March 24th Ward 7 Education Council
Minutes
at Howard Junior Public School, 7pm – 9pm
In Attendance
School Trustee: Robin Pilkey
Ward Council Chair: Marcela Saitua (Parkdale Jr. & Sr. Ward 7 Rep)
Superintendents: Curtis Ennis; Jane Phillips-Long
Principals: Rosanna Sardella and Kristina Wessenger-Macdonald (Howard Junior Public School);
Lorraine Linton (Humberside CI)
School Representatives:
Annette Street Junior
and Senior Public School
1
Howard Junior Public
School
5
Keele Street Public
School
3
Parkdale Collegiate
Institute
1
Runnymede Junior and
Senior Public School
2
Warren Park Junior
Public School
0
Fern Avenue Junior and
Senior Public School
1
Humbercrest Public
School
0
King George Junior
Public School
1
Parkdale Junior and
Senior Public School
1
Swansea Junior and
Senior Public School
1
Western TechnicalCommercial School
2
Garden Avenue Junior
Public School
2
Humberside Collegiate
Institute
1
Lucy McCormick Senior
School
No Parent Council
Queen Victoria Public
School
2
The Student School
No Parent Council
High Park Alternative
Junior School
2
Indian Road Crescent
Junior Public School
1
Mountview Alternative
Junior School
2
Runnymede Collegiate
Institute
0
Ursula Franklin
Academy
1
Host School Presentation
Howard Junior PS’s emphasized how the high level of parent council involvement contributes to
their student’s success. By executing numerous successful fundraising events, they are able to
adequately fund activities ranging from arts to athletics. The most notable fundraising event
they organize is their annual Fall Fete which requires 150 volunteers to execute.
Technology Presentation:
Peter Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Information Technology Services
Email: peter.singh@tdsb.on.ca
Phone: (416) 396-5700
Twitter: @Singhpeter
Peter discussed and answered questions on the TDSB’s technology policy and future plans.
Highlights
- Challenges: Building sufficient technology infrastructure is critical in providing students the
tools to learn. However, on one hand, there is a large number of schools, students, and calls for
support in the TDSB. On the other hand, there is a limited amount of funds and tech support
staff.
- Infrastructure Goals: While 47% of school locations are not connected, they want to have
some connectivity in all the coming years. Specifically, every 50 kids would have at least 1 WIFI
access port. All schools in Ward 7 now have WIFI, with the exception of Garden, Humbercrest,
Runnymede PS, and Swansea. These schools are scheduled to be complete by December 2015.
- Legacy Network: There is a challenge in installing new fiber lines as the poles that carry the
current lines run by the City of Toronto are at capacity. Adding new lines for the schools require
the TDSB to pay for replacing the entire cable pole.
- Why are TDSB technology installations more expensive? First, the TDSB installs commercial
standard levels of infrastructure. For example, TDSB wifi routers would have 100 connections
while home models have far less. Second, replacement and installation costs are included in the
contract while home model warranty covers less.
- Google and the TDSB: Google is a partner with the TDSB in providing free applications as well
as online storage space for TDSB students. While Canadian companies approach the TDSB, many
often want to simply sell hardware or software, while Google is unique in investing in student
education freely. (The web portal that students can login to do their homework is ad-free and
child-safe for example).
- Technology and the Curriculum: A challenge the TDSB faces is both the adoption and learning
of the technology to teachers and students. We are exploring ways parent councils and teachers
can champion and spread the technology. At the same time there are difficulties as not every
school has all skills or manpower to do so.
- Technology Equity: Following up on the above point, there is an issue of uneven distribution of
resources among the schools, whether they are financial or human resources. This is especially
the case when the TDSB moves towards a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) format in high schools.
Alternative Schools Advisory Committee
Rebecca Holzman and Erin Crysdale provided insight on alternative schools and the issues that
the Alternative Schools Advisory Committee (ASAC) addresses. Specifically, alternative schools
are smaller schools that often sharing space with a larger host school. Furthermore, these
schools often have a stronger interest in social justice, and have a high level of parent and
student involvement in the everyday running of the school. At the same time, representatives
come together from these different schools at the ASAC to address common concerns. These
range from funding, how students can approach standardized testing, and organizing student
run conferences.
Alternative Schools Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes and Agendas
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/HowtoGetInvolved/CommunityAdvisoryCommittees/Altern
ativeSchoolsAdvisoryCommittee.aspx
Best Practices
Marcela shared with us a best practice Parkdale PS uses to promote students coming to school
on time. Specifically, if a student is on time to class for the entire week, they’d be entered in the
“Perfect Attendance” draw. This positive incentive was a fun way to boost student attendance in
her school.
Trustee Updates
1. New TDSB Panel: A new panel has been brought together to study the TDSB and it’s still in the
early stages of getting set up.
2. TDSB March Board meeting: The budget will be passed on Thursday the 26th. Changes to
enrollment and funding will likely occur. Once finalized, we’ll update you with what it means for
the Ward 7 community. The Garden Boundary change vote will also occur there.
c. PRO Grant applications: Deadline is May 19, 2015
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/reaching.html
e. Long Term Program & Accommodation Strategy for 2015-2016: As mentioned, the LTAS is a
living document that is revised regularly. An updated plan will be going to the May 13 Board
meeting for approval and copies of the Ward 7 updates will be provided at the June 2 Ward
Forum meeting.
f. Young Women on the Move Conference for International Women’s Day and the Queen
Victoria STEAM Conference: Cool conferences where some Ward 7 students took part in.
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/elementaryschool/getinvolved/mentorship/youngwomenonthemove.as
px
h. New Health & Physical Education Curriculum: The new curriculum will take place in the fall,
and we will provide school councils and parents updates to address their concerns.
i. Distribution of info: Facebook is a quick and easy way to communicate to both school councils
and parents in our Ward 7 community. Feel free to add parents that you know.
Next Meeting
Date: April 28th 2015
Location: Parkdale CI, library (209 Jameson Ave, south of Queen St.)
Topic: Active Transportation Charter/EcoSchools/Astroturf
Speaker: Richard Christie, Senior Manager, Sustainability