…

Community organizations can apply for free use of space in 77 Toronto District School Board schools to run programs under the Priority Schools Initiative (PSI) program. Find which schools are available here.

Social Planning Toronto hosted a lively discussion back in September on the issue of public use of schools, community hubs and school board processes in school closure situations. The audience included not only students and community members, but also a number of senior politicians and school trustees. Here we present the slides from the presentation of Ranu Basu, from the Geography Department at York University, who has mapped school closings and analyzed for spatial justice.

A recent Toronto Star editorial comments on the work of a group of rural citizens working together to try to change the way decisions to close schools are made.

Norm Beach and Tam Goossen ask “During this recession, will we sell public assets at fire-sale prices? Or mothball them for years to come? And what if those assets are schools nestled deep within communities in need of services?”

The Government of Ontario recently announced that it would put $195 million over two years toward the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation Program.

77 Toronto District School Board schools identified for free use by Not-For-Profit organizations.

People for Education’s 2009 Annual Report on Ontario’s Public Schools, recommends Ontario expand its vision for education beyond test score targets and graduation rates.

In 2008 the McGuinty government announced it would increase funding to the Community Use of Schools program to $66 million by 2012.

In 2004 the McGuinty government announced $20 million in spending to help open schools to community groups through a Community Use of Schools program.