Petition: TDSB Virtual School Students and Teachers Deserve Better

On Thursday, October 29, 2020, hundreds of parents and teachers in TDSB Virtual School French programs received emails from the TDSB that within two working days the Board would make significant changes to teachers’ assignments and students’ classrooms in Virtual School French Immersion and Extended French programs.

These changes:

  • take teachers away from students with whom they have already built and established a classroom community since the beginning of the school year;
  • doubles class sizes for teachers, meaning less personalized one-to-one contact with students; and
  • reduces the number of French minutes for students in some grades.

This shift comes immediately in the wake of the TDSB’s disruptive decision to assign Virtual School Core French Teachers to simultaneously teach synchronously and asynchronously, doubling their workload and creating a dangerous precedent for all teachers and the students with whom they work.

While we understand the TDSB’s rationale, that it has had ongoing difficulties staffing French Immersion, Extended French, and Core French programs in Virtual School, the TDSB’s solution is:

  • disrespectful to teachers, as its being implemented without proper consultation;
  • harmful in that in disrupt students’ social and emotional security by taking them away from their teacher; and
  • creating stress and anxiety for students, parents, and teachers alike.

This issue is one of many negatively impacting student success in the TDSB’s Virtual School program. These concerns, which also must be addressed, include:

  • lack of Special Education support;
  • no Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs) in Virtual School Kindergarten programs;
  • insufficient technology, tech support, and resources to meet program delivery needs;
  • no classroom budgets;
  • no preparation subject providers;
  • last minute Board communications; and
  • massive class sizes.

We the undersigned therefore demand:

  1. That the TDSB immediately pause the planned changes to Virtual School French programs announced on Thursday, October 29, 2020, and communicate to parents as well as ETT members that it is pausing the announced changes in Virtual School French Immersion/Extended French programs, so that meaningful consultation can occur and an agreed upon and a viable plan can be implemented.
  2. That teachers who lost access to their original Brightspace shall be immediately reinstated.
  3. That the TDSB immediately contact ETT to set up a meeting to create a meaningful consultation process with the Union and Virtual School teachers to create a more viable Virtual School plan, which will include addressing the necessary supports, resources, and timeframes for the successful implementation of Virtual School.

Our students and teachers in Virtual School deserve no less. We look forward to hearing a response from the TDSB.

List of Signatures

Signatures
JenniferBrown-ETTPresident
JamieThom-ETTVicePresident
DorisDuni-ETTSecretary/Treasurer
YolandaB'Dacy-ETTExecutiveOfficer
NigelBarriffe-ETTExecutiveOfficer
AmberBowen-ETTExecutiveOfficer
KwabenaFrimpong-ETTExecutiveOfficer
RozGeridis-ETTExecutiveOfficer
JoyLachica-ETTExecutiveOfficer
TerriLynnPlatt-ETTExecutiveOfficer
NatashaRodriguez-Burford-ETTExecutiveOfficer
FeliciaSamuel-ETTExecutiveOfficer
ColinStrange-ETTExecutiveOfficer
HelenVictoros-ETTExecutiveOfficer
SamanthaBeatonLC4
Rosemarie Colangelo, LC4
ChristinaFiumeLC1
PeterWiens/LC4
AlexandraLC4
TyneshaHibbert-LC4
CatherinekhemrajLC2
VanessaPersichilli/LC2
JocelynePasmanLC2
MaryJenniferPayneLC4
JamesBoccia/LC4
Joanna Chapman-Smith, LC3
CélineSokol
HeleneArmbrustLC4
QuennieGomez/LC4
ClaudiaLeeLC1
AndreyaPadmore/LC4
KirkMcCullough
SalvatoreCapoferri/LC3 
SukWu/LC2
CelineSokol/LC4
DayeLee/LC3
LisaNave
Melissa Haley, LC4
ZoeLalondeLC4
KimDavies.LC2
Diana Lara Arias, LC1
KeerthanaSuthaparan/LC3
JohnCrunkleton/LC2
PeterHasekLC2(Parent)LC4(Teacher)
FrancineLee/LC3
JenniferTovich/lc3
PierreTredilleLC4
Julius-LC3
NicoleGonsalves/LC1
KatiaBerdichevsky 
CarolineWai/LC4
HeatherPunLC2
JasonPunLC2
Chetana Kulkarni, LC2
AgnesStunden 
JessicaMcLaughlinLC4
AmandeepPanag/LC4
SheminaBhimani/LC2
CloverClarke
SarahRamkissoon/LC2
HaydenJones/LC2
Melissa Haley, LC4
IndraRamdass/LC2
AshleyFoxton 
ParfaitNdjouga/LC4
DavidDePoe 
JemilaPirbhai
MichaelMouatt/LC2
JulieRayLC2
MicheleNuguid-Sanchez/LC2
FayeGiniesLC4
SamreenAli
EmilyWhitehead/LC1
MelissaLikely/LC4
JenniferDaley/LC4
JennieWellerLC4
VelvetLacasse/LC4
CloverRoseLC2
TempieCoelho-Freeman/LC4
Alanna/LC1
AdrienneRigler
BatyaLevy/LN24
MarilouLopes 
KevinWaechter
TanyaNormanLC4
NicoleLorenz/LC4
TyneshaHibbert-LC4
CarleeFossella
RyanWattsLC2
DavidHarrisLC2
Karinathompson
HeatherSimonsLC4
KimSavage
MeredithHeron
MartaKopun
SarahLC4 
LauraMacNeilLC4
Garrry Norman, LC4
AlexandraStevens
DakotaRandall/LC4 
Elena Copeland, LC 4
Nicolewhite/LC4
Sharondamianidis 
StacyKei/LC4
BrittneyWLC4
SebastianCampos
KathrynNelder
DianePinto/LC1
AnnetteCarling 
SuzannePhillips
PaulaJoiner/LC4 
DeeBrar/LC1
SamLamLC4
SandyChoeLC4
AndrewStoch
Emilyanastassiadis 
Christopher Donald, LC4
SooyeonRyu/LC2
AnnaGillisLC1
SoleFernandezLC#4
DamianFernandezLC#4
CarolynPratley
sitaradegagne
robinkemp
willowkemp
suneethimatthews
hunterkemp
SabaKhan
JessicaGraham
JanisCadieuxLC4
StephenieHui
KathyMotton
JenniferJohalLC4
BhupinderJohalLc4
BarryGibson/LC4
Anna Marrello-Gomes, LC2
DonnaMoyerLC4
CatherineWatson
KimMcNulty-SecordPublicschool 
InasAhmed/LC2
Anne McGuire, LC4
JenniferMcKibbin--LCs1and4
WesleyJones/2
CaitlinMcAllister
AranHamilton/LC4
KarenJutzi/LC2
PatriciaBaranyai
TeeSchneiderLC4
GregSchneider/LC4
SarahButlerLC4
GlenMatthews
JOSHHOFLEY
JayneMaltby/LC4/Grade4FIA
FionadeReeLC4
MonaJean-Gady/LC4
YosheLeigh 
AleyaRashid/LN23
TaslimMohamedLC4
RinaTorreLC4
RobertHart
ChristopherGilmore/LC4
JeffVedan
LisaMartin/LC4
BethWard
DevonMaltby/LC4/Grade4-FI-A
AidanMaltby/LC4/Grade4-FI-A
AlanKoop/LC4
ChristiaanPiller
NgoziMegwaLC2
TeriJonesLC4
SarahClinton1
MikiBoase
MeghanMcNamaraLC4
AlannaBurtchLC4
TaraWannamakerLC4
NancyWilbur
ZehraMohsmmad/LC4 
HiywotGetu
GodwinAlfred-GuymourLC4
TiferetNashman
AnikaJuzdaLC4
Adrienne Plumley, LC4
ElizabethMa/Central
AndreyaPadmore/LC4
RobinSewellLC4
NikolettKaradiMiller
SharonFosterlc4
LauraHughesLC4
StephanieHawklandlc4
KellyO'Brien 
TerenceDick
MarjorieNavaslc4
SandraDeangelisMullinlc4
MichelleGleasonlc4
TimLuulc4
HeatherByeLC4
StephanieCameronlc4
JenniferKufskyLC4
CassandraMetitvier
ClaudeZesseulc4
VesnaZoldos
AshleyBigelowlc4
DeborahAdelman 
NicoleKearse/LC4
PaulaSerpaLC4
EmmaGunn/LC4
CatePosnerLC2
PatrickAllcock/LC4
LeslieAnneGiorgioLC4
JulietMorrisLC4
MarcSommerville/2
KimFryLC4Virtual
GillianNovickLC4 
KatharineDacostalc4
JillWilson
TaylorGreen/LC4
MatthewGreen/LC4
JoyReeve
HiywotGetu
LieltTeklu
KatharineDavisLC4
LauraMoore-Lloyd/LC4 
TamiDacksLC4
JohnMacklc4
NicoleBurulLC4
PaulaQuintanaLC4 
RoslynSoaneLC4Grade2Virtual
JeffreyBoase
MikiBoase
DeborahGirvinLC4
JessicaLee/LC4
RichardPosnerLC2
SarahSmartLC1
DeenaBadalooLC1
SamanthaMcMasterLC1
JoanneReillyLC1
JaniceGillmoreLC1
ElissaWilliams
LisaJoynt
MoriyaDechtiarLC2FI(3kidsenrolled) 
KathleenSchratzLC4
ElenaHoletonPiller
AlexandraMarkMillerLC4
ChristineAndreopoulos/LC-4
KathleenScott-HouchenLC4
ReenaNesarajah/LC4
MirunaRoxana
JeanetteTimbury/LC3
alisoncheung
VictoriaAshatLC4
KristinRogers
RavAshatLC4
VickiBoase
HeatherAspinwall
ClaudineTossoLC3
Lukepersaud
RebeccaHart
MaryannasobotkaLC1
CelineSokol/LC4
MaryTran/LC1
ChristinaStoneLC2
SarahMercerLC4 
MichelleBrunerLC1
JessicaBailey/LC4
NaazJethaLC2
NikaBoase(student)
RobynMiller/LC4
KestaGraham
LauraCrookLC4
PaigeO’Connor 
Jessareitsma
LindsayRomain/LC1
ChristinaBrincoLC2
LindsayRomain/LC1
LillianDiPietroLC1
JessicaOvalles/LC4
TihoTihomirovic
KenishaBynoeLC3
JuliaBentleyLC4
JenniferParkins
MariaLopezGarcia/LC2
DanitaHosking
AaronCappel
KyleMinniti
Dori Aspuru-Takata / LC4 English
KarenJackson
ShonaRowanLC4
PatriciaDeMattio/LC4
AL
SusanBrewster-LC4
Catherine Jackman
MounikasourialLC2
Alex Baldissera, LC1
Bianca Alexander LC3
Kimi Gau, LC 4
RayHopkin
Yanfang(Anne)Zhang/LC4
JulienAlexandreLC1
MichelleBrunerLC1
SandraFerris
SandraFerris
Brianboase
JamesMacLean
Jessareitsma
LesleySebastian
AnneWilsonLC4
JenniferDoumaLC1
StephanieDawson/LC4
TasneemAli
ValiaReinsaluLC4
SarahRead/LC3
ToddVanHorne
NatsukoNakamura
JeishanRajakulasingam/LC2
AlanBoase
RinaTorreLC4
MartaKopun
OlgaDavydenko
HeatherGoing/LC1
JulienAlexandreLC1
SarahWalkerGaudetLC4
GraceSong/LC4
LukeLockyer
KimNorman/LC3
MichelleClouthier
CassandraRudolph-Métivier(LC4)
AdrianneHarrisLC1
KTylorLC2
KarenChuLC4
Claudio Daniele, LC1
SueBryerLC2
Desi Milusheva, parent of FI student
AnnweirLc4
MelissaKingLC1
JordanaStier/LC2
CeciliaSantos
ElisaGoldmanLC4
StacieCarmona/LC3
DeaundraHamiltonLC3
LauraHughesLC4
LauraHughesLC4
MeganQuinnLC3
KellyEndertLC1
LeslieChin-TingLC4
AlanBoase
MarcieBuchanan-Giachalis
SandyMcLeod
SonyaHam/12
JoeCosta
ErynMiller
StephanieCiniLC4
SylviaDentonlc1
MandisaBromfieldLC4
TaraWaters/LC4
CynthiaMcCarreyLC4
RoslynSoaneLC4Grade2Virtual
DavidNesarajah/LC4
AndreaCoffeyLC2
KaterinaPiscitelli/LC1
AntonioPiscitelli/LC1
SarahHutchison
SylviaChouljian/LC2
ShirleyLeungLC2
Linda Kwan, LC1
AidanMaltby/LC4/Grade4-FI-A
SueBryerLC2
Lisa Finlayson LC3
JennieBoutilier/4
Cathyullmann
Johnna Sacrey Butler
RobertJoyette/LC3
GiovannaFalsettiGraci-LC2
DionneWarwick/4
DarekKocan
StefaniaLow-Ring
JuliaHeximer/LC4
Kimberly García/LC4
FionadeReeWard7LC4
AnnaMarrello-Gomes/LC2
SoniaHenri/LC1
SonyaHendersonLC4
Oliviabalaisis/lc4
SandraFerris
TriptaSood/LC4
PeggyCheung/LC2
AprilGiles
EmmaGunn/LC4
Vanessa/LC3
JeffFeigenbaumLC4
AlexandraKoscianskiLC1
Adrienne Chiang, LC4
SarahNashman
RobertHart
Brianboase
SandraLevesque
Tanya chernova
KestaGraham
LaurenBarnettLC1
LeeRimer
Joy Lachica - ETT Executive
SandyMcLeod
ArmandaLC3
Maya/3
MaryTran/LC1
SaraWong
SaraWong
AmandaGregory/L4
AntoineNewhouse
BethBriceño/16
AstridVanDenBroek/LC4
LetitiaMcDonald/LC3
KellyWalkerLC4
GeorgiaStamoulis
AnneBradt
Nancy/LC2
AidanMaltby/LC4/Grade4-FI-A
JayneMaltby/LC4/Grade4FIA
AngeliqueThompsonlc1
VickiRookeDaurizio/newlyretiredduetocoivd
Shariahlc2
JenniferSkiltonLC2
Phuong-Cu Nguyen / LC4
MichelleArai/LC4
LauraPontuschka/LC4
DanielaMercurioLC4
PaulaCampbell
CatherineByrnesLC4
LauraMcCoy/LC1
SarahO'Shaughnessy/LC4
Patti Parton LC4
Lauren Grossman, LC4
SephraKhanLC4
PenelopeGriffin/10
Sarah
HeatherRoberts
Florence koromilos
SarahMonasLC2
LinetteBallantyne/LC2
RachelMonk/LC4
HELENDeLUCALC2
Jonathan Giles
KristaBurgess/4
StephanieReisler
OpherCaspi/LC4
LindsayAitkenLC4
AyesattaContehLC4
Vagners
SuzanneWalkerLC4
CaitlinDoyle/LC4
ChristneCosta
Jennifer Nazzarelli
MaryRoccaLC2
Tiffany, LC4
Johnna Sacrey Butler
NIYOKAMcIntoshLC2
StevenBorgesLC1
AmyKsiazekLC2
GilbertCoyle/LC4
Susan Jim, Wilkinson PS
GwenythMcAllister
DinahLiko
KathrynThomas
AndréaRaymond/LC22
TomRomasLC2
abirameekamalanathan
JanetMcCarrol
Kelly Caldwell LC3
SimonFrancis
MikeLymer
LingChiu
Karadimas
ErinnClarkLC4
Nancy Stavert
JenniferWymerLC4
BrianRieper/LC4
G.Whyte/2
ChristineCurran
NubiaBeckley-Delaleu/LC4
MikeLymer
Tony Wa
JocelynHarrisonLC4
AprilStevens/4
DagneyGardiner/LC2
SayakaYajima/LC4
Joseph Sholtes, LC 4
KarenFarquhar/LC4
Nadinealveslc2
Daniel Cutruzzola/ LC1
DebbieBalramsingh
Jennifer Cameron
TeresaAllan/LC4
JaniceSteponas
EmilySimone
SoniaLc1
Deborah Xuereb
AlisonDamer.LC4
ErinnClarkLC4
Amanda Smith
Tom Roedding
AliceMazelet
HelenPoulos
SaraDow/4
Irnice Eliassaint / LC3
MausmiGamage
beckythompson
Frosso Traikos
ShaughnessyTibbs
HeatherRuddellLC3
Emily Sinopoli
mitchelladams
Diane Zafred, LC4
KathleenKraft
VanessaLau/LC3
FannyGriffin-Nolte
Robertbruce
KishaunaEvans-Blissett/LC3
KristynOwers/LC1
LC2
GraceHan/LC1
GregMacfarlane
BasilTamkei/23
Kathyhamara
BrendaBennett-Learmonth
Elliott Richards/LC3
IsabelleRoshan/LC4/LC2
WendyBurchJones/LC4
JenniferPitt
MeghanStock
JaneWilliams
DeidraMoniz
Tanya/4
Katelyn Di Giulio
LindseyStelmanis
Cathy Barrett/ LC3
IvanaDiBiase
MeaghanKellyLC4
JocelynePasmanLC2
KristianOwensLC3
LindseyStelmanis
SarahHinton/LC3
ChadWaterman/LC3
JenniferLii/LC4
AndreaLeckie/LC4
CourtneyCutts/LC2
W.Louis/LC4
SamanthaMcMsster
KathleenChow/LC1
AnitaCHRISTOPOULOSLC2
AyseAydin
Jennifer franklin
HelenSimopoulos/LC4
Mary Triadafilopoulos
DarcyKing
EmilieAdamsLC4
Jennifer Nazzarelli
MaudeCarriet
SamanthaMcMsster
GordonShadrach
StaceyMcMechan/LC4
BrigitteRoussel
DanitaHosking/LC2
Francis DaSilva / George Webster E.S., Toronto ON
NMoroz/3
MoreenHylton/LC2
MelanieMadray/LC2
Sarah Mercer LC4
ChristopherIrving/LC4
Linda Kwan, LC1
Karadimas
KerryHeller
VickiBoase
SusieVree
TainaJantunen/LC4
Karencheung
VickiO'Donnell
A-MSulymko
Philipbruce
BrianMorris/LC2
JoyetChakungal
Anne Piper, LC-4
KerryGibson
MaureenFenton/LearningCenter4
ClipperMiano/LC3
Yogita.ramphal
Bonnie/LC2
TiffanyLeong/LC2
HelenaChapman
AnitaWright
NatalliaMikhalkevich
Anna Stefanidis
DanielleShin/LC2
FrancescoTarantino/LC1
LoraineValentineLC3
IreneIp-Kang/LC2
MichelleMunk/4
JoannaLepek/LC3
AnitaWright
DoriAspuru-Takata/LC4
ElissaKatzmanLC4
MariaPalumbo
LinaSloan
NicoleBarnes
JasonBarnes
AliciaGuyLC-1
LylaMacAulayLC4
Jacqueline Smith
LauraTenenbaum/LC3
KristinJensenlc4
JenniferKnappeDavisLC3
AngelaChmelevaLC3
NatashaUpal/LC1
VivianeKo/LC1
KeerthanaRaveendran/LC3
DanielleByers
KristinJensenlc4
Rubabpasha/LC4
JuliaHeximer/LC4
SandiKing/LC4
ChristopherIrving/LC4
AshleyPitaroLC4
ElizabethMilkauLC4
NickPitaroLC4
NirpjitGillLC1
ChetanMann/LC1
Florence koromilos
HelenVlachoyannacos-LC2
ShradhaMaharaj/LearningCenter4
Veronicalc4
FatimaAhmad/LC1
Gillian O'Donnell
JayRobertsLC3
KarinaPlatoy
LisaD'Arcy
UrszulaStarzecLC4
ErynMiller
SandymcleodLC4
MarcelleDoss/lc13
SallyThompson/LC4
AvaNg/LC2
MarwaLa
RossMcDonaldLC2
Hilary Cook-Thompson
MarkW.DeBoer
JacquelineMorganLC4
Sylvie Cartier
HannahPashkovskyLC2
AmandaRyanLC2
MariaPochodyniakLC3
NanditaSinghLC3VirtualSchool
Minah Hwang
DeannaLC2
ChristineDupuisLC3
KristaBurns
DanielRodriguz
KellyJimenezLC3(virtual)
Tiffany/LC3
LC3
LC4
NicoleViardot
GordonMcGill/LC4
AndrewRozehnalLC3
DavidHead
Robin Connolly, LC4
SandymcleodLC4
Meaghan Salisbury LC4
HeatherMckenzieLC4
ThilokaMurtuzaLC3
MCLC4
QuennieGomez/LC4
NIYOKAMcIntoshLC2
EstelleSokol
AngelaBhatia/LC3
D'Heureux
JKontomerkos
LC4LN21
DianaAndrewsLC4LN21
JudiRapso/Grade3
Colleen Groth
SylvieCartier
Jenna Boyd
NickHanning/LC4
SandraQuintal
JoanneJenkins
HeatherBelcher
LHarrower
DavidFreeman
MarilynHughes
Lc3
MichaelAllentoff/LC2
RayHachey/LC4
MonikaPahwa/LC1
NaomiSiddiqiLC4
Jennifer Nazzarelli
AmyEmes
AmyEmes
JenniferGillLearningCentre1
IvanaCampbell
DianaD’Oria
S.Tan
T.Freris
MarthaTruscottLC4
SheelaO’Dea
Lisa Furdyk
LauraBeveridge/LC4
AmandaColaiacovo/LC4
StephanyDoucette/LC4
TroyWhynot/LC4
DavidFreeman
KellyJimenezLC3(virtual)
SandraFerris
JoanneMitchell/16
ValerieBastien/RawlinsonCommunitySchool
LaurenHaugen-Stanley/LC4
CassReimer/LC4
Anna Kwan, Toronto
ClaireSpekkens
CamilleHuh/LC2
PatriciaMacLeod
JamesEarl.TheWaterfront
LauraBeveridge/LC4
AlissaAnderson/LC4
SusanBarbourLC4
Diana Will Stork, LC4
PeytonLeung/LC4
LucyAvelingLC4
SamanthaLing/LC4
JeanineChing-Perkins/LC4
SandraQuintal
CeleneBaccus/LC4
KarenTemplinOCT
FionaBrougham
SuzanneWalkerLC4
MelanieBoultbee
JonathanLaframboise
BethWebber
KathrynHernandez
DavidHenry
LauraTenenbaum
SarishaMoodley
LisaMartin