Toronto Catholic board taking advantage of social media

By 
  • April 1, 2010

{mosimage}TORONTO-The Toronto Catholic District School Board is embracing social media and looking to the future of Catholic education in Canada’s largest public Catholic board, says education director Ann Perron.

Perron said the board is embracing technology with the webcasts she initiated and the board launched when she first started last year. This could expand further as the board looks at incorporating more social media in schools, including a possible Facebook page for the board, but plans haven’t been finalized yet.

The webcasts are YouTube postings of Perron informing the Toronto Catholic education community about the latest happenings at the board, including the celebration of different communities each month, such as Celtic heritage month in March and Asian heritage month in April. YouTube is a forum that can be easily accessed by parents and students, Perron said.

Since Perron’s appointment, the board has also revamped its web site.

This technological outreach seems to be pointing towards a new direction for the Toronto Catholic board.

Asked about its progress, Perron said there is a “tremendous spirit”  at the board even after all that’s happened over the past two years. The McGuinty government placed it under provincial supervision in 2008 after it failed to balance its budget and following reports by former board supervisor Norbert Hartmann criticizing a “culture of entitlement.” 

Perron said there has been “momentum” in the working relationship between Hartmann’s successor as supervisor, Richard Alway, and the trustees.

“We’ve come a long way,” she said.

And there seems to be a “genuine commitment” of staff and a “renewed sense of optimism” with the upcoming trustee elections in October, she said.

Moreover, Perron said the board has set high standards.

“It’s not just about governance. It has to be about our students,” she said.

“Even with some of the things going on, we’ve kept our students first and foremost in our minds.”

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