January9,2014

MargaretWilson
MinistryofEducation
22ndfloor,900BaySt
TorontoONM7A1L2

DearMs.Wilson,

Thankyouformeetingwithusandgivingustheopportunitytoprovideinputintothereviewyouare
undertakingoftheTorontoDistrictSchoolBoard(TDSB).AsnewlyelectedTrustees,wegreatly
appreciatedyourthoughtfulandincisivequestions.

Furthertoourrespectivemeetingswithyouwewantedtoexpressoursharedcommitmenttowork
withallourTrusteecolleaguesandTDSBstafftorestorepublicconfidenceintheTDSB.Together,
workingtoensurethateverychildintheTDSBreceivesthequalityeducationandthecaringand
engagedenvironmenttheydeserve.

Tothatend,withthisfollowupletterwearetogetherexpressingoursharedcommitmenttopursuethe
followingmechanisms/actionswithourfellowboardmembers.Indeed,someofthesemeasureshave
alreadybeenexploredbypastboardsbutremainincomplete,andsomearesharedprioritiesamong
manyoftherecentlyelectedmembers,newandreturning.Webelievethesemeasureswouldbenefit
theBoardandthefamilies,students,staffandcommunitywhohaveeveryrighttoexpectfairness,due
diligenceandgoodgovernancefromtheTDSBstopdecisionmakingbody:

- Board/governancetraining:ThoroughtrainingisessentialtotheeffectivenessofanyBoard
beitcorporate,nonprofitorpublic.TDSBTrusteescometotherolewithdifferentlevelsof
experience,trainingandwithnewchallengespresentedeachyear.TDSBTrusteesshouldbe
requiredtoparticipateinongoingtrainingin:RulesofOrder;CodeofConduct;rolesand
responsibilitiesofBoardandstaff;theBoardsgovernancecycle;fiduciaryresponsibilities;and
bestpracticeswithrespecttoconstituentsupport.TheBoardshouldalsoofferinservice
briefingsoncriticalmatterssuchastheStrategicPlan,budget,facilities,specialeducation,
humanresourcesandmore.Thesesessionswouldleveltheplayingfieldbetweennewand
returningTrusteesandenableallTrusteesandstaffanopportunitytohaveadialogueaboutthe
bigpictureoutsideofthecutandthrustofthegovernancecycle.

- IntegrityCommissioner:WewouldproposethattheTDSBappointaneutral,independent
IntegrityCommissioner,reportingdirectlytotheBoard,whowouldoverseecompliancewiththe
highstandardsofconductexpectedofTrusteesandembeddedintheTrusteeCodeofConduct
andotherstatutes.

- ProvincialOmbudsman:WearepleasedthattheProvincialOmbudsmansoversighthasbeen
extendedtoincludeschoolboards.WebelievetheBoardurgentlyrequiresgreaterclarity
aroundtheroleoftheOmbudsmanwithregardtotheTDSBandrecommendtheProvincial
GovernmentprovidebriefingstoTrusteesandStaffinthisregard.

LobbyistRegistry:WebelievetheBoardandthepublicwouldbewellservedbythe
introductionofaLobbyistRegistryfortheTDSB,topromoteandenhancetransparencyand
integritythroughpublicdisclosureoflobbyingactivitiesandregulationoflobbyistsconduct.
OversightoftheRegistrycouldbeprovidedbyaLobbyistRegistrarortheIntegrity
Commissionerasmentionedabove.

ReviewoftheProvincialFundingFormula:Thoughwearemindfulthatimprovementsto
transparencyandgovernancearethepriority,wewouldberemissifwedidnotpointoutthat,
despitepriorcommitmentstodoso,theProvincialGovernmenthasnotyetundertakena
promisedreviewoftheFundingFormula.TheshortcomingsoftheFormula,particularlywith
regardtotheTDSBandtheuniqueissueswefacehereinToronto,arewelldocumentedand
researchedandputsignificantstressonanalreadybeleagueredinstitution.Webelievethat
untiltheFundingFormulaisreviewed,theTDSBwillcontinuetostruggletoprovidestudents
withtheexcellenceineducationthattheydeserve,andstaff,Trusteesandfamilieswillcontinue
tofaceenormouspressuretodomorewithless.

WedidnotmakeourdecisionstorunforTrusteelightly.Wehaveembracedthissignificant
responsibilitybecausewearecommittedtoavisionofaSchoolBoardthatreflectstheneedsofour
broadercommunityandmostimportantlyofTorontosstudents.Trusteesprovideanessentiallink
betweenthecommunitiesweserveandtheBoard.Weareaconduitfortheconcernsandchallengesof
students,familiesandcommunities.Wealsoplayanimportantroleinengagingourconstituenciesin
mattersofBoardvision,planning,resourceallocationandchangemanagement.

WeareencouragedthattheGovernmenthasdecidedtoundertakethisreview.Welookforwardto
yourreportandtheimportantconversationitwillshape.

Pleasefeelfreetocontactusshouldyouhaveanyfurtherquestions.Thankyou.

Sincerely,

JenniferStory
AusmaMalik
MaritStiles
Trustee,TDSBWard15
Trustee,TDSBWard10
Trustee,TDSBWard9
jennifer.story@tdsb.on.ca
ausma.malik@tdsb.on.ca
marit.stiles@tdsb.on.ca

Cc:
MichaelFord,ChrisGlover,PamGough,TiffanyFord,HowardKaplan,ChrisTonks,RobinPilkey,
JenniferArp,ShelleyLaskin,AlexanderBrown,GerriGershon,SheilaWard,SheilaCaryMeagher,
KenLister,ParthiKandavel,DavidSmith,MannaWong,ShaunChen,JerryChadwick