Latest news with #BarrieSketchley
Global News
5 days ago
- General
- Global News
Beloved Toronto principal to remain at school after students protest planned transfer
A beloved Toronto school principal whose planned transfer students protested will remain where he is, a school board superintendent says. Barrie Sketchley, the principal of Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, will retire at the school he founded 33 years ago next June, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Supt. Jennifer Chan said in a letter to the school community Tuesday. 'Based on direction from the Supervisor appointed at the TDSB by the Minister of Education, the decision has been made for Principal Sketchley to remain at Rosedale Heights for the 2025-26 school year until his retirement in June 2026,' Chan wrote. 'With over 30 years of dedicated service to Rosedale Heights, Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership.' Story continues below advertisement In June, Sketchley's high school students walked out of class in protest after the board sent a letter indicating he would be moving schools due to a series of principal and vice-principal promotions and transfers. View image in full screen Students at the Rosedale Heights School of the Arts walked out of class on June 12, 2025, in protest of the Toronto District School Board's decision to transfer long-serving Principal Barrie Sketchley. Photo By Megan King / Global News Sketchley, 82, built the school into one of Toronto's most inclusive and creative high schools, parents opposing his move wrote in a letter at the time. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They claimed a policy that allows parents to participate in the decision of principal transfers was not followed, and were told by the school's advisory council to reach out to Education Minister Paul Calandra if they were concerned. Katrina Matheson, chair of the advisory council, said in a letter Tuesday that the reversal is a 'win-win' for everyone involved. 'Principal Sketchley's remarkable dedication and leadership have shaped the spirit and success of RHSA for over 30 years. His return ensures continuity, stability, and the kind of thoughtful leadership that has made Rosedale a place where creativity, inclusivity, and student growth thrive,' Matheson wrote. Story continues below advertisement 'We know that this team will guide RHSA through a year filled with learning, inspiration, and celebration. Most importantly, this decision recognizes what matters most: our students. Their voices were heard, and their best interests remain at the heart of this decision.' — with files from Sawyer Bogdan and Megan King
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read.
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read. WATCH | Students, parents rally to keep beloved principal from moving schools: 'We do not want him to go': Toronto students rally to reinstate principal 2 months ago Students at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts staged a walkout in support of their principal. CBC's Clara Pasieka explains why. While it is not policy, it is longtime practice for principals and vice principals to be moved or rotated every five or so years.
National Post
26-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Tasha Kheiriddin: Province must step in to fix what ails the TDSB
Article content He also introduced Bill 33, the supporting children and students act, which would allow the government to take over boards for any reason that serves the public interest — a catch-all that could include governance issues like those at the TDSB. Article content If the province does step in, it must do more than make cosmetic changes. One goal should be to empower parents to participate directly in school-board decision-making. The current 'parent concern protocol' requires parents who have an issue with their school to go through four layers in sequence: the teacher, the principal, the superintendent and the trustee. This process means that problems often take far too long to resolve — or get blocked and never addressed. Article content Legislated channels for parent engagement already exist under the Education Act, by way of parent involvement committees. The minister must ensure that those channels can no longer be stymied by staff. They should be strengthened to ensure that parents have a real seat at the table, whether it is set by boards or by the government directly. Article content Article content This government, and this minister, have shown they are willing to act. The time has come to confront not just mismanagement, but the structural failings of our educational governance model. As the fight for Barrie Sketchley makes plain, people should come before process. It's time to give parents a voice in Ontario schools. Article content Article content
