Thanks Mari…..shall we work together?

March 22, 2007 at 1:39 am (Communication with Trustee)

So Option Z is off the table. What is next ? Candy sent a note to Mari to discuss how can we help.

 

Hi Mari

Hope you’ve had a wonderful March break with your family.

First of all let us thank you for listening to our views. Your note of March 9th, 2007 is the best gift for us to start our March break. We are so glad to hear that you have decided to drop Option Z which called for the closing/combining of schools in Willowdale. Big applause from all of us!

In addition, we are delighted to learn that the school council meeting at Arbor Glen is now set for March 22 (this Thursday) at 7pm. We think this will be an excellent opportunity for us to work with you on what needs to be done next.

During this agonizing waiting since we communicated, we did some research and here is the information gathered so far.

(Please correct me if the following data does not reflect the true situation as I am just quoting them from the source indicated).

As indicated in North York Mirror of March 16:

According to the new data released last Tuesday by Statistics Canada (based on information filed out by Canadians on census day on May 6, 2006), overall Toronto grew 0.9% over 2001 to 2006, while North York’s population increased 2.7%.

However according to the information from ETFO website:

While total operating funding for all school boards has increased by 11%; one board, Toronto, has seen a decrease in operating funding taken inflation and enrolment into account – Toronto in fact dropped by 3.3% from 1998 to 2006,. Is this reasonable given the increased population in Toronto , especially in North York where our Willowdale community resides?

It also talked about the gap in funding between elementary and secondary education . Funding to elementary school is substantially lower than secondary education. Foundation Grant , after adjusting for additional funding for primary class size (20 per class) and special education, elementary is $4,474 per student Vs $5,178 for secondary, a difference of $704 or 14%, despite the current emphasis on importance of early childhood education.

We understand that the tremendous strains on schools along the Yonge and Finch corridor due to rapidly increasing high rises needs to be addressed. As pointed out to David Zimmer’s office, we need more funding and a more equitable allocation per capita (students) so that increased expenditure for increased population, instead of disrupting well established areas like Willowdale and Scarborough .


Having said that, it is good news that Kathleen Wynne, our Education Minister, indicated today (Metro News) that schools get $781 million boost from Ontario government.

Would any of this fund be attributed to reduce the gap between expenditure ($120 million) and fund allocated ($20 million) as indicated in the Program Revitalization? If not, should we ask for more funding from the board, or the Provincial/Federal government?

Shall we add this to the Agenda of our school council meeting?

What we want to achieve is a more balanced budget for the TDSB so that this school closure issue won’t resurface from time to time, we need to find a long term solution that can assure reasonable funding is available for TDSB to provide quality education for our kids, without closing/combining of schools.

If more funding is the answer, how we can help to get the funding required to balance the books for TDSB. How we can work together with you to canvass more funding from Provincial/Federal government.

To be effective in our quest, we need to have information (e.g. financials/budget) to understand the extent of the shortfall/deficits. In order that we can help, we need facts and frankness from the board so that we can work together.

We sincerely hope that you agree with us that by working together, we can make a difference.

Thanks and we look forward to meeting you shortly.

Candy

Arbor Glen Community & Concerned Parents

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Trustee backed down from Option Z. But it is not over yet

March 11, 2007 at 2:52 am (General)

Mari sent a quick letter to Willowdale schools on the letest school news. In the letter she said:

“The plan was called “Option Z”. Parents have made it clear that they do not support this option. So we will NOT be doing it.”

Thanks for all of you who support our petition so TDSB backed down from Option Z, period.

However, she did not mention what the next option is. We should not sit back.

Please keep involved to save the high quality education for our kids and communities.

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Vajira’s note to Trustee on Mar 8

March 9, 2007 at 2:59 am (Be Seen and Be Heard, Communication with Trustee)

Vajira sent an excellent note to Trustee Mari Rutka to express the concerns for the revitalization program.

Thanks Vajira!

Hello Mari Rutka,

I am concerned about the Revitalization Program proposed by the TDSB and how it will affect my child’s future.

Good quality education to my kid is paramount important to me. We invested in housing in the neighborhood of Arbor Glen to accomplish this as we all know Arbor Glen is doing really well(Ranked No 1 twice). This is achieved through the commitment of the staff utilizing the prevailing facilities,giving a solid educational foundation to small kids to be good citizens.

It’s difficult to understand why the TDSB want to disturb smoothly run schools and implement the Revitalization program, other than for optimizing the facilities and financial constrains? If this is the case what quality and safety levels can parents expect under the the proposed project mixing different age levels and expanding school population.

I am not against changes but it should be viable in the long run but the yard stick should not only be the dollar value but also the quality of education we give to our children and the vast benefits gained through.

Thank you,

Vajira

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Letter to Education Minister

March 6, 2007 at 2:45 am (Be Seen and Be Heard, Communication with Education Minister)

Candy sent a letter to Education Minister Kathleen Wynne

for revitalization program. Thank Candy for her great effort !

 

 

Dear Kathleen

Revitalization Program - Arbor Glen P.S.

The reason I am writing is to voice our concerns with respect to the proposal put forward by the Revitalization Program (RP) to close Arbor Glen P.S.

Arbor Glen has consistently achieved excellent academic results – ranked as No. 1 by Fraser Institute for outstanding academic achievements during the past five years in EQAO testing. Toronto Sun recently published an article regarding ranking of over 1,000 schools in GTA, Arbor Glen is again ranked No. 1. The publication from C D Howe Institute published by Toronto Star yesterday also proves that Arbor Glen has been achieving excellent results. Arbor Glen is valued by so many through various generations and new comers in the community. The reason is very obvious – it brings out the best in our children. It is very focused on behavoral education. The team of staff is extremely dedicated to their work that we are amazed at all the wonderful activities during lunch and the after school programs that provide very good development aids for our kids.

We are not against changes. However changes have to be the right ones, which should truly reflect the essence of the RP. Arbor Glen is neither below 65% utilization (it is running at about 80% capacity, at the target level set for funding, and projected to go up) nor is it so old that it needs a lot of repair and maintenance. With Highland running at 100% capacity and situated at such a busy and accident prone intersection, long flight of stairs posing potential danger to younger children, it is definitely not the right option for consolidating Arbor Glen or Cliffwood regular English into.

The enclosed information binder contains information supporting our proposal to keep Arbor Glen. A copy of this information binder has been provided to the following individuals:

  1. Mari Rutka, our school trustee, during our recent ward meeting on Feb 15, 2007.
  2. David Zimmer, MPP, during our meeting on Feb 16, 2007.
  3. David Shiner, Councillor on Feb 23, 2007 (by courier).

Both David Zimmer and David Shiner are very supportive of our rationale for proposing to keep Arbor Glen P.S. They both feel that we have very valid points supporting our proposal.

I understand from speaking with other parents that you have been a very strong advocate for parents regarding their school issues. I would appreciate if you could kindly help us find other alternatives that can be beneficial to the community as well as meeting the objectives of the RP.

Thank you very much for your kind attention to this matter and we look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Candy

Arbor Glen Community & Concerned Parents

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Arbor Glen ranked high by C.D. Howe Institute report

March 5, 2007 at 4:04 am (General)

On March 1, Toronto Start featured a Special Report “How does your school rate ?”. C.D. Howe Institute published the report card on Ontario’s elementary schools.The schools included in the ratings are assigned a percentile measure in Grade3, Grade 6 or both. The number 90, for instance, indicates that a school’s results for that grade are better than the results at 90 percent of schools with similar socio-economic profiles.

Arbor Glen did excellent job. According to the report, Arbor Glen achieved 96% for Grade 3 and 99% for Grade 6.

Please go to this link to see the new school rating:
http://www.thestar.com/article/186664 (Toronto school result:
http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/070301_toronto_schools.pdf)

Thank Phillip for providing the links.

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Contact People for Education

March 5, 2007 at 3:19 am (General)

 

Candy contacted People for Education ( http://www.peopleforeducation.com/ ), an organization dedicated to the ideal of a fully publicly-funded education system in Ontario. See the following note. People for Education has forwarded Candy’s note to its members. Thanks Candy !

Dear People for Education,

I was recommended by my friend to get in touch with your organization regarding our concerns for the Revitalization Program put forward by TDSB, using Willowdale, Toronto as a pilot project.

The program includes consideration to close 10 schools in Willowdale, including Arbor Glen P.S. which is in our neighbourhood. Our residents and parents in the community are very concerned about this and during the past few weeks, about 200 of them have shown support to keep the school by signing the petition. This peition together with information binders about why this school should be kept have been forwarded to Mari Rutka, school trustee; David Zimmer, MPP and David Shiner, councillor.

Following are the responses received so far:

Mari Rutka: “I wanted you to know that staff is starting to put together other option sets based on the feedback so far. There will be many more sets, though, I anticipate, before we get to the one that works for Willowdale.”

David Zimmer: while he was sympathetic to our cause, the Provincial Government only provide the funds to the various Boards of Education and have no say on how the funds are spent. However he likes to be in the loop of the communication with Mari.

David Shiner: his office indicated that school boards now come under the Provincial Government. Although David Shiner would love to help with our cause, unfortunately it is a Provincial matter and his hands are tied. However he likes to be in the loop of the communication with Mari.

We are hoping that your organization can provide advice or support as to how we can pursue/alleviate our voices so that it can be represented to the school board and the committee that oversees this program.I would appreciate if you could let us know whether you are the appropriate contact or redirect us to the right person.

Thank you so much for your attention.

Regards,

Candy

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Discussion with City Councillor about the revitalization issue

March 5, 2007 at 2:41 am (Be Seen and Be Heard, General)

Pat had a long discussion with city councillor David Shiner on Feb 28 about revitalization program. Thanks Pat for your great effort ! The following is the note I received from Pat.

Hi Everyone,

I have had a very busy morning discussing the revitalization/consolidation issue.

I was contacted by Rita Hebert from Councillor Shiner’s office. On behalf of Councillor Shiner she thanked us for the binder and was very impressed with all the work that went into it thanks to Candy. Although the Board of Education is not a Municipal matter Councillor Shiner is not in agreement that any of our schools be closed and has spoken on this matter before Council. He does not understand why closing any school that has a 75 to 80% enrolment should even be considered, particularly when development is ongoing throughout Willowdale and schools will be needed. Councillor Shiner has met with Mari Rutka and has expressed his views on this matter. After discussing a number of other issues Rita asked if she could pass on my phone number to the Bayview Glen Ratepayers Association and I agreed. She also gave me the phone number of Arlene Leonoff who belongs to the Pineway group.

I then spoke at great length to Arlene and their group have been extremely active over the last week. They have been working with a representative from …ooops! can’t read my notes, I will have to find out the name of the group later … and with the lady who wrote the letter in the Mirror from Lillian P.S. Like us, the Pineway group feel they should not be working alone as this matter concerns all of Willowdale. They are trying to contact as many schools as possible perhaps through the School Councils so that we may speak with one voice. The Pineway Group have had numerous meetings already and are having another next Tuesday March 6th at 32 Weatherstone at 7.30. They would like as many as possible from our group to attend. Unfortunately, I already have a previous commitment on that night so I can’t go. It would be great if others from our group attends this meeting. Please try to make it.

The group is very upset with the Board and Mari Rutka as they feel that since they are elected to represent us, they should be coming up with better alternatives than “Plan Z.” Like us, they have sent numerous e-mails to Mari and are not happy with the answers they have received.

The group have also tentatively booked Earl Haig for Tuesday March 27th and hope that many parents and community members will make it a priority to attend. The Board will not be invited but they have already lined up speakers to speak on the issue of “Plan Z.” They will be inviting the Press to attend and report what is said. I have agreed to distribute flyers in the area as the Pineway group have a contact who will print them free of charge.

Arlene has already sent a note to our Blog.

As I mentioned, I spoke at great length with both Rita and Arlene and they each had some excellent points to make.

Please speak with your neighbours, parents and friends on this issue and together we will make our collective voices heard.

Regards.

Pat

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Candy’s talk with MPP office on Feb 28

March 1, 2007 at 3:11 am (Communication with MPP)

Candy replied Bernadatte’s call on Feb 28. Bernadatte works for M.P.P David.

Here is Candy’s note:

Bernadette left me a phone message at home yesterday. I returned her call today and had a lengthy chat. Yes we know it’s going to be a long process, getting involved, be seen and be heard are the only way to help navigate the direction this long term plan is going.

Telephone conversation with Bernadette from MPP office

Feb 28, 2007

· Thanks for coming to the David Zimmer, MPP office.

· Keep involved.

· Participate in school council meeting.

· Feedback to the school board.

· School board needs $120M for next decade, only have $20M, therefore need drastic change.

· Schools on Yonge are bursting with students, due to the new condominiums, whereas Willowdale is low in enrolment.

· According to Mari Rutka, it’s a long term plan, not sure what will happen. Will work on obtaining consent with parents, public, etc.

· Keep in touch with MPP’s office, call to talk to David.

· To close off, Candy indicated that we have been in contact with Mari over our concerns, and copying David to keep him in the loop. While recognizing the fact he cannot intervene, we are hoping that he can use his influence to voice our concerns.

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