From: Bell, CassieTo: "Aim Mujib"; "Alejandra Bravo"; "Angela Samuels"; "Annique Farrell"; "Bob Spencer"; Bourjot, Sharlene; Branco,

Vicky; Brown, Marcia; Cary-Meagher, Sheila; "Cassie Bell"; Bell, Cassie; "Cheryl Skovronek"; "Chris Brillinger";"Chris Penrose"; "Colin Husbands"; "Darcy MacCallum"; "David Clandfield"; Davis, Joanne; "Denise Campbell";"Don Dippo"; Etzler, Monika; "Eugene James"; Fernandez, Johanna; "Fiona Bowser"; Gardner, Manon; "GeorgeMartell"; Glover, Chris; Griesz, Michael; Gillespie, Janice; "Jann Houston"; Jarrett, Paula; "Jayne Delbeek-Eksteins"; "Jeff Kugler"; "Jeff O"Grady"; "Jenny Katz"; "John Campey"; Johnson, Heather; "Justin Jagdeo";Kaplan, Howard; "Katie McGovern"; "Kristen Roderick"; "Laurie Green"; "Lesley Johnston"; "Lisa Heggum"; "LisaWatson"; "Martin Long"; "Michael Shapcott"; "Nanci Goldman"; "Nanci Goldman"; "Natasha Burford"; "NathanGilbert"; "Noula Naulls"; Parsonage, Catherine; Quan, Donna; Saltzman, Ester; "Saran Archer"; "Sejal Patel";Sheppard, Anne; Smith, David (Trustee Ward 19); Spence, Chris; Storey, Simon; "Tanya Senk"; "Tasha Tyrell";Tonks, Chris; "Varun Desai"; Yau, Maria

Subject: ICAC Update March 26, 2012Date: Monday, March 26, 2012 1:50:00 PMAttachments: Fees and Fundraising Minister Broten 03-12-12.pdf

WATERS SYMP POSTER 2012_02.pdf

Dear ICAC, I hope everyone had a nice weekend. It’s hard to keep track of the seasons! JHere are some items which might be of interest:

1. TDSB main page: www.tdsb.on.ca – click on “Boardroom” button (right hand corner) to accessagenda for Wednesday’s Board Special Meeting* (staffing allocations) and, just below, click on“Advertising Policy Review” button to do advertising survey*Wednesday March 28th @ 7 pm

2. Ontario Budget Day: tomorrow – Tuesday March 27th – update3. Media coverage for launch of Model Schools 3rd Pediatric Clinic at Brookview Middle School4. Social Planning Council of Toronto – “Corporate Partnerships with Schools around the

World: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” April 16th

5. Roma Community Centre Fundraiser – April 7th

6. William Waters Symposium – April 25th **note** time change from 6 – 8 pm(ATTACHED)

7. Letter from Social Planning Council to Minister of Education re: possible budget cutsand implications (ATTACHED)

Enjoy! `Warm wishes, Cassie Cassie BellICAC Co-ordinatorwww.tdsb.on.ca/icac

2. Ontario Budget Day – Tuesday March 27th – Austerity or Investment? Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Pre-Budget analysis http://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/updates/ontario-budget-watch-post-drummond-pre-budget-analysis

mailto:/O=TDSB/OU=SITE00/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=091146mailto:amujib@parkwayhonda.commailto:abravo@maytree.commailto:absamuels@ups.commailto:afarrell@uwgt.orgmailto:robertgspencer2@gmail.commailto:Sharlene.Bourjot@tdsb.on.camailto:Vicky.Branco@tdsb.on.camailto:Vicky.Branco@tdsb.on.camailto:Marcia.Brown@tdsb.on.camailto:Sheila.Cary-Meagher@tdsb.on.camailto:cassiebell@sympatico.camailto:Cassie.Bell@tdsb.on.camailto:cskovronek@torontopubliclibrary.camailto:cbrillin@toronto.camailto:watrvision@gmail.commailto:colin.husbands@guinepp.netmailto:dwmaccallum@gmail.commailto:clandfie@chass.utoronto.camailto:Joanne.Davis@tdsb.on.camailto:dcampbe6@toronto.camailto:ddippo@edu.yorku.camailto:Monika.Etzler@tdsb.on.camailto:ejames@ett.on.camailto:Johanna.Fernandez@tdsb.on.camailto:fiona@foodshare.netmailto:Manon.Gardner@tdsb.on.camailto:gmartell@yorku.camailto:gmartell@yorku.camailto:Chris.Glover@tdsb.on.camailto:Michael.Griesz@tdsb.on.camailto:Janice.Gillespie@tdsb.on.camailto:jhouston@toronto.camailto:Paula.Jarrett@TDSB.ON.CAmailto:jdelbeek-eksteins@torontopubliclibrary.camailto:jdelbeek-eksteins@torontopubliclibrary.camailto:jeff.kugler@utoronto.camailto:jeff.ogrady@ontario.camailto:jenny@socialinnovation.camailto:jcampey@socialplanningtoronto.orgmailto:Heather.Johnson@tdsb.on.camailto:nathaniel.jagdeo@gmail.commailto:Howard.Kaplan@tdsb.on.camailto:katie.mcgovern@cupe4400.orgmailto:kroderick@uwgt.orgmailto:greenl@smh.camailto:ljohnston@socialplanningtoronto.orgmailto:Lheggum@torontopubliclibrary.camailto:lwatson@uwgt.orgmailto:lwatson@uwgt.orgmailto:mlong@ett.on.camailto:michael@wellesleyinstitute.commailto:nanci.goldman@utoronto.camailto:nancigoldman@bell.blackberry.netmailto:eaw.nburford@frontiercollege.camailto:ngilbert@laidlawfdn.orgmailto:ngilbert@laidlawfdn.orgmailto:nnaulls@toronto.camailto:Catherine.Parsonage@tdsb.on.camailto:Donna.Quan@tdsb.on.camailto:ester.saltzman@tdsb.on.camailto:saranfpyn@gmail.commailto:patel.sejal@ryerson.camailto:Anne.Sheppard@tdsb.on.camailto:David.Smith4@tdsb.on.camailto:Chris.Spence@tdsb.on.camailto:Simon.Storey@tdsb.on.camailto:TSenk@edu.yorku.camailto:thtyrell@gmail.commailto:Chris.Tonks@tdsb.on.camailto:varun-desai@hotmail.commailto:Maria.Yau@tdsb.on.cahttp://www.tdsb.on.ca/http://www.tdsb.on.ca/icachttp://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/updates/ontario-budget-watch-post-drummond-pre-budget-analysishttp://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/updates/ontario-budget-watch-post-drummond-pre-budget-analysis

Hon. Laurel C. Broten,

Minister of Education

Minister's Office

Mowat Block, 22nd Floor

900 Bay St

Toronto ON M7A1L2

March 12, 2012 Dear Minister Broten: Social Planning Toronto is an independent, non-profit organization which links

research with community mobilization to improve the quality of life of all

residents of Toronto. Our organization is deeply concerned with the potential

impact of a number of the education-related recommendations in the

"Drummond" Commission, as they will negatively impact on equity of education

across Ontario.

We are particularly concerned with the recommendations to reduce the number

and range of 'non-teaching' -- education assistants, psychologists, and others --

staff in schools. These individuals provide the supports that enable students

with particular challenges, or from disadvantaged communities, to succeed in

school. These reductions will have a clear negative impact on the academic

success of poor, racialized, and disabled students.

Another recommendation of concern to SPT is the proposal to reduce the

budgets for classroom supplies and technology. Social Planning Toronto's

report, "Public System, Private Money: Fees, Fundraising and Equity in the

Toronto District School Board" demonstrates that there is a vast differential

between schools that have a capacity to fund-raise for these items and those

that do not. With almost $600 million annually in fund-raised dollars creating

dramatic inequities across Ontario, efforts should be made to decrease - not

increase - this gap. Reducing the budget for these items will mean that schools

with the capacity to raise funds to address this gap will do so, while children in

schools that cannot fund-raise will go without. Our research shows that this

difference is already well over $1,000 per student in a number of Toronto

schools - enabling a significantly different quality of education for a privileged

minority - within the public system. We have made this point in our submission

at the Ministry's “Fees” and “Fundraising” consultations, and hope to see strong

policies to address this inequity in the anticipated Fundraising guidelines and

the draft guidelines for “Corporate Partnerships”.

We expect the Province to review all of the recommendations from Mr. Drummond’s report from the

perspective of whether they reduce - or exacerbate - income inequality and its pernicious impact on the

lives of Ontarians. Viewed in this light, the proposal to reduce classroom supports and budgets, without

offsetting initiatives to support disadvantaged students and communities, would be a major step in the

wrong direction.

Enclosed please find a copy of our September 2011 report highlighting the inequities created by current

policy and practice regarding fees and fundraising in Toronto schools. We trust that you will find it

helpful in identifying and addressing the inequities that exist under our current system, and that it will

inform your decisions related to education funding as you move forward. We have also shared copies of

this report with the Premier’s Office, all Toronto MPP’s, and the NDP and PC Education critics.

We eagerly await the release of the “Corporate Partnerships” draft guidelines and would welcome an

opportunity to meet with you and your staff to discuss the guidelines, the provincial budget, our report,

and our recommendations.

Sincerely,

John Campey Executive Director

The Centre for Urban Schooling at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto presents the

WILLIAM WATERS SYMPOSIUM ON URBAN EDUCATIONActivism in Education: Pushing Limits in Increasingly Conservative Times

PUBLIC LECTURE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 5:00-7:00 pmIsabel Bader Theatre 93 Charles Street West Toronto, ONRSVP: wwsymposium.oise@utoronto.ca (seating is limited)

James Banks Educating Citizens in Global Times for Knowing, Caring, and Acting James A. Banks holds the Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies and is Founding Director of the Center for Multicultural Education at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is a past President of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and a specialist in social studies education and in multicultural education. Professor Banks has written more than 100 articles and written or edited 20 books which have been translated into Greek, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. His most recent book is entitled, Diversity and Citizenship Education: Global Perspectives; Teaching Strategies for Ethnic Studies. James Banks’ fundamental principles for developing inclusive curriculum have been a foundation for equity work across many school districts and teacher education programs in Ontario.

Judy Rebick Occupy Education Judy Rebick is a well-known Canadian social justice activist, writer, educator and speaker. She is currently the Eakin Fellow in Canadian Studies at McGill University. Previously she held the CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy at Ryerson University. She is also part of the Media panel on CBC radio’s Q. Her latest book is Transforming Power: From the Personal to the Political. Judy Rebick is the founding publisher of rabble.ca, Canada’s well known independent online news and discussion site, she is perhaps best known to Canadians as a former president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, Canada’s largest women’s group.

This symposium is made possible through the generous support of Phyllis and William Waters.

and

Doctor’s for Fair Taxation want the rich to pay more in taxes as “a more progressive taxsystem would be good for human health.”http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1149981--walkom-these-high-income-docs-want-the-rich-to-pay

3. Model Schools for Inner Cities Launch of third Pediatric Clinic atBrookview Middle School

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/1132295--the-doctor-is-in-at-new-school-clinic http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/1150623--in-school-clinic-gives-families-easy-access-to-doctor http://www.thestar.com/article/1150623 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/school-clinics-making-big-strides-in-public-health/article2372330/ http://www.insidetoronto.com/community/education/article/1321972--medical-clinic-sets-up-shop-at-brookview-middle-school http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/03/22/brookview-school-medical-clinic.html

4. Invitation to Social Planning Toronto’s Upcoming Research and Policy Forum –April 16th

Register for SPT's (Social Planning Toronto) Research and PolicyForum - Corporate Partnerships with Schools around the World: TheGood, the Bad and the Ugly

In the spring of 2010 the Ministry of Education first announced that it would be conducting a review of its policieson Fees for Learning Materials and Activities, Fundraising and Corporate Partnerships. Whilethe draft policies on fees and fundraising have been circulated for public consultation, the draft guideline oncorporate partnerships has yet to be made public, despite a Ministry of Education notice that indicates that thesewould be released for consultation in fall 2011.(http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/fundraising.html)

In anticipation of the guideline release York University public policy students have been investigating the impactof corporate partnerships as they play out here in Toronto, the GTA, Ontario, Canada and around the world.

Join us Monday April 16, 2012 at the Social Planning Toronto downtown location from 9:30until noon when we host a conversation on corporate partnerships and their impacts on education, featuringthe work of York’s public policy students.

Click here to register or please contact Lesley Johnston at 416-351-0095x.216 orljohnston@socialplanningtoronto.org for more information.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1149981--walkom-these-high-income-docs-want-the-rich-to-payhttp://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1149981--walkom-these-high-income-docs-want-the-rich-to-payhttp://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/1132295--the-doctor-is-in-at-new-school-clinichttp://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/1132295--the-doctor-is-in-at-new-school-clinichttp://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/1150623--in-school-clinic-gives-families-easy-access-to-doctorhttp://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/1150623--in-school-clinic-gives-families-easy-access-to-doctorhttp://www.thestar.com/article/1150623http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/school-clinics-making-big-strides-in-public-health/article2372330/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/school-clinics-making-big-strides-in-public-health/article2372330/http://www.insidetoronto.com/community/education/article/1321972--medical-clinic-sets-up-shop-at-brookview-middle-schoolhttp://www.insidetoronto.com/community/education/article/1321972--medical-clinic-sets-up-shop-at-brookview-middle-schoolhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/03/22/brookview-school-medical-clinic.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/03/22/brookview-school-medical-clinic.htmlhttp://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/fundraising.htmlhttp://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/fundraising.htmlhttps://www.eventbrite.ca/event/3192511889https://www.eventbrite.ca/event/3192511889mailto:ljohnston@socialplanningtoronto.orgmailto:ljohnston@socialplanningtoronto.org

5. International Roma Day and upcoming Roma Community Centre Fundraiser at theGladstone Hotel - Significance of International Roma Day: International Roma Day (April 8) is a day to celebrate Romani culture and to raise awarenessof the issues and challenges facing the Roma. On April 8th, 1971, theUN officially recognized the Roma community as a single ethnic group of people with a shared originfrom North Western India (Rajesthan), who are part of a huge diaspora spanning many continents andcountless countries. On this date, the Indian government gave us our flag, and our InternationalRomani Anthem , Gelem Gelem, was adopted . Founding member of the Roma Community Centre,Ronald lee, was a part of this contingency of Roma activists that were present in London, England,April 8, 1971 for this landmark day. April 7, 2011 This year will we hope that you can join us in honouring and celebrating International Roma Day onApril 7th between 5:00 - 10:00 pm in the Ballroom at the Gladstone Hotel (invitation / informationflyer to come soon). All proceeds of this event will go toward the operating costs of the Roma Community Centreoffice. We continue to be a virtually 100% volunteer driven organization, without any funding money.The RCC survives from kind donations, and our fundraisers. Response to Bill C-31 We are trying our best with very scarce resources, and limited capacity to respond to the ongoingcampaign that the Federal Government has led in discrediting Roma refugees in Canada. We wish thatwe had a stronger voice, one that could even be half as strong as the Mexican community - but thereality is that we are really just a just a whisper. It is with the help and supportof the wider Canadian community that we are drawing our strength to respond to Bill C-#1 which clearlytargets the Roma by creating a "safe' countries designated list. Under this new refugee legislation,Roma from Europe will only have 10 days to submit their PIF (personal information form, ie. narrativeof their claim for asylum) in 10 days. Presently, even the most educated from our community havedifficulty in submitting this PIF within the 30 allotted days that currently exists. Moreover, there will beno opportunity to appeal for those from designated 'safe countries'. In many cases, in is during theappeal (which is heard by real judges, rather than Minister appointed adjudicators that sit on theImmigration Refugee Board Tribunal) the Roma families find more success in their refugee claims.Lastly, the new legislation will require a minimum one year wait before a Humanitarian andCompassionate (H &C) application can be submitted. This too, is often an avenue of success for Romarefugees to having their claim for asylum accepted. Under the new law, they would be asked to leavethe country before they could submit an H & C application. On February 22nd the RCC organized a candlelight vigil, below are links to the photos. here is thelinks to the photos. The vigil was an opportunity to speak to the community about Bill C-31, and also atime to pay tribute to the many who have died from hate crimes in the past few years in Hungaryand the Czech Republic. We really had a great turnout that was very touching, and encouraging forme. As well, the support from the general Canadian community was extremely appreciated andencouraging to all of the Roma community members who attended. Please, find attached a letter fromHigh-Park - Parkdale MPP, Cheri Di Novo, who attended the vigil and spoke in support of thecommunity. High-Park - Parkdale MP, Peggy Nash, also sent a representative, and former High-Park -Parkdale MP, Gerard Kenedy also made an appearance and said very encouraging words to thecommunity. There were numerous leaders from within the community who attended - and it truly wasan incredibly empowering moment for everyone.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51608835@N04/sets/72157629438788923/ (pictures by Kristyna Balaban) http://flickr.com/gp/75430408@N07/g4VoC4 (pictures by Alexander Meparishvili) Please, sign this Amnesty petition to demand the withdrawal of Bill C-31Bill C-31, Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act is a dangerous and disappointing Bill whichdirectly goes against Canada’s history as a country of safety and refuge. The Bill does not live up to ourinternational human rights and refugee protection obligations and will put the lives of refugees at risk. http://www.amnesty.ca/iwriteforjustice/take_action.php?actionid=843

RCC - Hate crime prevention project, Hate Can Kill /Inato Shai Mudarel This past year, one of our incredible initiatives has been a hate crime prevention project, Hate Can Kill,which has provided us an opportunity to work in partnership with both the York Regional Police andToronto Police. Hate Can Kill, is a means to utilize education to build awareness about human rightsand hate crime, as well as in important trust building initiative between the community and the police.(promotional poster to be unveiled on International Roma Day) We have had great success with this project, already. We now have a member from the RCC board ofdirectors, Micheal T. Butch, who upon invitation, has joined the Community Police Liaison Committeein Division 11 where the RCC and the largest Roma community outside of Europe, are located. Inaddition, we have been educating and empowering Roma youth about human rights and hate crime,and how to protect themselves by demanding what they are equally deserving of, whether they arefortunate enough to remain in Canada, or they must return to a place where their human rights aretrampled on. RCC - independent office opened on October 1, 2011 Since we opened our on office, the RCC has been in a much more effective position to help thecommunity, as well as to build supportivecommunity partnerships. We have a virtually 100% volunteerdriven office with the help of many dedicated members of the Roma community, as well as a smallnumber of devoted Canadian - Hungarians who care very much about the community. This help hascome in many forms, including a generous and kind donor/philanthropist who has helped us tocontinue operating over these past few months. He truly has been an angel to us. In addition, we havetwo placement students, one incredible Hungarian Roma - Seneca College student who is studyingSettlement Work with immigrants and refugees, and one amazing student from the University ofToronto's Factor-Intewash Faculty of Social Work. As well, we have had university students helping uswith our accounting, volunteer/work placements, resume writing, and administrative work. All of themare deeply appreciated. Last but not least, a huge highlight of our work at the office has been aBilingual ESL class (Hungarian - English), taught by volunteer instructor, Julius Csoka, which currentlyhas 60 people attending from the community each weekly session. The only complaint we receive iswhy it is not more than once a week, because they wish to attend everyday!!! Hopefully, we will findfunding to accomplish this for them.

Looking forward to celebrating many small victories I look forward to seeing you all to celebrate many of our small victories during this past year, and tohonour International Roma Day, on Saturday April 7, 2012 at the Gladstone Hotel. It would befabulous if you could join us! http://www.gladstonehotel.com/venue/spaces/ballroom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51608835%40N04/sets/72157629438788923/http://flickr.com/gp/75430408%40N07/g4VoC4http://www.amnesty.ca/iwriteforjustice/take_action.php?actionid=843http://www.gladstonehotel.com/venue/spaces/ballroom

Kind regards,Gina --Gina Csanyi-RobahExecutive Director

alt="Roma Community Centre logo" title="http://www.romatoronto.org/index.html"align=top> Roma Community Centre2340 Dundas St. W., Suite G20Toronto, ON M6P 4A9 Office: (416) 546-2524Cell: (416) 561-0770 website: www.romatoronto.org The Roma Community centre is committed to Uniting the Canadian Roma Community, Empowering Roma Families,Celebrating Roma Culture, Public Education and Advocacy, and Cultivating Community Partnerships.

http://www.romatoronto.org/index.htmlhttp://www.romatoronto.org/index.htmlhttp://www.romatoronto.org/index.htmlhttp://www.romatoronto.org/