The budget, which was discussed over the course of three board meetings in the last week, reinstated several staff-recommended cuts including a planned $3 million in cuts to school budgets. Trustees also voted to hire back 14 special education teachers who had been cut in earlier budget proceedings and vetoed a planned $10,000 reduction to Trustee expenses, a move that divided the board.

While the TDSB annually faces deficit budgets and is forced to make cuts to services, I submit the board has not moved quickly enough to manage its property assets responsibly. The TDSB is seeing a decline in enrolment of about 4000 students a year and for over a decade has held onto dozens of schools that are almost half-empty.

It is also sitting on between 90-100 properties that are either closed or vacant with a property value of $640 million. I submit that revenue from the sale of these assets, and savings from consolidations, should go back into our classrooms, renew our aged facilities, increase capacity in schools that are over-enrolled and fund programs and support staff. The creation of the Toronto Lands Corporation, along with the Better Schools, Brighter Futures initiatives is a positive step forward. However, I am genuinely concerned that political and ideological interests of some trustees have, over several years, obstructed this admittedly controversial but important work.

For the next TDSB meeting-August 26th, 2009

Notice of Motion for the Toronto District School Board- Trustee Josh Matlow, Seconded by Trustee Chris Tonks

Whereas, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is in trust of public funds and has a duty to manage its property assets responsibly;

Whereas, the TDSB has, for many years, been experiencing a sharp decline in enrolment at a rate of approximately 4000 students per year;

Whereas; the TDSB operates dozens of schools that have only between 50 and 60 percent enrolment and are situated in communities that have other local schools; many of which would benefit from additional programs and services

Whereas, the TDSB ‘s school programs and aged facilities are in need of new operating and capital funds;

Whereas, an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) engages local communities, in a process to fairly determine appropriate surplus declarations with a focus on program and services for students and their school communities.

Therefore, be it resolved that the TDSB commence at least ten ARCs during the 2009/ 2010 school year and at least another ten ARCs during the 2010/ 2011 school year.

Dear constituents,

Today, the Toronto District School Board will be debating both a regular agenda and proposed cuts of $26 million to balance a budget of $2.5 billion. The meeting begins at 4:30pm at TDSB Headquarters, 5050 Yonge Street.

To help keep you informed, I will be posting updates on decisions that are of import to our community through Twitter that will appear on my Facebook page, Twitter and website at www.joshmatlow.ca

Along with the budget discussion, which will affect every aspect of how education dollars are allocated throughout the system, other items on the agenda include vending machine contracts, proposed school pool closures and the future of School Resource Officers, to name a few. I've posted today's meeting agenda on my website along with information regarding the budget discussion specifically. You can click here to visit a page that has this information.

I very much appreciate the feedback I've received from many of you about the priorities you have for your children, your school and our community. It is important to me that I fairly reflect and represent these priorities at the Toronto Disrtict School Board on your behalf.

Sincerely,

Josh

Josh Matlow
Trustee for St. Paul’s
Toronto District School Board
www.joshmatlow.ca
www.facebook.com/joshmatlow
http://twitter.com/JoshMatlow

Greetings,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents who have written to the TDSB trustees requesting their support for the inclusion of critical resources for special education, gifted and many other programs in the upcoming Toronto District School Board (TDSB) budget. Your advocacy was very impressive as both trustees and TDSB senior staff received a considerable number of emails from our parent community.

As the result of our advocacy, there were some responses to our campaign that attempted to suggest that we had not received accurate information and that we may have not been properly informed as to the proposals being considered by the school board. We want all parents to know that our campaign has been based on fully accurate information and that there is no misunderstanding on our part with respect to the impact of proposed cuts in special education, not only to Northern, but to other schools in the TDSB as well. We have full confidence in our efforts and are committed to stay the course. To do that, we need you, our parent community, to stay engaged and support our actions.

Your strong and articulate support has been a testament to the great interest in advocating for our children.

Our e-mails have raised the profile of these important issues and we are hopeful that these resources will be included in the 2009/10 budget which will be voted on by the trustees during their June 24 Board meeting. Our trustee, Josh Matlow will move forward on our behalf in the run-up to the budget meeting next week and we have to trust in his efforts.

We should be able to report back on the outcome of our efforts in the next newsletter. In the meantime if you have any questions; please feel free to contact Allen Schacht, Special Education Chair at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dear parents and residents of St. Paul’s,

On June 24th, 2009, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustees will vote on the 2009-2010 budget. We will be discussing and voting on Staff recommendations, and trustee motions, to balance a budget of $2, 475, 326, 344.

This vote will affect every aspect of what resources Toronto’s public schools will be allocated next year. I am currently reading a 240-page binder I received today with the proposed budget recommendations and am seeking your views regarding what you believe to be the priorities for our school board.