Toronto, ON, June 26, 2008 –Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Trustees voted tonight on a number of important issues. Below is a summary of these decisions. Additional and background information can be found on the TDSB public website at www.tdsb.on.ca.
Urban Diversity Strategy: A Focus on Student Achievement
The Board voted to approve the Urban Diversity Strategy: Focus on Student Achievement which includes concrete actions to raise the bar and close the achievement gap for vulnerable students at intermediate and secondary levels, and sets ambitious targets to ensure an 85% graduation rate for all groups within five years.
Trustees also approved an amendment to the motion which requested that Model Schools for InnerCites Initiative be integrated into the Urban Diversity Strategy to allow for the most effective and efficient use of resources to serve students in the communities of greatest need and that staff report back in October on the progress.
As part of the Urban Diversity Strategy, TDSB will also work with the Ministry of Education and the city of Toronto in a tripartite partnership to facilitate and coordinate existing programs and resources for more effective integration of services to support student success.
“We need to maintain high expectations for every one of our students,” said Director Gerry Connelly. “This Toronto District Urban Diversity Strategy takes the best of what is already happening in our schools, marshalling all the innovation, best practices and resources of the system, and focusing these, like a laser, where they are needed most.”
“Trustees will be working closely with their superintendents, principals and school communities to ensure that the Toronto District Urban Diversity Strategy is implemented to best reflect the individual needs of their communities,” said TDSB Chair John Campbell. “I am also looking forward to working in partnership with the Province and the City in addressing the larger issue of creating opportunities for youth to be successful.”
Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC)
The Trustees approved an amended 2008-2009 Annual Plan from the Toronto Land Corporation (TLC) to deal with approximately one third of the TDSB’s current inventory of 98 surplus capital assets.
The amended plan includes:
- 10 properties to be declared surplus to the educational needs of the Board;
TLC to provide real estate advice on the following revitalization projects:
- Lawrence Heights
- Regent Park
- Bendale /Thompson Area Review
Remaining leased surplus properties not being recommended for sale will be managed by TLC on behalf of the TDSB and TLC will advise on strategic opportunities as they arise.
The TLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary under authority of the TDSB and was established in September of 2007. TLC’s mandate is to improve the quality of education for students in schools operated by the TDSB by maximizing revenue and value to the Board through the management, redevelopment and sale of properties that are determined by the TDSB to be surplus.
The Toronto District School Board serves more than 240,000 students throughout 550 schools.
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For more information, please contact:
Kelly Baker, Communications and Public Affairs
Toronto District School Board
416-395-2721
kelly.baker@tdsb.on.ca