by Louise Brown, The Toronto Star

The Toronto District School Board has earmarked $345,000 for a one-day teacher conference this fall at the Air Canada Centre, aimed at "jump-starting change in our schools," said chair Bruce Davis.

The controversial event passed as part of a sweeping $1.7 million package of initiatives from director of education Chris Spence, and would provide an "amazing way to move the agenda of change forward," said Davis during a lengthy heated debate Wednesday night.

The professional development event slated for Sept. 1 would bring together all the board's teachers for the first time in nearly a decade to hear speakers from around the world on how to make schools more effective. The biggest chunk of the cost is a hefty $195,000 to print a binder with speeches and resources for each delegate.

However, trustees stopped short of approving Spence's choice of U.S.-based event organizer Solution Tree, until they can pinpoint whether its fees would exceed the $50,000 mark above which bids from other firms must be entertained.

Trustee Josh Matlow slammed the idea of spending so much money on any conference "when we're facing a $17 million deficit," while trustee Sheila Ward called it a pricey "feel-good day." Trustee John Hastings opposed hiring an American consultant, given the United States' new "buy-American" policy.

However, trustee Howard Goodman described the idea as having "the potential to be a spectacular idea that generates a single message and ensures everyone of our staff is aligned in the same direction."

One way to trim costs, suggested trustee Michael Coteau, might be to put the speeches on a digital stick, rather than costly binders.

To see this article, click here