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Peel District School Board
Location
5650 Hurontario St Mississauga, Ontario, L5R 1C6 [1] Canada
District information
Superintendents [5]	13 + 4 associate directors [2]
Chair of the board	Brad MacDonald
Director of education	Rashmi Swarup [6]
Schools	259 schools (2021-22) [3]
Budget	~CA $1.98 billion (2021-2022) [4]
District ID	B66125
Students and staff
Students	153,000+ students (2021-22) [7]
Staff	16,964 (2021-22) [8]
Other information
Elected trustees	12 [10]
Student trustees	Deepanwita Sen, Selena Zhou [9]
Website	www.peelschools.org

The Peel District School Board (PDSB; known as English-Language Public District School Board No. 19 prior to 1999 ^{[11] [12]}) 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. ^[13]

The board employs more than 15,000 full-time staff and is the largest employer in Peel Region. ^[14] As of 2023 it is the second largest school board in Canada. ^{[15] [16]}

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. ^[17]

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 ^{[18] [19]}
• Colleen Russell-Rawlins, 2020-2021 (interim) ^[20]
• Rashmi Swarup, 2021-present ^[21]

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. ^[22]

Equity

We Welcome the World Centres

In 2009, the Peel board opened three We Welcome the World Centres in Brampton and Mississauga. As an initiative to bring awareness to the We Welcome the World Centres, Ruth Thompson Middle School created a video that montage of various students, teachers and staff saying the word " Peace" in 2008 and "Welcome" in 2009 in their native tongue. The centres help newcomer families with school-aged children register for school and get settled in Canada. Welcome Centre staff provide assistance and information about free services in many languages. ^[23]

Religious Accommodation

Through a program called Faith Forward, the Peel board provides resources to help broaden awareness of a wide range of faiths, cultures and religious celebrations. These resources include a Holy Days and Holidays calendar, poster series, resource guide, lesson plans and training. The board’s direction is any celebrations of faith and culture need to be inclusive of all students and staff. ^[24]

The board acknowledges each individual’s right to follow, or not to follow, religious beliefs and practices free from discriminatory or harassing behaviour and will take all reasonable steps to provide religious accommodations to staff and students. Examples of accommodations are observation of major holy days, dietary requirements, religious attire, and space for private prayer or rituals.

Co-Accountable Model

The Peel board believes the work of making all staff feel welcomed and included goes beyond hiring. Its Co-accountable Model project supports diversity across all employee groups. At the core of the project is the belief that any work at real inclusion must actively involve the people inside and outside the organization in a new kind of partnership—one in which accountability for success is shared.

Under the Co-accountable Model, the Peel board say they will: ^[25]

• create formal mentoring events and summits, including the creation of targeted advisory groups for all protected classes to assist in community outreach
• train key leaders on fundamental concepts related to beliefs, assumptions and behaviors
• make online simulations accessible to all Peel board employees to foster awareness of the diversity dividend
• provide advice and counsel on this project as it moves forward

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. ^[26] 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. ^[26]

Programs

Adult and continuing education

The Peel board offers a variety of adult programs during the day, at night and on weekends. ^[27] 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. ^[28]

The Peel board also offers International Language Programs ^[29] 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. ^[30]

Alternative programs

The Peel board’s Peel Alternative School (PAS) offers a variety of alternative programs designed with the individual needs of students in mind. Programs include:

Foundations Program The Foundations program is for students in at least their third year of high school who have not successfully completed grades 9 and 10. Students benefit from small class sizes and individual attention while they take up to three credits per semester.

Fresh Start Suspension and Expulsion Programs Students under suspension or expulsion from a Peel board school who are motivated to change their behaviour can attend Fresh Start. Through the programs, students continue academic studies while learning the skills required to be successful in school, in relationships and in the community.

Junior High, Intermediate, and Senior Alternative Programs These programs are designed for students who are at risk of dropping out of school. Through smaller classes and more individual attention, students develop improved social skills and attitudes towards school and society.

Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) SAL is a program for students aged 14 to 17 who, for a variety of reasons, are at risk of leaving school early. A SAL Plan is created to help students progress towards obtaining their Ontario Secondary School Diploma or achieving other educational and personal goals.

Temporary External Learning Link (TELL) The TELL Program is designed for students in at least their third year of high school. These students typically have not acquired the credit accumulation of their peers and require a flexible schedule due to family or work commitments.

Teen Education and Motherhood Program (TEAM) The TEAM Program is for students between 14 and 20, in grades 9 to 12, who are pregnant or who have a child. The academic program is individualized to meet each student’s needs. There is a focus on parenting skills, and students participate in weekly workshops presented by a Peel Public Health nurse.

Regional programs

Regional programs start in grades 6, 7 and 9. Students in regional programs still complete all of the requirements of the Ontario curriculum, but there is an increased focus on an area of interest. Information nights take place throughout the fall for students registering to start the program the following September. Programs include:

• Arts
• Flexography (package print technology)
• International Baccalaureate
• Advanced Placement
• International Business and Technology
• SciTech
• Sports
• Strings
• Truck and Coach

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. ^[31]

Specialist high skills major programs

Specialist High Skills Major programs start in grade 11 and are offered in the following areas:

• Arts
• Business and entrepreneurial studies
• Construction
• Environment
• Health and wellness
• Hospitality and tourism
• Information and communications technology
• Justice, community safety and emergency services
• Manufacturing
• Sports
• Transportation

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." ^[32]

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. ^[33] 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. ^[33]

School	Area Served
The Woodlands School	North, central, and west Mississauga
Heart Lake Secondary School	Central Caledon Brampton, Bramalea, and northeast Mississsauga ( Malton).

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. ^[34]

Caledon

School family	Secondary school (9-12)	Intermediate (Middle) School (6/7-8)	Elementary school (K-5/6)	K-8 school (K-8)
Humberview [35]	Humberview Secondary School	Allan Drive Middle School	Ellwood Memorial Public School James Bolton Public School	Caledon East Public School Macville Public School Palgrave Public School
Mayfield [36]	Mayfield Secondary School		Alton Public School Belfountain Public School	Alloa Public School Caledon Central Public School Herb Campbell Public School James Grieve Public School Southfields Village Public School Tony Pontes Public School

Brampton

School family	Secondary school (9-12)	Intermediate (Middle) School (6/7-8)	Elementary school (K-5/6)	K-8 school (K-8)
Bramalea [37]	Bramalea Secondary School	Balmoral Drive Senior Public School Earnscliffe Sr. Public School	Aloma Crescent Public School Birchbank Public School Clark Boulevard Public School Dorset Drive Public School Eastbourne Drive Public School Fallingdale Public School Folkstone Public School
Brampton Centennial [38]	Brampton Centennial Secondary School	Centennial Sr. Public School Sir William Gage Middle School	Copeland Public School McHugh Public School Morton Way Public School Queen Street Public School Ray Lawson Public School Ridgeview Public School	Churchville Public School Roberta Bondar Public School
Castlebrooke [39]	Castlebrooke Secondary School	Calderstone Middle School	Claireville Public School Red Willow Public School	Beryl Ford Public School Castle Oaks Public School Castlemore Public School Sir Isaac Brock Public School Thorndale Public School Walnut Grove Public School
Central Peel [40]	Central Peel Secondary School	Gordon Graydon Sr. Public School Nibi Emoosawdang Public School	Agnes Taylor Public School Arnott Charlton Public School Harold F. Loughin Public School Kingswood Drive Public School Madoc Drive Public School	Sir Winston Churchill Public School
Chinguacousy [41]	Chinguacousy Secondary School	Greenbriar Sr. Public School Calderstone Middle School	Goldcrest Public School Grenoble Public School Jefferson Public School Red Willow Public School
David Suzuki [42]	David Suzuki Secondary School	Beatty-Fleming Sr. Public School Royal Orchard Middle School	Glendale Public School James Potter Public School Homestead Public School Northwood Public School Westervelts Corners Public School	Springbrook Public School McClure Public School
Fletcher's Meadow [43]	Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School Parkholme School	Cheyne Middle School McCrimmon Middle School	Brisdale Public School Burnt Elm Public School Edenbrook Hill Public School Nelson Mandela Public School Rowntree Public School Worthington Public School	Aylesbury Public School Dolson Public School Mount Pleasant Village Public School Tribune Drive Public School
Harold Brathwaite [44]	Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School		Fernforest Public School	Great Lakes Public School Ross Drive Public School
Heart Lake [45]	Heart Lake Secondary School	Robert H. Lagerquist Sr. Public School	Conestoga Public School Esker Lake Public School Somerset Drive Public School Terry Fox Public School
Jean Augustine [46]	Jean Augustine Secondary School			Ingleborough Public School Lorenville Public School Huttonville Public School Eldorado Public School Whaley's Corners Public school
Louise Arbour [47]	Louise Arbour Secondary School	Lougheed Middle School Sunny View Middle School	Carberry Public School Hewson Public School Larkspur Public School Springdale Middle School Stanley Mills Public School	Countryside Village Public School Mount Royal Public School
North Park [48]	North Park Secondary School Judith Nyman Secondary School	Williams Parkway Sr. Public School	Hanover Public School Hilldale Public School Massey Street Public School Russell D. Barber Public School
Sandalwood Heights [49]	Sandalwood Heights Secondary School			Eagle Plains Public School Fairlawn Public School Mountain Ash Middle School Robert J. Lee Public School Shaw Public School Treeline Public School
Turner Fenton [50]	Turner Fenton Secondary School Peel Alternative School North	Fletcher's Creek Sr. Public School William G. Davis Sr. Public School	Cherrytree Public School Helen Wilson Public School Hickory Wood Public School Parkway Public School Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School

Mississauga

School family	Secondary school (9-12)	Intermediate (Middle) School (6/7-8)	Elementary school (K-4/5/6)	K-8 school (K-8)
Applewood Heights [51]	Applewood Heights Secondary School	Bristol Road Middle School Fairwind Sr. Public School Tomken Road Middle School	Barondale Public School Burnamthorpe Public School Champlain Trail Public School Cooksville Creek Public School Dixie Public School Huntington Ridge Public School Nahani Way Public School Silverthorn Public School
Cawthra Park [52]	Cawthra Park Secondary School Peel Alternative School South	Allan A. Martin Sr. Public School	Clifton Public School Janet I. McDougald Public School Munden Park Public School Westacres Public School
Clarkson [53]	Clarkson Secondary School	Green Glade Senior Public School	Clarkson Public School Garthwood Park Public School Owenwood Public School	Hillside Public School
Erindale [54]	Erindale Secondary School	Erin Mills Middle School Homelands Sr. Public School	Brookmede Public School Oakridge Public School Sawmill Valley Public School Sheridan Park Public School Thorn Lodge Public School
Glenforest [55]	Glenforest Secondary School Glenforest South Secondary School	Glenhaven Sr. Public School	Forest Glen Public School Brian W. Fleming Public School
John Fraser [56]	John Fraser Secondary School	Thomas Street Middle School	Castlebridge Public School Credit Valley Public School Middlebury Public School
Lincoln Alexander [57]	Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School	Darcel Avenue Sr. Public School Morning Star Middle School	Brandon Gate Public School Corliss Public School Dunrankin Drive Public School Lancaster Public School Marvin Heights Public School Ridgewood Public School
Lorne Park [58]	Lorne Park Secondary School	Hillcrest Middle School Green Glade Senior Public School	Owenwood Public School Lorne Park Public School Whiteoaks Public School	Tecumseh Public School
Meadowvale [59]	Meadowvale Secondary School	Edenwood Middle School Lisgar Middle School	Kindree Public School Maple Wood Public School Miller's Grove Public School Osprey Woods Public School Plowman's Park Public School Plum Tree Park Public School Settler's Green Public School Shelter Bay Public School Trelawny Public School
Mississauga [60]	Mississauga Secondary School	David Leeder Middle School	Britannia Public School Derry West Village Public School Levi Creek Public School Meadowvale Village Public School
Port Credit [61]	Port Credit Secondary School	Camilla Road Senior Public School Queen Elizabeth Sr. Public School	Cashmere Avenue Public School Corsair Public School Floradale Public School Forest Avenue Public School Kenollie Public School Mineola Public School	Riverside Public School
Rick Hansen [62]	Rick Hansen Secondary School	Fallingbrook Middle School	Edenrose Public School Sherwood Mills Public School Whitehorn Public School
Stephen Lewis [63]	Stephen Lewis Secondary School Applewood School	Erin Centre Middle School Ruth Thompson Middle School	Artesian Drive Public School Churchill Meadows Public School McKinnon Public School Oscar Peterson Public School
Streetsville [64]	Streetsville Secondary School West Credit Secondary School	Dolphin Sr. Public School Hazel McCallion Sr. Public School	Ray Underhill Public School Vista Heights Public School Willow Way Public School
TL Kennedy [65]	Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School	The Valleys Sr. Public School	Briarwood Public School Chris Hadfield Public School Elm Drive Public School Fairview Public School Silver Creek Public School Thornwood Public School
Woodlands [66]	The Woodlands School		Ellengale Public School McBride Avenue Public School Springfield Public School	Hawthorn Public School Queenston Drive Public School

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. ^[67] It eventually culminated in allowing the Turner Consulting Group to release a Research Report on Hiring and Promotion at the Peel District School Board. ^[68] The 111-page report led to changes in the hiring and promotion policies in the Peel Board. ^[69] 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. ^[69] The report found that it was not only ethnic or visible minorities that experienced discrimination. ^[69] Tana Turner found that even some white males suspected nepotism, favoritism, or cronyism. ^[69]

Trustees

Current trustees for the Peel board are ^[70]

• Chair - Brad MacDonald
• Vice Chair - David Green

Trustee	Wards	City
Carrie Andrews	Ward 7 and 8	Brampton
Susan Benjamin	Ward 5	Mississauga
Stan Cameron	Wards	Caledon
Robert Crocker	Wards 6 and 11	Mississauga
Nokha Dakroub	Wards 9 and 10	Mississauga
Will Davies	Wards 2 and 6	Brampton
David Green	Wards 1 and 5	Brampton
Sue Lawton	Wards 3 and 4	Mississauga
Brad MacDonald	Ward 2 and 8	Mississauga
John Marchant	Wards 1 and 7	Mississauga
Kathy McDonald	Wards 3 and 4	Brampton
Balbir Sohi	Wards 9 and 10	Brampton
Deepanwita Sen	N/A - Student trustee for Peel schools north of Highway 401	North Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon
Selena Zhou	N/A - Student trustee for Peel schools south of Highway 401	Mississauga

See also

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

References

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