Activities may include but are not limited to:
- Training session (focus on skill development and formal instruction)
- Book clubs
- Parent resource creation
- Conversation circles
- Artistic evening expressions (music, dance, skit, painting, etc.)
- Initiatives that intentionally address food sovereignty and locally produced or harvested foods (gardens, economical cooking, budgeting, harvesting, etc.)
- Provide information and access to food and land teachings in the digital space. This can include online social media campaigns, videos, etc.
- Mentorship programs
- Field trips
- Digital projects (e.g., podcasts, live-streaming discussions, virtual reality experiences)
- Projects must be completed between December 19, 2024 – May 16, 2025
Ineligible Initiatives
- Workshops
- Information sessions with guest speakers
- Any purchases of food (meals, ingredients, perishable and/or non-perishable)
- Student initiatives
- Staffing initiatives (appreciation, payment for presentations, etc.)
- Equipment purchases (ie., gardening tools, computers, speakers, pots and pans)
- Books for the school
- Previous year expenditures
- The purchase of gift cards or vouchers
- Hotel, transportation, and meals for trainer/instructor
Where do I purchase items for my SCIG project?
All purchases for the
School Council Innovation Grant must be made through the TDSB’s Distribution
Centre catalogue. If an item is not listed in the catalogue, it must be
purchased from a TDSB-approved vendor. If your office administrator cannot
locate specific items, please ask them to consult with a contract specialist.
If the contract specialist confirms that the necessary items for your project
are not available from a TDSB vendor, contact your school’s
finance support officer for purchase approval.
Note: Unless items (or suitable substitutes) are unavailable, all purchases must be made through the TDSB Distribution Centre catalogue or a TDSB vendor. No purchases should be made from external vendors.
We need to purchase items that are ineligible, such as gardening tools. How do we proceed?
All School Councils receive an annual budget ranging from a minimum of $800 to a maximum of $1,500. Please consult your school’s office administrator or finance support officer to determine how to access these funds within the school’s budget. This budget may be used to cover any costs that are ineligible under the SCIG or to supplement your project if your expenses exceed the $1,500 maximum grant request.
We require books for our project, but they fall under ineligible initiatives.
Books can be purchased for your project if necessary; however, they must be bought through a TDSB-approved vendor (please contact your school's office administrator). Additionally, the books must be intended for parents/caregivers and must go home with them. Books cannot be purchased for the school library or classrooms.
For more information on purchases, please visit the FAQ tab.