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Saturday, 06 February 2010 12:40 |
Dear Chair Davis,
I am writing to you in response to your letter, dated February 5th, 2010, submitting that I “must retract (my) statements publicly and offer a written apology to the Director of Education and (my) colleague Toronto District School Board trustees by 4pm on Monday, February 8th, 2010.”
Your letter expressed disappointment with my response to a Toronto Sun reporter’s question to me regarding the approval of the Director’s Vision of Hope budget, in particular, the approved expenditure of $345, 000 for a one-day conference to be held at the Air Canada Centre; including a $195, 000 budget for commemorative booklets for the conference’s attendees.
I was quoted as saying, “That’s insane! The TDSB has told parents they’re going to have to close schools and cut support staff and shut down youth-at-risk programs because they don’t have enough money. To turn around and go on a drunken spending binge is shameful.”
While I do recognize my comments were strong, and did indeed question the wisdom of the board’s decision, I believe they accurately reflected my thoughts and those of my constituents whom I represent at the Toronto District School Board. My comments were not directed at any one individual member of the board but about the TDSB as a whole.
For example, at Northern Secondary School, the TDSB told parents that it does not have sufficient funds in its budget to continue a successful alternative to suspension program called Stop Gap. This same school lost support staff last year that helped children with special needs. This program, and the special needs support staff, would have cost less than the price of printing commemorative booklets for attendees to the conference approved as part of the Vision of Hope budget. As you know, the Board is also facing a projected deficit budget that may force trustees to consider further cuts to our system this year and the example I gave you regarding Northern Secondary School reflects similar experiences, whether they be a loss of a Vice-Principal, Education Assistant or a delay in facility repairs, of many other school communities across Toronto.
You also cited Bill 177 and its heading, Conduct of Members of School Board, section 218.1 (e) which states that trustees must, “uphold the implementation of any board resolution after it is passed by the board.” And that it further states that a trustee must, “comply with the board’s code of conduct.”
I sincerely believe that by spending tax dollars on items that would not be considered priorities for Toronto’s parents and residents, and while cutting staff and programs that serve students within our schools, the TDSB does itself and our students a disservice. It has recently asked parents, who have schools involved in Accommodation Review Committees, to consider making much-needed sacrifices to support the solvency of our school system and to improve programming at our schools. I believe our board must be consistent in its message. On behalf of my community, and as a taxpayer myself, I frankly feel betrayed by the recent budget decisions the TDSB has made and by the ad hoc way it has made them.
Moreover, our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affords every Canadian, elected or not, the right to express his or her opinion as cited in Section 2. (b) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication. These are fundamental rights. The TDSB’s Code of Conduct and Ethics defends the right of every board member, “to formulate and express their personal opinion”, and states trustees are committed to, “abiding by the Board’s procedural rules and by majority decisions of the Board while maintaining their right to state their personal opinions.”
I believe that an integral part of my role as a school trustee is to advocate for students, parents and residents. I believe I must support positive initiatives that contribute to our communities and to our students' education while also holding the school board to account for decisions that I believe do not uphold the fore-mentioned pursuit and do not respect the tax dollars we are entrusted with.
With all due respect, I will not accept any unreasonable direction that would deprive me of my Charter rights or obstruct my ability to carry out the work I was elected to do for my constituents.
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow
Trustee for St. Paul’s
Toronto District School Board
http:// www.joshmatlow.ca
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