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Peel District School Board
Location
5650 Hurontario St Mississauga, Ontario, L5R 1C6 Canada
District information
Superintendents	13 + 4 associate directors
Chair of the board	Brad MacDonald
Director of education	Rashmi Swarup
Schools	259 schools (2021-22)
Budget	~CA $1.98 billion (2021-2022)
District ID	B66125
Students and staff
Students	153,000+ students (2021-22)
Staff	16,964 (2021-22)
Other information
Elected trustees	12
Student trustees	Pradwit Thapa, Justin Ko, Austin Chrisjohn
Website	www.peelschools.org

The Peel District School Board (PDSB; known as English-Language Public District School Board No. 19 prior to 1999) is a school district that serves approximately 153,000 kindergarten to grade 12 students at more than 259 schools in the Region of Peel (municipalities of Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga) in Ontario, also to the west of Toronto.

The board employs more than 15,000 full-time staff and is the largest employer in Peel Region. As of 2023 it is the second largest school board in Canada.

History

In 1970, 10 local boards came together as the Peel County Board of Education. In 1969, the board served a community of a quarter million residents—20 percent of the population. The newly formed Peel County Board had 50,000 students in 114 schools and an operating budget of $41 million. (2009 annual report)

In 1973, the name changed to the "Peel Board of Education," before being changed the "Peel District School Board" in 1998.

On September 1, 2006, the school board announced that on Wednesday September 6, 2006, would launch a new website in 25 languages, all spoken in the Peel Region, to help parents who have a first language other than English.

Directors

• John Fraser, –1988, namesake of John Fraser Secondary School
• Bob Lee, 1988–c. 1993, namesake of Robert J. Lee Public School
• Harold Brathwaite, 1994–2002, namesake of Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School
• Jim Grieve, 2002–2009, namesake of James Grieve Public School
• Tony Pontes, 2010–2017, namesake of Tony Pontes Public School
• Peter Joshua, 2017–2020
• Colleen Russell-Rawlins, 2020-2021 (interim)
• Rashmi Swarup, 2021-present

Peel board logo

The Peel board unveiled its current logo in September 2006. In November 2004, the board approved the creation of the Picture the Future committee—a cross section of staff and trustees—to oversee the creation of the first new logo since 1969. The committee worked with design firm Hambly and Woolly Inc, selected through a competitive RFP process, to develop a new visual identity for approval by the board. The design was based on the feedback from over 500 people including staff, students, parents, representatives of faith and culture communities and unions and federations.

Demographics and cultural sensitivity

Among Canadian school districts, the Peel board is among the most ethnically and culturally diverse. The Peel District School Board enacted procedures and policies intended to accept and embrace various cultures and ethnic groups, and Brian Woodland, the school board's director of communications, said that the district embraces various religions. The school board alters curricula to accommodate students of different backgrounds; for instance, if students from a religious background or culture are forbidden from drawing people, the school will alter the art curriculum. Peel was among the first Canadian school boards to permit students to wear kirpans to classes. The school board does not allow religious leaders to lead prayer sessions within schools.

Programs

Adult and continuing education

The Peel board offers a variety of adult programs during the day, at night and on weekends. Programs include credit programs to help adults complete their secondary school diploma, adult ESL programs to help adults develop and refine their English language skills, and literacy and basic skills courses to help adults upgrade specific skills.

The board received media attention in 2011 for its Foreign-Trained Teacher course, a course designed to help new Canadians enter the teacher profession.

The Peel board also offers International Language Programs on weekends for school-aged students. At the secondary level, students can earn credits towards their secondary school diploma. Students also have access to night and summer school, literacy and math support, and online school.

French immersion

French immersion begins in grade 1 and extended French begins in grade 7. Registration for both programs takes place in January. The Peel board provides on-line information for parents on how to decide whether French immersion is right for their child and other information about French learning.

Regional Enhanced Program

The Peel District School Board runs the ELC Regional Enhanced Program, in grades 1 to 12, a gifted education program, for students defined as having "an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth and breadth beyond those normally provided in the regular school programme to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated."

The curriculum of an Enhanced program could include special tasks or projects designed to challenge gifted students. At the high school level, the course material is the same but the manner of teaching and/or the assignments given can vary based on the needs of the students.

There are two high schools designated as Peel Regional Enhanced Centres that provide the Enhanced programming and curriculum from Grade 9 to Grade 12. The precise number and variety of Enhanced courses differs from school to school, but most schools offer the core mandatory courses as Enhanced. Bussing and transportation for Enhanced students is provided by the school board.

Secondary school rankings

The Peel District School Board does not officially support the Fraser ranking system and does not rank its schools. The most up-to-date Fraser rankings can be found on the Fraser website.

Organization of the school system within the Board

The Board organizes its schools into "school families", which essentially designate the respective feeder schools into each of the secondary schools within the PDSB. The following list is the organization from the 2018-2019 school year.

Caledon

Brampton

Mississauga

Controversies

Former Vice Principal Ranjit Khatkur of South Asian background alleged that her ethnic/racial background was the reason she was overlooked for promotion to principal despite fulfilling all requirements. Khatkur launched a legal complaint at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging systematic discrimination in the Peel public board. One of many such human rights allegations made towards the board. It eventually culminated in allowing the Turner Consulting Group to release a Research Report on Hiring and Promotion at the Peel District School Board. The 111-page report led to changes in the hiring and promotion policies in the Peel Board. Previously Principals conducted interviews alone without having to demonstrate why they chose the applicants they did or document what questions they asked. The changes include having two people conducting an interview to eliminate bias, the principal is not part of the promotion process thereby eliminating their "gatekeeper" role, and begin a diversity census. The report found that it was not only ethnic or visible minorities that experienced discrimination. Tana Turner found that even some white males suspected nepotism, favoritism, or cronyism.

Trustees

Current trustees for the Peel board are

• Chair - Brad MacDonald
• Vice Chair - David Green

See also

• Education in Ontario
• Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board
• List of school districts in Ontario
• List of high schools in Ontario

References

1. "Contact Us ( Address at the bottom of the page)". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
2. "Staff Directory". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
3. "About Us". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
4. "Budget and Financial Statements" (PDF). PDSB. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
5. "Staff Directory". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
6. "Director's Message". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
7. "About Us". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
8. "About Us". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
9. "Student Trustees". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
10. "Meet Your Trustee". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
11. "District School Boards and School Authorities". February 9, 1998. Archived from the original on February 9, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
12. "ONTARIO REGULATION 107/08". e-Laws, Ontario. April 24, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
13. "Environment and Sustainability". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
14. Work In Peel on Peel board website "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
15. Rushowy, Kristin. "Toronto and Peel school boards prepare for biggest cuts since Harris years." Toronto Star. Wednesday June 13, 2012. Retrieved on May 20, 2013. "That sentiment was echoed at the Peel public board — the second-largest school board in the country, behind Toronto"
16. "Environment and Sustainability". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
17. Peel District School Board. "School board to launch websites in 25 languages Archived June 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine." The Brampton News. September 1, 2006. Retrieved on June 8, 2012.
18. Gordon, Andrea (September 4, 2017). "New head of Peel school board vows to support marginalized students". Toronto Star.
19. "Media release". pdsb.org.
20. "Peel activists, parents 'devastated' Colleen Russell-Rawlins leaving public school board". June 15, 2021.
21. "Peel District School Board announces new director of education". The Toronto Star. August 6, 2021.
22. Logo launch news release "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
23. ^ Aubin, Benoit and Jonathon Gatehouse. "Do immigrants need rules? The debate rages on." Maclean's. March 5, 2007. Retrieved on October 11, 2012.
24. "Alternative Programs: Adult Education". Peelschools.org. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
25. "Course for foreign teachers". BramptonGuardian Article. March 7, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
26. "Alternative Programs: International Languages". Peelschools.org. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
27. "Alternative Programs: Continuing Education". Peelschools.org. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
28. www.peelschools.org/parents/facts/french.htm
29. "Getting to know special education programs and services". Peel District School Board. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
30. ^ "Enhanced Programs at Secondary Schools in the Peel public board and the Dufferin Peel Catholic separate board" (PDF). Association for Bright Children - Peel Chapter. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
31. "Families of Schools 2018-19". Families of Schools. Peel District School Board. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
32. Humberview school family map
33. Mayfield school family map
34. Bramalea school family map
35. Brampton Centennial school family map
36. Castlebrooke school family map
37. Central Peel school family map
38. Chinguacousy school family map
39. David Suzuki school family map
40. Fletcher's Meadow school family map
41. Harold Brathwaite school family map
42. Heart Lake school family map
43. Jean Augustine school family map
44. Louise Arbour school family map
45. North Park school family map
46. Sandalwood Heights school family map
47. Turner Fenton school family map
48. Applewood Heights school family map
49. Cawthra Park school family map
50. Clarkson school family map
51. Erindale school family map
52. Glenforest school family map
53. John Fraser school family map
54. Lincoln Alexander school family map
55. Lorne Park school family map
56. Meadowvale school family map
57. Mississauga school family map
58. Port Credit school family map
59. Rick Hansen school family map
60. Stephen Lewis school family map
61. Streetsville school family map
62. TL Kennedy school family map
63. Woodlands school family map
64. Grewal, San (February 4, 2011). "Tribunal to probe Peel school board discrimination". Toronto Star.
65. "Research Report: Hiring and Promotion at the Peel District School Board" (PDF). Peel Schools. Turner Consulting Group. January 22, 2013.
66. ^ Brown, Louise (January 23, 2013). "Peel school board launches plan to hire on the basis of merit, not nepotism". The Star.
67. "Meet Your Trustee". www.peelschools.org. PDSB. Retrieved September 13, 2021.

External links

• Peel District School Board
• MNS Multicultural, Settlement and Education Partnership
• Peel District School Board Special Education Page
• PDSB Guidelines in Assessing Students for Enhanced Learning Programs (.doc)
• Association for Bright Children - Peel Chapter

• Peel District School Board
• Education in the Regional Municipality of Peel
• 1970 establishments in Ontario
• School districts established in 1970