TDSB’s $1 million deal with condo developer

November 16, 2014

The TDSB recently accepted $1 million from a developer to build a new playground in exchange for abandoning the plan to work alongside the City to fight the planned development at the upcoming Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing. The proposed development casts a shadow over the entire school yard every morning, creating a sub-optimal play space for students.

Why would the TDSB agree to such a deal? Sadly, because it made sense when weighing the guaranteed $1 million from the developer against the uncertain $400,000 compensation if the OMB hearing resulted in a win.

Developers should be contributing financially to TDSB schools in communities where they build via Education Development Charges (EDCs).  However, due to current provincial regulations, the TDSB doesn’t qualify so instead, we see these one-off deals where developers only contribute to public schools when backed into a corner.

The Province must change the regulation guiding the collection and use of EDC’s so that TDSB schools benefit routinely from new development. The TDSB has been lobbying the Province  to do this since January, 2014 and Fix Our Schools has been lobbying the Province on this issue since May, 2014.  To find out more about EDCs, visit Education Development Charges 101

The TDSB could use some help from Queen’s Park too

November 13, 2014

The Ministry has responded quickly to help Toronto’s Catholic School Board address a recently discovered $9 Million deficit.

Province sends in consultant to help Catholic_Boards address a $9m deficit

Yet this same Ministry seems content to sit idly by while the TDSB struggles to address a $3.5 Billion backlog of repairs and maintenance.  The TDSB could use some help too please.  Our children deserve to attend school in well-maintained buildings and if the TDSB cannot address it on their own – then send in the cavalry!

Could public schools get same treatment as transit?

November 13, 2014

Great news today about transit in Toronto – the Ontario government may get more involved in the TTC and may actually pay for some of its operating expenses.

Ontario considers picking up part of tab for operating TTC

Equally great news is that our mayor-elect is already developing a positive working relationship with Queen’s Park.  Hallelujah!  A good working relationship between the City and Province is critical if we want to see public education get the same treatment as transit – namely more involvement and attention from both the City and the Province!

Fundraising in public schools

November 5, 2014

On November 3, 2014, The Globe & Mail published an article about how Fundraising gives Toronto’s affluent schools a wider edge

In this article, Annie Kidder, executive director of the not-for-profit charitable organization People for Education, said it is concerning how much schools have come to rely on fundraising to augment their budgets.  How true.

The conversation needs to shift to become about how public schools are an integral part of our public infrastructure – on par with roads, transit, water.  Would we fundraise in our communities to fix roads or build a new subway line?  Sounds ridiculous – right?  To make this point, we submitted a letter to the editor, which appeared in the November 5 edition under the title “Here’s Hoping”.

Schools as community hubs?

October 31, 2014

The Ministry of Education’s mandate letter for the next four years includes developing a community hubs policy – a noble concept that would see empty public schools used creatively to benefit a community in alternate ways.

Mandate Letter from Premier Kathleen Wynne to Minister of Education Liz Sandals

However, in pursuit of short-term efficiencies, schools in rural areas of Ontario and urban centres are being forced to close.  50 mayors across Ontario have banded together to lobby the Provincial government to reconsider school closures in favour of transforming school buildings into true community hubs.

Ontario Mayors Fight to Keep Schools Open

A transformation of this kind will require both patience and co-operation between the Provincial Government, School Boards, and Municipalities.  Not an easy task but one that seems worth pursuing.

What has Fix Our Schools done so far?

October 29, 2014

As a starting point to this blog, we want to bring you up to speed on what Fix Our Schools has been doing. So far, a lot of our campaign has been informed by our experience with local schools here in Ward 7 (near High Park).  We hope that this will change as we connect with other TDSB parents from across the city!

1) We’ve been writing letters to both the TDSB and the Ministry of Education.   Here are the latest letters sent to each:

Letter_to the Ministry of Education

Letter to the TDSB

2) We’ve contacted media, that has resulted in the following media exposure:

TDSB wants development funding for overcapacity schools and $3.5 Billion in outstanding repairs

Fix Our Schools calls upon mayoral candidates to work with TDSB

Fix Our Schools echo TDSB Trustees’ plea to Province to reconsider how development money is accessed and used by school boards

3) We’ve worked hard to get education issues on the agenda during the municipal election by hosting a local Ward 7 Trustee debate; answering media questions about the Trustee races across the city; and sending the following letters to Mayoral candidates and City Councillor candidates:

Letter to Mayoral Candidates

Letter to City Councillor Candidates