small schools best -researchers
For years, empirical studies have shown that urban centres like Toronto require small schools! A recent review examined 57 post-1990 empirical studies of school size effects on a variety of student and organizational outcomes. The weight of evidence provided by this research clearly favors smaller schools. ‘Students who traditionally struggle at school and students […]
playgrounds safe
TORONTO SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOT SELL see also: Toronto School Board right not to sell playgrounds: Salutin. The Toronto District School Board has voted down a proposal to raise money for capital projects by selling land at some Toronto schools to developers. The Board voted 15 to 7 against a plan that could have seen […]
In School out of Schooltime
Tuesday, December 4th, 2012 1pm – 4pm SPT’s Research & Policy Forum What’s happening with community programming in Toronto schools? Find out and join the discussion! Featuring Guest Speakers: Susan Fletcher, Chair of the SPACE Coalition, on the changes to community use of schools in Toronto and across Ontario Miya Narushima, Associate Professor at Brock University, […]
If your 7 year old…
Ontario: far from debt crisis
In the early 1990s, CTV broadcaster Eric Malling told Canadians the sad tale of a baby hippo shot by authorities at a New Zealand zoo. Sad, but apparently necessary, Malling suggested in a special broadcast from down under. After all, New Zealand had big deficits, so there was no money to expand the hippo pen. […]
Countdown to June 13th: Which side are you on?
news item: WHERE TO CUT School Board BUDGET? How About “Just Say NO!” “After making around $50 million in cuts in April, primarily by chopping 134 FTE School Office Staff (around 200 members) and all 430 FTE Regular Program Educational Assistants, the Trustees have decided to go to their communities and speak to the ‘parents’ […]
Board will front Government austerity damage
TDSB announcing that it will begin Consulting Community on 2012/2013 Budget -Trustees will be holding ward forums on the 2012/2013 budget in the coming weeks. In order for the Board to comply with Ontario’s Education Act school trustees, states a Monday release from the TDSB, “must hold ward forums to hear from their communities about […]
..News release _ Monday, February 20th TORONTO February 20, 2012 – Seasoned community activist and leading by-election candidate for school trustee in Ward 17, Mary Hynes, plans to spend Family Day nearby her school talking to fellow parents. “Our schools are the custodians of our kids. With all this economic turmoil, surely now is the […]
Beware school boards bearing gifts
.. A round of nine public “pupil accommodation” meetings, held in rapid succession this fall announced the arrival of 10 Elementary Alternative Learning Opportunity (EALO) schools. At most of the meetings, Toronto’s school board staff outnumbered any parents and community members who came. Interestingly, in every meeting, the same explanation was given for why each site […]
Regent Park – Duke of York PS to be sold
The Regent Park staff recommendation to close Regent Park/Duke of York PS was passed without discussion by the TDSB board of trustees Wednesday, Nov 16th. Despite deputations from the Regent Park community and much effort to keep this school open the property has been placed on the surplus list and sent to the Toronto Lands […]