March 9, 2020

Dear Secondary School Parent/Guardian,

The safety and well-being of your child while at school is our top priority. I have communicated with our secondary school Principals, teachers and office staff to highlight the importance of the TDSB’s safe arrival procedures and expectations. I have shared with them my expectation that you need to be alerted as soon as possible if your child has not arrived at school in the morning.

That is why I am asking our secondary schools to not only follow our procedures, but also ensure that the first phone calls and/or automated calls begin no later than 75 minutes after the start of school if your child is absent without permission.

As we have witnessed in the events that unfolded last week, delays in taking and reporting attendance can have serious consequences for student safety. In the weeks ahead, we will be reviewing the TDSB’s Student Attendance and Safe Arrival Procedures to determine how the procedures can be further strengthened and will be working with schools to better understand current practices as part of this process. I will share any changes and improvements we make as a result of this review.

If you have any questions about our safe arrival procedures at your child’s school, please be in contact with your school Principal.

Sincerely,

John Malloy
Director of Education