Toronto board approves first black-focused grade school

Toronto District School Board trustees have given final approval to Toronto's first Africentric school, but not without another meeting filled with acrimony and charges of racism. 

The issue is one of the most controversial ever put to the board.

The school will open in September 2009, and will occupy unused space at Sheppard Public School, near Sheppard Avenue and Keele Street. It will serve students from junior kindergarten to Grade 5.

Some parents lobbied for the black-focused school, saying they want to try something new because the current system isn't working. As many as 40 per cent of black students don't graduate from Toronto high schools.

Wednesday night's debate became heated to the point Trustee Josh Matlow demanded an apology from Trustee Maria Rodrigues. 

"Trustee Rodrigues just called me racist and sexist," complained Matlow, "and I'd like her to withdraw that, please."

Rodrigues refused. 

Board chair John Campbell tried to smooth over the disagreements, but finally said "enough is enough."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have debated this issue ad nauseam more than once. We've had amendments to the amendments and amendments. And we debated it back in January."

In the end, the decision was approved by a vote of 13-8.

The board did not approve a black-focused high school for 2010, but did vote to study the idea.