NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Toronto District School Board

Toronto District School Board, also known as TDSB, is the English-language public school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The minority francophone (Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest) and Catholic (Toronto Catholic District School Board) communities of Toronto also have their own publicly funded school boards and schools that operate in the same area, but which are independent of the TDSB. Image File history File links TDSB_logo. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English (de facto) Flower White Trillium Tree Eastern White Pine Bird Common Loon Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation - House seats - Senate seats 106 24... Canadian English (CaE) is a variety of English used in Canada. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English (de facto) Flower White Trillium Tree Eastern White Pine Bird Common Loon Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation - House seats - Senate seats 106 24... The Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest, also known as CSDCSO or Ontario District School Board #58, manages the French-language schools in the central south-western region of Ontario. ... The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) is one of three school boards in the city of Toronto. ...

History

The board was created in 1998 following the merger of the school boards for the former municipalities of York, East York, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, as well as the Metropolitan Toronto Public School Board. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ...

The head office moved from the old Toronto Public Board of Education office at 155 College Street to the 5050 Yonge Street location, by Mel Lastman Square (previously, the offices of the North York Board of Education). Mel Lastman Square is a civic square at North York City Hall in the former City of North York, Ontario. ... The North York Board of Education was the primary school board for the former city of North York in Ontario, Canada. ...

Organization

Gerry Connelly is the Director of Education. There are 558 schools in the TDSB. Of these, 451 offer elementary education, 102 offer secondary level education, and there are five adult day schools. The TDSB has 16 alternative elementary schools as well as 20 alternative secondary schools. It is the largest school board in Canada^[6] and the 4th largest in North America. TDSB has approximately 31,000 permanent and 8,000 temporary staff, which includes 10,000 elementary school teachers and 5,800 at the secondary level.^[2]

Controversies

In 2006 questions were raised by some TDSB Principals about why is it much cheaper to purchase equipment for the schools from most stores that it is through the companies that they are required by the board to make purchases from as the board has signed exclusive contracts and agreements with. Dell Computers are one of the companies that have a contract with the TDSB to supply all computer hardware for the boards 500 schools. Two identical computers were compared that are both offered from Dell, purchased through the TDSB agreement from a price-list created on January 25, 2006 costs the school $1365.48 (before taxes) while the exact same machine was offered for sale on Dell computers website to the general public for $1357.00 (before taxes). While it is only a marginal price difference of about $8.50 each in favour of the supplier for one computer but multiplied by the volume of business from the TDSB this is costing the already cash strapped schools huge. Last year alone Jarvis Collegiate Institute purchased 60 computers, multiply this by 500 schools and it’s costing the board over $250,000.00 above and beyond the regular retail price per year. The Principal of Jarvis Collegiate, Mr. Gold said “We are a board of 500 schools, What I’d want to be explained to me better is, Why aren’t we capturing tremendous savings with that purchasing power?” opposed to overpaying for the required equipment.[2] A principal is: The head of an educational institution. ... Dell, Inc. ... Jarvis Collegiate Institute is a high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

In 2005, the Canada Family Action Coalition were planning a class action lawsuit against the Toronto District School Board for teaching false information to students about the health risks of sexual behaviours of homosexuality and the misuse of taxpayers money to fund homosexual related programs. They claimed the board had a budget of $2.2 billion in 2005, which were $217 million more than the 2004 budget even though student enrolment dropped by approximately 20,000 students. A portion of this extra money was used to promote homosexuality and according to an internal staff newsletter from a Toronto Junior Middle School, the trustees used taxpayer’s dollars to pay for a bus for the 2005 Gay Pride Parade for staff and students.[3] In a questionnaire given to students, the Toronto District School Board was also asking students as young as 14 years old if they are bisexual, gay, heterosexual, lesbian, transsexual, transgender or two-spirited (an aboriginal term). [4] In law, a class action is an equitable procedural device used in litigation for determining the rights of and remedies, if any, for large numbers of people whose cases involve common questions of law and fact. ... Human sexuality is the expression of sexual feelings. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual and romantic attraction between two individuals of the same sex. ... A pride parade is part of a festival or ceremony held by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of a city to commemorate the struggle for LGBT rights and pride. ... In human sexuality, bisexuality describes a man or woman having a sexual orientation to persons of either or both sexes (a man or woman who sexually likes both sexes; people who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to both males and females). ... For other articles with similar names, see Gay (disambiguation). ... Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ... A lesbian is a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted only to other women. ... A transsexual (sometimes transexual) person establishes a permanent identity with the opposite gender to their assigned (usually at birth) sex. ... Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is an overarching term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society. ... Detail of Dance to the Berdache, painted by George Catlin Two-Spirit (also two spirit or twospirit) is a term for third gender people (for example, woman-living-man) that are among many, if not most, Native American and Canadian First Nations tribes. ...

In 2004, the Toronto District School Board was criticized for signing an exclusive contract with Coca-Cola to sell canned soft drinks in Toronto Schools. Many students and parents argued that they would prefer to see only healthy beverages, such as juice and water, sold in the vending machines opposed to only pop. William Wong, a then 18 year old student at A.Y. Jackson Secondary School and one of only two student trustees of the board was critical of this decision and questioned “Who are the board to decide what students should drink? At what age should students have a choice?” Based upon the Freedom of Information Act many students and parents argued that the board must make the details of this contract accessible to the general public. The result was that the school board finally made the controversial Coke agreement available for viewing by students and parents by special appointment only with the superintendent’s office. Under the contract, the board receives 30% of the payment per can sold which amounts to approximately $400,000.00 per year from sales of Coke in schools. [5] The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... A. Y. Jackson Secondary School is a secondary school for grades 10 to 12 located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Nearly sixty countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation, which sets rules on governmental secrecy. ...

In 2002, the Ontario Provincial government stripped all power and authority from the school board trustees due to a massive mismanagement. Paul Christie was appointed by the province to serve as supervisor of the Toronto District School Board, with authority for all financial and administrative functions of the Board. This allowed Christie to supersede the authority of elected school trustees. The provincial government argued that the appointment was necessary, as the TDSB had not submitted a budget to the Ontario Minister of Education as legally required. Representatives of the TDSB claimed that they could not find the necessary operating expenses for the year, given provincial regulations which prohibited deficit spending. Christie balanced the TDSB's budget through a dramatic spending reduction of $90 million. Under his watch, the TDSB eliminated many secretarial positions, phased out school-community advisors, reduced the number of vice-principals, cut outdoor education and adult education, and re-evaluated the position of social workers in the system. Christie's staff reports were not made public, and some critics argued that there were no adequate checks or balances on his authority^[7]. In 2007, again due to mismanagement of the trustees, the board will try to submit a budget with a deficit of $84 million. [6] Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English (de facto) Flower White Trillium Tree Eastern White Pine Bird Common Loon Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation - House seats - Senate seats 106 24... Provincial has several meanings and may refer to: Provincial examinations: Bi-annual province-wide examinations for students between the grades of 10 to 12 in the province of British Columbia Anything related to a province, a formal geographical division; Anything related to the provinces, the parts of a country outside... Paul Christie (March 1952â€”) is a politician and administrator in Ontario, Canada. ... The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities are the agencies of the Ontario government in the Canadian province of Ontario responsible for government policy, funding, curriculum planning and direction in all levels of public education, including elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities. ...

In December of 2001 a $70 million class-action lawsuit was filed against the Toronto District School Board on behalf of the parents of special needs students who were sent home during the boards support workers strike in April 2001. The suit claimed that 27,000 special needs students were discriminated against on the basis of their disabilities because they were sent home during the month long strike while the schools stayed open for their able-bodied counterparts. The claims were based on the fact that they weren’t permitted to go to school and missed a month of school while everyone else was able to go. The suit also claimed that the Toronto District School Board should stop treating special needs students as lesser students. The four-week strike, led by 13,000 support workers ended in early May 2001^[8]. Special needs is a legal term derived from the language in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. ...

In 2001, Toronto School Board Trustee Sam Basra was convicted of Immigration Act charges and was forced under the Education Act to resign his seat. He pleaded guilty in August of 2001 to selling fake offers of employment to potential immigrants for US$1,500.00 each. This came to light after being tipped by a former employee, police raided Basra's paralegal firm and found 250 false letters of employment. In March 2001 Arjan Singh launched a $15 million lawsuit agaisnt Basra alleging that while doing paralegal work, Basra forged documents to make him think his rights case was active more than a year after it was closed. After much infighting among the trustees and display of lack of leadership from then Chair of the Board Donna Cansfield to make an appointment to fill the vacant trustee seat left by Basra, a by-election was called for April 2002 costing the board and its taxpayers a whopping $160,000.00. Stan Nemiroff who was endorsed by the communist newspaper, People’s Voice defeated former Mayor of Etobicoke Bruce Sinclair in the by-election to become the new Ward 1 trustee representing Etobicoke North.[7][8][9][10] Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh DFC was born on April 15, 1919 in Lyalpur, and educated at Montogmery (then a part of undivided India, and, now in Pakistan). ... The Honourable Donna H. Cansfield, MPP is politician in Ontario, Canada, who has represented the riding of Etobicoke Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 2003. ... A mayor (from the Latin mÄior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Etobicoke (pronounced a-TOE-ba-coe; in SAMPA [@toUb@koU]), is the western region of Toronto, Ontario. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Also in 2001, the former School board chair Gail Nyberg came under fire for a secret $360,000.00 “golden handshake” she approved for outgoing director of education Marguerite Jackson.[11][12]

Vehicles

TDSB has a varierty of vans and small trucks inherited by the former school boards. Older trucks have been retired, but some retain their old colours (namely Board of Education of North York). As for school buses, they are now contracted out to private operators. The Scarborough Board of Education, North York Board of Education and Toronto Board of Education had their own fleets. The North York Board of Education was the primary school board for the former city of North York in Ontario, Canada. ...

Garages and Offices

Fleet

Support Vehicles

Ford may mean a number of things: A ford is a river crossing. ... Chevrolet (IPA: ÊƒÉ›v. ... Chevrolet (IPA: ÊƒÉ›v. ... Dodge is a brand name of automobiles and light to heavy-duty trucks. ... Ford may mean a number of things: A ford is a river crossing. ...

Buses

Navistar (formerly International Harvester) started in Chicago, United States, which produced agricultural machinery, construction equipment and vehicles. ... Ford may mean a number of things: A ford is a river crossing. ... Photo courtesy of Wayne Bus Enthusiasts group on Yahoo Advertisement for 1973 Wayne Lifeguard School Bus on Ford chassis. ...

Contractors

Cardinal is one a of a few school bus operators in Ontario, Canada. ... One of Laidlaws 40,000 yellow school buses Laidlaw, currently organized as Laidlaw International, Inc. ... The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) is one of three school boards in the city of Toronto. ... McKulskey Transportation Services is a school bus operator in the Greater Toronto Area. ... The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) is one of three school boards in the city of Toronto. ... Stock Transportation is a school bus operator in Ontario, Canada and is owned by National Express Corporation of the United States. ... The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) is one of three school boards in the city of Toronto. ...

References

^ Facts and Figures. Toronto District School Board. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
^ ^a ^b Connelly, Gerry (2006). The 2004-05 Financial Results (PDF). Director's Annual Report,2004-05. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
^ Chair. Toronto District School Board. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
^ Director. Toronto District School Board. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
^ Trustees. Toronto District School Board. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
^ Connelly, Gerry (2006). A Message from the Director (PDF). Director's Annual Report,2004-05. Retrieved on 2006-06-08.
^ Trish Worron, "Education democracy an illusion", Toronto Star, 12 July 2003, F6.
^ Nicholas Keung and Kristin Rushowy, "Toronto School Board sued for bias", Toronto Star, 8 December 2001, E3.

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ...

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