There is an interesting article in today's Globe and Mail on a course offered by the Toronto Catholic School Board that is in danger of being eliminated. Called the Arrowsmith program, it is based on the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change its structure and function:
Unconventional program for students with learning disabilities may be on the chopping block
KATE HAMMER
From Monday's Globe and Mail, Monday, Jun. 22, 2009 03:33AM EDT
Through two hours of tears, frustration and repetition, Brendan Westermann would memorize his Grade 4 spelling list each week.
But when he woke up the next morning, the letters would be jumbled and later, in class, he'd fail his spelling test again.
"Usually I'd get half the words wrong," he said, wrinkling a bronzed nose speckled with freckles.
Brendan and his mother, Cora Westermann, sometimes ended up in tears following marathon cramming sessions. After Brendan went to bed, Ms. Westermann would surf the Internet searching for programs for children with learning disabilities.
Brendan was diagnosed as gifted-dyslexic, and it wasn't until two years later, in November, 2008, that Ms. Westermann and her husband, Paul Westermann, found a way to make the tears stop.
They started driving Brendan from their home in Uxbridge, Ont., to Toronto, where an alternative course called the Arrowsmith program is offered through the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Brendan, 12, began attending Grade 6 at Holy Spirit Catholic School, and performing daily exercises aimed at improving his working memory.
Before long, the crying stopped.
Brendan began finishing his homework in less time, reading books on his own for fun, and enjoying school.
"The program allowed him to bypass his problems and access his intelligence," Mr. Westermann said.
But when Brendan completes his first year at Holy Spirit's Arrowsmith program this week, it could be his last.
In order to balance next year's budget and bring the school board out of the red, the TCDSB is looking to cut a handful of programs, including Arrowsmith.
Overspending led to a takeover of the board last year by a government-appointed supervisor, and the fate of the program has slipped through the fingers of the board's trustees.
A provincial supervisory team will decide the fate of the program at a meeting Wednesday.
With a $1.5-million boost to the special-education budget expected next year, some trustees and parents are concerned that the future of the program may be decided more by ideology than by dollars.
About 65 students participated in the program this year at a cost of just over $201,265.
"It's a miniscule amount of the overall money we spend on special education," said John Del Grande, a TCDSB trustee.
"This program has become more of an ideological battle as a opposed to a money or a student value issue."
The Arrowsmith program represents a radical departure from traditional approaches, which generally involve compensatory methods such as letting a child with poor handwriting use a laptop, or a child with poor reading comprehension take a test orally.
The program is anchored in a concept called neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain's ability to change its structure and function.
Through daily activities aimed at exercising weak neural pathways - such as tracing shapes while wearing an eye patch or recalling symbols - Arrowsmith teachers believe students' brains can be trained to overcome 19 specific learning dysfunctions.
"I know of no program anywhere in the world right now that works as well," said Norman Doidge, a psychiatrist and faculty member at the University of Toronto, and author of The Brain That Changes Itself, a bestselling book about neuroplasticity.
"There's no reason it can't be administered in public schools. They always have special education in public schools and the teachers only have to undergo a few weeks of training."
Frank Piddisi, superintendent of Special Services, said a $17-million special education deficit for the 2008-2009 academic year is one reason it can't be administered at the TCDSB.
Another reason, he said, is the fact that $175,715 of the $200,000 price tag goes toward licensing the seven schools that offer the Arrowsmith program.
"Without the licensing fee the cost would be incidental almost," he said.
The program was developed about 30 years ago by Barbara Arrowsmith Young.
Independent schools in Ontario, Saskatchewan and the United States offer the program but most of them carry a daunting price tag.
The private Toronto Arrowsmith school costs about $20,000 a year, a prohibitive amount for Debbie Clark, a single mother with two daughters.
Ms. Clark's eldest daughter, Victoria, is in her third year of the program at the TCDSB. Her mother describes the improvements in the 12-year-old's reading comprehension skills as "a miracle."
But without $20,000 a year to put her youngest, Amanda, in the private school, she fears her daughter may never get the opportunity her older sister has had if the TCDSB program closes.
"I really feel that if Amanda doesn't go through Arrowsmith, with her anger and her anxiety [in the classroom], I'm very scared for her future," Ms. Clark said. "I think the program should be available to everyone. These are our kids, they are our future, it does fix their brains and we can't put a price tag on them."
"The bottom line is that the board has to balance the budget," said Emmy Milne, a spokeswoman for the TCDSB. She added that the Arrowsmith program isn't being targeted, and other important programs may get the axe.
The Westermanns are prepared to take out a loan and commute to an Arrowsmith school in Peterborough in order to continue Brendan's education.
"I think it means that it gives him equal opportunity compared to other kids in the classroom and that's all I want for him, equal opportunities, not special accommodations," Ms. Westermann said.
"If Brendan wants to be an astronaut or a bricklayer I just want him to be able to lay bricks or fly jet planes just like anybody else would," Mr. Westermann said.
***
Brain-training drills
Arrowsmith students within the Toronto Catholic District School Board dedicate about half the school day to the academic curriculum, and the other half to brain-training exercises. The program is built upon the concept that students can overcome their learning dysfunctions by exercising the weakest parts of their brains.
ANALOG CLOCK DRILLS
Students improve their ability to relate symbols by reading multi-hand clocks that appear on a computer screen. Each of the clock's hands mark fractions of a second, seconds, minutes, hours up through centuries and so on. Students are challenged to read up to hands on more clocks with increasing accuracy over shrinking periods of time.
TRACING SYMBOLS
Students are asked to wear an eye patch and trace foreign letters and symbols. The patch is worn over the left eye, which communicates directly with the right hemisphere of the brain. This helps the exercise target the brain's left hemisphere for fine-motor skill and symbol recognition.
Showing posts with label toronto catholic school board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toronto catholic school board. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Province Takes Action
Owing to the corruption and financial mismanagement of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Province of Ontario has appointed Norbert Hartmann to take control of its finances. Read the full story in today's Toronto Star
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
How a Corrupt Board Deals with its Financial Improprieties
Given the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s penchant for enriching its members with lavish expenditures, is it any wonder that they are taking out the fruits of their profligacy by cutting teachers, budgets, and support staff? As usual, the bolded sections are mine.
Catholic board cuts 85 teachers
Trustees eliminate $14 million deficit, cut school budgets 10%
June 3, 2008
Comments on this story (9)
Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
In a flurry of voting early this morning, Toronto Catholic trustees effectively balanced their budget, cutting almost $14 million and putting several areas under review to make up the difference.
"We are committed to a balanced budget," board chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller said, adding that if there's any deficit left over after the review, "it will come out of trustee services, trustee expenses."
Among the cuts approved: laying off 85 teachers ($4 million), not hiring secondary teachers to fill job openings ($1 million), 10 per cent reduction to school budgets ($1.2 million), laying off 32 support staff such as caretakers and secretaries ($782,000), and cutting contract child and youth workers ($500,000).
Trustees rejected a move to axe full-day kindergarten, an issue they had previously voted against even though staff had suggested it could save almost $1 million.
Staff had been asked to provide details of savings. They said that eliminating the teacher positions and support staff effective Jan. 1, "will cause upheaval for a large number of students" but save about $5 million.
The Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers union has said it's not fair for the board to balance the budget on the backs of its members, and said the cuts are beyond what's necessary to address declining enrolment, which this year is about 900 students across the board.
The union also said trustees should look to cutting administration and governance, areas where the board has overspent $6 million in the past four years.
Trustees had nixed the idea of layoffs but reconsidered after Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said she was concerned about the board's financial position in light of its $14 million deficit and the trustee spending scandal.
Wynne last week sent in investigator Pierre Filiatrault to review the board's finances and recommend whether she should send in a supervisor.
The trustees met last night, their first of two meetings this week after three last week, to whittle down the deficit.
Trustees are also in hot water with the province following a blistering May 7 report by a provincial investigator, who found they cost taxpayers more than $100,000 a year, about the highest in Ontario.
Norbert Hartmann uncovered all kinds of spending abuses, including frequent meals and meals with alcohol charged to the public purse, and thousands spent on promotional materials. Trustees also kept board-bought equipment such as cellphones after their term was over, and one was charging rent for a home office.
Trustee Mary Cicogna had billed the board almost $700 for a trip to Florida, which she said was to check out Ave Maria University, a Catholic institution she said is trying to make inroads in attracting Canadian students.
However, in a letter distributed to trustees and the public last night, she said she wanted to withdraw her expense, "not because it is an inappropriate expenditure ... but I feel that it is necessary to do this in order to begin the process of restoring public confidence."
At the meeting last week, trustees also decided to end their medical/dental and life insurance benefits – which aren't allowed under the Education Act – as of July 1 and end their car allowance, which again is not permitted.
Last night, ratepayer Michael Baillargeon said that trustees should cut their honorarium, limit expenses to $250 per month and use secretarial services supplied by the board.
He also said trustee Oliver Carroll, who expensed $7,577 for a master's degree in educational administration, should repay the money. "Get in line for a student loan like our children did and like today's students must," he said.
Baillargeon also urged the trustees who employed each other's relatives, at a cost of $4,000 each – trustees John Del Grande and Ann Andrachuk – to repay that money.
Toronto Star
Catholic board cuts 85 teachers
Trustees eliminate $14 million deficit, cut school budgets 10%
June 3, 2008
Comments on this story (9)
Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
In a flurry of voting early this morning, Toronto Catholic trustees effectively balanced their budget, cutting almost $14 million and putting several areas under review to make up the difference.
"We are committed to a balanced budget," board chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller said, adding that if there's any deficit left over after the review, "it will come out of trustee services, trustee expenses."
Among the cuts approved: laying off 85 teachers ($4 million), not hiring secondary teachers to fill job openings ($1 million), 10 per cent reduction to school budgets ($1.2 million), laying off 32 support staff such as caretakers and secretaries ($782,000), and cutting contract child and youth workers ($500,000).
Trustees rejected a move to axe full-day kindergarten, an issue they had previously voted against even though staff had suggested it could save almost $1 million.
Staff had been asked to provide details of savings. They said that eliminating the teacher positions and support staff effective Jan. 1, "will cause upheaval for a large number of students" but save about $5 million.
The Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers union has said it's not fair for the board to balance the budget on the backs of its members, and said the cuts are beyond what's necessary to address declining enrolment, which this year is about 900 students across the board.
The union also said trustees should look to cutting administration and governance, areas where the board has overspent $6 million in the past four years.
Trustees had nixed the idea of layoffs but reconsidered after Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said she was concerned about the board's financial position in light of its $14 million deficit and the trustee spending scandal.
Wynne last week sent in investigator Pierre Filiatrault to review the board's finances and recommend whether she should send in a supervisor.
The trustees met last night, their first of two meetings this week after three last week, to whittle down the deficit.
Trustees are also in hot water with the province following a blistering May 7 report by a provincial investigator, who found they cost taxpayers more than $100,000 a year, about the highest in Ontario.
Norbert Hartmann uncovered all kinds of spending abuses, including frequent meals and meals with alcohol charged to the public purse, and thousands spent on promotional materials. Trustees also kept board-bought equipment such as cellphones after their term was over, and one was charging rent for a home office.
Trustee Mary Cicogna had billed the board almost $700 for a trip to Florida, which she said was to check out Ave Maria University, a Catholic institution she said is trying to make inroads in attracting Canadian students.
However, in a letter distributed to trustees and the public last night, she said she wanted to withdraw her expense, "not because it is an inappropriate expenditure ... but I feel that it is necessary to do this in order to begin the process of restoring public confidence."
At the meeting last week, trustees also decided to end their medical/dental and life insurance benefits – which aren't allowed under the Education Act – as of July 1 and end their car allowance, which again is not permitted.
Last night, ratepayer Michael Baillargeon said that trustees should cut their honorarium, limit expenses to $250 per month and use secretarial services supplied by the board.
He also said trustee Oliver Carroll, who expensed $7,577 for a master's degree in educational administration, should repay the money. "Get in line for a student loan like our children did and like today's students must," he said.
Baillargeon also urged the trustees who employed each other's relatives, at a cost of $4,000 each – trustees John Del Grande and Ann Andrachuk – to repay that money.
Toronto Star
Friday, May 9, 2008
A Culture of Entitlement and Corruption in Toronto
Toronto Catholic school trustees' fat perks blasted
The culture of entitlement and corruption seems alive and well in the Toronto Catholic School Board. No wonder teachers and the general public are cynical about those who make important decisions about our children’s education. Below I have taken the liberty of reproducing a story in today’s Star detailing this betrayal of the public trust. I have placed in bold certain parts of the article.
STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR
Provincial adviser Norbert Hartmann is blasting the culture of entitlement at the Toronto catholic school board.
May 08, 2008 04:30 AM
Kerry Gillespie and Kristin Rushowy
STAFF REPORTERS
A culture of entitlement among Toronto Catholic trustees saw them hire relatives, double dip on restaurant bills and approve car allowances and health benefits, despite being told by board staff and lawyers such perks weren't allowed, says a scathing report.
Trustee expenses have ballooned since 2003 and are now among the highest in the province – $100,000 per elected trustee compared with $67,000 in the Toronto public board and just $27,000 in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic board – because of the extra benefits and services trustees gave themselves, says provincial adviser Norbert Hartmann in his report Enhancing Public Trust and Confidence, released yesterday.
"I have no tolerance and the government has no tolerance for public dollars being used in inappropriate ways," Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said. "Where there are inappropriate expenses, inappropriate reimbursements, public money that's being used for private benefit, all of those things have to change."
The report is expected to have ramifications province-wide, as some of the spending practices questioned are in place in other boards.
"I really believe the vast majority of trustees are spending the public dollars wisely, they're making good decisions, but absolutely we're going to look at the implications of this report for the rest of the province," said Wynne.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board's 12 elected trustees are paid $18,671 per year, but cost another $80,000 in other services and benefits, including an $18,000 discretionary fund, $8,600 car allowance, $3,800 in technology expenses such as cellphone, Internet and printers.
One trustee position is currently vacant, after Christine Nunziata was removed for missing too many meetings and amid allegations she misspent thousands of taxpayer dollars on vacations and clothing.
Oliver Carroll, former chair and now budget chief, said the Hartmann report "sums up exactly what went wrong" and agrees there is a culture of entitlement.
"Basically the board, and I'll include me in that, set up a process that left it up to individual trustees to sort out whatever they considered appropriate spending. The majority did the right thing, but three or four – a sizeable majority – effectively helped themselves.
"The board needs to issue an apology, a very public apology for all of this and then we need to be, collectively, so clean ... so there are no (expense) issues."
Chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller said she's "not pleased with what (the report) demonstrates in terms of our policies and practices" and that the board will follow the recommendations to restore public confidence.
When asked how trustees became among the biggest spenders in the province, she said "policies evolved over time. And I think for that very reason, perhaps people lost sight of the scope of the impact of the changes."
Hartmann was appointed to probe trustee spending from 2003 to 2007, and his 20 recommendations direct the board to:
End their medical, dental and life insurance coverage.
Adopt a code of conduct similar to the city of Toronto's prohibiting trustees from hiring relatives.
Revoke the $8,600 annual car allowance, which is not allowed, and only pay actual, out-of-pocket transportation expenses.
Force trustees to return all equipment – including computers, cellphones and office furniture – at the end of their term instead of keeping them as personal property.
Eliminate trustees' ability to transfer discretionary funds to community, school and charitable groups, which he said gives the appearance of a "political slush fund."
There were rules to prevent many of these abuses from occurring but they weren't enforced, Hartmann states. In every spending category, "there are trustees who make no claims, while others incur fairly significant expenditures."
"Most acknowledged that the emergence of a culture of entitlement and the politicization of the approval process, prevented the operation of normal control processes," Hartmann's report states.
"This allowed such inappropriate expenses as dry cleaning, shoe repairs, personal software, MTO license fees, mini-bar fees ...to be claimed and reimbursed."
Hartman said in his report that when staff tried to enforce the expense policies, "some trustees phoned clerks directly and `browbeat them into submission.'"
As one trustee quoted in the report put it: "If a trustee said it was an expense, it was an expense."
Annual hospitality expenses ranged from $15,000 to $27,000 per trustee.
The board has until June 30 to submit amended policies to the education ministry.
The government has retained the auditing firm Ernst & Young to work with trustees to settle "questionable reimbursements brought to light by the review," according to a letter Wynne sent to the board chair yesterday, which could mean trustees repaying inappropriate expenses.
This wouldn't be the first time a board trustee has had to give money back. LeBlanc-Miller had to repay $4,700 in taxi, TTC and parking expenses because she was also receiving the monthly car allowance. She said she didn't realize she was breaking the rules, and the board didn't notice her mistake.
Carroll said he and fellow Trustee John Del Grande have posted their expenses online since 2006, a move fellow trustees refused, although all will have to do so this month.
THE MONEY TRAIL
Abuses found in a probe of expenses for Toronto Catholic school trustees from 2003-2007:
• Trustees paid themselves rent for use of office space in their own homes.
• One trustee expensed $7,577 tuition for a masters of education degree.
• Trustees gave themselves an annual car allowance of $8,600.
• Since 2003, trustees have transferred $200,000 of taxpayer money from discretionary funds into school causes of their choice, creating the appearance of a "political slush fund."
• They approved a policy allowing them to keep BlackBerrys, computers, shredders, digital cameras and office furniture when they leave office.
• Research and consulting contracts were given to relatives of trustees, people living at the same address and to murky numbered companies.
• Annual hospitality expenses were $15,000 to $27,000. Documents rarely noted the purpose.
• One trustee got 10 duplicate payments in a year by submitting restaurant and credit card receipts separately.
• Approved expenses included multiple meals in one day and alcohol and mini-bar bills.
________________________________________
COMPARISONS
Trustee expenses as a cost per pupil at selected school boards for 2007-08:
$14.94 Toronto Catholic
$8.99 York Region Catholic
$6.04 Toronto public
$5.74 Ottawa-Carleton public
$5.42 Ottawa-Carleton Catholic
$3.66 York Region public
$4.02 Thames Valley public
$3.72 Peel public
$3.62 Dufferin-Peel Catholic
Source: Enhancing Public Trust and Confidence report
The culture of entitlement and corruption seems alive and well in the Toronto Catholic School Board. No wonder teachers and the general public are cynical about those who make important decisions about our children’s education. Below I have taken the liberty of reproducing a story in today’s Star detailing this betrayal of the public trust. I have placed in bold certain parts of the article.
STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR
Provincial adviser Norbert Hartmann is blasting the culture of entitlement at the Toronto catholic school board.
May 08, 2008 04:30 AM
Kerry Gillespie and Kristin Rushowy
STAFF REPORTERS
A culture of entitlement among Toronto Catholic trustees saw them hire relatives, double dip on restaurant bills and approve car allowances and health benefits, despite being told by board staff and lawyers such perks weren't allowed, says a scathing report.
Trustee expenses have ballooned since 2003 and are now among the highest in the province – $100,000 per elected trustee compared with $67,000 in the Toronto public board and just $27,000 in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic board – because of the extra benefits and services trustees gave themselves, says provincial adviser Norbert Hartmann in his report Enhancing Public Trust and Confidence, released yesterday.
"I have no tolerance and the government has no tolerance for public dollars being used in inappropriate ways," Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said. "Where there are inappropriate expenses, inappropriate reimbursements, public money that's being used for private benefit, all of those things have to change."
The report is expected to have ramifications province-wide, as some of the spending practices questioned are in place in other boards.
"I really believe the vast majority of trustees are spending the public dollars wisely, they're making good decisions, but absolutely we're going to look at the implications of this report for the rest of the province," said Wynne.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board's 12 elected trustees are paid $18,671 per year, but cost another $80,000 in other services and benefits, including an $18,000 discretionary fund, $8,600 car allowance, $3,800 in technology expenses such as cellphone, Internet and printers.
One trustee position is currently vacant, after Christine Nunziata was removed for missing too many meetings and amid allegations she misspent thousands of taxpayer dollars on vacations and clothing.
Oliver Carroll, former chair and now budget chief, said the Hartmann report "sums up exactly what went wrong" and agrees there is a culture of entitlement.
"Basically the board, and I'll include me in that, set up a process that left it up to individual trustees to sort out whatever they considered appropriate spending. The majority did the right thing, but three or four – a sizeable majority – effectively helped themselves.
"The board needs to issue an apology, a very public apology for all of this and then we need to be, collectively, so clean ... so there are no (expense) issues."
Chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller said she's "not pleased with what (the report) demonstrates in terms of our policies and practices" and that the board will follow the recommendations to restore public confidence.
When asked how trustees became among the biggest spenders in the province, she said "policies evolved over time. And I think for that very reason, perhaps people lost sight of the scope of the impact of the changes."
Hartmann was appointed to probe trustee spending from 2003 to 2007, and his 20 recommendations direct the board to:
End their medical, dental and life insurance coverage.
Adopt a code of conduct similar to the city of Toronto's prohibiting trustees from hiring relatives.
Revoke the $8,600 annual car allowance, which is not allowed, and only pay actual, out-of-pocket transportation expenses.
Force trustees to return all equipment – including computers, cellphones and office furniture – at the end of their term instead of keeping them as personal property.
Eliminate trustees' ability to transfer discretionary funds to community, school and charitable groups, which he said gives the appearance of a "political slush fund."
There were rules to prevent many of these abuses from occurring but they weren't enforced, Hartmann states. In every spending category, "there are trustees who make no claims, while others incur fairly significant expenditures."
"Most acknowledged that the emergence of a culture of entitlement and the politicization of the approval process, prevented the operation of normal control processes," Hartmann's report states.
"This allowed such inappropriate expenses as dry cleaning, shoe repairs, personal software, MTO license fees, mini-bar fees ...to be claimed and reimbursed."
Hartman said in his report that when staff tried to enforce the expense policies, "some trustees phoned clerks directly and `browbeat them into submission.'"
As one trustee quoted in the report put it: "If a trustee said it was an expense, it was an expense."
Annual hospitality expenses ranged from $15,000 to $27,000 per trustee.
The board has until June 30 to submit amended policies to the education ministry.
The government has retained the auditing firm Ernst & Young to work with trustees to settle "questionable reimbursements brought to light by the review," according to a letter Wynne sent to the board chair yesterday, which could mean trustees repaying inappropriate expenses.
This wouldn't be the first time a board trustee has had to give money back. LeBlanc-Miller had to repay $4,700 in taxi, TTC and parking expenses because she was also receiving the monthly car allowance. She said she didn't realize she was breaking the rules, and the board didn't notice her mistake.
Carroll said he and fellow Trustee John Del Grande have posted their expenses online since 2006, a move fellow trustees refused, although all will have to do so this month.
THE MONEY TRAIL
Abuses found in a probe of expenses for Toronto Catholic school trustees from 2003-2007:
• Trustees paid themselves rent for use of office space in their own homes.
• One trustee expensed $7,577 tuition for a masters of education degree.
• Trustees gave themselves an annual car allowance of $8,600.
• Since 2003, trustees have transferred $200,000 of taxpayer money from discretionary funds into school causes of their choice, creating the appearance of a "political slush fund."
• They approved a policy allowing them to keep BlackBerrys, computers, shredders, digital cameras and office furniture when they leave office.
• Research and consulting contracts were given to relatives of trustees, people living at the same address and to murky numbered companies.
• Annual hospitality expenses were $15,000 to $27,000. Documents rarely noted the purpose.
• One trustee got 10 duplicate payments in a year by submitting restaurant and credit card receipts separately.
• Approved expenses included multiple meals in one day and alcohol and mini-bar bills.
________________________________________
COMPARISONS
Trustee expenses as a cost per pupil at selected school boards for 2007-08:
$14.94 Toronto Catholic
$8.99 York Region Catholic
$6.04 Toronto public
$5.74 Ottawa-Carleton public
$5.42 Ottawa-Carleton Catholic
$3.66 York Region public
$4.02 Thames Valley public
$3.72 Peel public
$3.62 Dufferin-Peel Catholic
Source: Enhancing Public Trust and Confidence report
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