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 Deviant Productions presents:       

• Save our Schools  an online insider's look at the "schools-closing" board meeting       
• Held mostly in private by the 22 Trustees of the publicly-funded Toronto District School Board on  Wednesday June 23 2010  5050 Yonge St,  North York

• CPE monthly meeting:    
• Monday August 23rd  6-8pm  1482 Bathurst St, CPE board room. (TTC St Clair West)

• Publisher's Book-launch:  Thursday September 9   5-7pm   
• rsvp, press & info line:   Contact Playing Fast,    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Whose Schools Anyway:  mid-September, date tba  Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• CPE monthly 010 -11 meetings:  

Our CPE corresponent, a former City of York CLC* reports on how deeply deceptive the TDSB can be.       

Promises, Promises                                          - compiled by CPE's save our schools reporter

a Review of the Facilities Upgrades Contained in  the 2009-2010 ARC Recommendation Reports.

• TDSB senior staffer, Sheila Penny, stated in a Public ARC meeting on April 20^th that the budget for refits and upgrades to the remaining school buildings in all of the 9 ARCS would be between $65.2 and $75.2 million. 

• In the Timberbank ARC report, a parent’s research was reported as saying that only half of the TDSB’s elementary schools had been designed to hold 450 students.  The other half would have to be rebuilt to achieve the goal of 450 students (minimum) per school.

• The ARC recommendations are inconsistent in format, size and detail.  Some contain lengthy lists of items required by school facilities; others say nearly nothing.  Most recommended that ‘community design committees’ be struck to advise the TDSB on school renovations.  

1.  The Dufferin-Eglinton ARC                     Ward 8            Trustee Howard Goodman

     Schools involved:  Briar Hill Jr. P.S., Fairbank M.S., West Preparatory Jr. P.S. 

In order for Fairbank to become a JK to grade 8 school and for West Preparatory and Fairbank to absorb the Briar Hill students when that school closes, then according to “The significant findings and rational for the recommended accommodation include the following:” [for both West Prep and Fairbank]

• appropriate gym spaces

• lunchroom facilities
• new kindergarten classrooms
• sufficient number of washrooms
• age appropriate outdoor learning spaces for junior, primary and kindergarten
• space for Spec Ed. programs
• traffic control measures, including drop off zones
• spaces for instrumental music, science, visual arts, design and technology
• wireless technology
• air conditioning
• build a daycare at Fairbank ( if the day care provider pays for the renovation)
• NO portables
• green space, parks
• sufficient space for future growth (West Prep may become JK to Grade 8 or the area my experience population increase)

2.  The Keele-Eglinton ARC             Ward 11                      Trustee Chris Tonks

     Schools involved:  Charles E. Webster Jr. P.S., Keelesdale Jr P.S., Silverhtorn Jr. P.S.,          

                                     Kane M.S.

In the section of the ARC report entitled Other Significant Findings or Comments, it states,”the ARC supports” the following:

• Kane will be converted from a middle school to a JK to 8 (absorbing Silverthorn)
• a new gym for Charles E. Webster
• new  playgrounds for C.E. Webster and Kane/Silverthorn for ages 5 and under
• only limited use of portables during construction
• the land vacated by Silverthorn will be a park (!)

3.  The  McCowan ARC                    Ward 19                      Trustee Scott Harrison

      Schools involved:  McCowan Rd. Jr. P.S., Cedarbrook Jr. P. S., Knob Hill Jr. P.S.,

                         John McCrea Sr. P.S., Pringdale Gardens Jr. P.S., Charles Gordon Sr. P.S.          

After Pringdale Gardens and McCowan Rd. are closed and consolidated with John McCrea, the remaining schools will all get:

• Wireless technology environments
• Dedicated space for science and technology
• NO portables

 Cedarbrook will get:

• a new library                                                               
• a computer lab
• an art room
• a fenced in play area
• four kindergartens
• additional playground space at the back of the school yard
• the Early Learning Program and a Parenting Literacy Centre
• a facility snack program 

Knob Hill will get:

• appropriate sized Jr K rooms
• fenced in outdoor JK and K areas
• more washrooms for students and staff
• a computer lab; new library resources
• additional storage
• a bigger kitchen
• spaces for support staff and Professional Learning Community and community use
• a paved pathway to Danforth Rd.
• the Early Learning Program and a Parenting Literacy Centre
• facility snack program

John McCrea will get:

• appropriate learning spaces added for kindergarten and JK
• community meeting space
• updated security system
• better outdoor lighting in the parking lot under building

• separate Jr. Kindergarten entrance with a ramp
• more windows in the building for natural light

On May 27^th, Sheila Penny stated the estimated cost of these promises would be $12 million.

4.  The Meadowvale- Sheppard ARC                       Ward 22          Trustee Nadia Bello

     Schools involved:  Chief Dan George P.S., Brooks Rd. P.S., John G. Diefenbaker P.S.

                                    Highcastle P.S., Meadowvale-Sheppard site.

This ARC discussed the following enhancements for all the remaining schools after Brooks Rd. is closed:

• information technology upgrades
• updated infrastructure- roofs, etc.
• enhanced science and technology facilities
• sufficient space for all-day kindergarten
• large multi-purpose space for lunchrooms and community use as well as snack and breakfast programs
• child care space and before and after school programs
• special spaces for art and music
• NO portables
• sufficient storage for classroom supplies
• accessible schools

• spec Ed facilities with Snoozelen room
• parking lots with drop off loops
• gymnasiums and well maintained sports fields
• enhanced school libraries
• flexible furniture to accommodate the needs of all students
• a health room
• space to share with community partners for special purposes such a prayers, public health and social services. 

The school facilities proposal for each remaining school identified the following changes are required for each of the remaining schools.

Chief Dan George will require:

• two kindergartens
• three additional classrooms

Highcastle will require:

• one new kindergarten
• one new classroom

Meadowvale (proposed new school)

• 29 classrooms

4.  Alexander Stirling (not part of this ARC but absorbing the French Immersion from Brooks Rd.)

• two kindergarten rooms
• two new classrooms

5.  The Dufferin-St Claire ARC             Ward 9                   Trustee Maria Rodrigues

      Schools involved:  J.R.Wilcox C.S., Cedarvale C.S., Arlington M.S., Rawlinson C.S.,

                                     Humewood C.S.

• NO portables

6. The Yonge-Davisville ARC               Ward 11                  Trustee Josh Matlow

    Schools involved:  Davisvill Jr. P.S., Metro Toronto School for the Deaf, Hodgeson Sr.

                                   P.S., Maurice Cody Jr. P.S., Eglinton Jr. P.S., Spectrum Alternative

                                   Sr. P.S.

• reasonable capital investmentsto ensure enhanced programming at all sites
• renovate Davisville Jr P.S. and MTSD for additional programs
• add capacity to Maurice Cody and Hodgeson for increased enrolments
• relocate Spectrum Alternative to Davisville/MTSD
• school spaces for Parenting and Family Literacy programs and child care

7.  The West Hill ARC                 Ward 22                   Trustee Nadia Bello

      Schools involved:  Eastview Jr. P.S., William J. Miller Jr. P.S., Joseph Brant Sr. P.S.,

                                     Peter Secor Jr. P.S., Heron Park Jr. P.S.

• When Peter Secor and Heron Park close, one of the three remaining schools will become a barrier free facility.

Eastview will get the following proposed new rooms:

• one kindergarten
• one science and technology classroom
• one art room
• one instrument music room  

Joseph Brant will get the following proposed new rooms:

• five kindergartens
• nine core program classrooms
• four Special Ed rooms
• two childcare rooms  

William G. Miller will get the following proposed new rooms:                                                 

• two kindergartens
• one Spec Ed classrooms                                                                        

At the Planning and Priorities Committee meeting of May 10^th, 2010 Director Sheila Penny revealed that the estimated cost for these renovations would be $9 million.

8.  The Timberbank ARC                  Ward 20                      Trustee Soo Wong

      Schools involved:  Timberbank Jr. P.S., Lynnwood Heights Jr. P.S., Highland   

                                     Heights Jr. P.S.

• Highland heights will require one new classroom
• Lynnwood Heights will require one additional classroom and a resource centre
• Timberbank will need two more regular classrooms

9.  The Bloor Dufferin ARC              Ward 9                                    Maria Rodrigues

      Schools involved:  Dovercourt Jr. P.S., Pauline Jr. P.S., Brock Jr. P.S. Kent M.S.

• relocate and retrofit daycare into Pauline Jr. P.S.
• retrofit Dovercourt Jr. P.S. and Pauline Jr. P.S. to become JK to grade 8 schools

In addition to voting to close 9 schools on June 23^rd, the TDSB will be voting to approve the money for all the retrofits, reconstruction and general facelifts to the remaining “receiving” schools they’ve been promising.   Usually reliable sources have informed CPE that the total cost for the reconsturction that could result after closing of these schools will be $72 million. 

Elsewhere we have iitemized the promises made to the various ARC communities. Parents Save our Schools chapters will be hosting a SOS rally in front of TDSB head office at 5050 Yonge St on June 23^rd 5:30 to 7:00 pm.