Howard Goodman wrote a letter to MP's last week seeking support for a proposal that would keep Briar Hill open. The contents are provided for your information. Feel free to leave your comments, which you can do anonymously.
Letter to Mike Colle, Howard Moscoe, Eric Hoskins, Joe Volpe and Carolyn Bennett
Dear Mike, Howard, Eric, Joe, and Carolyn
As you no doubt are aware, TDSB has been reviewing the schools in the Dufferin-Eglinton area, affecting schools in both Eglinton-Lawrence and St Paul's. The review comprises three parts: a community report (done), a staff report (early June), and the Board decision (late June). The community report (called an ARC report) was received by our Director of Education yesterday morning, and I thought that you'd like to be brought up to date on the current status of the process.
The ARC report recommends that Briar Hill PS be closed, and that the area currently assigned to Briar Hill be split between Fairbank Middle School (FMS) and West Prep (WP). They also recommended that Fairbank Middle become a k-8 school (it is currently has grades 6-8). A number of other suggestions concerning catchment areas, improvements needed to FMS and WP, safety issues, etc. I have included the link to the report (http://www.tdsb.on.ca/wwwdocuments/schools/area_review_committee/docs/ARC%20Report%20Briar%20Hill%20Jr.%20P.S.,%20Fairbank%20M.S.%20and%20West%20Preparatory%20Jr.%20P.S..pdf)
and to all the review documnetation to date (http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=10118&menuid=25485&pageid=22046).
We have also received a minority report from the two BH parents on the committee, arguing that the goals stated by the ARC are more consistent with keeping BH open. I have attached that report.
In the next few days I will be issuing a response to the ARC recommendations building a case for building a new full service k-3 BH school as part of a multi-use multi-storey development on the Briar Hill site. My preliminary analysis indicates that this will be no more costly than the ARC proposal, and it will preserve a vital hub of community services in a fairly needy area that has few community services.
I hope that I will have your support for this proposal and your help in locating relevant Municipal, Provincial, and Federal services in the new development.
I will be sending you my proposal as soon as it is available. There won't be much time in order to develop coordinated plans, and I hope that you will give this issue some serious attention.
In the service of schools and students
Howard Goodman
TDSB Trustee, Eglinton-Lawrence
Mission
At Briar Hill we provide an inclusive, nurturing learning environment where students will strive to succeed to the best of their ability. We provide an enriching, well balanced academic program with a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy. We actively promote and practise healthy lifestyle choices to enable our students to achieve positive physical and emotional well being. We value a respectful and equitable partnership with our diverse community. Together we endeavour to build a strong foundation for our student’s life long learning.
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