School Closings

The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendation of the Children and Youth Action Committee embodied in the following communication (January 8, 1999) from the City Clerk; and further that the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services be authorized to forward the appropriate letter to the Minister of Education and Training:

Recommendation:

The Children and Youth Action Committee recommended to the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee that a letter be sent to the Minister of Education and Training, copied to the Minister of Community and Social Services, Provincial Child Advocate, the Premier, Chairs of the Boards of Education, requesting clear answers to the following questions regarding all "non-classroom" or "non-curricular" uses of schools both during and outside school hours:

(1)What is the approved use of a school facility?

(2)Should public education funds pay for:

-community use;

-accommodation for child care, parent-child centres etc., school lunch programs, recreation programs, before and after school care, and continuing education?

(3)What responsibility does the Province have and what role should provincial funding play in keeping school doors open for after hours community use?

(4)Does the Provincial Government consider the fair wages paid to unionized school custodian staff an impediment to keeping school doors open for after hour community use?

Background:

The Children and Youth Action Committee on December 15, 1998, gave consideration to verbal reports by Trustee Judi Codd, Toronto District School Board and Trustee Elizabeth Boyd, Toronto Catholic School Board on School Closings.

The Committee's recommendation is noted above.