CTVtoronto.ca

The cost to keep school buses on the roads will skyrocket to about $1.5 million, the Toronto District School Board estimated Monday.

The provincial government said they will add $700,000 to help the board offset their costs but some trustees are demanding more help.

Trustees Josh Matlow and Michael Couteau said they want the education minister to fully supplement the additional transportation costs for the rest of this year and the next school year.

The school board is expected to vote on their motion on Tuesday.

By Claudia Cautillo, Town Crier North Toronto

The Memorial Park field on Chaplin Cr. could be receiving a major overhaul if a proposal to revamp the grounds is given the go-ahead.

The North Toronto Soccer Club has put forward an offer to fund an upgrade that would include replacing grass with artificial turf and erecting a heated dome over a third of the field from November to April.

The Toronto District School Board owns the field used by Forest Hill CI and North Preparatory Junior PS during the day and the city after school hours.

Fake profile created for city councillor

By Claudia Cautillo

Councillor Howard Moscoe doesn’t know much about Facebook.

He has never created a personal profile on the popular social networking site, but unbeknownst to him someone else had.

His unauthorized Facebook page, which has since been taken down, included a photo of the councillor as well as made-up interests, favourite movies and a list of close to 50 friends.

By Claudia Cautillo
Town Crier Online

The provincial government says the Toronto District School Board needs to change and has given trustees until the end of May to suggest how.

Otherwise, the province will decide how the board will be run.

Due to its large size, problems have developed with the basic operation of the system, which has led to inefficiencies and a loss of the board’s connection to communities its schools serve.

By Natalie Alcoba, National Post

Toronto’s public school board is looking at banning the sale of water in plastic bottles in its 560 schools, citing the environmental concerns that led to a ban in Waterloo schools.

Trustee Josh Matlow said students should be free to bring plastic bottles if they wish, but the school board should not be in the business of selling them.

“We’re trying to really push our eco-schools initiative, we are encouraging our schools to be environmental,” said Mr. Matlow, who represents the central Toronto riding of St. Paul’s. “We need to live by that both in our schools and at the board.”

Tap water 'just as high quality' says Waterloo board; expects to eliminate all sales on property by 2009

Kristin Rushowy
Education Reporter
The Toronto Star

The Waterloo Region board has banned the sale of plastic bottles of water in its schools starting next year, a move that is expected to spur others across the province into action.

The decision covers cafeterias, vending machines, and school and board functions.

By Claudia Cautillo
Toronto Town Crier Newspapers

The provincial government says the Toronto District School Board needs to change and has given trustees until the end of May to suggest how.

Otherwise, the province will decide how the board will be run.

Due to its large size, problems have developed with the basic operation of the system, which has led to inefficiencies and a loss of the board’s connection to communities its schools serve.

Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
Parentcentral.ca

Toronto public school board trustees approved a plan late last night that could see dozens of small schools with low enrolment closed in the next few years following a ward-by-ward review expected to start in June.

The report by the board's General Asset and Program Planning working group outlines ways to trim costs and free up money to build new schools and more programming by "consolidating" schools with low enrolment and aiming for elementary schools that offer kindergarten to Grade 8 with 450 students and high schools with 1,200 students.

The report was lauded by several trustees, who said it is a starting point that will bring about much-needed change and improvement in the system that is losing 4,000 students each year due to the declining birth rate and the migration of immigrants to the 905.

Make suggestions for devolution by June or we'll impose changes, ministry tells Toronto mega-board

Kristin Rushowy, Education Reporter, The Toronto Star

Toronto trustees have two more months to figure out a way to create a better school board – possibly by breaking it into smaller pieces – or Education Minister Kathleen Wynne will do it for them.

"The minister will consider changes to the TDSB's governance by the end of May, whether or not the board brings recommendations," says a document prepared for discussion at a committee meeting today at Toronto District School Board.

By MICHELE MANDEL    

We are failing our most vulnerable students.

Their parents have left behind their professions, their families and their countries to give their children a better life. But they arrive here only to find the most basic stepping stone to their child's success -- the mastery of English -- is a pawn in a financial shell game.