Today - Special @tdsb Committee of the Whole at 4:30 - staff will present further revised models for #ReturntoSchool and a number of motions to come before the Board - Agenda here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes Please join us here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings I will be live tweeting...

In advance, sincere thank you to @TDSBDirector and senior staff... prioritizing health and safety to follow @TOPublicHealth guidelines without the necessary provincial funding makes this an impossible task... #onted

Special Committee of the Whole to discuss @tdsb Return to School Models and associated motions beginning at 4:30 - you can join us here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/boardmeetings/livemeeting.html

Meeting begins with an oral delegation from a TDSB Secondary teacher who speaks to disappointment with provincial parameters as a teacher and as a parent in forcing a return to school

Report from the Chair @AlexBrownWard12 "jumped into the role" - welcomes people to contact him - pauses to thank @TDSBDirector and the rest of the staff for their commitment over the past months

Report from TSTG (Transportation) @RobinPilkey speaks to prioritizing students with special education during the first week and other students following week (except @DavisvillePS) - asks whether empty seat rule should be enacted this year - consensus to suspend procedure

Next report from @TOPublicHealth from @StephDonovan2 Thanks for collaboration - received letter outlining priority recommendations below and piloting saliva tests and supporting schools in Covid-19 areas. In addition new dedicated team of 70 nurses to support schools.

City of Toronto staff are identifying spaces for boards to use and all city parks available - and @TOPublicHealth will have a dedicated team to support; Emergency motion coming later https://www.tdsb.on.ca//Leadership//Boardroom//AgendaMinutes.aspx?Type=A&Folder=Agenda%2f20200818(1)&Filename=12.1.pdf

. @rchernoslin reports on @TorontoPIAC special meeting discussing Return to School - over 5000 on the webinar - which is now available on-line - join the conversation series over the next month https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/How-to-Get-Involved/Conversations-Series

. @aarts_michelle providing #SEAC update - meeting last night - committee supports work being done to date but still have key concerns with some protocols to support students with autism - many unanswered questions - willingness to work with staff

Report from @TDSBDirector - staff will be presenting updated information on new strategies and approaches on Return to School plans - understand anxiety and frustration - health and safety of students and staff are paramount

. @TDSBDirector discusses we are following as many @TOPublicHealth recommendations as possible but funding is not enough to achieve all - risk based approach will be taken within guiding principles

Pre-registration survey results presented by @tdsb AD Witherow - school messenger (phone survey) completed 3 rounds of the survey - 67% response rate - on-line survey put on pause as understood models would shift

Analyzed results with LOI - highest area of need - overall high response rate from all neighbourhood elementary schools - more variability with secondary - @TOPublicHealth align with @TOPublicHealth list

Pre-registration will be used for @tdsb planning purposes - across LOI rankings there is a strong indication to return to school

With @tdsb secondary model - results are higher - adaptive model with smaller class sizes

With @tdsb adult students, lowest response rate - almost split vs in-school vs remote - waiting for responses from International students

Staff survey is launched through ServiceNow - we have about 1/3rd of @tdsb permanent staff responding during first day - 97% plan to return to work - 15% require accommodations and are having discussions with Employee Services - will help us plan - occasional staff survey next

Now @JSpyropoulos speaks to @tdsb Secondary plan and thanks team - landed on iteration - thanks parents and union partners @OSSTFtoronto and #EDU - in high schools - groups of students in classes of approx 15 wearing masks - one group in school/day alternating days - quadmester

Quadmester enables student to concentrate at 2 courses at a time - @tdsb model has been modified - this meets ministry parameters - synchronous - live virtual learning; asynchronous - homework; model built on 4 day schedule that repeats itself on the 5th day

Example - Math class divided into 2 cohorts A and B - A starts in school in-person 8:45-12:30; B is doing independent learning at home; at the end of the period - lunch break - staff and student dismissal - slide updated... stay tuned! Break at lunch is 90 minutes

From 2-3:15 synchronous learning for second course with both cohorts - model we believe meets criteria - 90 minute lunch provides extended period of time - new slide below

Remote Learning Secondary Model

Questions - @trusteemammo asks re transitioning back and forth for in-class and remote - @JSpyropoulos - best time is at the quad break - best for assessment - if there is an issue, connect with the Principal - individual issues will be worked through

Re 4-day timetable @ChrisMoiseTO asks difference between this @tdsb secondary model and the previous one - moves from 25% in-school - now we are at 40% in line with ministry expectations - 90 minute lunch - students can get home and teachers have flexibility

Re #EDU approval of model asks @MacLeanWard2 - @TDSBDirector responds that yes - Ministry has approved. Concern expressed that 90 minutes may not be enough travel time for some students - @JSpyropoulos responds there will be a local solution

Concerns expressed by @rchernoslin re long period of time - @JSpyropoulos responds similar to summer school - admits it is a long period - students with teachers can divide time up in creative ways - this iteration is the best they could arrive at

With all models @TDSBDirector responded - you have to give up something - this mode gives up some synchronous learning to increase face-to-face learning

Reminder @JSpyropoulos - school is on - assessment and attendance will be taken

For students who choose remote, @NunziataPatrick asks how will they be selected - virtual school will be created and will be discussed shortly - different for secondary and elementary

As soon as we know who is coming back remotely and face-to-face we can communicate @TDSBDirector - @Zakir4TDSB asks if IB will be the same - response is depends on numbers

. @JamesX_Li thanks staff - if we need to pivot in-class to remote, students will continue to be supported by same teacher; remote cohorts connection to the school is important; asks re specialized programs; can they choose remote learning? @manonjgardner says wherever possible

For live virtual learning @YaliniR_Ward21 asks if teachers will be at school for synchronous - answer yes; will WiFi in school be able to handle that? @Singhpeter response infrastructure will deliver on expectation; students can switch courses and options

Final question for secondary @TrusteeSmith asks re teachers readiness for synchronous learning - @JSpyropoulos speaks to professionalism of teachers to be ready and meet expectations

Another question @TrusteeSmith re safety for students - @JSpyropoulos speaks to ensuring students understand procedures and protocols during this Covid period - then asks as we get closer to start of school, are we ready? Yes schools have been cleaned; PPE & supplies delivered

Quick question @jenniferstoryTO re vocal music & specialized courses built around courses - AD Witherow says yes - using guidelines by prov and national organizations - details will be put in guidelines for schools - will be shared next week

Presentation for elementary continues - looking at spaces within schools - working with City of Toronto and Science Centre and working with @TOPublicHealth re configurations of schools

This is the latest list provided by @TOPublicHealth

We do not have sufficient funds to keep distance - critically important comment

AD Snider speaks to reserves - "these are not rainy day funds"! He explains each of the reserve funds and our liabilities - described below - total @tdsb reserves are $130.8M

Critical point re all proposed elementary models redeploy central, itinerant and school-based teachers - approximately 400 teachers to support smaller class sizes

Option 1 leaves total defit at 1% - total 486 teachers

Here are the risks re Option 1 - if we go to remote sites supervision may be an issue - transportation is a risk in of itself

Option 2 brings our deficit to 2% - Option 1 plus use of reserves described below - would add 766 teachers to support smaller class size

Risks for Option 2 - increase from Option 1

Option 3 - 3% overall deficit - key difference here we would need to also use Long-Term Disability - liabilities increase - total 1,046 teachers to support class size

Risks increase for Option 3 - significant impact of financial position of the board

This slide self-explanatory

Summary of Options

Summary

Optional Attendance - finalizing messaging - wherever we can we will accommodate

Technology - communication is coming tomorrow

Staggered start re Transportation (Davisville will be transported first week because of special circumstances)

Delayed start and staggered entry - (really support this!)

Next Steps AF @kgfalcon speaks to @tdsb families being surveyed again - many changes - updating documents - and program and operation guidelines will be posted so Principals have the most up-to-date information - and we'll talk about what we don't yet know! Supporting as we can.

Principals will engage School Councils and parent communities on local context - Principals will be supported to ensure families - students and staff are welcomed back. Break at 7:30...

Question @Zakir4TDSB asks re if we transport at lunch - answer is secondary use TTC - question re high-risk areas - @TDSBDirector speaks to health and safety protocol - details being worked on - will be very public

Asks who will be monitoring asks @Zakir4TDSB? @TDSBDirector speaks to collaboration with teachers, Principals and Vice-Principals with @TOPublicHealth nurses - collective responsibilities - seats will be assigned - facilities looking at all inventory of space - options explored

Director @TDSBDirector speaks to @tdsb efforts re contact tracing - there is an outbreak protocol that will be in place that we will be following closely - she clarifies it won't be medical screening

Question re use of reserves - AD Snider asked by @Zakir4TDSB re risks - there could be financial impact on the bottom-line immediately and in the future - clarifies no volunteer teachers - but faculty students

Question re ventilation - staff worked through the summer inspecting systems - maximizing fresh air - HVAC brought on line 2 hrs - exhaust fans running to clear air - filters changed more frequently but reality is old systems - working with @TOPublicHealth; fans can be pointed up

Can children go home for lunch? asks @Zakir4TDSB - elementary students to stay at school for lunch - we will be limiting ability of parents to bring lunch! Students need to bring with them! Who supervises? We are assessing right now...

Before we open schools @Zakir4TDSB asks how do we ensure they are safe for return? AD @kgfalcon speaks to discussions at committee re confidence of the system - local principals will be key - communication will be key

Screening questions from @YaliniR_Ward21 re if a student has any symptoms they need to stay home! Key ways to prevent the spread - re deaf/hard of hearing - and students with other identifications - purchased see-through masks and shields - differentiated PPE available for staff

And for students - AD Witherow also speaks to transition plans for classrooms - providing comfort for parents - mindful that some students still might not tolerate them well... how have we communicated with students with IEPs? SEAC is supporting - helping with guidelines

All teachers will be reviewing IEPs during first few days of school - in relationship to accommodations now during Covid - they will be updated to meet new learning conditions AD Witherow comments - @YaliniR_Ward21 follows up - communication will be going home - will transition

Concerns re timing - @YaliniR_Ward21 asks re staggered or delayed entries - @TDSBDirector confirms ministry has provided approval for the first two weeks

Now @RobinPilkey speaks to Options - teachers per school - would need 2500 teachers to minimize all classes; @TDSBDirector confirms idea is to send teachers to hot-spot areas only working with @TOPublicHealth; looking at approaches - ranking of elementary schools in terms of risk

. @TDSBDirector speaks to options - highest risk areas to least risk areas or mitigate throughout - @RobinPilkey reiterates cannot build expectations of parents that we can mitigate all class sizes

Question @RobinPilkey - finds it hard that ministry wants us to spend reserves - after they required us to fund reserves for our liability? @TDSBDirector reports ministry is aware of options - they noted us using our reserves... @RobinPilkey finds it "astonishing"

Worried about children staying for lunch - @RobinPilkey speaks to enforcing that - @TDSBDirector clarifies - preference to stay but will be permitted to go home for lunch! Important clarification!

Now @ChrisMoiseTO speaks to not calling funds reserves as they are put against items - especially concerned re school budgets and long-term disability - if we do use these funds, do we need to pay them back? We need more money from province now... more than ever before!

Feels we are crossing line - need to push back - province should fund reduced class sizes - concerned with double-standard - AD Snider responds - we will not limit schools using budget carryovers; we have been prudent fiscal managers, but would have to build up liability again