TORONTO Support staff concerned about the adequacy of COVID-19 safety precautions have begun a work stoppage at a downtown public school that serves students with a developmental and or physical disability. In a letter sent to parents on Monday and shared by the Toronto District School Board, the school’s principal said a work refusal process began today at Beverley School. “This process involves the TDSB and the Ministry of Labour discussing concerns with the impacted staff to come to a resolution,” Principal Danjela Malobabic said in the letter. “In this particular situation, there are concerns about COVID-19.” Teachers remain in classes while the discussions are ongoing and administrators from neighbouring schools have been brought in to ensure that there are sufficient staff onsite, Malobabic said.
Support staff concerned about the adequacy of COVID-19 safety precautions have begun a work stoppage at a downtown public school that serves students with a developmental and or physical disability.
Published Tuesday, January 26, 2021 11:51AM EST Last Updated Tuesday, January 26, 2021 12:48PM EST Nearly two dozen support staff at a downtown school that serves students with developmental and physical disabilities are refusing to work for a second consecutive day due to concerns about their safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Toronto District School Board says that 22 educational assistants at Beverley School remain off the job today amid a myriad of health and safety concerns, including challenges they have faced in preventing students from removing their masks. The board says that it has brought in administrators from nearby schools as a “temporary solution” and is actively working to address the workers concerns through ongoing conversations with their union.
I had 51 pupils on the first day, Vivien said. My parents and I had been round putting leaflets through letterboxes the week before and each class was two and sixpence. They used to pay weekly, I had a pianist for all four classes and the school has just grown from there.
Founder and former principal of Beverley School of Performing Arts, Mrs Vivien Batchelder, known to her students as Ms Pear.
- Credit: Nick Corre Photography
Now, the school also offers classes in modern, contemporary, drama, musical theatre, jazz, singing, street dance and other forms of performing arts for boys and girls aged three and up.
BEVERLY A new face will be joining the Beverly School Committee in 2021.
Kenann McKenzie was appointed to the position on Thursday evening during a joint meeting of the Beverly City Council and Beverly School Committee. Beginning Jan. 1, she will finish out the term of Kelley Ferretti, who officially resigned from her Ward 2 seat last month.
McKenzie holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a master’s from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has over 20 years of professional experience in education and non-profit settings.
“I’ve rolled up my sleeves wherever I’ve lived just as a compulsion,” she said. “I was in Brookline for several years before coming to Beverly. I volunteered with their school committee and I particularly had a baptism by fire during this remote learning experience in the beginning of that process.”