Toronto District School Board
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Trustee Committees

TDSB Trustees meet at least nine times during the year for regular meetings of all trustees. There are also three standing committees and one permanent committee that meet and present reports at the regular Board meetings.

Members of the public are invited to bring forward issues and concerns to the appropriate standing committee through the delegation process.  The delegation procedure helps manage this process and ensures a fair and equal forum. Learn more about how you can make a delegation.

Toronto District School Board Organization

Chair of the Board, Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin

Vice-Chair of the Board, Trustee Neethan Shan

Standing Committees

Committee

Mandate

Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee

Trustee Michelle Aarts 

Trustee Matias de Dovitiis (Vice-chair)

Trustee Liban Hassan

Trustee Shelley Laskin

Trustee James Li

Trustee Dan MacLean

Trustee Zakir Patel (Chair)

 

Chair of the Board and Vice-Chair of the Board are ex officio members

The Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee mandate will be to consider and make recommendations to the Board on finance matters, including procurement and contract awards, referred to it for consideration, review the impact of enrolment and policy change on the Board’s budget, including reviewing the impact of enrolment trends, and marketing strategies to bolster enrolment in declining areas of the city; and consider strategies to balance the capital and operating budget over a multi-year period, and to make recommendations to the Board to balance the annual capital and operating budget. The Committee will also consider facility related issues, including leases, plant operations, maintenance, architect selection and sketch plan approvals.

Governance and Policy Committee

Trustee Sara Ehrhardt

Trustee Dennis Hastings

Trustee Patrick Nunziata

Trustee Weidong Pei

Trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam (Chair)

Trustee Anu Sriskandarajah (Vice-chair)

 Trustee Manna Wong


Chair of the Board and Vice-Chair of the Board are ex officio members

The Governance and Policy Committee’s mandate will be to consider and make recommendations to the Board on governance and policy matters referred to it for consideration, including review of Board governance practices and the ongoing development and review of the Board’s policies.

Program and School Services Committee

Trustee Alexis Dawson

Trustee Malika Ghous

Trustee Debbie King (Vice-chair)

Trustee Alexandra Lulka Rotman

Trustee Farzana Rajwani

Trustee Deborah Williams (Chair)

 

Chair of the Board and Vice-Chair of the Board are ex officio members

The Program and School Services Committee’s mandate will be to consider and make recommendations to the Board on education matters referred to it for consideration, including matters presented by the Board’s Community Advisory Committees.

Planning and Priorities Committee

All Trustees

The Planning and Priorities Committee's mandate will be to make recommendations to the Board on:

  • The development and annual review of the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan for the Board, in consultation with the Director or designate;
  • The Board’s inter-governmental relations;
  • The development and management of plans for senior leadership succession;
  • Professional development for members of the Board;
  • Facility and property matters, including property disposition, major capital projects, boundary changes;
  • Matters related to Trustees and Trustee Services; and
  • Other issues referred to it from time to time by the Board or the Chair of the Board.

 

Statutory Committees

Audit Committee

Trustee Weidong Pei

Trustee Manna Wong

Trustee Michelle Aarts

Trustee Shelley Laskin

(term ends November 14, 2024)

(term ends November 14, 2024)

(term ends November 14, 2026)

(term ends November 14, 2026)

Parent Involvement Advisory Committee

Trustee Matias de Dovitiis

(term ends November 14, 2024)

In accordance with O.Reg.612

Special Education Advisory Committee (Term ends November 30, 2022)

Trustee Michelle Aarts

Trustee Liban Hassan

Trustee Zakir Patel

(term ends November 14, 2026)

In accordance with O.Reg.464

 

 

Community Advisory Committees

Urban Indigenous Community Advisory Committee

Trustee Sara Ehrhardt

Trustee Deborah Williams, Co-Chair

  • To provide opportunities for parental and community input on TDSB policy and program issues;
  • To guide the TDSB with fulfilling the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2015) as they relate to student achievement and well-being as well as community expectations;
  • To make recommendations to the TDSB in order to ensure access, equity and cultural safety considerations regarding Indigenous communities.

2SLGBTQ+  Community Advisory Committee

Trustee Debbie King, Co-Chair

Trustee Michelle Aarts

To act as a relevant voice to guide the Board’s decision-making on issues related to the safety and well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ students, families, and staff members, in order to help ensure the Board is providing 2SLGBTQ+ supportive and positive learning environments.

Alternative Schools Community Advisory Committee

Trustee Michelle Aarts, Co-chair

Trustee Farzana Rajwani

  • To facilitate effective and meaningful engagement with new, existing, and potential elementary and secondary alternative schools’ parents/ guardians, students and staff.
  • To support the improvement of the well-being of elementary and secondary alternative schools’ parents/guardians, students and staff while enhancing the accountability of the education system.
  • To support and advocate on behalf of each TDSB alternative school’s individual pedagogy and unique community.
  • To consult, collaborate and make recommendations on any matter specifically referred to it by the Board or a standing committee.
  • To advise the Board on matters of its own choosing, within its mandate as established by the Board when it was constituted.
  • To exercise an advocacy role. It may indicate to the Board a preferred position on an educational issue under consideration by the Board with the understanding there is no obligation on the part of the Board or its staff to act on ASCAC recommendations.

Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee

Trustee Liban Hassan, Co-Chair

The Black Student Achievement Advisory Committee (BSAAC) will examine and make recommendations to the Board through a standing committee of the Board, on strategies to address persistent achievement, opportunity and participation gaps experienced by Black students, and ensure learning environments are safe, nurturing and welcoming.

Community Use of Schools Advisory Committee

Trustee Sara Ehrhardt, Co-chair

Trustee Zakir Patel

  • To facilitate ongoing feedback from community organizations on both the continued implementation of Policy P011, Community Use of Board Facilities;
  • To suggest improvements to the policy
  • To provide an opportunity to explore the concept of Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) with community agencies and groups.

Early Years Community Advisory Committee

Trustee Deborah Williams, Co-chair

  • An Early Years Advisory Committee (EYAC) will be established and maintained to provide advice to the Board on matters concerning the implementation of the Ontario Early Years Policy Framework, and to identify issues of broad community interest concerning Early Years programs, for the consideration of the Board and staff; (adopted by Board September, 2005);
  • To suggest improvements to the TDSB Early Years Policy;
  • Continue to advise on Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) with an Early Years framework. iv. To consider the work of other initiatives within the Board as they impact on Early Years, (e.g., Full-Day Kindergarten, Special Education, Model Schools for Inner Cities, Parenting and Family Literacy Centres).

Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee


Trustee Matias de Dovitiis

Trustee Manna Wong, Co-Chair

  • To identify and discuss issues of environmental sustainability and climate change as they relate to the TDSB, by facilitating ongoing feedback from the community through the engagement of students, parents and parent groups, community advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, members of the general public, TDSB staff etc.
  • To make recommendations to the TDSB regarding environmental concerns.

Equity Policy Community Advisory Committee

Trustee Michelle Aarts

Trustee Neethan Shan, Co-Chair

EPCAC will “provide advice to the Board on matters concerning the implementation of the Equity Policy, and to identify issues of broad community interest regarding equity in education, for the consideration of the Board and staff” (PR.558).

French as a Second Language Advisory Committee

Trustee Dan MacLean, Co-chair

To consult with and advise the Board on French as a Second Language matters. As a Board community advisory committee, the FSLAC will contribute to the work of trustees and staff. This partnership of trustees, staff and parents will foster excellence and growth in FSL programs at the Board.

Inner City Advisory Committee

Trustee Alexis Dawson, Co-Chair

 

The Inner City Advisory Committee’s mission is to close the opportunity gap and raise achievement for all students facing barriers within the TDSB.

ICAC advocates for appropriate community investments using an equity focus, and draws on the rich expertise and support of academic, institutional and community partnerships.

The ICAC was created as an integral part of the Model Schools for Inner Cities Taskforce Report (2005).

 

Special and Ad Hoc Committees

Negotiations Steering Committee

Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin

Trustee Michelle Aarts (Chair)

Trustee Alexis Dawson

Trustee Zakir Patel

Trustee Deborah Williams

 

  1. To consider and make recommendations to the Board on collective bargaining and employee contract negotiations matters
  2. To provide timely advice to Board staff on the conduct of negotiations during collective bargaining

 

Organizations External to the Board

Canadian National Exhibition Association

Trustee Alexis Dawson

 

Ontario Public School Boards' Association

Directors:

Trustee Alexis Dawson

Trustee Neethan Shan

Trustee Deborah Williams, Vice-president, Enrolment

Alternate Directors:

Trustee Michelle Aarts

Trustee Debbie King

Trustee Shelley Laskin

Voting Delegate: Trustee Deborah Williams

Alternate Voting Delegate: Trustee Neethan Shan

Alternate Vice-President, Enrolment: Trustee Neethan Shan

 

Toronto Lands Corporation Directors

Trustee Dennis Hastings (Term ends November 14, 2024)

Trustee Zakir Patel (Term ends November 14, 2024)

Trustee Liban Hassan (Term ends November 14, 2025)

Trustee Shelley Laskin (Term ends November 14, 2025)
 

 

Toronto Student Transportation Group

Trustee Dennis Hastings (alternate)

Trustee Zakir Patel

 

 

City of Toronto’s City-School Boards Advisory Committee

Trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam

Trustee Neethan Shan
 

 

Applegrove Community Complex Board of Management

1. Trustee Sara Ehrhardt (term ends November 14, 2026)

 

City of Toronto Board of Health

1. Trustee Anu Sriskandarajah (term ends November 14, 2026)

 

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Natural Science and Education Committee

1. Trustee Anu Sriskandarajah (term ends November 14, 2026)