Dear Minister Calandra, Director La Touche, and Supervisor Gupta,
We are writing to you to demand restored and sustained funding for Heydon Park Secondary School located in the riding of University-Rosedale. The Ministry of Education’s funding cuts have directly contributed to the TDSB’s decision to suspend admissions for grade 9 and 10 students, and now threaten the potential closure of the school. We strongly urge the Ministry and the TDSB to uphold their commitment to the human rights of all students by protecting and strengthening Heydon Park SS.
We are calling on the Ministry and the TDSB to:
1) Communicate transparently with the Principal Muchnik and the Parent Council about the strategy for the school,
2) Commit to a transparent Pupil Accommodation Review, aligned with the Secondary Program Review, with full public consultation,
3) Restore and sustain funding to keep the school operating, and
4) Return Heydon Park to the TDSB Open House & Information Night schedule.
Heydon Park Secondary School (SS) offers a safe, inclusive, and student-centred environment for young women, trans, and non-binary students, many of whom have disabilities or learning differences. The school’s unique programming—including its combination of academic courses and disability supports—offers opportunities not available in mainstream environments. Heydon Park SS is a beacon of hope for students who otherwise fall through the gaps of an education system that is not designed for their unique experiences and needs.
Every parent, caregiver, and student at Heydon Park SS shares a compelling story: this school fills a unique and vital role for students who have struggled elsewhere. One parent describes the experience of her teenage daughter with PTSD, a Dissociative Disorder, and Mild Intellectual Disabilities: “[At Heydon Park] she feels included, supported and safe. She feels understood in a world that often does not understand her struggles. She is truly being met where she is at in a school setting for the first time ever and can envision her own future”.
If you strip funding for Heydon Park SS, you are severing this lifeline of support for students, and their families. Heydon Park SS provides dignity, belonging, and equitable opportunities that students cannot find elsewhere. This is not merely an operational decision, it has serious human rights consequences. It is deeply concerning that such a consequential decision was made without visiting the school, meeting students or caregivers, or reviewing its specialized programs. Decisions of this magnitude must be informed by those directly affected.
The community has a right to transparency, consultation, and a clear plan that reflects the voices of students and their families. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to a detailed response outlining how these actions will be implemented.
Sincerely,
Jessica Bell
MPP, University-Rosedale