Redevelopment of Davisville PS possibility

Toronto school board to explore redevelopment of site
If it proceeds, could mean building new Davisville school
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Jan. 27)

Trustee Shelley Laskin. Image courtesy of TDSB.

School officials aren’t ruling out the possibility of building a brand new school for Davisville PS as discussions of land redevelopment start up this spring.
The Toronto District School Board is exploring the possibility of a redevelopment with a community committee that will meet this March through fall.
Last June, the school board approved recommendations for the area that focused on enhancing a family of local schools rather than closing them.
While some feared Davisville school would be closed, instead the school board will spend $240,000 to renovate the facility.
Apart from the review, area officials are also looking at possibly building on the site where Davisville PS nows sits on Millwood Road.
No matter where the talks go, the agreement to keep a Davisville school on site is firm.

Advertisement

Shelley Laskin trustee candidate

Laskin in most heated trustee race in Toronto
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier June 3.)

Photo courtesy of Shelley Laskin.

Former St. Paul’s school trustee Shelley Laskin wants her old job back.
Laskin, who represented the riding from 1997 to 2003, is a candidate in the hotly contested St. Paul’s trustee race.
With incumbent Josh Matlow taking a stab at a council seat, the trustee seat is wide open. Laskin is one of five vying for the spot so far.
“I think it’s an advantage that I’m an experienced trustee,” she said. “The fact I remained involved as a parent and community volunteer allows me the context and perspective.”
She’s served as school council chair at both Hodgson Senior PS and Northern SS and was a three-year representative in trustee Matlow’s ward forum.
“I’m still a known entity through my involvement in schools,” Laskin said.

Davisville PS won’t close

School board staff recommend keeping five local sites open
Davisville, Eglinton, Hodgson, Maurice Cody, Spectrum should stay alive
Trustees make final decision June 23
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier May 27.)

Davisville PS was never in real danger of closing.

While other communities struggle with the prospect of school closures, parents in Davisville and Leaside can expect to see expanded programming.
School board staff has agreed with all the recommendations put forth by the Davisville school review committee.
The review focused on how best to accommodate students at Davisville/Metropolitan Toronto School for the Deaf, Eglinton, Hodgson and Maurice Cody public schools and Spectrum Alternative School without losing services.
“We came out of this with some real goodies,” said school trustee Josh Matlow.

Monarch Park school pool saved

Deal struck to keep east end high school pool open
Swim facility to serve high needs students plus community
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Feb. 9 for Town Crier newspaper.)

Teacher Jay Arrington with students Ravi Mahara and Daniel Costa celebrate having their pool back. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

Monarch Park CI students Daniel Costa and Ravi Mahara were all smiles when talking about how their school pool has been saved from being drained.
This pool was on the Toronto District School Board’s chopping block unless the school and larger community rallied to raise permit revenues to keep it open.
Costa, Mahara and 36 fellow students with physical and intellectual disabilities or special needs were unable to make use of their school pool for several months while the community raised money.
This meant they travelled by bus to Variety Village in Scarborough for swim classes in a pool that could meet their requirements.

Toronto school trustee election candidates

Who is running for Catholic and public school boards
City election attracting both new blood and veterans
By Kris Scheuer
(Updated Oct.25)

 

Etobicoke-Lakeshore Trustee Bruce Davis is not seeking re-election opting to run mayoral candidate George Smitherman's campaign instead.

 

 

Here’s the lowdown on who’s running for the 22-seat TDSB.
Etobicoke North Ward 1. Current trustee John Hastings has registered, so have candidates Andrew Bacchus, Paul Singh and Saadiq Malik.
Etobicoke Centre Ward 2.  Current trustee and former TDSB chair John Campbell is not running here but for council instead. Eight candidates are registered: Wayne Chen, Maya Worsoff, Ron Jaicarran, Chris Glover, John Kapralos, Husein Kirefu, Stephen Thiele and Kaydee Richmond.
Etobicoke Lakeshore Ward 3. Current trustee and TDSB chair Bruce Davis was signed up but withdrew July 2. Five candidates are running: Peter Debrone, Pamela Gough, Margaret McBeath, Andy Kyriakos and Richard Carter.

St. Paul’s school trustee race

Current school board rep Josh Matlow to run for council in 2010
No incumbent so at least 4 contenders consider run for seat
By Kris Scheuer
(Originally written Nov. 6 for Town Crier.)

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler.

A former school trustee, a young community activist, a pet food mogul and a politically-minded parent are hoping to get a passing grade from the electorate in 2010.
The quartet is musing about running to replace Josh Matlow on the Toronto District School Board. Matlow recently announced he’d be running for city council next year.
Here’s a look at four potential candidates Shelley Laskin, Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler, Jim Walker and Heather Johnston.