www.weppe.org).  

I was so proud to attend the #RallyForEducation Saturday with 16 of my Trustee colleagues and our 2 Student Trustees and tens of thousands of others - our presence was important for our students and their families, our staff and our communities - together we support public education. Together we speak with one voice - we have a world class education system - we need continued investment to support all students achieving success. Cuts hurt kids.

TDSB Open Data Webpage Provides Transparency to its School Communities
Wednesday, April 03, 2019
Categories: News Releases

To ensure transparency with its parents, students and communities, the Toronto District School Board has posted its Open Data Webpage on the TDSB public website. The page provides context for why it is posting data for the public to view, a link to the TDSB Open Data Policy, and a list with links to the various types of data already available for public view, including the Director’s Employment Contract, Facilities Condition Index, Renewal Needs Backlog, and Health and Safety Workplace Inspection Reports. Open Data is an ongoing commitment and process. On a regular basis, departments of the Board will be asked to review their data for potential reporting under the TDSB Open Data Policy.

We welcome your input regarding the types of data that you believe should be posted here. Please submit your suggestions to GeneralInquiries@TDSB.on.ca.

I am very proud of this initiative - we are the first school board in Canada to do this. 

The ⁦‪TDSB‬⁩ Parent and Community Engagement Office is hosting three webinars coming soon to help parents/guardians learn more about how school councils work, bylaws, and effectiveness. Click on the links below at the specific times to join in.

For more information on School Councils, please visit the School Council Page on my website.