Latest news with #HWDSB
National Post
a day ago
- Climate
- National Post
Chris Selley: Let the kids sweat a little. Schools have bigger problems than A/C
In 2018, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) staff estimated the cost of air conditioning all its schools at roughly $400 million — so, nearly $500 million in 2025 dollars — plus millions more in annual maintenance and electricity bills. It described the task as 'virtually impossible.' Last week, the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) staff pegged the cost to air condition its own schools at $200 million, while describing the job as only 'relatively impossible.' Article content Article content By rights, those numbers — which you can safely double to get nearer the actual cost — would put the issue to bed. But they are back in the news because it was quite hot in southern Ontario and Quebec for two days this week. And some people are remarkably passionate about a lack of air conditioning, at least once or twice a year. '(Students) have to endure real harms to their well-being,' we read in the Toronto Star. 'A temperature-safe environment should be a given. A right,' we read in The Globe and Mail. Article content Article content But surely all would agree the TDSB, HWDSB and every other Canadian school board has far bigger priorities than saving students and staff a few days of discomfort in late June and early September. Certainly our Junes and Septembers are getting warmer on average, but the temperatures we saw in Toronto this week — a high of 35 C on Monday and Tuesday — were not unprecedented in the time before air conditioning. Article content We coped. We should be able to cope even better now that we don't have to live all day long in the sweltering heat: Even if we don't have air conditioning at home, there are public places to go for a break. Article content Article content I can just hear people saying, 'nothing is too expensive for our kids.' If nothing were too expensive for our kids, relatively wealthy parents wouldn't be donating all sorts of supplies to their kids' public schools. (Ironically, one of the things parents can't donate is air conditioners. The board cites concerns over the electricity supply and — more dubiously — proper installation.) Article content Article content In real life, money is finite. And there would be tremendous opportunity costs to spending $500 million (or likely far more) on alleviating a few days of moistened brows, not even once every year. You don't have to think $500 million is a reasonable estimate — it probably isn't — but you should be 100 per cent sure it would get spent. The TDSB pays $150 to install a pencil sharpener, for heaven's sake. Article content I was curious how the media covered Toronto's all-time record heat wave, in 1936. 'Heat toll 22 dead; mercury reaches 103.7 (F),' was the Toronto Daily Star's banner headline on July 10. We have a right to live better than we did in 1936 — and we do! — but perhaps that puts things in some perspective.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Some local school boards are fully air-conditioned. Why can't HWDSB cool its schools?
Students at an east Mountain public school were removed from class on Tuesday as temperatures in the building continued to climb amid a record-breaking heat wave . A 'faulty' air conditioner left the school with a single cool space, the gym — not enough for all Cecil B. Stirling students — the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said, and students were relocated to a nearby high school. But this elementary school is just 20 per cent air-conditioned to begin with, one of dozens across the city's public school board that isn't fully cooled. With temps feeling as high as 46, parents cite health concerns in schools with no A/C. Overall, more than half of HWDSB schools are not fully cooled, some with as little as five per cent A/C coverage. Meanwhile, schools at some neighbouring boards are fully or almost fully cooled. All Hamilton and Halton Catholic schools and nearly 90 per cent of Halton public schools are fully air-conditioned, boards say. The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board says all student learning spaces, except hard-to-cool gyms, are air-conditioned; its public counterpart, the Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB), says all but two of its schools have 'complete or partial cooling solutions.' 'We recognize the importance of maintaining comfortable learning environments for students and staff,' spokesperson Ryan Strang said in an email. The board is prioritizing schools with the greatest needs, and incorporating A/C into all new major construction projects, he said. It's unclear how many GEDSB schools are fully cooled. Why, then, can HWDSB not cool its schools? Part of the reason is that the board has some of the oldest schools in the region, and maybe the province, associate director Matthew Gerard said. Other boards, he said, have likely grown more than the HWDSB in recent years, which typically means more consolidating and new construction, he said. The HWDSB's aging fleet requires more work, and therefore more funding, than newer buildings. Funding for improvement and renewal is allocated by the province based on the condition of facilities, as opposed to the number of students, Gerard said. 'It's not necessarily a smoothed trend line,' he said, noting smaller boards may get proportionately more funding. The school board said earlier this month installing A/C in schools without it could cost up to $200 million, money the board doesn't have to spend. The board has an existing facilities renewal backlog of about $615 million, about half of it deemed urgent. 'There's definitely a greater need based on our facilities condition than we have the resources to sustain,' Gerard said. Geography plays a role, too. Being in a largely urban area where land is precious, the board has to 'build up a lot more than out,' adding to construction costs, he said. Tenants at 101 Governors Rd. say a weeks-long air conditioner failure at the seven-storey Meanwhile, its Catholic counterpart has been slowly adding A/C to its fleet over decades and became fully air-conditioned in the early 2020s. Since then, the board has focused on replacing window units with better equipment, a job they expect to wrap up this summer. 'We've been tracking for the last several years areas that haven't been addressed, and then year by year we try to allocate some of our capital,' facilities manager Paul Ferrie said. In the last five years, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) has spent more than $23 million on HVAC, nearly $8 million of it on A/C. It's unclear how much the HWDSB has spent in the same time frame. The public board didn't share its HVAC expenditures by deadline on Tuesday. Former HWCDSB chair Pat Daly, a trustee of four decades, said the board has long prioritized top-notch facilities. Ferrie said the board's relatively young fleet — an estimated 40 per cent of the Catholic board buildings are less than 40 years old — works in its favour. Managing capital needs is a balancing act, Ferrie said, noting the board works to address needs before they become a problem. The Catholic board has a backlog of around $166 million. 'It is critical,' he said. 'Waiting for failure isn't a great strategy because you can be very vulnerable.' At Hamilton's public board, classrooms and schools without A/C can close when indoor temperatures surpass 45 C with humidity. At 40 C, staff are expected to begin to monitor students for potential health issues. Stirling is the board's first heat-related closure this year. 'We knew breaching the threshold was inevitable, so we were as proactive as possible,' spokesperson Allison Reynolds said in a message. The temperature threshold was derived from guidance from the Ministry of Education and Environment Canada, Gerard said. He noted these are guidelines only, and principals have local autonomy to address heat at their own schools. Some say the 45 C mark is too high. Extreme heat can put kids' health at risk and have 'harmful effects' on their brains, Erica Phipps, executive director of the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE), said in an email. 'This is not just a matter of comfort,' she said. 'This is about children's well-being, their ability to learn and their futures.' Heat, the organization said in an April 24 news release, 'deepens inequities.' Some students live in areas with less green space, denser housing and poor access to cool spaces, Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) lawyer Jacqueline Wilson said in the release. 'Many attend schools without air conditioning or outdoor shade — conditions that turn already hot days into dangerous ones,' she said. The organization is calling for a maximum temperature standard of 26 C indoors, as well as investment into A/C, shade and other cooling solutions. Last year was the hottest year on record. 'The time to act is now,' Phipps said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Terry Newman: She objected to land acknowledgments. Now she's paying the price for her heresy
An elected Ontario school board councillor has been suspended by her board for expressing an opinion about land acknowledgements. It was not explained to her the exact offence she had committed, or who complained, only that the opinion she expressed apparently caused harm. Article content Catherine Kronas was first elected to Ancaster High Secondary School as chair in 2023 and then re-elected as a council member in 2024. Article content Article content On April 9th Kronas' council meeting opened as has become customary, with a land acknowledgment read aloud by Principal Jason Monteith: Article content 'The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board acknowledges our presence on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.' Article content How this ritualized statement relates to the day-to-day roles and responsibilities of school council members is unclear. Article content I can't in good conscience acquiesce to the quasi-religious practice of Land Acknowledgements. Last week at my @HWDSB school council meeting, I decided to speak up: — Catherine Kronas (@CatherineKronas) April 16, 2025 Article content 'In my view, the Board's imposition of a land acknowledgment during our school council meetings undermines the democratic process and constitutes a form of compelled speech, which I believe contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There is no school board policy mandating its inclusion. In my opinion, the sentiments implied by the land acknowledgment, are political in nature, highly controversial, and therefore divisive and inappropriate within a government institution. And I respectfully request that my objection be noted in the minutes of this meeting.' Article content Article content As far as Kronas knew, her objection had been noted for the minutes and that was that. Article content But then on May 22, she received a letter from HWDSB, informing her that her role as an Ancaster High school councillor was 'paused,' and that she didn't have permission to attend the next meeting. It suggested that Kronas had 'allegedly engaged in conduct that has caused harm and is not in compliance with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board — HWDSB policy.' The letter did not explain how Kronas' behaviour was not in compliance or what harm she allegedly caused. Article content Kronas secured a lawyer, Hatim Kheir, from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) to find out. He sent a letter to the Human Rights Office (HRO) of the HWDSB arguing that the decision to suspend Kronas was 'unconstitutional and contrary to administrative law principles of procedural fairness.' Article content Her lawyer advised the board that the decision to suspend Kronas was 'a clear attempt to restrict her speech based on its content,' speech which, in absence of such evidence of harm, is protected by Section 2(b) of the Charter. Article content The board either couldn't, or didn't think they should have to, articulate how Kronas' objection to the use of land acknowledgments during meetings allegedly caused harm. But they knew they didn't like her objection.
Hamilton Spectator
14-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
HWDSB explores opening standalone Indigenous school — an idea that dates back 25 years
Hamilton's public school board is exploring the creation of a standalone Indigenous school to give students from kindergarten to Grade 12 'cultural immersion' while learning the Ontario curriculum. This next step aims to contribute to ongoing truth and reconciliation efforts in education, Indigenous education lead Jolene John said at a June 5 program committee meeting . 'The need for an Indigenous school has been consistently voiced by Indigenous students, families and community organizations,' she said. Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board program committee trustees supported the move to develop programming and work toward launching the school 'alongside the local Indigenous community,' the recommendation reads. The school, an idea that dates back 25 years, would be open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students who want to learn 'from rich Indigenous world views and teaching and learning pedagogies,' John said. It would be based on the existing Learning Nest program that offers First Nations, Inuit and Métis high school students a chance to earn credits through learning experiences, including teachings, language and participation in cultural activities. Students would be able to choose to stay at their home school or attend the Indigenous school, which John said would likely be set up in an existing HWDSB building. Costs associated with starting the school have not yet been shared. The framework for the school will be developed in partnership with the board's Indigenous Education Circle and local non-profit Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg, and adhere to Ontario curriculum expectations. In a 2024 survey of the Native Youth Advancement with Education Hamilton (NYA:WEH) initiative to help keep kids in school, 84 per cent of caregivers saw improvements in students' attendance, grades and behaviour. Eighty-seven per cent said it helped them stay in school, and 90 per cent reported 'increased pride in their Indigenous identity.' The results, which also included recommendations for endangered Mohawk and Ojibwe languages, 'reaffirmed' the need to expand programming, John said. John said say they're exploring a partnership with Ohsweken language school Onkwawenna Kentyohkwa to ensure adequate staffing, which has been a challenge in existing HWDSB Mohawk language programs. The board says it's only aware of one other Indigenous school in the province, Kâpapâmahchakwêw — Wandering Spirit School at the Toronto District School Board. Trustee Maria Felix Miller, who said two of her Ward 3 schools have significant Indigenous populations, asked what impact the school would have on the 'vibrant' programming that already exists. 'The intention is not to pull back from community schools, it's really about what can we do to enrich them,' she said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Students will soon be allowed to play on former Hamilton high school's sprawling lawn, unused for 7 years
For the first time since 2019, kids will be allowed to play and run around on the sprawling lawn at the former Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School in the middle of downtown Hamilton. In an agreement with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), Coun. Cameron Kroetsch told city council's public works committee he will use Ward 2 reserves to pay $60,000 for a new fence around the field. It will then be safe in September for elementary students attending Hess Street school across the street to use. There's no green space in the K-8 school yard besides a small turf field. "My question routinely [to HWDSB] is, 'can't we do something with this land?'" said Kroestch. "The answer is, 'yes we can.'" His motion was approved unanimously by the committee on May 20, with council getting final say this upcoming Wednesday. The school board will extend crossing guard hours at the busy Hess Street North and Cannon Street West intersection to help groups of students safely cross as they make their way to and from the field, Kroestch said. Coun. Jeff Beattie, a former HWDSB trustee, said he's "keenly aware" of the limitations at Hess Street school. "This is a really, really creative idea, kind of like, 'duh, why didn't we do this before' moment," he said at public works. "I can't say enough good things about this and I happily, happily support it." A downtown sore spot The three-hectare property has sat unused since HWDSB closed the high school seven years ago. The board told CBC Hamilton in 2023 that it spends about $135,000 a year to maintain the Sir John A. Macdonald property. Kroestch said he's asked about it often by residents who are confused as to why such a large piece of land can sit vacant amid an affordable housing and homelessness crisis. His usual response is that the province, through the school board, has the ultimate say about what happens with the land, not the city, and there's not much he or staff can do to spur development, he said at the public works meeting. "The province refuses to move on it," Kroetsch said. Closing the high school was part of HWDSB's plan to replace it with a new elementary school and community hub, including a child care centre. But the Ministry of Education has denied the $30-million funding request four times between 2017 to 2022. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment. In a letter to HWDSB in May 2022, obtained by CBC Hamilton through a freedom of information request, Ministry of Education assistant deputy minister Didem Proulx said demand for capital funding was "significant" with 290 requests from 58 school boards that year. "After careful review of your board's submissions, the ministry does not approve funding," she wrote. No other reason was given in the letter. Kroestch said last week HWDSB is currently working on a fifth application to redevelop the site.
