Toronto, ON, December 10, 2008 –Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Trustees debated tonight on a number of important issues. Below is a summary of their decisions. Additional and background information can be found on the TDSB public website at www.tdsb.on.ca.
Director Updates Trustees on SCSAP Report’s Recommendations
When the School Community Safety Advisory Panel (SCSAP) released its report in January, the Toronto District School Board welcomed its recommendations. The TDSB considered and analyzed the 126 recommendations as they provided an impetus for change.
In an update to trustees, Gerry Connelly, Director of Education announced that to date, about 80% of the recommendations that were directed to the TDSB have been addressed or implemented through existing board policy, programs and initiatives or through the efforts of the Leadership Action Team appointed by the Director to oversee the response to the SCSAP report.
Some of the recommendations that have been addressed include:
- Student Safety Line (395-SAFE)
- 33 alternative programs to support students in challenging circumstances
- System wide equity training for all TDSB staff
“Every recommendation from the SCSAP report has been reviewed, analyzed, addressed or implemented into the work of the TDSB,” said Connelly. “We continue to refer to it in our efforts to maintain a learning environment that is safe for all our students. It is clear that as an educational institution, we have important work to be done along with our community partners to ensure success and safety for all our students and we are doing this work.”
School Uniforms
Trustees voted in favour of referring the issue of school uniforms to a number of community advisory committees, including the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and the Student Super Council and other groups as determined by staff for feedback.
The recommendation calls for lowering the percentage of parent support needed at a school meeting for adopting a dress code at a school. It also calls for more flexibility in allowing parents to vote by proxy if they aren’t able to attend a school meeting and that they are given ample time to respond.
Trustees have asked that staff present a report when ready on the feasibility of implementation of the recommendation.
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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