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Thursday, 24 June 2010 22:30 |
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Friday, 18 June 2010 22:02 |
TDSB Regular Meeting Agenda- Jun 23, 2010-To keep you immediately informed on decisions in real time, Trustee Matlow will update the community via Twitter and Facebook throughout the meeting.
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| Agenda |
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| 13.1 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 13 (Part 2), May 10, 2010 |
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| 13.2 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 15, May 31, 2010 |
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| 13.3 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 16, June 14, 2010 |
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| 13.4 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 17, June 21, 2010 |
pending
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| 13.5 Operations and Facilities Management Committee, Report No. 12 (Part 2), March 24, 2010 |
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| 14.1 Toronto Lands Corporation's Annual Budget 2010-11 |
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| 15.1 Operations and Facilities Management Committee, Report No. 15, June 2, 2010 |
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| 15.2 Human Resources and Professional Learning Committee, Report No. 12, June 2, 2010 |
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| 15.3 Special Education Advisory Committee, Report No. 15, June 7, 2010 |
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| 15.4 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 13, June 9, 2010 |
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| 15.5 Administration, Finance and Accountability Committee, Report No. 15, June 16, 2010 |
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| 15.6 Operations and Facilities Management Committee (Special Meeting), Report No. 16, June 21, 2010 |
pending
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| 16.1 Cold Beverage Vending Contract With Pepsi (Trustees Harrison and Campbell) |
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| 16.2 Cold Beverage Vending (Trustee Wong and Student Trustee Ng) |
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| 16.3 School Water Fountain Inventory and Repair (Trustee Wong and Student Trustee Ng) |
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| 17.1 Membership of the Conduct and Ethics Review Committee |
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| 17.2 Special Education Advisory Committee, Report No. 14, April 12, 2010 |
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| 17.3 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 12 (Part 2), May 5, 2010 |
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| 17.4 Health Committee, Report No. 10 (Part 2), May 5, 2010 |
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| 17.5 Legal Expenses for Trustee Election Candidates (Trustees Mat-low and Tonks) |
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| 17.6 Director's Vision of Hope: Professional Development Event (Trustees Matlow and Harrison) |
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| 17.7 Bucket Trucks (Trustees Hastings and Wong) |
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| 18. Communications |
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Friday, 18 June 2010 14:44 |
Later this afternoon, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) will be announcing plans for school closures and cancellations to student transportation in response to the impact of the G20 Summit. The TDSB has been in consultation with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), who will be announcing their plans simultaneously because the two boards share transportation.
In the days leading up to the Summit, it is anticipated that increased traffic restrictions due to motorcades, highway and road closures and possible public demonstrations may result in significant delays and impact the ability to travel in and around the city.
The following school closures will be announced for Thursday, June 24 and Friday, June 25:
ALPHA Alternative Jr. School;
Beverley School;
Island Public Natural Science School;
Ogden Junior Public School;
Orde Street Junior Public School; and
The Waterfront School.
The TDSB has decided to cancel all student transportation (school buses and vans) on Friday, June 25.
The TCDSB will also be announcing the closure of two schools for June 24th and 25th and the cancellation of student transportation for June 25th.
Today, all parents/guardians at all schools will be receiving a letter regarding the cancellation of transportation.
Schools that are closing will also receive a letter from the school principal with more specific information.
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Sunday, 13 June 2010 08:46 |
Dear St. Paul’s community,
On June 23rd, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) will hold a meeting to decide on the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) recommendations from across Toronto along with TDSB staff reports. In our ward, there are two that will be decided on. One involving Cedarvale, Arlington, Humewood, JR Wilcox, and Rawlinson and the other involving Maurice Cody, Davisville, Hodgson, Spectrum and Eglinton.
In both cases, the recommendations made by parents in our communities who sat on the ARCs were strongly supported by TDSB senior staff. As your trustee, I will be supporting the voice of our community with my vote. To see the recommendations, please click here.
While I have honestly not been happy with much of the process the TDSB has used for these ARCs, and I have made the concerns of parents in our ward VERY clear to TDSB senior staff who have administered this process, I am satisfied that the outcome of the process (if passed at board) will be very positive for our community.
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Friday, 14 May 2010 13:36 |
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Dear friends and neighbours in St. Paul’s,
Thank you for the great privilege of serving you as your Toronto District School Board Trustee for the past seven years.
Together, we championed Eco-Schools, solar panels on school roof tops, financial literacy in Ontario's curriculum, programs for our youth-at-risk, cell phones in school policy, created or revitalized sports fields at our local schools...with more to come, saved our school pools, made repairs to our buildings despite the dearth of funding, met the challenge of both under and over-enrollment locally, guided the New North Toronto Collegiate Institute through to a successful fruition and held the school board to account when it did not reflect the priorities of parents, students and residents. There are many, many other important projects and initiatives we've worked on together of which I am deeply proud.
I have always tried to provide a strong and thoughtful voice on behalf of the people of St. Paul’s at the Board table. However, I believe perhaps the most important work a trustee can do is to try to help each individual parent and resident who contacts them with a concern. My remarkable assistants, Bobbi Hunter and Ciara Behan, and I have always made great effort to do so. Thank you as well to Superintendents Rauda Dickinson and Michael Smith - both of whom I've had the pleasure to work with and learn from.
As this will be my last year as your school trustee, please allow me to express to you my sincerest appreciation for the confidence you've bestowed upon me. The well-being of your children, and that our community, has been the reason for every decision I've made on your behalf.
When I was a child, my mother taught me to always leave a place I’ve stayed a little better than I've found it. That has been my intention for our community while holding this office for you. I deeply appreciate the many friendships I’ve made along the way and know that we will continue to work together for St. Paul’s.
Most Sincerely,
Josh
Josh Matlow
Trustee for St. Paul’s
Toronto District School Board
http://www.joshmatlow.ca
http://www.facebook.com/joshmatlow
http://www.twitter.com/JoshMatlow
To: St. Paul’s Residents, School Council Chairs, Ward Representatives, Parents, Student Councils, Principals, Vice Principals, Staff
Trustee Josh Matlow Welcomes you to a special
St. Paul’s Ward Forum and…
A Conversation with the candidates running to be your next TDSB Trustee for St. Paul’s
Thursday, June, 3rd, 2010
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Host School: Maurice Cody PS.
Thanks to Principal Shona Farrelly
364 Belsize Drive (416) 393-9240
MEETING IN THE LIBRARY ROOM
(Please copy and circulate in your community)
7:00 Introductions and Welcome from Chair Maria Katsetos
7:10 Trustee Josh Matlow – Update and report to community
7:20 Update from Superintendent Michael Smith
7:30 Question & Answers
A Conversation with the candidates running to be your next TDSB Trustee for St. Paul’s
7:40 Introduction by Trustee Matlow
7:45 Candidates have three minutes each to introduce themselves and explain why they are running to be St. Paul’s public school board trustee
8:00 Questions to the candidates from the community- each candidate will have an opportunity to respond to each question
9:00 Meeting adjourned
St. Paul’s Schools: Arlington, Brown, Cedarvale, Cottingham, Davisville/MTSD, Deer Park, Eglinton, Spectrum, Forest Hill, Hillcrest, Hodgson, Humewood, JR Wilcox Maurice Cody, McMurrich, Oriole Park, West Preparatory, Winona, Forest Hill C.I., North Toronto C.I., Northern S.S.
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Wednesday, 28 April 2010 17:19 |
Stop-Gap Lighthouse Program at Northern Secondary School- Motion for May 5th PSSC
-Trustee Josh Matlow
Be it resolved, that Staff report to the June 2010 Programs and School Services Committee, along with recommendations, on piloting the “Stop-Gap” Lighthouse Program at Northern Secondary School for the 2010-2011 school year.
Backgrounder
Based on other successful alternative to suspension programs, Stop Gap would help at-risk students succeed at school and in life. It would re-engage them in school, improve their performance and achievement, and link them to mentoring and community services. This program may also create substantive financial savings for the Toronto District School Board that budgets for numerous and costly suspension appeal hearings. As a lighthouse project it could serve as a model that could be implemented in school boards across the province.
Benefits
Students at risk of failure will get the help they urgently need for academic success
By reducing suspension rates and the type of behaviours that lead to suspension, the program will allow more students to graduate and thereby benefit from improved employment opportunities
Students will gain insight into their own personal challenges and, as required, be guided to services and resources that can support their social, emotional and mental health needs
Students’ attendance and performance pre- and post-participation will be kept, thereby providing information for others interested in the viability and value of the program
The program will be developed and implemented as a model that can be adopted by other schools and school boards
Both the teacher and the child and youth worker (CYW) will be available to consult with and train others who wish to implement their own “stop gap” program
Students will learn skills that support appropriate classroom and community behaviour
The reason
Most school boards have innovative student success initiatives that address student “issues” early on, before they can become more serious. They also have programs for students who are suspended for a significant period of time (6-20 days). However, there is a “gap” in programming for students facing shorter suspensions (1-5 days) and for those who are already exhibiting behaviours likely to lead to suspensions or failure to remain in school, such as skipping class or being chronically late, letting their grades fall, not participating in class or extracurricular activities, and having limited or difficult interaction with peers.
Punishments i.e. suspensions - that result in students being sent home are often counterproductive since time with no classes and little or no supervision feels like a reward and may actually enable the negative behaviours that precipitated the suspension. Students’ studies are interrupted so they fall further behind. In addition, they often feel humiliated and upset at being rejected and return to school feeling angrier, more anxious, and more frustrated than before. At a time when “acting out” is a cry for help, that help is not always forthcoming.
Building on the Previous Successful Program at Northern
For a two-year period – between September 2007 and June 2009 – Northern Secondary School, in association with Delisle Youth Services, piloted a TDSB program called “Stop Gap” which aimed to keep at-risk students engaged at school. At the time the program was initiated, over 85% of all student suspensions in the TDSB were of 5 days or less.
Modeled after US and Australian programs which put prevention before punishment, Stop Gap offered an intensive, week-long program to students who had been suspended or were beginning to “fall through the cracks.” Staffed by a classroom teacher and a CYW child and youth worker, it was a positive alternative-to-suspension program which emphasized academics, development of self-awareness and self-esteem, counseling to mitigate behaviour that might lead to suspension, and post-program monitoring. A number of students stayed in the program for additional weeks in order to fully benefit from it.
In the first year 26 students attended the program. In the second year 52 students were referred to it from five different Toronto high schools. Students were referred by guidance, school administration, or school support services staff.
During this time, a classroom teacher assisted the students with course work which was assigned and later graded by their regular teachers. With the help of a CYW, students identified and discussed issues such as low self-confidence, learning disabilities, substance abuse, and anger management that were adversely affecting their studies. Where appropriate, students were referred to more intensive community service agencies. Upon leaving Stop Gap, students were given a report with recommendations and were followed up for a 3-month period.
The results were impressive. Satisfaction with the program was very high. Two thirds or more of the participants found that the program was convenient, satisfying overall, and improved their situation. In addition, they felt that the counselors were helpful, trustworthy, and understood their needs. Almost half the participants felt they had too little time in the program and more than three quarters said that, if possible, they would return to the program to continue building their skills and understanding of their problems. Two thirds would recommend the program to others. Unfortunately the program was terminated due to a lack of funding.
If implemented in other schools in the TDSB, this type of program could help reduce the 20 percent TDSB dropout rate by reaching out to students with high risk factors before problems become serious. In his recent TDSB Research Report, Dr. Robert Brown noted that certain indicators at the beginning of students’ high school careers identify those at risk of not graduating. He reported, for example, that students with significant absenteeism in Grade 10 had a more than 50 percent chance of dropping out, and those who were absent for the Grade 10 literacy test had a 61 percent chance of dropping out.
The program could be enhanced over time to include initiatives such as mentoring, internships and developing leadership capabilities. It is hoped that the program could eventually be expanded to include activities and initiatives that allow a school to act as a crucial hub where all students can fine healthy, constructive ways to “belong” in their adolescent years.
The Proposed Program
It is proposed that a Stop Gap program be piloted at Northern. The program would be based on the principle that teens respond best when they are valued and listened to with respect. It would help students whose success in high school is otherwise at risk due to disengagement. The program could act as a model that could be adopted by other schools and school boards.
Students would get back on track by working in small group environment in a classroom dedicate for the purpose, where two essential components will be brought together on a daily basis. Firstly, a full time teacher will provide intensive help to stop the downward spiral these student face academically. Secondly the CYW will facilitate group work and provide individual counseling that addresses behavioral. If necessary, students will be guided to other services and resources to support their social, emotional and mental health needs.
Delisle Youth Services is willing to be a partner a Stop-Gap type of program at Northern for the September2010 to June 2011 school year. There would be value-added in having a CYW that is attached to an organization that has expertise in working with youth with mental health needs. The program at Northern would benefit by having access to regular clinical supervision and access to psychiatric consultation. Delisle does have a consulting Psychiatrist on staff. As a program that is affiliated with Delisle, the youth in the program would have priority access to its other services should the need arise. These include: access to day treatment and confidential individual and family counseling. Youth are more likely to access services from an arms-length service provider because it ensures some anonymity. The Stop Gap program would serve students in the SW3 family of school (Forest Hill C.I. Oakwood C.I., North Toronto C.I. and Northern S.S.
Resources required
1 full-time teacher and 1 full-time child and youth worker are required, as well as some funding to cover administrative costs incurred by Delisle Youth Services. Funds for program evaluation are also being requested. A classroom is available at the school. The total required would be $184, 800, budgeted as follows:
1 full-time teacher $89,900 (salary) and $17,980 (benefits)
1 full-time child and youth worker $66,848 (salary including benefits)
Professional program evaluation $5,000
Program expenses (e.g., food, transportation) $5,072
Classroom Available at Northern Secondary School
Total: $184,800
Performance Measurement
It is essential that the program be properly benchmarked and evaluated if it is to become established in the long-term and serve as a model for other schools. Staff, in consultation with a program evaluation specialist, would collect, organize, and report baseline and post-program statistics pertaining to student attendance, grades, suspensions and graduation rates. These would be used to determine the success of the program.
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Friday, 16 April 2010 16:04 |
Please visit Ontario's Youth Volunteer Challenge website by clicking here
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Wednesday, 14 April 2010 08:51 |
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Day of Pink or Pink Shirt day started in 2007 when a student in Nova Scotia was bullied because he wore a pink shirt to school. Disgusted by this intolerance, student leaders there had a brilliant idea. They quickly galvanized the whole student body in a Pink Day Rally of protest and solidarity. That idea has since gathered steam, resonating with students everywhere.
Together, let's stand together against bullying, discrimination & homophobia.
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 10:03 |
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Toronto District School Board Regular Meeting Agenda - Apr 14, 2010
Please click on the icon above to watch the live webcast of the public meeting beginning at 6:45pm. Trustee Matlow will be also be updating constituents via Facebook and Twitter on board decisions |
| Agenda |
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| 14.1 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 10 (Part 2), March 9, 2010 |
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| 14.2 Special Education Advisory Committee, Report No. 12, February 8, 2010 |
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| 14.3 Governance Review Committee, Report No. 3, February 18, 2010 |
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| 14.4 Bylaw Revision: Name and Mandate of the Human Resources Committee |
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| 14.5 Membership of the Conduct and Ethics Review Committee |
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14.6 Legal Expenses for Trustee Election Candidates (Trustee Matlow and Tonks)
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| 14.7 Director�s Vision of Hope: Professional Development Event (Trustee Matlow and Harrison) |
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| 15.1 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 11, |
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| 15.2 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 12, April 12, 2010 |
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| 15.3 Budget Committee, Report No. 6, March 31, 2010 |
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| 15.4 Budget Committee, Report No. 7, April 7, 2010 |
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| 15.5 Operations and Facilities Management Committee, Report No. 12, March 24, 2010 |
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| 15.6 Human Resources Committee, Report No. 10, March 24, 2010 |
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| 15.7 Administration, Finance and Accountability Committee, Report No. 13, April 7, 2010 |
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| 15.8 Special Education Advisory Committee. Report No. 13, March 8, 2010 |
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| 15.9 Health Committee, Report No. 9, March 31, 2010 |
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| 16. Communications |
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| 17.1 Alternate Disposition of West Toronto Collegiate Institute (Trus-tees Rodrigues, Atkinson and Bolton) |
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Friday, 09 April 2010 12:39 |
Special St. Paul’s Ward Forum to seek your advice on the TDSB budget
(Please copy and circulate in your community)
Trustee Josh Matlow welcomes you to the
St. Paul’s Ward Forum
Thursday, April. 22nd, 2010
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Host School: Forest Hill Jr. Sr. P.S.
Thanks to Principal Bill Waldman
78 Dunloe Rd. 416-393-9335
East of Spadina Rd and South of Archer Rd.
There is parking on the streets north and east of the school
MEETING IN THE LIBRARY ROOM
6:30 Introductions and Welcome from Chair Maria Ketsetos
6:35 Trustee Josh Matlow – Trustee’s report
6:50 Update from Superintendent Michael Smith
7:00 ~ IMPORTANT-Upcoming TDSB Budget Decisions- Listening to the priorities of our St. Paul’s community
Guest Speaker –Don Higgins, Executive Officer for TDSB Business Services
7:20 Questions and Answers
8:00 Meeting adjourned
St. Paul’s School Communities: Arlington, Brown, Cedarvale, Cottingham, Davisville/MTSD, Deer Park, Eglinton, Spectrum, Forest Hill, Hillcrest, Hodgson, Humewood, JR Wilcox Maurice Cody, McMurrich, Oriole Park, West Preparatory, Winona, Forest Hill C.I., North Toronto C.I., Northern S.S.
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Friday, 26 March 2010 10:49 |
PROGRESS REPORT FOR ARLINGTON/ WILCOX ARC
MAR 26/2010
Preamble:
The intent of this progress report is to ensure timely and transparent, accurate communication on the deliberations of the ARC committee up to this point.
In early November of 2009, under direction from the Ministry of Education and the TDSB, an Accommodation Review Committee was struck to address the sustainability of five schools: Arlington Middle School, Cedarvale Community School, Humewood Community School, Rawlinson Community School, and J.R. Wilcox Community School.
Five months of meetings and thirteen models culminated in a four-hour meeting last night at Oakwood Collegiate where the recommendations below received a 2/3rd majority vote to go forward as a recommendation.
The extraordinary work of these parents, supported by Board staff was made challenging by the fact that each of these schools is an excellent community school, serving a diverse and involved community and staffed by teachers, support staff, administrators and students who represent our Board’s daily commitment to student success, instructional excellence, and strong leadership in schools which are clean, safe and welcoming. There was no obvious or easy decision, and the recommendation below in no way reflects on the intrinsic value of one school over another. What follows below is a progress report.
Opportunities for input and response from other community constituencies will be received at the Public Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on April 7th, at Oakwood Collegiate
The ARC recommends:
1. That Arlington Middle School be closed.
2. That Cedarvale Community School, Humewood Community School, Rawlinson Community School, and J.R. Wilcox Community School become JK- Grade 8 schools.
3. That the ARC’s support for recommendations one and two above are contingent on the implementation of the facilities framework presented by Sheila Penny, Director of Strategic Building and Renewal and Daryl Sage, Director of Strategy and Planning at the Mar 25th meeting.
4. That a reasonable, respectful and transparent transition opportunity for students and families affected by the potential change be communicated to ARC members at or before the public meeting on April 07, 2010
5. That, as soon as possible after the final recommendations pass at Board, a community committee be struck to investigate the development of a full-service community school for this area.
6. That the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) at Cedarvale Community School and at J.R. Wilcox Community School be maintained. The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) at Arlington Middle School be relocated to J.R. Wilcox Community School and Cedarvale Community School. Other schools in the area should be encouraged to seek similar certification. J.R. Wilcox will house the Grade 7 entry point for Extended French.
7. That Humewood Community School be considered as an additional French Immersion K-8 site as part of this transition.
8. That no portables will be used during the transition phase; that existing child care and early learning opportunities be protected or expanded if feasible; that any changes create minimal disruption to communities, students, families and staff in these sites.
9. That community be invited to give input to the design processes which emerge from the recommendations above.
The committee wishes to acknowledge the input of non-voting members and staff who contributed to this process. We also wish to acknowledge the contributions of literally hundreds of parents whose input, questions, concerns and questions have greatly assisted the committee in its deliberations.
Thanks to all.
Josh Matlow
Trustee for St. Paul's
Toronto District School Board
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