one in welcome to the special planning and priorities committee
meeting for may seventh twenty twenty wanted to try a
district school board I'd like to call the meeting to
order and ag ... service oriented knowledge and with knowledge
that we are hosted on the land on the lands
of the Mississaugas of the Anniston Ave the holding a
Sony confederacy and when that we also recognize the enduring
presence of all First Nations may eighteenth and injuring two
people regrets
item two on our agenda today is declarations of possible
conflict of interest ... I don't know if there were
any before I don't suspect there are but if there
are keys to clear them
okay not seeing any or hearing any art will move
on to item three witches delegations we don't have any
delegations for today and I don't support is the ...
important item that we have today September guidance and funding
announcements from the ministry our
is he says well no these are the information was
released earlier this week so I won't waste any more
time in the world interested in finding out what's going
to happen and I'll pass it over to our
2 director software
thank you so much Jerry Brown ... through the chair
staff is pleased ... and I'm very proud of the
work that's been put in since Tuesday ... in order
to bring you know this information as accurately as possible
status been engaged in meetings with the ministry and with
each other for the last three days in order to
bring me was detailed information as possible bearing in mind
further details will be comes forth in the upcoming weeks
on the agenda that you see before you I covers
the memos that were put out in order to address
each of these areas and staff is pleased to be
able to give a high level directions and highlights we
will be continuing to offer remote learning options consistent with
our requirements for remote learning school boards have been asked
to delay the deadline for parents to indicate their interest
until June first at the earliest and so we've made
provisions to give parents up until June first students will
continue to be supplied with devices to access remote learning
in order for us to address equity and local school
boards and public health guidance is to be followed it
should also be noted that Todd T. S. B. is
in conversation with T. P. H. trump public health board
are regarding vaccinations for children since the recent time release
of information and while we don't have further details at
this time we are expecting to be provided with further
details in the upcoming week or two according to journal
public health
I ask assistant director anis to take you through elementary
in person
thank you director Faulkner so the ministry of education has
given us the opportunity for courting off classes to continue
we're gonna have specialized teachers such as French our teachers
will be allowed to support multiple classrooms to provide educational
programming to students
students will also maybe pulled into smaller groups for support
and all programs based on the local health advice so
this is something we will have to pay close attention
to listening to what the PH is advising us
next one
a good afternoon everybody in the secondary panel we've received
guidance that courting of students has to continue to limit
the number of student to student interactions we will need
to limit to two classes at a time or per
day when possible and are planning will needs to still
account for possibly having to fully remote I should circumstances
require that associate director and this will continue
sorry off me to be good we're happy to have
an equity focus we have a six point four five
million dollars that is being issued province wide to support
equity initiative and the TDSB our portion of that allocation
is yet to be confirmed are there is a commitment
to support equity initiatives focused on black indigenous racialized students
and underserved communities which supports our mandate within the multi
year strategic plan there's a continued focus on ensuring equitable
distribution of staff and financial resources to support our most
marginalized learners and communities
we're also going to continue engagement with indigenous education partners
to improve access to equitable culturally appropriate and culturally safe
education for all indigenous students
at this time we do not receive specifics around health
and safety but we've been advised that guidance will be
released during the summer on areas including masking coal hoarding
for clubs and extra curricular is daily health screening screening
and a timeline for returning to full classes in the
secondary panel where all students can attend at the same
time
thank you Andrew I'll take you through the GS seven
Stafford components that were denounced in the twenty one twenty
two as you can see on the list I'll go
through each of those grants doubled in detail and I
just like three by trustees that I may twelfth at
back we'll be going through the full analysis of the
grants with you today you will be away talking to
those that relate to cope with nineteen credit debit funding
other our other grants such as the mass strategy that
will will discuss that aspect as well as our intention
of affect as we work through the weekend is to
give you our of projected financial position based on the
grants that were announced today next slide please
... so the first thing that we were fortunately the
... grants that were announced over the week where around
the steep grass I go talk to there are only
half of the retreat budget for as school boards we've
formed in the fall of the balance of the allocations
are based on the status of the pandemic as well
as public health advice and the the role of the
vaccines so the first record we're told about our funding
was around staffing and our total allocation for the year
is thirty one point five million however we're only to
budget plan for fifteen point seven five million of that
and this funding is to support the areas of teaching
and classroom supports here taking in school administration particularly the
virtual school
straight should
the next grand again the clocks fall the same classification
is school operations scrubbing additional funding and for DSP that's
three point seven to William and the budget for the
first half of the year would be for one point
eight six and this will be the cover increase utility
costs for bring the ventilation systems longer as well street
more rapid changes of filters
next slide please
in transportation similarly the funding is three point nine five
million of which a half years one point nine eight
billion and this is the support behance cleaning PP and
staff costs whether it be for overtime for drivers or
additional drivers because we've added routes
in this area special education our funding in announcement for
us was one point zero nine billion and for half
a year that's the five hundred fifty thousand this is
support divisional staff learning resources of professional help in the
area special education
in mental health and well being we do have a
kid up one point two three million or spot six
hundred and twenty thousand for the first part of the
year S. support distal staffing training and resources in that
area if I have my sights the following grants are
gonna vals del have been announced to be used for
the whole year to be budgeted for the full year
so the first one is rather eat read gauge rose
stills and reading assessment supports the funding for the full
year is two point two one billion and this is
the support the customization of learning plans including Ste first
black students indigenous special education and socially or economically challenged
and those of her be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
in the end technology they've amassed a increase of one
point seven billion and this is a permanent increase the
GSM even after the pandemic yeah so that's the only
one that we've been asked to be a permanent change
and this is the support replacement and purchase the devices
for our students
that we were supposed to have been rolled out to
the
in ESL newcomer supplement TSB is gonna get twenty five
million dollars the attention of this funding is to maintain
the support levels that were for ESL students in the
nineteen twenty school year and as a result of declining
enrollments of new covers ... they are giving this funding
to the school boards to support that
what are the changes that I'd like to bring to
your attention with the grants for student means Israel secondary
teacher staffing
and because the rollout of online learning and as you
are aware that these are the Mister direction students that
were in grade nine and twenty twenty one are required
to ... to credits online by the let friends graduation
requirements as a result the ministry's upping the funding model
starting next year and beginning with next year they will
be assuming eight percent of the secondary students we take
online courses and this percentage will increase to sixty percent
and twenty two twenty three and twenty six percent in
twenty three twenty four
the impact of the change of the eight percent of
state secondary students are being assumed by the ministry of
education for online learning will result in an impact of
approximately two point nine million reduction in our secondary teacher
staffing or possibly twenty six teachers for twenty two
at twenty one twenty zero I should say ... password
add to Gary's Sir sure some information around the pandemic
with you
next slide please
we're sharing two maps that provide a current snapshot of
where we stand with Kohli cases this first map shows
counts of cases by neighborhoods the dark blue shaded areas
are the neighborhoods that are reporting the most coli cases
we have dark blue areas within the standard Scarborough the
western part of North York in the northern part of
the topical this data comes from the city of Toronto's
website next slide please
this map shows covert cases by school and these are
cumulative cases accounted from November to April of twenty three
the larger the dot the more the cases that have
occurred at the school and as you can see from
the distribution of the dots ... all parts of the
city are impacted by the covert cases this data comes
from our own coveted five trees website I'm passing it
over to Curtis now thank you
the one of the major concern that most of us
have or all of us for that matter is really
mental health well being and re engagement and so the
mental health support funding is similar to the twenty twenty
one at one point two million and then twenty twenty
one we received up point eight three million related to
reading intervention no funding was provided for re engagement during
this particular school year but for the twenty one twenty
two school year we're projected to receive two point two
million for both re engagement and reading assessment support
we will spend time to develop and strengthen relationships and
connections and communities are we'll take a whole school approach
to student engagement through activities we will outreach to students
and families targeting those who have had limited participation this
year and we will engage our professional support services staff
to support mental health wellness offer the twenty one twenty
two school year next line
we also need to continue to focus on understanding the
well being and mental health of our students through their
mental health literacy
we're gonna ease them into the school routines create flexibility
with time to support students in practice and skills to
manage your emotions utilize our PSS staff to strengthen their
mental health literacy throughout the year we're also going to
learn about young people's our younger students emotions and their
feelings about being back in school their fears and their
apprehensions we're gonna take an asset based based approach in
providing ... supports to students we're going to support and
encourage mindfulness activities as we anticipate students may feel fatigued
and worried about schooling
next line
... through teaching and learning we're going to reestablish routines
and class structures we're going to encourage patients and ...
reiterate routines and expectations often are we going to provide
and reassure students and caregivers off any concerns they might
have with learning gaps and with schooling we're gonna partner
with some support staff and community we're going to collaborate
with our professional support services staff and community partners to
continue providing well being supports in classroom and in our
school communities
looking at our learning recovery and renewal the early development
inst instrument E. D. I. in twenty twenty one twenty
two E. D. I. implementation will resume
R. E. D. I. of course is a short questionnaire
which is completed by kindergarten teachers across Canada and internationally
which measures our children's ability to be age appropriate developmental
expectations the E. R. has been collected across the province
in in three year cycles in the previous school year
ET I was postponed
and then the twenty one twenty two school year the
E. D. I. will be implemented in the winter of
twenty twenty two in all our kindergarten classes across the
province
I thank you continuing with learning recovery and renewal in
the next school year regular EQAO assessments will resume with
the following adaptations are great three and six students attending
in person learning will participate in an online EQAO math
reading and writing assessment our grade nine math students attending
learning in person will write the grade nine math assessment
and as was the case prior to the pandemic that
assessment may be counted for up to ten percent of
the students mark next slide
in terms of the literacies test students who are graduating
in the twenty one twenty two school year will be
exempted from this as a graduation requirement the literacy test
that was the case this year the literacy graduation requirement
will be restored it for students graduating in twenty twenty
to twenty twenty three students in grades ten and eleven
... including those who are learning virtually you will be
required to work towards this literacy graduation requirement and E.
Q. L. would be eight ... planning for two administrations
of the literacy test one in the fall and one
next spring next slide
in terms of the online graduation requirements associate director Snyder
already talked about the introduction of this is that a
requirement for graduation we are under the understanding that further
information will be provided regarding ... the opt out process
that is part of that requirement which was always going
to be part of it as well as information about
how virtual learning during the pandemic may be counted towards
the online learning graduation requirement more information to come on
that
next slide
in terms of the community involvement graduation requirements for students
who are graduating in twenty one twenty two the required
number of community ours will be a minimum of twenty
instead of forty this is consistent with changes that were
made for this year's graduating students at the community graduation
requirement of forty hours will be restored in the twenty
twenty to twenty three school year and there's been flexibility
given to the types of activities that qualify for meeting
this requirement given the pandemic next slide
in terms of assessment evaluation and reporting are growing success
for secondary school courses requires that thirty percent of the
final grade in these courses is based on a final
evaluation for next school year as was the case this
school year we will have flexibility to to determine how
the final evaluation will be weighted and how it will
be run and as was the case this year lots
of different opportunities rather than examinations are some additives will
be allowed under that policy
next slide just wanna talk a little bit about ...
finding that we're receiving for numeracy assessment support the mass
strategy funding for the next school year has been released
to support student performance in mathematics and we will be
providing support to educators in implementing the new grade one
to eight math curriculum and begin our continue our work
in our board around the great ninety streamed math course
that's been now introduced through the ministry our plans will
support curriculum implementation training and coaching as well as educator
professional learning professional activity days next year will include mathematics
and numeracy as as topics for those days next slide
in terms of support for students with special education needs
are just too high level comments for this evening as
there is continued funding for our after school skill development
programs and that funding on top of for staffing can
be used for purchase of resources are evidence based programs
or interventions to support learning for students with special education
needs and we may also use that funding for summer
twenty twenty one program makes there is also funding available
in twenty one twenty two to support school boards in
assisting students with special education learning needs in terms of
additional staffing resources learning resources including assistive technology interventions that
can be used to address with learning gaps or professional
assessments based on local needs next slide
and then in terms of supports for students and yes
L. E. L. D. programs associate director Snyder already talked
about the continuation of funding for staffing despite the decline
in population and we will also be looking at summer
programming to support English language learners in terms of tutoring
programs a clear focus on supporting engagement well being literacy
and numeracy development I'll turn it over to assistant superintendent
Ian Allison
thank you Andrew ... and in terms of our next
steps we're going to be looking to engage parents in
the use of the selection form for in person and
virtual earning for the twenty twenty one twenty twenty two
school year and ... there's a series of steps in
terms of planning that's been under way just to sort
of get ready to that stage and in our elementary
plan three particular sets of dates that we have out
there in this past February and March we've engaged in
the transfer of grade students for virtual school to their
secondary school in the pre registration window so that's the
school that they should be going to for next year
we have also engaged in the may search information third
to seventh which is this week we have re engaged
a hundred and three classes connecting them back to their
in person school so these are students that are in
the cater for division and the students need these classes
or students that all our students from the same school
and so we're re engaging them with their local home
school as a natural transition point where all students in
the class are at the local home school reconnecting them
with the principle of the home school so they can
engage in activities in transition through the rest of this
school year
and in may and early June
we're gonna be engaging in the process of transitioning students
back to bricks and mortars four this is all the
virtual school students they they will continue obviously to work
in the advert in the virtual environment at this point
but in terms of preparation for September we're going to
be set up communications to the local schools and lists
of students in elementary virtual school from kindergarten right through
to grade eight have gone back to the local school
principals for them to just verify the information that that's
happening in the next week for them to verify information
in terms of the students going coming back to their
school and the appropriate places they'll be going to and
then gathering that information and using that information to actually
engage in the transfer process which will be that trillium
transfer back to the appropriate receiving school for September
one of the other things that we're trying to do
as well to support our our our principles and bricks
mortar is ... to identify students who have never been
in school in person or who may have only attended
for a limited number of days during the twenty twenty
one school year before transferring to virtual school from the
receiving schools so these would be students mostly core JK
and escape but there may be some students in other
grades that are coming from other other boards or other
provinces that have not been in bricks and mortar school
for greater than fifteen days or at all this year
and we're not registered in our schools last year in
June
in terms of our secondary plan
... it during February March we've transferred all the students
for virtual school to local school for September twenty twenty
one including course selection so that they're in the registration
window to go forward for next year
and in terms of what the year structure and secondary
will look like the current plan is that we will
have a quad one quad to quad three quad for
plant and the other possibility is if there is a
if the pandemic circumstances improve we may end up with
a quad one quad two semester approach but for this
point in time based on limited information we have at
this point it will be quite long what's your what's
required for expired please
and so what we're giving here is just the actual
selection form for in person virtual learning and what the
time lines will look like in terms of our communication
so may seventeenth we're gonna communicate to parents and guardians
and caregivers that a selection form is coming supported by
translations
may twenty fifth the selling the selection form will then
be sent out with the notion that on June first
the actual selection form close by midnight June first that's
our timeline for this Diana will be speaking to the
actual selection form and the information that goes with it
thank you system superintendent Alison so our selection form and
that will be going into family shortly will ask parents
for work and guardians for their plans for the fall
whether or not they're choosing virtual learning or in person
learning that will be offered through their home school and
or through a group of schools we are asking that
... it is a commitment for next year next slide
please
there will be one opportunity to request to switch between
in person learning in virtual learning for elementary students this
which will take place for the term two in February
twenty twenty two along with secondary students for us which
will be available to them for quite three also in
February twenty twenty two as part of the as election
form we are reminding parents that movement of students between
in person and virtual learning can create disruption for students
that have chosen to make a move but also for
all students in the classroom recognizing that
it may actually mean a change of teacher and your
classmates depending on the situation we're asking parents to fellow
parents guardians to fill out one form per child and
to let them know also that if their form is
not received by the June first deadline there will be
a spot for each of their children in person learning
at their home school next slide please
the selection form will have a series of questions including
their decision a parent guardian decision as well as contact
information student information as you can see on the screen
and also parents and guardians will indicate if there is
a need for a device
I'm not going to turn it over to
you're saying
consecutive ... taking us through the slides good evening trustees
we are canceling a planned to retrieve the lone doctor
vices ... or since the March last year we actually
loaned out seventy five thousand plus devices centrally and this
number does not include what schools have shipped locally also
part of the plan is that we need you to
bring these devices back and get to our school system
ready for twenty one twenty two school year and ...
the needs we have for the programming at the school
level local
... distribution models can be established later on to support
the needs in the fall if we decide if the
board decides thought
we would like to keep that hold onto these devices
I just wanted to share the number that we put
together that will cost off these Chromebooks and iPads we
shipped is close to twenty seven point five million dollars
requested centrally do you support the support learning models
the students who are going to be attending summer school
they will keep their devices and we will be very
fine dot true over it back and you read system
to to make sure which students are enrolled at their
devices will continue to work during the summer months
the next piece is that these that we're expecting that
all these devices will be returned by first week of
July and then the process starts to bring them into
a central location we will clean them to technical inspection
off these devices perform necessary repairs and if there is
any data sitting on these devices or for example a
it could might have decided to take pictures at home
over there I Pat wanted to make sure all those
things are wiped off their clean and then they will
be ready to be distributed to the school and send
it back to the schools we originally borrowed these devices
from this work will be done over the summer months
by IT staff and we will be also tapping into
focus on youth program and we will be hiring students
as part of that program
next slide please ... device return dates are at a
very high level we will start accepting returns of these
devices in the middle of June that does not mean
that everyone needs to just drop them off by then
we hope the students will hold onto these devices until
they need them to wrap up their school year the
summer school kids can return their devices in the tail
end of August twenty third when the staff will be
back in the schools and if there's any outstanding lingering
pieces will continue to accept those in early September
and all these devices which will be coming to central
cleaned up data wiped they will be ready to go
back to the schools beginning August thirtieth and our intent
is to wrap up the returns at the school level
when the administrative staff is at the school in elementary
panel it's still July second and after a second the
panel they will be there till July the ninth we
will be communicating all these pieces of information that starting
next week first communicating with principal vice principal and always
informing them this is our plan and this is a
message that's going to be going out to the page
soon too and ... we will send ... star to
send a bi weekly messages to the system and also
to the pains to remind those these are the dates
when there should be actually dropping these devices off at
any of our schools nearby schools they don't have to
go to the home schools they can just go by
the nearby TDSB school and we will just ... bring
them back to central location to trigger the next stops
thank you
thank you so much team my goodness that was a
lot of hours okay information and analysis that looked deceptively
simple actually are we wanted to give trustees an opportunity
to ask as many questions as they needed to to
get a fuller understanding and that's where our focus is
on the question here yet but I do want to
say from the very beginning we're really pleased that the
advocacy from our communities from staff from partners and very
importantly for you trustees that funding was required to knowledge
that depth and gravity of the impact of this pandemic
on our city was successful that's a lot of what
we asked for was provided in the funding we would
require deeper analysis you know with his analysis to know
if it's all there but there is much acknowledgement directors
are agreed as to the impact of the pandemic and
this is why you see some of the funding in
half year pieces so we will not know what for
the breadth of the year but we certainly know that
until ... the January mark there's been an acknowledgment that
boards should not be expected to disproportionately older sponsor ability
for what is affecting our community so deeply so with
that we remind you that aspect on may twelfth is
when we will have the ability to speak on this
in more detail ... aspects with regards to funding and
then of course it would be a approved at regular
board on may twenty six and with that Jerry Brown
we turn it back over to you ... you had
to ask questions okay well thank you very much for
the presentation it was a lot of information to absorb
... but that's okay
well to do some questions now have nine people on
the list so we'll start with Chesterfield to go ahead
thank you very much chair brown three use his staff
I have several questions ... and would like to make
a couple comments first of all thank you for all
this work I mean you haven't had this information very
long and I'm sure there were many questions and discussions
when I look at the description of the elementary and
secondary basically it sounds like it's the same as we
were doing this year some people get to go to
virtual some people or a person we're doing quite masters
we're going to cope part so there is no significant
change
basically from what next this year except as I understand
we will no longer have a virtual school everybody is
attached to their home school is that correct
here is the intent is not to have virtual school
we are staffing only the local schools however we are
cognisant that in order to assure families and students because
in some cases students will be filling out the questionnaire
form does the selection for those who are old enough
we need to assure them of course choices of courses
even when they're opting for remote learning so the virtual
school will be staffed based on choices of schools that
choices of course is that schools will not be able
to staff about significant impact to the locals so you're
talking about secondary correct okay thank you ... with the
decision ... could I just comment that on page twenty
nine where you have the selection I think I I
I'm assuming this is kind of the draft wording of
what is going out to parents is that correct through
the jury yes my suggestion to you would be to
be much clearer that the virtual school as it looked
this year will not exist
because when I read this I'm a parent I don't
think I'll just do the same virtual school like it
this year
so even though you said it will be offered through
home school I think you just need to be clear
that the way it exists now is is not what
we're doing next year because I don't think that's clear
from here
... and the other thing is last year we we
put down some fixed dates and then we caved forty
seven thousand times and we made our lives way more
miserable that we probably made some families happier ...
I think that if we are not planning to K.
then we need to be much more clear that this
is the choice you have made a decision and we
are not doing it on September the night
because that I know cost many many problems for staff
and for students frankly I and we need to be
much more clear I think and definitive that this is
your moment and we aren't having another moment
... because I think that that is not fair to
students and that's not fair to stop and it's not
fair to those people who make a decision and now
in two minutes and those who decide on the twenty
ninth of August that they'd like to do something else
so I understand the pandemic ... for some changes last
year but I think that if we want this to
work we have to be a little bit more
serious about the deadline
so I would just add that for a comment
the other thing ... I love that the focus on
you the students were focused on you will be helping
with I. T. so Mr saying I think that is
fantastic and and a great opportunity here ... good use
of people still I'm so I do love that ...
my question is so that the computers come back to
the schools are going to be cleaned up and sent
back to the schools the schools will then distribute out
to re distribute out to eat at the plant
that is correct
actually set here but ... so you may want to
articulate got a little clear that the distribution will then
be done by the local sixty once you've handed it
in doesn't mean you'll never get it back or get
one back so I don't I don't think that's not
clear right now so you may want to elaborate on
that a little bit so that would be one of
my other comments ...
but overall thank you very much I think this is
fantastic I think it will raise lots of questions but
I cannot stress enough that once we make this decision
and ask her to make this decision we need to
commit to that because I don't think that was ...
I understand why we had to do it in the
end because of the change the pandemic but I can
I am concerned with that added so much more stress
to the system and confusion both the teachers are to
our staff your art that staff who are on the
phone right on the call right now
students so I would just add that in here thank
you very much it was
reshape the prestige
thank you so much through the cherub I can comment
appreciate the feedback on the questionnaire ... will definitely take
that feedback as far as the switch data is concerned
what's relevant to trustees in fact the ministry gave no
indication of the switch date at all they were deliberately
vague ... and reader ranges that about any switch at
all during the year staff did not feel that that
was reasonable given the pressures on our communities and so
by forty one option we are also admitting there may
be significant staff reorganization that happens with that February switch
change but not acknowledging the need for our communities that
have been so hard hat do you have an option
for us which was not something we felt I was
consistent with our focus on equity in the multi year
strategic plans so yes we will make that clearer and
... we appreciate the feedback so just to clarify if
it's okay Mister chair I I'm not I don't have
any problem with the battery switch I think that that's
a good compromise my concern is that we continue to
let people switch for weeks before you know even though
we cut it off in August we continue to lead
people to switch right up to the very last minute
and that created working fusion and delays and I I
just would suggest that once people have filled out this
letter and committed that's it they're going to school on
September the night
so that's my only because it would be nice if
the beginning of school was that last year as I'm
sure everybody on this call would be great
to the chair all of us
thank you very much trusting your thank you and ...
just to complete covered some of what I wanted to
say about the clarity I think we need when we
survey the parents because that there was a precedent set
last year that people signed up for one model but
then as things change they could they could go in
even like when school began and go to the principal
asked to switch so because we did that last year
and this were very clear about whether or not that's
happening this year I think there's gonna be some expectation
that they'll be able to to move around ... up
until school actually begins the other questions we had last
year that
winds will ... likely bring up again before they make
that choice ... one of the questions that's coming up
because that one of the school board I think it's
feel as though that they are doing be simultaneous learning
in elementary where teachers teach to both the virtual and
be in person student at the same time so parents
are wondering if it is that what we are going
to be having in our elementary schools to start with
with the signing up for that or
with virtual and in person be separate
share we're not making a commitment in that way we
believe the secondary model will operate very similarly to what
is being offered now at this time I as far
as any other simultaneous learning or as it's called in
other parts of the province hybrid learning we are not
making a comment on that once we get the selection
forms it will be in a better position to speak
to how we're planning to deliver instruction okay so just
to be clear when parents sign up they're not going
to know which
what what exactly they'll be signing up for if they
sign up for our virtual learning
you're the chair that's correct because numbers will dictate and
which program offerings we have will dictate some of those
choices
okay I'm and the other question that I had from
parents a lot last year in an already getting this
year has to do with a special programming so ...
again they'll be asking will special programming be offered if
they choose the virtual option
so through the chair that is our
it is a difficult one because again it depends on
the choices that are made so we can't guarantee any
outcome until we actually receive them back and that is
tough for parents because they'll be making a selection and
then principles will be contacting them to let them know
what it looks like okay yeah I I get that
there's a huge chicken and egg problem and its existing
again this year Hey I totally get that ... the
other question will be if they don't get their specialized
program they'll ask if they'll be able to return to
it after the endemic
our intention as associate director and S. and gold made
clear was the focus is on the students we will
do our level best we were very surprised in serving
the students to find out almost all of the students
who were supposed to be in French programs were actually
infringe programs virtually each and so we've already surveyed to
see if there are students we have to account for
not having been in French returning to a French class
there were many fewer than we thought so our goal
is to ease the transition and that's our focus for
September and October so thanks for that question
thank you I'm M. I. only last comment is given
that and I understand why this is all happening but
we're going to be serving parents and they're not going
to know exactly what they're signing up for and then
as Jessica okay mentioned ...
we may end up with a lot of the wanting
to change after they've already decided so again ... just
but that I think we need to be really clear
with parents exactly what they're signing up or in their
ability to make changes
through that sure that's our intent yeah
thank you thank you just a trustee channels like
thank you through the chair I have a couple of
questions I'm is this was a lot of information to
absorb really quickly and I'm not sure I I may
have some questions afterwards but I'll send by email
I'm
he the limit of two classes per day when possible
for secondary I'm does that mean we would be like
do we know if we're in hybrid or if we're
in
I like back to regular classes and if if for
in Highbridge or if we're back to regular classes does
that work
what are we looking at a different model as opposed
to like the sort of you know for our ...
chunk and then half an hour there and then and
then the session online in the afternoon what's that I
I need a little bit more and I've been getting
a lot of questions from parents about high school for
next year so I just wonder if stock elaborate on
that
through the chair do you associate director gold I thank
you so at this point this the case is the
ministry's been firm on is that they want students in
only two cohorts at a time which is why we're
late going with a quite mastered model what we won't
receive guidance on until the summer is whether we are
adaptive and how that will work so at the current
time we are going to plan as though we were
in it we are in an adaptive model but in
a way where if it turns out we can do
something else we can change to meet other parameters we
are
now that that has been set we are starting to
look at whether there is flexibility and we have questions
about the structure of the school day I'll call them
the bell times and how many days there are in
a rotation and as we get clarity on those pieces
will be sharing that information so again at the current
time we know that we're quite mastered system the school
day will still be ironed out in the days to
come
if I was to make a patch it would be
that I am hoping that we might be able to
re examine the structure of our day so that students
may be able to be in school for longer have
two different classes on Wednesday ... just so that there
was more like instead of having one long block it's
works ... but I just wonder if there isn't you
know space for improvement so that kids might be able
to be in the building every day attending class somehow
so I and that that's one thing just to put
in a note on there I'm
another question that I have is
I'm clear on what it means when we have funding
for half a year that relates to some of it
seem to relate to potentially the staffing
and so
what is it what does that mean like does that
mean that we we could do smaller classes for half
the year and then we might have to change
the associate director of
your apple cider
thank you for you Mister chair the what we're anticipate
we were still asking those questions the mission I thought
I was gonna call this after the ministry to kind
of give them some had sucked in what I was
thinking we were so we still need to get some
clarification with the ministry but what they're saying to us
right now is that for staffing anticipate only giving half
the grip and spending half a gram because I think
if there by their hope with the pandemic ida vaccinations
give them more options in the second half the year
so where we spent the body this year we are
about thirty two billion dollars this year so it's very
close to the M. in funding from the different levels
of government so it's very close to what we got
last year so we spent a large portion of your
ticket will still teach you that less is a large
grocery store about five million dollars our care taking of
that was to extend the hours and pay for overtime
this will still plan to do that this next year
and then the teaching and the virtual school administration where
there are two big places where we spend money so
staff are working through that now and as I think
both the director and Andrew Coles said the ... depending
on the selection forms that return from Paris to help
us understand better what are staffing requirements are ... in
September so we'll bring more information as we understand that
so we won't actually know the answer to that question
then really until quite a bit later because we have
we're waiting for after those forms are down yeah well
hot water stands for you Mister chair what the stand
by the return of the forms for our parents would
like our students would like will understand what our staffing
requirements are the question mark will be the ministry said
that in the fall the old farms school wars if
these funds the other half the funds are available about
how they haven't said whether the fall the gist of
the fall so we
what does it look the source of funding for some
of our resources until the fall
okay I'm a comment on the form I wonder if
we need to add also a ...
something about what your home school is because sometimes people
aren't necessarily at their official home school but they're at
a rate through optional attendance thirty different school but that
would be their home school almost for the purposes of
this like that would be the school they're associated with
as opposed to their neighborhood school let's say so I
just we ought we ought we had questions about that
last year too so I just would ask that we
take that into consideration that it somehow clear
that is done on the form we just didn't Josh
on the whole form but yes we are intending to
do that ... that's terrific thank you I'm I have
a thought which is just that like and I know
we ran into this last year that it's hard for
parents to make decisions about what to do next year
when there isn't really certainty about what September will look
like but we have had a lot of news today
even ... in terms of and yesterday in terms of
... vaccines for twelve an app ... and the availability
of that you know it seems like Canada is expecting
that all twelve year olds will have access to that
before candidate so that could that change that's changing things
a little bit right into really he's a really positive
wonderful things I'm but I wonder if anyone has given
any thought to having T. PH ARMM
it ten T. P. H. given that I don't know
what weapon are or come to a meeting or something
like that that parents could listen to or ask questions
that prior to having to make a decision I know
we won't have all the information but I wonder if
we need to do some some ... some outreach to
just make sure that families are informed when there yes
best as possible when making decisions so that they feel
someone able to make them
we agree with you through the chair and ... we
are doing our best to hide teepee agents for parents
as soon as the information on children's vaccines if people
choose to do that and the vaccination rates across the
city so yes we are planning to do that that's
close to June first as possible T. PH is very
willing
okay and I'm
right I think you like it would be
I feel like it would be helpful for us to
to possibly have T. PH N. at some point so
that we could ask questions M. T. T. P. H.
so that's a request that I would just put it
there and because it
questions we have this year for next year may be
different than the questions we've had this year like just
in terms of vaccines in terms of ... you know
what next year guidance for next year but especially with
respective axioms that we haven't really had a chance to
do that
those are my questions for now I know I have
more bringing
what
to make the room we're happy to make the request
to deviate okay and I know like I say this
knowing how busy everybody everybody within TST is but also
with internal public health because there is a massive crisis
on site I see that like I I get it
but I just think with that June first deadline it's
a bit so my other thing is just whether we
might consider doing some webinars or even videos that parents
can watch to explain about that choosing that date and
and it's just so that we make sure that parents
really understand what their what their site you know deciding
and all that kind of stuff
thanks thank you
thank you Jesse Johnson just kind of
all right thank you Mister chair do you think you're
correct all current staff for the presentation much appreciated
my question questions connected to
virtual learning at the elementary level ... and you know
what I took from the presentation is that there are
a lot of unknowns uncertainties around stride based primarily on
right selection a registration whatever we're calling it
will we be in a situation are because I think
it's very important we address this concern as to how
we're tool learning you look like you if it's done
at the local level would be innocent area where kids
connected to their local to say there's a great work
student are registered your local school for virtual learning and
if we're not using the simultaneous ... hybrid model then
the child is only burning or exposed to learning or
teaching rather through Google classroom right ASIC whatever's in there
so through the chair we because we want to keep
the kids is connected to their local schools as possible
we will not be able to fully answer that question
until we have a sense of numbers we will try
very hard to cluster kids as close to their schools
where there isn't a critical mass in the school ...
the option for hybrid learning has not been discussed at
the elementary level as of now
your name Preciado what really really want to get lever
game leave with confidence is that our virtual children will
have a teacher will be teaching them
virtual meeting some capacity records interaction and exposure to teaching
real time
through the chair we are absolutely committed to that we
want the kids is connected and has ... taken care
of as possible so the relationship with the teacher and
her classmates is fundamental for us
okay because that is I think fundamental and and not
only that legislative and constitutional matters children have teachers who
are teaching so connected to bot I'd like to understand
staffs thank you arguement to not proceed with the virtual
school and why the local church
so through the chair we are deeply connected and transmitted
to to re connecting students to their local principals their
local teachers local support starts service says and we made
that affirmation some months ago we think this will facilitate
moving out of the pandemic Iraq public education systems and
we've had this year we're deeply concerned about the well
being and the mental health of our kids and we
think the way to do that is for families to
get reconnected through their local school and through their local
principles so our our basis for decision making around the
virtual school versus the local school is the strength of
our systems the connection families have made to their principals
and teachers and would like to get back to that
N. as concrete away as possible as quickly as possible
all right thank you and ... to to better understand
the uncertainty at this point what is the correlation between
the uncertainty now and the selection numbers come September why
can we not commit to a plan
for more definitive click
through the chair because it will really go school by
school learning center by learning center our intent is to
keep the virtual learning model as close to the school
as possible so even where helps may exist they will
exist within four principals schools so that the four principles
can be in touch with the chatter about their own
individual families in that way what we're hoping to do
is re integrate students into their local community advance
classes extracurricular options and all the rest of the pieces
that have kept kids separated from each other and have
given us cause for well being concerns
thank you to rex Procter and politifact ... why we've
invested a lot of time energy resources people power in
just setting up the infrastructure of the virtual school why
would we abandon back to now in the fall look
at our regional or how the approach of up to
four schools which would require resources people power time effort
center so through the chair of the schools are already
staffed virtual school was never staffed at the level at
which it needed to provide the services in the same
way to our students and families so when I price
principals had for instance one thousand one thousand five hundred
families that is very different from the relationships families get
to hop with their vice principals and principals and while
we said for schools in areas where very few children
not elect to go remote it could be six schools
but it could be and we hope it's one to
school so we are really hopeful that not as many
because we ended up in the situation we ended up
with with an infrastructure that had to be stopped month
by month
because we didn't expect the numbers by keeping it to
the local level principals have been so effective in reaching
our teachers have been so effective it staying in touch
with their students more local we make it a more
assured we are we're actually taking care of our own
students
thank you and you know
a greater reiterated that fundamental desires parents ... to see
that a limited owns
connection certainly and teaching from
there if you choose dot Burchell approach I'm sorry one
it you know it's something that's been done has been
chosen by a variety of on our boards in jurisdictions
across you know North America and in Canada and ...
I'm looking forward to it to greater clarity and how
to look like ... is there any
information from T. P. H. to give us a sense
of whether our families and parents in particular are going
to be double toaster boxing needed by September has that
come up with G. P. H. critical in our hearts
thank you over to associate director Snyder
sure you Mister chair no we have no ... understanding
yet with the recent Elsa's and with our our our
colleagues from T. PH around what the role of will
look like and how much of the population to be
vaccinated by September first we're we're still working with them
and will will keep we keep having these weekly I
wanted to ask a question about the vaccination rollout so
as we know more we'll bring it to you
thank you I would imagine on their conversations with parents
who are in our system in hot spots that is
the number one writing consideration is will their family double
dose toxin by start of September so this is very
tightly connected to a June first deadline one is not
certain I'd like to put on your radar and finally
the the announcement or funding for two point two million
... for reading area
there was ... language about limited participation in the senior
center those are virtual students working if it's possible to
get more information on what that would look like how
would the students be identified ... at least the purpose
behind
through the chair to associate director M. S.
thanks for the question through the chair I chose the
cannibal we recognize that there are a number of students
and families who have had limited participation in schooling and
learning this year and so part of what we are
identified in terms of the re engagement of students is
to find out where those students are and make sure
that through a personal care and touch through their local
school and the student teachers and staff would know those
students and families are going to be reaching out to
them so that we can try to re engage them
back into the learning space I saw quickly and effectively
as possible
are you okay
sorry one last final question
three you Mister chair it was language about transition ritual
school to bricks and mortar ... what does that look
like I think it was an executive it was a
sorry was superintendent Alison speaking to that ... I got
curious about because I believe that those are being virtual
for maybe sixteen months this will be a important piece
for those
systems are printed in Elson
thank you director for Kerr and it through the chair
just clarification on the question transition in terms of
what specifically that you're referring to are you referred to
I'm on
I think it was to do with the greet each
to secondary virtual transition
yes thank you right through the chair of the the
great eight to nine transitions
so that is the war where students are going from
grade eight to grade nine each year we engage in
a transition process where we are pre register students and
they start to take the course selection
we the students will go to a number of different
schools part of the work that we did after optional
tenets was completed was to determine where students were going
to be going and for us to replace those students
into the pre registration window although secondary schools with the
course selections that they've made so they're ready to be
at the rate that so that the the secondary schools
are aware of the courses that they're interested in and
so that their pre registered for the following year
just below that point to see me third to seven
hundred and three classes connecting to each person cater for
what does that mean hundreds
thank you for the question through the chair the hunt
there are a hundred and three classes in elementary virtual
school that our kindergarten through grade four where every single
student in those classes happened to be from this from
the from the same school so as an example gateway
public school might have twenty three students who were in
grade one all from gateway in the same class and
so that classes been together as a group of gateway
students in the virtual school because at the beginning of
the year we did it we made efforts to try
to keep primary classes together wherever possible as whole classes
when we had large groups from some schools and so
in in doing so that that group of students have
remained together for the entire year so now what we're
trying to do is to reconnect them over the last
couple of months back with the school as a whole
class as opposed to some other classes that might have
you know three students from this school five students from
other schools eight students for another school and so that
class being reconnected with the principal and with the school
there may be a number of different things that they
might be doing it might be assemblies there might be
opportunities for them to connect with other classes exchanges partnerships
and culture a number of things that schools can do
okay thank you that's it for me
thank you Mr stern ramp structure okay
so thank you just ridge couldn't
thank you the chair I feel like deja vu because
like just last year we were having these conversations and
and here we are back again and it really makes
you reflect on the past year of pandemic learning and
and all the things that we went through as a
system
... at my first question is when it comes once
we have the numbers back from our survey ... and
we start to formalize our plan do we need our
ministry approval on our plants
through the chair no we do not and it's not
a survey it's a selection form we're trying to be
really with family they're aware that when they sign up
this is the choice that they're making for September so
now the ... ministry is giving us full freedom ...
there appreciate how complicated this is
that's great to hear and ... have has tried to
public health give any feedback on ... any advice on
what they want to see done for our return to
school plans
associate director Snyder three three you Mister chair not at
this time we know that we've talked to the vast
school boards but some of the some questions of us
but I don't think that it's a little too early
for them to make ... I took down spent the
spring time
thank you do that you're the reason I ask is
I felt like last year ... as we were preparing
for return to school we were doing the survey and
once the ministry had announced what classroom size we're going
to look like then we saw a big jump in
numbers of parents wanting to go into virtual learning and
I think that I have been a tremendous stress on
our system especially for virtual learning or virtual schools and
I I really hope that this year once we get
the selection form done and we're preparing for our models
that we put that focus on virtual learning ... I
feel like last year
there are so many students in virtual schools that only
started getting teachers in October right and I hope that
we prepare ... this year to make sure all kids
are learning at the same time
through the chair that's our intent
perfect ... and my next question is on the two
point two million for re engagement and reading assessment support
support Seoul previously we were getting zero twenty three million
for just reading assessment nothing for re engagement here heading
back into a school year hoping to re engage your
students were well aware of all the neck with these
days like this it's a really critical year I never
saw ally saying ... the funding are receiving but two
point two million for the full year ...
any initial thoughts from stuff on
is this enough it sounds very small for for tremendous
work at
so the director is not in
US 3 Mister chair
I would really actually deferred to a solicitor in this
or and gold I would agree that first quarter size
two point two cells are look small and the other
thing that I don't bill for many of the members
I've read yet there were ten memos issued this week
I don't know what their intentions are on any kind
of split a reporting between what is for reading and
what is for re engagement so I would agree with
the trustee that seems to be a small about
so the only reason not through that sure that I'd
asked assistant director Snyder was because I was hoping he
would say there's another pocket we might use at this
time based on the analysis we have that's what we
can commit to but you know now is a board
we're going to be working with other figures to adjust
and be able to address the issue of re engagement
in reading we just couldn't give you the exact number
of this short time
thank you the chair and finally ... assisted her and
as mentioned a greenish it is continuing just want to
hear more and some initial thoughts on what priorities would
be ... heading back into the school year
so the director
I thank you for the question that interests the radical
saying ... I see you know equity the work on
anti black racism anti racism discrimination hate continues to be
a focus for the Toronto district school board and our
multi year strategic plan and as associate director Snyder mentioned
there was six point four million dollars for equity initiatives
across the province clearly I think that your commentary earlier
withdrew with respect to re engagement would also apply to
these up I'm out because our amount of for the
Toronto district school board has not been determined as yet
but you also need to keep in mind that I
would offer that the work around equity is also embedded
in the work that we're going to be doing in
mental health the work we're going to be doing for
technology and for ESL and our re engagement all of
the those pots of funds will have work in them
and ... funding in them that will also support our
objectives towards equity and anti oppression and so I would
... agree with it with you around you know perhaps
have been further funding especially are specially designed for that
but it's also a wholesome picture that we need to
take
thank you so much and and again thank you so
much all our staff are getting this info to us
and looking forward to many more conversations to come
okay thank you just recognizing them are still asking just
to know what we have about four minutes before I
timed items so we'll just go and make it over
the time died in case you use up the whole
five so that we can finish up
we see that you can take the floor
you so much Mister chair I was already going to
be asking
on the list because I have so many questions but
obviously the wait for another meeting ... okay first question
for you Mister chair if we don't need ministry approval
can we think about going back to the elementary model
that we had developed with crap at the end of
the day to keep classes small
first message through the chair to associate director gold
I'm I think in the coming days we're going to
be looking at what I'll call the bell schedules the
times of day that carries exists in both panels ...
as well as how many day cycles there are at
this stage there appears to be no central provincial direction
on that and so we are hoping to use that
as an opportunity to look at models that are similar
to things we wanted to consider last year and couldn't
... but we also want to get clarity on whether
we have that freedom
M. excellent M. I hope they mean it when they
say we have flexibility and and don't change their mind
because if we could reassure families that we have the
ability to keep class sizes small at their local school
it might really give them a lot more confidence to
not have to choose a virtual learning so I think
the two might go together and I'm and I'm really
wondering how we can communicate S. ... in order to
give parents as much confidence as possible that's number one
number two if we capped ... is an aspect discussion
going to be about differentiating staffing resources to keep class
is still small and hot spot areas
associate director Snyder
three Mister chair I think we'll still need to see
the selection forms and then decide with the available funding
that we have right now what are what our capacity
is to re keep class sizes small and what the
best delivery model is for students okay I I am
I am hoping that we take simultaneous elementary learning off
the table and would be prepared for a pre preemptive
conversation about more staffing that allows for that because I
am and I'm also if everybody seems to be putting
their pictures out there I'm really wondering what our pro
active plans are to minimize or even eliminate the simultaneous
that secondary as well so so ... so in any
way I don't expect you that to the answer as
I expect the answer to be we're gonna have to
wait for the numbers except for but ... we ...
last last time when we were planning I know staff
were very ... very clear at inviting partners to the
table so that we have the ability and diverse voices
that we have the ability to each year ... a
lot of opinions before to test out some planning ...
will that happen again this year three you Mister chair
through you Mister chair our time lines are very tight
... executive superintendent salmon ... hi it will be engaging
partners but teachers are entitled to receive their timetables by
a certain date ... than the elementary and secondary levels
so we will be working with our partners but we
will also be working to ... meet our collective agreement
obligations that may not allow for the kind of consultation
... that would be the case if we were in
the month of March
I do understand that but I don't understand and how
teachers can get their timetables before we clearly understand if
they're teaching in person ... will be part of
Montel it's chicken and egg are we are we estimating
are we are we then going to give teachers time
tables and dip into our deficit in order to fund
additional teachers we may need to change ... local remote
like kite I am I I'm not quite sure how
to come together ... and I know that's why they
pay you the big box from an operational perspective but
but it it's really challenging because we're going to have
to explain this and sometimes explaining that we won't know
yet ... it's not going to be the answer what
what would be much more helpful is different scenarios at
least in my opinion would be met what would be
much more helpful would be possible different scenarios wherein you
choose yes it may mean acts or it may mean
why depending on the number that have done that but
going back to my other colleagues questions I think if
we can get clarity from trying to public health in
terms of vaccine I'm again sorry three Mister chair if
we can get clarity from trying to public health in
terms of vaccine rollout not only just for
it's that haven't gotten one yet but for our staff
to ensure because many staff are don't have appointments yet
they won't have a point is still June so to
ensure they will all be fully vaccinated by September that
all families and kids and care givers and hot spots
will be vaccinated by September the rest of us hopefully
won't be that far behind I'm so so maybe we
need a transition plan for September and then after thanksgiving
assuming everybody's been vaccinated this is what's going to happen
and and I'm wondering if stuff for thinking about that
so through the chair no we're not we don't think
the transition at thanksgiving is a realistic goal given the
stability kids need coming out of the pandemic we're ever
hopeful the T. PH will have updates for families that
will allow them to make more informed choices but this
selection form will be asking for choices up until February
again I'm going to go through the chair that I
there was no obligation to have any switch time but
we couldn't as a staff level with that all teachers
will receive a tentative time table at the appointed time
I do want to point out to the chair of
that ... we have received agreement to put the private
legal matter to six o'clock so the trustees can get
their questions answered just stature brown ... is that all
right so that we can confirm
so what about sorry could you just repeat that that
was that
we have confirmation that we can ... delayed the private
legal matter until six o'clock six oh sure sure we
can we can prioritize trustees questions so ... back to
the question our intention is to get a tentative time
tables our intention is not to allow for thanksgiving switch
we're going for stability and we're looking at after the
first reporting period at the end of January students in
elementary will be given an opportunity for a switch I'm
going to quote three students will be given an opportunity
to switch so the selection form asks families to choose
until that date because we think it's too much of
a not people for the system and for our students
and and and I appreciate that at one hundred percent
so what what needs to happen in my opinion is
that we have to give parents and caregivers the confidence
that in person schooling will be safe for September so
everything we can do about that whether that means lowering
class sizes whether that means you know vaccinations to be
done what ever that package might look like that's what
we have to do before we send out a selection
form and I will stop there and that in the
hopes that there might be up until six o'clock obviously
my other colleagues need to ask the questions please put
me back on the list thank you thank you thank
you to rex Tillerson I am now on the list
and I I think trustee advice sure ... I believe
you had to leave the meeting so I'm I'm gonna
ask if trustee radicalism would like you to put the
chair of the meeting well I ask my questions just
handing it out if you'd like to
I had here
thank you so I had a couple of questions I
wanted to go back to the equity the equity issues
funding which I think was six around six million dollars
I'm
I'm more into I'm kind of interested in what we
think will get and how much
how effective the amount would be I'm not sure this
question goes to what I'm assuming we get around twelve
percent if we have twelve percent of the students which
is about seven hundred twenty thousand and I'm just wondering
if that would be accurate or at if we are
completely in the dark on that
associate director Snyder for you Mister chair I know we
I have no information to will have a better opinion
of what the allocation will be and what will be
based on or waddle it'll be ... tended to support
okay this is just a follow up if it were
twelve percent which is I guess let's six point four
five around eight hundred and something thousand
what would we eat well what would we be doing
with that and
it it in a broad sense not necessarily the specifics
this is just for it through the through the chair
that question we could not specifically answer today ... as
we said job when we're looking at a the amount
and to be
as associate director and I said
equities falls into all of our work so all of
those allegations include equity commitments catch to them so we'll
have a better understanding of what the specific actions I
in the upcoming weeks
okay that's fine thank you ... so the other thing
I wanted to serve as a comment about the technology
on their own I'll be coming a permanent addition I
think that's great because it's an acknowledgement that it's needed
I just I was a little interesting that it's happening
in relation with gene you know that the two credits
in secondary that are required ... I'm just wondering ...
so I'm not sure there was slide twelve that information
is on it with an eight percent
an eight percent but was in a percent drop I
can remember the word that was used
yeah a person is secondary students taking at a draw
... a decrease in about about twenty two point nine
million in twenty six teachers
by twenty three twenty four how many teachers would that
be I did some math but I don't know if
that's accurate I had some
I'm is this going to be quite a few isn't
three I'm sure I would suggest that that would be
it would it was six it's eight percent now it's
sixty percent of twenty two twenty three would be double
the amount or five point eight billion and approximately fifty
two teachers will be my estimate not knowing
and working with the the technical documents and then another
ten percent jump in twenty two twenty four so another
quite another chunk of teachers okay I'm
by we do when we are sharing this information with
students I know that they can opt out I will
I hope that we make it very clear so that
it isn't something that's just written in the fine print
that they understand that they can because there may be
a lot of kids who are stressed out about having
to do this and if they don't have to do
it they might not want to do it ... after
specially coming out of code so just to make sure
that that option of opting out is very clearly ...
available to them
thank you we can undertake that the PPM is being
worked on right now and we will undertake to do
that very clearly for students and then the other our
next question I have is on the system tech our
story on the ...
city
and the the amount for
for special education and I heard ... assistive technology and
I'm wondering if ... somebody could just tell me exactly
what examples of assistive technology we're we're we're dealing with
associate director on gold street that I'm sure ... through
the channel just give a couple of examples whether it's
reading right gold's speech to text text to text to
voice ... laptops for students with more complex needs that
type of equipment and and software availability
thank you that's helpful so normally that kind of equipment
for students comes to receive funding is it not I
see a funding
three men I'm sure yes for the students that are
identified that funding comes with that ... methodologies well okay
so is this funding tied to that or is it
a separate thing that's what really what I'm trying to
get at
through you madam chair at this point I'd have to
double check the the work but I believe it is
separate from the C. about it so different about this
difference so light so so to speak okay so that's
good that you can check that and then ... I
would ask my question while you're checking as well or
maybe what we think about is will there be a
different process for it then or ... would be follow
something similar to the C. funding but ... I'll leave
that for now thanks ... I had I think that
was it I mean we have one more question
no that's it thank you so I'll
I can resume the churning thank you research causing
also just simply
thank you throughout your
I'm for the first time in a long time I'm
really glad that I'm at home you know isn't meeting
because I think I'm about to become really unpopular so
the fact that I'm not close enough to people or
things happening I think I might be able to take
corporate
I'm really disappointed
we are
we're going to be asking parents and families to make
choices
90 days in jail to school starting
and we know that
things turned on a dime when we asked them to
make choices four weeks before school starting last summer
I happen to think that is going to be and
maybe my classes inappropriately how full but I think this
is going to be important ninety days I'm hoping that
given the projections were vaccines
September 30 horizon
you know starts to look like a light at the
end of the tunnel that we've all been desperately searching
for for an extended period of time
and we're not always sure third of our students are
virtually or in virtual schools
and
even knows they're excited about that are going to know
when he's back in June they're they're picking virtual
what virtual it's because we're changing with virtual school
I also I'm concerned that these water for me I
guess instead of stopping my rattle ask a question ...
are we not concerned that these
local
for smaller groups of schools for was mentioned six was
mentioned
one of the only benefits a virtual schools they were
all straight classes and are we are concerned that because
we're now making them were geographically local badge ... they
will results and are more split classes
you're the chair we believe they will say will be
reflective of school staffing models as they've existed in the
past ... and ... there are many educators and some
families who are not averse to split grades so we
don't make the assumption that because it's a split grade
it's necessarily lessen the quality experience that's an educator answer
that doesn't mean everyone agrees with that but what I
would say is people are connected to their schools and
the connection to the school and a leadership structure that
supports the mental health and well being of our students
is fundamental to this process and starting school in a
way that welcomes people back to school is a huge
priority for us so waiting until August would mean that
we would have the same type of school start up
we have this year which I think everyone was committed
to not having a car and keen we are hopeful
that in my multi generational families many more people who
live in the same household many more people will be
vaccinated than before grandparents and people who are senior I'm
a senior age more like mine for instance have already
received their first dose and are very likely to have
their second does by August and so what we are
hoping is that this will prompt parents to have more
faith in their ability to opt for in school learning
where it doesn't they have the option for remote learning
and we are going to try to do that in
such a way that we can facilitate the next transition
even more
thank you and
my wife's a teacher who's taught us Booker classes in
and you know to the educators I'm certainly not suggesting
that Israel is very less than desirable ... you know
they can't be done effectively and I know for a
fact that it is and I don't want to present
that picture but I do think it would be a
harder thing to do virtually then it would be ...
when you've got when you're in the class I think
that adds an extra layer to that which an extra
challenge
oh sorry
I'm
and I agree that no one wants school starting the
third week of September and ...
and I I get all that right
we've got a third of the people there were comfortable
when the numbers were at
when people are changing their minds we were going you
know the rates were at like two hundred and they
were going to four hundred and they were like five
hundred in September or something like it wasn't in the
thousands it was just going from the low to boost
it to the middle hundreds and people were changing their
mind dramatically opting for work or school ... yeah we've
been over three
for the last little while and
what I hope you know I think most people hope
is that we have a return to bricks and mortar
and our kids coming back to school and feeling comfortable
and feeling safe and I think that's cool I think
that's ...
a big leap of faith for people who were already
opted for virtual school that being a third of our
our student body to make in June in advance of
... ...
what I think is going to be a whole wall
of our
actually nations and even some for high school kids you
know to open up ...
right I think this is going to be the landscape
is going to be dramatically different and we're going to
have a number of people ... in early September late
August reaching out going
you know
you know I'm really worried about the mental health and
well being of my child that virtual school outside and
out of safety I needed to keep the parent
so I don't think we're getting is much as we'd
like to this notion that we asked them if you're
going and it's a hard thing ...
the world remember we had been in in the fall
and in September I think is ... I don't think
it's going to stop simply because we like it I
think that I think that that's coming our way against
my time's up support thank you
okay thank you Mister McLean
and the next person on the list is trust delete
thank you S. thank you Mister chair
trustee maclean's time is up I will absolutely take on
his torch and continue this conversation for so I just
want to applaud stock you have done amazing things of
this year and this new plan that you have presented
to us today it's it's very good and it's very
good it shows team work it shows a willingness to
work with our communities to listen to our communities I'm
also glad the provinces came over and came up with
some funding
but
I think in trying to adjust to improve how we
performed this year we might be going too far in
compensation towards the other direction with the way that we
are asking our parents to make a choice right now
if we recall last August
when we asked our parents how they felt about virtual
versus in person during the second time the first time
we asked in the middle of August the second out
sorry the first time we asked in the middle of
August the second time was at the end of August
seven thousand parents change their minds about seven thousand for
every two weeks
the late
if I were to do a straight line mass and
extend that two weeks to the ninety day so we're
asking them to make a decision today
what would that number be
at
if we don't allow them to change their mind the
September what will that number be in February when we
do allow them to change and how drastically will these
changes in the pandemic and changes in the circumstances affect
our system
I understand that we need the numbers quickly to start
making plans I heard our stops the very clear that
we can design a operating model until you have an
idea of
what the parent wants to do
what is possible for us to ask them again just
to true up the numbers in the beginning of August
and I'm doing this map because we asked me last
year we asked the parents to you know continue to
make changes until the second week of September and even
with that we were able to get most of our
virtual school up by October the second week of October
so this we asked our parents to tool up their
responses by the second week of August can we make
a start date at the second week of September
and can you do that without impacting the system and
I'm asking this and I'm asking for staff opinions feedback
I don't expected today but you know soon
what challenges will you have to make something like this
happen and what obstacles can the board help you removed
so that we can you know delay the final choice
that our parents are going to make to escalate as
possible and what's that and what is that latest possible
date I think these are the questions I would love
to have staff come back at the meeting up soon
in the near future to let us know
once again I just want to reiterate I I fully
support the fact that if we ask the parents to
you know make a commitment to next year they make
that commitment until the first which ended in February I
think that is a good class I just don't want
us to over compensate into the other day H. and
ask the parents to make a choice to worry and
that choice become non reflective of reality because let's face
it there are variants of Colin nineteen that's coming out
we don't know how effective the vaccine is going to
be and at this point I think if we have
learned anything from the pandemic is a we have to
expect the unexpected and we cannot find ourselves into a
corner where we cannot hear that
to the drastic changes that we have already seen during
this period of time so thank you very much staff
I don't think I need a response now but I
hope we will continue this conversation actually I do want
a response I would like to know if staff is
willing to consider what I've just said thank you very
much
thank you through the chair I'm
we are not willing to consider an August
change in choices at this point this is not the
same as generous start up as the last one the
vaccination rollout has been most intentional and while not perfect
thanks to trustees advocacy we have been able to get
our staff vaccinated at a speed which was much more
hopeful in two of the boards in the province which
had Morris hot spots than any other parts of the
province we've been able to get them vaccinated faster and
ministry of health and the ministry of education are committed
to choose vaccinations before they return to school that doesn't
mean we're guaranteed at all what we are expected to
guarantee is a smooth start to September so for families
who do not feel that vaccinations want to be able
to take place in their homes or for their children
they will likely be choosing a virtual learning option for
those who don't and there were here sure that within
their own home context it's been addressed they will be
choosing in person one whatever it is we will be
prioritizing the connection to the families to understand their choices
and by keeping the local charter schools were in a
better position to do so but we will not be
doing any kind of selection in the month of August
the stability for the students is too important at this
point and yes we recognize parents will be making choices
in June but we don't believe that's the same year
as last year and we're hopeful it doesn't change to
that degree but if it does we've we've allowed for
February which is the extra date which we were not
required to provide because we are sensitive to the fact
that parents don't always know but now we will be
entering into an August election
that would not that stops recommendation that thank you director
senior Mister chair I guess my question then is it
August is not a feasible date is starting to come
back and tell us if there is a date of
later generations she would jump for a spot or two
years in August where we can allow the parents to
make a true love on their initial decisions
through the chairs the consensus of all the directors of
education across the province to Janice already very late in
order to be able to assure schools of their staffing
levels because based on what their responses aren't we then
have to make sure staff is in the right places
and the right courses of the right programs are available
for our students so before teachers leave they are entitled
to get a tentative time table on when they should
be getting the real time table but will be giving
them a tentative time table so that we need the
collective agreement I'm convinced of the house
sorry sorry first is not really possible sorry sorry Mister
chair I just want understand are we making this decision
because it is impossible for us to manage or be
making this decision because it because give given our current
set up of collective agreement on how the summer break
works we want to fit in the time lines
sorry to hear that sure we're doing it so that
we can welcome our students back to school whether they
are in remote or whether they're in in person
staff is ready to go and register the family's interests
that's why so sorry I just want to meet the
three Mister terrific you director I just wanna clarify my
question once more if we're able to tell the teachers
at a different set of dates and if if we
didn't need to let our staff know ... teachers no
object class set up starting September I'm just curious are
we able to delay the state
through the chair no we're not because giving staff their
timetables means you know which staff we need to teach
French subjects in which brings so that the fact that
they're receiving their timetable means that all of the schools
in your ward well actually know which teachers they have
and which ones they need to hire as it is
hiring teachers goes into the month of July even though
it's not supposed to that's what staff receive more time
tables of the engine so wanted to share his family's
novels is that a teacher is in place for their
child in the month of September delaying it anymore it
means we can't stop the schools
thank you aspen three Mister chair I thought we are
giving all the head constantly
if you wanna go back on the list you can
your time is up we do have three other people
who would like to ask questions thank you ... so
we'll move on now to trustee Smith go ahead
thank you Mr chair still fighting technology here to get
to my point yeah all right the first question I
have is what support job I'm on an area of
concern to me what support what specific support S. S.
B. staff will be putting in place to re engage
those students
which would be an unaccounted for and disengage in learning
for for more than a year I like to get
some answers on that
thank you very much Sir the chair to associate director
and
I thank you for the question trustees met as you
have rightly pointed out we have a number of students
who have been reading on not being engaged in the
learning as much as we'd like them to be over
the last year and so the PSS staff would have
the opportunity to make direct phone calls to parents to
reach out to them to get the information from the
schools to have school staff also reach out directly to
parents and the students are depending on their age to
make sure that we are inviting them back into a
space we're welcoming them and we're creating the conditions in
the school that will have them know that we're preparing
to receive them in a way that will have them
once again being in gate so it is going to
be a direct ... type of engagement that is going
to require some
... and resources and I think he has to stop
will be able to help us to do that
it
every year in terms of their support Gen resources so
we put a number or anything like that in place
as to what we were talking about a large group
of students here so I just want to insure that
we are we have a structure ready to go to
look at this
I was completely empty insure that we are we are
I have been doing this
because I think this is a big area and that's
of concern to me and I'm hoping that we are
having everyone set to go on on top
my next question ... ... I I heard a back
and forth not too long ago the director said no
approval associate director said the ministry haven't sent the direction
yet which is it
we seem to be
going back and forth on an answer and I like
to get clarity on that
so through the chair it depends on which part of
the staffing models so what we're looking at secondary
the way we organize the timetables the ministry is offering
further directions later in August we will be asked you
whether they wanted to be a half class size so
every other day student attendance or ... or full day
full class size in which case every day students attendance
so ministry approval
it is not required in order for us to set
up our current staffing and scheduling in secondary at this
time
does that help through the chair
this is not
I was on mute
you know what happened last year we had a lot
of delays and ...
okay that's fine thank you thank you very much
but
they finished
yeah I'm I'm I'm having a little bit of a
problem I I have some further questions with them and
I'm I'm I'm
I'm having a machine is jumping around here on me
that's creating my own own friction so ... can you
hear me
yeah we can hear
I can hear you anyway
okay I'm
I was concerned because last year we had considerable delays
no I'm I'm what
I'm running I'm running in
just as we can we can come back if you'd
like okay
I can see it too ... trustees just kind of
Roger go ahead
I
I hear you Mister chair I'm thinking stop for for
bringing us this update I just have a comment I
don't have any questions I just wanted to share and
you know I I do appreciate the rationale to start
at the selection forms early ... because at you know
I think we don't want to run and she what
we ran into last year and I think you're you're
all correct that our parents have a better idea ...
of how the process is going to run out so
I I do think you know the time lines are
fine my worry is is the communication piece ... we've
run into some trouble in that last year so I
think
we really need to make clear in our selection forms
of the fact that parents will not be able to
switch back and forth like they have I think they're
going to be parents were going to think
it's gonna be like last year so we need to
make it clear and we need to explain clearly why
right that it's that it's taxing on our resources our
staff are expanding you know this is also a bar
staff right that they're spending so many hours doing the
switches ... where we can utilize them in a better
way so we need to make it very clear because
unlike other steps that what I don't want any of
us want is in September we we have a mailbox
full of our people
so we need to make it very clear that there
will be an opportunity like last year ... except for
the one state that we have I think we need
to also be very up front about how virtual school
is going to look different
... in terms of you know and right now we
know we can't
I think
we have to be up front and say you know
there's there could be a possibility of more split like
that that will ... determine perhaps with what parents decide
I agree with what the director said that your teachers
are more than capable of handling four classes that and
they'll deliver their curriculum while but I know that parents
at least and I'm sure with wealth ... ... not
if they don't have to say to worry about that
... need back end in terms of the other thing
with the communication we really need to tie in with
the vaccine rollouts I'm just thinking as sort of a
lead person who looks at myself in the shoes of
parents are when I'm looking at how to make these
decisions it's often based on what the numbers are in
the pocket strange though when the numbers are really high
parents want to pull their kids out with the numbers
a bit lower so what we don't want it's parents
making those decisions on the numbers because each day ...
and and then changing it it's much more so I
think we just need to be very clear I think
that conversation with a kind of public health ... is
really important getting parents to clear picture of where we
think
are you know and because we don't have the expertise
that we have to rely on public health to where
they think the numbers will be what the modeling will
be come September I think that will be really important
in our internet ... informing the decision that Karen snake
arm and telling them that you know there's going to
be you know because in a lot of communities that
have yes the vaccinations going smoothly right now but special
hot spot areas this is not always the case and
so I think there's always worry from parents that well
you know what if there's a delay in our second
doses right we've had many clinics the hot spot being
being being canceled so I think giving parents I know
it's outside of our purview of expertise but I think
we really do need to incorporate into the communication that
goes out I because I do strongly worried that they're
going to make decisions on what the numbers are now
and and then you have numbers we're seeing in other
parts of the world have drastically changed after vaccination and
so you know we don't want to be in a
situation where we're kind of having to reconfigure everything at
the last minute so I think you medication I just
want to read it it's so important in this process
so we don't add extra work for staff and teachers
yeah because I know teachers are also very anxious of
getting their timetable aren't you know ahead of time and
that we weren't necessarily able to do last year and
they wound up like I said yes so I I
guess at this point I'm just looking forward to seeing
what the selection forms bring the N. and again I
urge you all very strongly asked you to to get
all that communication in a concise way and then of
course translations right so we're talking about hot spot ...
that's going to be a major major piece having webinars
and all those things are really great ... but they
are very an accessible to to a lot of parents
that I figure out how we're gonna we'll let that
out because June first is very very close I think
yeah
thank you and we completely concur on the translations of
the communications executive officer odd Perry has been working with
the team and its fans I can tastic in terms
of planning ahead of time to ensure that what we
are doing is as accessible to as many families as
we can so we're very committed to that and appreciate
the comment
okay thank you testing should ... that should that should
come to Russia ... we do it we're almost at
six but we have more than five minutes and just
U. Lasko was asked to put back on the list
so that will be the final speaker before and you
can you can you know can you not hear me
like to finish off we're right we're all
I'm sure I'm just like David finish first thank you
yes thank you very much I'm sorry I was having
problems and still continue to have but we need approval
for ... structure of the daytime table how much should
parents students spend on the job how much time students
spend in class versus online ... could anyone help me
with that how we gonna
associate director gold through the chair
so our trusty Smith is right that last summer one
of the things that kept us ... held up was
landing that what I I refer to as the bell
schedule when do they attend school winner they synchronous where
they is a synchronous
we have a team working on looking at different models
will be consulting with different stakeholders and at this point
our understanding is that we are free to do so
which is why that work is beginning ... and we
will report back as that work becomes completed
when we need approval for that Sir
in the information we've received to date there has not
been anything that talks about boards getting approval for the
dell structure we must adhere to the Education Act where
students receive a certain number of minutes of instruction a
day and we will always follow the Education Act the
circumstances we were in last number are not with us
at that moment so we are going to proceed on
that basis
okay let's be cautious with that because ... I think
those things would require approval and I was following up
in that question class sizes ankle hurts ... what what
are going to be the sizes in these two areas
for class sizes associate director Snyder threw the chair
thirty three Belcher lost connection there are mistrial Oscar actually
reply to south to get all the questions I would
like to know what the class sizes and co hurt
sizes will be
through you Mister chair of we won't know that until
we see the responses from Paris to though ... how
many parents choose remote virtual verses in person ... as
you know this year are you virtual classes were larger
class size to support smaller classes live in person learning
so once we have the information on the parents choices
and the work begins I configure the classes bishop better
information for you on that so you're telling me at
this time you don't know how does class sizes will
be
not throw the district until we understand what the ratio
of virtual verses in person will be
what about the model of the day Sir
we have a few researcher we haven't created a models
yet because we don't know with Azerbaijan's state earlier this
evening with the changes of the pandemic vaccination schedules and
what we're hearing on vaccinations
until we see the replies are families it's hard for
us reject what class sizes will be in person or
virtual
so we are yes the you don't have a timeline
at this time your site
three Mister chair I would and I looked to my
colleagues but I would suggest that in late June ...
when we see the responses in the stock staff at
the opportunity to analysis on the responses we could probably
come back to you with some estimates of what class
sizes will look like across the district for the next
school year
see my concern is that how many parents
make decisions without class sizes ... to get into these
... setting so it limits them in the sense that
... if they make a commitment and then find out
of class sizes you mongoose I do want to get
out your spelling the telling them that it can't do
it but class size has a lot to do as
you know last year we may have more experience now
versus last year but did the concern I'm having is
that ... with that information they had last year is
what I've been going back and forth and now if
they don't know the class sizes as they find out
how many kids are in those classes with their kids
they can have they could probably want to change that
class so I'm a little concerned about that
so are
so we lock them and just saying they can't change
we need to be able to tell them what the
size of those classes are going to be
three Mister chair yeah we are trying our very best
we will honor our collective agreements and class size regulations
as we do this work ... but to identify what
the class sizes in the remote verses in person is
a little bit early at this point in time Alaska's
trickle **** a critical of you thanks for the comments
on this
no I I think what we want to do justice
would receive similar devices will share as much as we
know in other words what are the class sizes based
on what we know at the time of survey in
terms of collective agreement ... and regulations but N. as
associate director Snyder said ...
... until we see how students are divided up between
the two ways of learning and finding it hard to
get more precise than that
... do you associate director could you confirm for me
please ... I was putting a cap of some kind
forty nine hundred ten fifteen so we can know that
cap what it is I it sounds a bit vague
for me and I want to get an answer what
is it that we as a board can determine is
going to be twenty eight is gonna be canned it's
going to be whatever it is so parents are aware
of it I got a newsletter that spending and I
want to make certain that I can have some kind
of conversations because people are calling me regularly on this
matter and I'd like to address it in some form
that could today ... someone could explain to me
by pointing to recap of some sort I don't know
what that number is and I'm not gonna put a
number in anyone's at that ... someone please tell me
what that cap can be we know that it used
to be thirty and twenty eighteen whatever ... we have
called it now so we are going further down from
that what will it be it parents don't want their
kids to be clustered in a class to deal with
that
so through that sure we agree with you I think
this is a part of the F. that conversation when
we get into what staffing will cost and so may
I suggest that next week may twelfth in the conversation
that aspect will be able to better I deal with
that question is that fair through the chair yes that's
fair and and just dismiss your time is up because
I've added on actually a little bit of extra time
to five minutes so
thanks to the tank thanks a lot
thank you thank you for your questions and we will
direct will endeavor to answer thank you very much ...
we're now at six o'clock I'm going to suggest that
we take a five minute recess well we're going to
be as we prepare to go into private yeah certain
stuff has to leave ... and maybe Mrs ... upon
... can tell us which are the director can tell
us which stuff ... I need to be ... to
... it can I can enter the private session ...
so I'm going to call for a five minute recess
while we work this out
surcharges and ... before we go if we have any
other questions can should be emailing them to the right
yeah yeah that's what I wanted yes thank you through
the bay area sure
yes what we'll do is we'll have ... ... questions
sent to the vice chair Mister Mammoliti ... and ...
he will ... that make sure that they get answers
and ... we we put them in the trustees weekly
director
yes we will and ... if I could just let
the rest of staff know ... after ... general counsel
upon names rescue staff we won't be coming back into
the public sessions so have a good Friday evening and
many things the staff online you were amazing sorry I
know that was an audible and that and may I
say before they leave ... happy mother's day to you
all
upon well in addition to the directors associate directors ...
my own Brisson Ross Ryan Tony Rossi Christopher Morley your
time ...