Peel District School Board

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Peel District School Board
Peel District School Board Logo.svg
Location
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada
District information
Chair of the board Janet McDougald[2]
Director of education Tony Pontes[3]
Schools 198 elementary schools
36 secondary schools[1]
Budget CA$0.16billion[2] million (2011-12)
District ID B66125
Students and staff
Students 108,503 elementary students
44,232 high school students[1]
Other information
Elected trustees Brampton (Carrie Andrews, David Green, Kathy McDonald, Suzanne Nurse), Caledon (Stan Cameron), Mississauga (Janet McDougald, Sue Lawton, Rick Williams, Nokha Dakroub, Brad MacDonald, Robert Crocker)
Student trustees Arunoshi Singh, Kaustav Chaudhuri
Website www.peelschools.org

The Peel District School Board (known as English-Language Public District School Board No. 19 prior to 1999[4][5]) is a school district that serves approximately 155,000 kindergarten to grade 12 students at more than 240 schools in the Region of Peel (municipalities of Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga) in Ontario.

The board employs more than 15,000 full-time staff and is the largest employer in Peel Region.[6] As of 2012 it is the second largest school board in Canada.[7]

History

In 1970, 10 local boards came together as the Peel County Board of Education. In 1969, the board served a community of a quarter million residents—20 per cent of today's population. The newly formed Peel County Board had 50,000 students in 114 schools and an operating budget of $41 million. (2009 annual report)

In 1973, the name changed to the Peel Board of Education. The current name, Peel District School Board, was approved in 1998.

On September 1, 2006, the school board announced that on Wednesday September 6, 2006, would launch a new website in 25 languages, all spoken in the Peel Region, to help parents who have a first language other than English.[8]

The Peel board unveiled its current logo in September 2005. In November, 2003, the board approved the creation of the Picture the Future committee—a cross section of staff and trustees—to oversee the creation of the first new logo since 1969. The committee worked with design firm Hambly and Woolley Inc, selected through a competitive RFP process, to develop a new visual identity for approval by the board. The design was based on the feedback from over 500 people including staff, students, parents, representatives of faith and culture communities and unions and federations.[9]

Equity

We Welcome the World Centres

In 2009, the Peel board opened three We Welcome the World Centres, located in Brampton, Malton, and Mississauga. As an initiative to bring awareness to the We Welcome the World Centres, Ruth Thompson Middle School created a video that montage of various students, teachers and staff saying the word " Peace" in 2008 and "Welcome" in 2009 in their native tongue. The centres help newcomer families with school-aged children register for school and get settled in Canada. Welcome Centre staff provide assistance and information about free services in many languages.[10]

We Welcome the World Centres are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year. Appointments can be made by calling 905-366-8791 or (toll free) 1-800-668-1146. The centres are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Religious Accommodation

Through a program called Faith Forward, the Peel board provides resources to help broaden awareness of a wide range of faiths, cultures and religious celebrations. These resources include a Holy Days and Holidays calendar, poster series, resource guide, lesson plans and training. The board’s direction is any celebrations of faith and culture need to be inclusive of all students and staff.[11]

The board acknowledges each individual’s right to follow, or not to follow, religious beliefs and practices free from discriminatory or harassing behaviour and will take all reasonable steps to provide religious accommodations to staff and students. Examples of accommodations are observation of major holy days, dietary requirements, religious attire, and space for private prayer or rituals.

Co-Accountable Model

The Peel board believes the work of making all staff feel welcomed and included goes beyond hiring. Its Co-accountable Model project supports diversity across all employee groups. At the core of the project is the belief that any work at real inclusion must actively involve the people inside and outside the organization in a new kind of partnership—one in which accountability for success is shared.

Under the Co-accountable Model, the Peel board will:[12]

  • create formal mentoring events and summits, including the creation of targeted advisory groups for all protected classes to assist in community outreach
  • train key leaders on fundamental concepts related to beliefs, assumptions and behaviours
  • make online simulations accessible to all Peel board employees to foster awareness of the diversity dividend
  • provide advice and counsel on this project as it moves forward

Demographics and cultural sensitivity

Among Canadian school districts, the Peel board has among the most ethnically and culturally diverse. The Peel District School Board enacted procedures and policies intended to accept and embrace various cultures and ethnic groups, and Brian Woodland, the school board's director of communications, said that the district embraces various religions.[13] The school board alters curricula to accommodate students of different backgrounds; for instance, if students from a religious background or culture are forbidden from drawing people, the school will alter the art curriculum. Peel was among the first Canadian school boards to permit students to wear kirpans to classes. The school board does not allow religious leaders to lead prayer sessions within schools.[13]

Programs

Adult and continuing education

The Peel board offers a variety of adult programs during the day, at night and on weekends.[14] Programs include credit programs to help adults complete their secondary school diploma, adult ESL programs to help adults develop and refine their English language skills, and literacy and basic skills courses to help adults upgrade specific skills.

The board received media attention in 2011 for its Foreign-Trained Teacher course, a course designed to help new Canadians enter the teacher profession.[15]

The Peel board also offers International Language Programs[16] on weekends for school-aged students. At the secondary level, students can earn credits towards their secondary school diploma. Students also have access to night and summer school, literacy and math support, and online school.[17]

Alternative programs

The Peel board’s Peel Alternative School (PAS) offers a variety of alternative programs designed with the individual needs of students in mind. Programs include:

Foundations Program The Foundations program is for students in at least their third year of high school who have not successfully completed grades 9 and 10. Students benefit from small class sizes and individual attention while they take up to three credits per semester.

Fresh Start Suspension and Expulsion Programs Students under suspension or expulsion from a Peel board school who are motivated to change their behaviour can attend Fresh Start. Through the programs, students continue academic studies while learning the skills required to be successful in school, in relationships and in the community.

Senior Elementary, Intermediate and Senior Alternative Programs These programs are designed for students who are at risk of dropping out of school. Through smaller classes and more individual attention, students develop improved social skills and attitudes towards school and society.

Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) SAL is a program for students aged 14 to 17 who, for a variety of reasons, are at risk of leaving school early. A SAL Plan is created to help students progress towards obtaining their Ontario Secondary School Diploma or achieving other educational and personal goals.

Temporary External Learning Link (TELL) The TELL Program is designed for students in at least their third year of high school. These students typically have not acquired the credit accumulation of their peers and require a flexible schedule due to family or work commitments.

Teen Education and Motherhood Program (TEAM) The TEAM Program is for students between 14 and 20, in grades 9 to 12, who are pregnant or who have a child. The academic program is individualized to meet each student’s needs. There is a focus on parenting skills, and students participate in weekly workshops presented by a Peel Public Health nurse.

PAS has three main campuses, as well as satellite locations throughout the Peel region. For more information about alternative programs in the Peel board, call 905-890-1010 (or 1-800-668-1146) ext. 2429, or speak to a Peel board guidance counsellor.

Regional programs

Regional programs start in grades 6, 7 and 9. Students in regional programs still complete all of the requirements of the Ontario curriculum, but there is an increased focus on an area of interest. Information nights take place throughout the fall for students registering to start the program the following September. Programs include:

  • Arts
  • Flexography (package print technology)
  • International Baccalaureate
  • International Business and Technology
  • SciTech
  • Sports
  • Strings
  • Truck and Coach

A description of each program and a list of schools offering the programs are available on the board’s website at www.peelschools.org/schools/programs.htm.

French immersion

French immersion begins in grade 1 and extended French begins in grade 7. Registration for both programs takes place in January. The Peel board provides on-line information for parents on how to decide whether French immersion is right for their child and other information about French learning.[18]

Specialist high skills major programs

Specialist High Skills Major programs start in grade 11 and allow students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector, while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. Students gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training. The programs support the transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Peel board schools offer Specialist High Skills Major programs in the following areas:

  • Business and entrepreneurial studies
  • Construction
  • Environment
  • Health and wellness
  • Hospitality and tourism
  • Information and communications technology
  • Justice, community safety and emergency services
  • Manufacturing
  • Sports
  • Transportation
  • Arts

More information about the Peel board’s Specialist High Skill Major programs is available at www.makingmyway.ca.

Regional Enhanced Program

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The Peel District School Board runs the IELC Regional Enhanced Program, a gifted education program, for students defined as having "an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth and breadth beyond those normally provided in the regular school programme to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated."[19]

Secondary school rankings

The Peel District School Board does not officially support the Fraser ranking system and does not rank its schools. The most up-to-date Fraser rankings can be found on the Fraser website.

Organization of the school system within the Board

The Board organizes its schools into "school families", which essentially designate the respective feeder schools into each of the secondary schools within the PDSB.[20]

Town of Caledon
School family Secondary school (9-12) Senior public school Junior public school Elementary school (K-8)
Humberview[21] Humberview Secondary School Allan Drive Middle School
  • Ellwood Memorial Public School
  • James Bolton Public School
  • Caledon East Public School
  • Macville Public School
  • Palgrave Public School
Mayfield[22] Mayfield Secondary School
  • Alton Public School
  • Belfountain Public School
  • Alloa Public School
  • Caledon Central Public School
  • Credit View Public School
  • Herb Campbell Public School
  • James Grieve Public School
City of Brampton
School family Secondary school (9-12) Senior public school Junior public school Elementary school (K-8)
Bramalea[23] Bramalea Secondary School
  • Aloma Crescent Public School
  • Birchbank Public School
  • Clark Boulevard Public School
  • Dorset Drive Public School
  • Eastbourne Drive Public School
  • Fallingdale Public School
  • Folkstone Public School
Brampton Centennial[24] Brampton Centennial Secondary School
  • Copeland Public School
  • McHugh Public School
  • Morton Way Public School
  • Queen Street Public School
  • Ridgeview Public School
  • Huttonville Public School
  • Roberta Bondar Public School
Castlebrooke Castlebrooke Secondary School
  • Calderstone Middle School
  • Claireville Public School
  • Thorndale Public School
  • Castlemore Public School
Central Peel[25] Central Peel Secondary School
  • Gordon Graydon Senior Public School
  • Sir John A. Macdonald Senior Public School
  • Agnes Taylor Public School
  • Arnott Charlton Public School
  • Harold F. Loughlin Public School
  • Kingswood Drive Public School
  • Madoc Drive Public School
Sir Winston Churchill Public School
Chinguacousy[26] Chinguacousy Secondary School
  • Greenbriar Senior Public School
  • Goldcrest Public School
  • Grenoble Public School
  • Jefferson Public School
David Suzuki[27] David Suzuki Secondary School
  • Beatty-Fleming Sr. Public School
  • Royal Orchard Middle School
  • Glendale Public School
  • Homestead Public School
  • Northwood Public School
Fletcher's Meadow[28] Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School
  • Cheyne Middle School
  • McCrimmon Middle School
  • Brisdale Public School
  • Burnt Elm Public School
  • Edenbrook Hill Public School
  • Rowntree Public School
  • Worthington Public School
Harold Brathwaite[29] Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School
  • Lougheed Middle School
  • Sunny View Middle School
  • Fernforest Public School
  • Larkspur Public School
Great Lakes Public School
Heart Lake[30] Heart Lake Secondary School Robert H. Lagerquist Senior Public School
  • Burnt Elm Public School
  • Conestoga Public School
  • Esker Lake Public School
  • Somerset Drive Public School
  • Terry Fox Public School
  • Westervelts Corners Public School
Louise Arbour[31] Louise Arbour Secondary School
  • Lougheed Middle School
  • Sunny View Middle School
  • Hewson Middle School
  • Carberry Public School
  • Springdale Middle School
  • Stanley Mills Public School
Mount Royal Public School
North Park[32] Williams Parkway Senior Public School
  • Hanover Public School
  • Hilldale Public School
  • Massey Street Public School
  • Russell D. Barber Public School
Sandalwood Heights[33] Sandalwood Heights Secondary School Mountain Ash Middle School
  • Eagle Plains Public School
  • Robert J. Lee Public School
  • Shaw Public School
Treeline South Public School
Turner Fenton[34] Turner Fenton Secondary School
City of Mississauga
School family Secondary school (9-12) Senior public school Junior public school Elementary school (K-8)
Applewood Heights[35] Applewood Heights Secondary School
  • Barondale Public School
  • Burnhamthorpe Public School
  • Cooksville Creek Public School
  • Dixie Public School
  • Huntington Ridge Public School
  • Nahani Way Public School
  • Silverthorn Public School
Cawthra Park[36] Cawthra Park Secondary School Allan A. Martin Senior Public School Hartsdale Avenue Public School
Gordon Graydon[36] Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School Westacres Public School
Clarkson[37] Clarkson Secondary School
  • Ashgrove Public School (Closed)
  • Clarkson Public School
  • Elmcrest Public School
  • Garthwood Park Public School
  • Oscar Peterson Public School
  • Owenwood Public School
  • Willow Glen Public School
Erindale[38] Erindale Secondary School
  • Erin Mills Middle School
  • Homelands Senior Public School
  • Brookmede Public School
  • King's Masting Public School
  • Oakridge Public School
  • Pheasant Run Public School (Closed)
  • Sawmill Valley Public School
  • Sheridan Park Public School
  • Thorn Lodge Public School
Glenforest[39] Glenforest Secondary School Glenhaven Senior Public School
  • Forest Glen Public School
  • Brian W. Fleming Public School
John Fraser[40] John Fraser Secondary School Thomas Street Middle School
  • Castlebridge Public School
  • Credit Valley Public School
  • Middlebury Public School
Lincoln Alexander[41] Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School
  • Brandon Gate Public School
  • Corliss Public School
  • Dunrankin Drive Public School
  • Lancaster Public School
  • Marvin Heights Public School
  • Ridgewood Public School
Lorne Park[42] Lorne Park Secondary School Hillcrest Public School
  • Lorne Park Public School
  • Whiteoaks Public School
Tecumseh Public School
Meadowvale[43] Meadowvale Secondary School
  • Kindree Public School
  • Maple Wood Public School
  • Miller's Grove Public School
  • Osprey Woods Public School
  • Plum Tree Park Public School
  • Settler's Green Public School
  • Shelter Bay Public School
  • Trelawny Public School
Mississauga[44] Mississauga Secondary School David Leeder Middle School
  • Britannia Public School
  • Derry West Village Public School
  • Hickory Wood Public School
  • Levi Creek Public School
  • Meadowvale Village Public School
  • Ray Lawson Public School
Port Credit[45] Port Credit Secondary School Queen Elizabeth Senior Public School
  • Cashmere Avenue Public School
  • Floradale Public School
  • Forest Avenue Public School
  • Kenollie Public School
  • Mineola Public School
Riverside Public School
Rick Hansen[46] Rick Hansen Secondary School Fallingbrook Middle School
Stephen Lewis[47] Stephen Lewis Secondary School
  • Erin Centre Middle School
  • Ruth Thompson Middle School
  • Artesian Drive Public School
  • Churchill Meadows Public School
  • McKinnon Public School
  • Oscar Peterson Public School
Streetsville[48]
  • Britannia Public School
  • Plowman's Park Public School
  • Ray Underhill Public School
  • Vista Heights Public School
  • Willow Way Public School
TL Kennedy[49] Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School
  • Camilla Road Senior Public School
  • The Valleys Senior Public School
  • Briarwood Public School
  • Clifton Public School
  • Corsair Public School
  • Fairview Public School
  • Munden Park Public School
  • Silver Creek Public School
  • Thornwood Public School
Woodlands[50] The Woodlands School
  • Ellengale Public School
  • McBride Avenue Public School
  • Springfield Public School
  • Hawthorn Public School
  • Queenston Drive Public School

Ontario Human Rights Tribunal Case and Turner Report

Former Vice Principal Ranjit Khatkur of South Asian background alleged that her ethnic/racial background was the reason she was overlooked for promotion to principal despite fulfilling all requirements. Khatkur launched a legal complaint at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging systematic discrimination in the Peel public board.[51] It eventually culminated in allowing the Turner Consulting Group to release a Research Report on Hiring and Promotion at the Peel District School Board.[52] The 111-page report led to changes in the hiring and promotion policies in the Peel Board.[53] Previously Principals conducted interviews alone without having to demonstrate why they chose the applicants they did or document what questions they asked. The changes include having two people conducting an interview to eliminate bias, the principal is not part of the promotion process thereby eliminating their "gatekeeper" role, and begin a diversity census.[53] The report found that it was not only ethnic or visible minorities that experienced discrimination.[53] Tana Turner found that even some white males suspected nepotism favouritism or cronyism.[53] Steps have been taken in the right direction since this report.

Trustees

Current trustees for the Peel board are

  • Chair - Janet McDougald
  • Vice Chair - Suzanne Nurse
Trustee Wards City
Carrie Andrews Ward 7 and 8 Brampton
David Green Wards 1 and 5 Brampton
Kathy McDonald Wards 3 and 4 Brampton
Suzanne Nurse Wards 2 and 6 Brampton
Harkirat Singh Wards 9 and 10 Brampton
Stan Cameron Caledon
Janet McDougald Wards 1 and 7 Mississauga
Sue Lawton Wards 3 and 4 Mississauga
Rick Williams Ward 5 Mississauga
Nokha Dakroub Wards 9 and 10 Mississauga
Brad MacDonald Wards 2 and 8 Mississauga
Robert Crocker Wards 6 and 11 Mississauga
Paul Okundaye N/A - Student trustee for Peel schools north of Highway 401 North Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon
Kaustav Chaudhuri N/A - Student trustee for Peel schools south of Highway 401 Mississauga

See also

References

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  6. Work In Peel on Peel board website http://www.peelschools.org/work/offer/offer.htm
  7. Rushowy, Kristin. "Toronto and Peel school boards prepare for biggest cuts since Harris years." Toronto Star. Wednesday June 13, 2012. Retrieved on May 20, 2013. "That sentiment was echoed at the Peel public board — the second-largest school board in the country, behind Toronto[...]"
  8. Peel District School Board. "School board to launch websites in 25 languages." The Brampton News. September 1, 2006. Retrieved on June 8, 2012.
  9. Logo launch news release http://www.peelschools.org/media/news2002/050906.htm
  10. welcome centres http://www.peelschools.org/englishHTML/welcome/index.htm
  11. Toronto Sun article http://www.torontosun.com/2011/11/07/mississauga-high-school-cancels-muslim-prayers)
  12. 2011 annual report http://www.peelannualreport.com/
  13. 13.0 13.1 Aubin, Benoit and Jonathon Gatehouse. "Do immigrants need rules? The debate rages on." Maclean's. March 5, 2007. Retrieved on October 11, 2012.
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  18. www.peelschools.org/parents/facts/french.htm
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  21. Humberview school family map
  22. Mayfield school family map
  23. Bramalea school family map
  24. Brampton Centennial school family map
  25. Central Peel school family map
  26. Chinguacousy school family map
  27. David Suzuki school family map
  28. Fletcher's Meadow school family map
  29. Harold Brathwaite school family map
  30. Heart Lake school family map
  31. Louise Arbour school family map
  32. North Park school family map
  33. Sandalwood Heights school family map
  34. Turner Fenton school family map
  35. Applewood Heights school family map
  36. 36.0 36.1 Cawthra Park/Gordon Graydon school families map
  37. Clarkson school family map
  38. Erindale school family map
  39. Glenforest school family map
  40. John Fraser school family map
  41. Lincoln Alexander school family map
  42. Lorne Park school family map
  43. Meadowvale school family map
  44. Mississauga school family map
  45. Port Credit school family map
  46. Rick Hansen school family map
  47. Stephen Lewis school family map
  48. Streetsville school family map
  49. TL Kennedy school family map
  50. Woodlands school family map
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External links

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