Parents oppose TDSB plan to relocate Toronto special-needs school for females
· Toronto Sun
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OTTAWA — Parents of a soon-to-be-relocated downtown high school for girls with special needs are demanding that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) explore other options.
Earlier this week, parents of students attending Heydon Park Secondary School — located near Dundas St. W. and Spadina Ave. — were informed that, due to the impending closure of nearby Orde Street Public School, students at Heydon Park would be relocated to an as-of-yet unnamed school to make room for Orde Street students.
“Orde Street Public School will be facing significant disruptions due to the construction of a 60-storey building at 149 College Street,” read a June 2 letter to parents from TDSB Superintendent Jennifer Chan.
“The tower will be constructed next to the school’s outdoor play area and will have a significant impact on the school’s day-to-day operations.”
Moving special-needs students ‘best opportunity’ to relocate public school: TDSB
The letter cites vibration, noise, traffic and the risk of falling objects as reasons for the impending closure of Orde Street Public School, located behind Hospital Row near College St. and University Ave., adjacent to Mount Sinai Hospital.
“Given the number of Orde St. students, we will need to relocate Heydon Park SS to another TDSB site as it represents the best opportunity to accommodate Orde Street PS during construction,” the letter continued, adding that Heydon Park students will continue attending their school this September and could be moved to a new site as early as January 2027.
That has angered Heydon Park parents, who describe the school as a safe haven for vulnerable and disabled students and question why they were not consulted before the decision was made.
“Fifty per cent of the students are special needs with various types of disabilities, we’re talking autism, mild intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities,” said Kamala Kalsi, a parent of a Heydon Park student and co-chair of the school’s parent council.
The other half, she said, are students who have experienced trauma, sexual abuse, harassment or bullying — a group that includes transgender and non-binary students.
TDSB violating core principles by moving special-needs students: parent
Heydon Park, Kalsi said, is fully accessible and extensively equipped with technology and accommodations for its students.
“If you look at the TDSB website, they say they believe in inclusion, they believe in the success of special-need students, they believe in the safety of students,” Kalsi said.
“They’ve violated everything because they’ve not consulted anybody, they just put out this decision on Tuesday night.”
Kalsi said she hasn’t had the heart to break the news to her daughter, as the impending move was announced right before the school’s annual prom — an event students spend the entire school year looking forward to.
The TDSB operates 12 stand-alone special education schools across the city, including Sunny View Junior and Senior Public School in North York, William J. McCordic School in East York, and Park Lane Public School in the Bridle Path.
In a statement to the Toronto Sun, a TDSB spokesperson maintained that relocating Heydon Park is the best option for the 400 Orde Street students.
“As there is not enough room to house both schools in the same building, we’ve decided to relocate Heydon Park SS in the best interests of students, who will remain together at the new site,” read the statement.
“In the meantime, we have already scheduled parent meetings to answer questions and gather feedback from the school community.”
For Heydon Park students, many of whom rely heavily on routine and stability, parents argue there has to be a better option for Orde Street students than uprooting an established and thriving community of special-needs girls.
“The TDSB needs to stop this move,” Kalsi said.
“They’re basically playing with these girls’ future.”