by Sharon Lem, The Toronto Sun

The improved academic achievements of seven Toronto schools located in poor neighbourhoods is being credited to a $25-million Toronto District School Board initiative over the past three years.

Under the TDSB’s Model Schools for Inner Cities initiative, inner-city schools were given the tools, resources and opportunities to support students who face socioeconomic challenges that get in the way of learning.

All but one of the seven schools under the initiative exceeded national academic standards, while the seventh school reached the national academic standards, the TDSB said Monday.

“These model schools are doing exceptionally well from five years ago,” Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher said. “This is what we were hoping for to happen. We actually made a difference.”

But Trustee Josh Matlow says the $25 million could have been better spent.

“The results for kids is always good news, but the TDSB has a mandate to provide equity to all children across Toronto and spending millions on only a handful of schools when other schools are losing programs and staff every year is unequitable,” Matlow said.

“We’re facing a $17-million deficit this year and the model school program does not have a sustainable source of funding. They’re taking millions of dollars from Ontario grants which should be equally dispersed across the city.

“We have kids living in poverty in schools all across Toronto and we need to support kids no matter where they’re going to school.”

Matlow accused proponents of the initiative of creating “a public relations campaign” to drum up support for the program before the budget process is completed.

“I’d appreciate a democratic discussion, rather than another sales pitch,” Matlow said.

Model schools include: Firgrove, Nelson Mandela Park PS, Willow Park, Forest Manor, George Webster, Kingsview Village Jr., and Bala Avenue Community School.

The program includes 102 cluster schools which were mentored by the same teaching tactics the seven model schools used.

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