Cancellation of open house another blow to families fighting to stop TDSB school with special education programming from closing

A cherished high school for vulnerable students could be one step closer to the chopping block. Beth Macdonell reports on the fight to keep it open.

A cherished Toronto high school for vulnerable students could be one step closer to the chopping block.

Heydon Park Secondary School is the only school of its kind in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Located near Dundas and Spadina, it’s devoted to young women, transgender and non-binary students and offers special education.

The co-chairs of the school’s parent council tell CTV News Toronto they recently learned the Grade 8 open house where possible incoming students can learn about the school has been cancelled. It’s a second blow since Grade 9 enrolment at Heydon Park was cancelled earlier this year.

• READ MORE: TDSB cancels Grade 9 fall enrolment for special needs school

“They made a reason that there’s low numbers so they have no Grade 9, and that was totally inaccurate because there were a lot of families that wanted to come,” said co-chair Kamala Kalsi.

As the school now seemingly appears to be getting phased out, parents said there is a lack of transparency with the TDSB and provincial government, along with the fact they have no information about a plan for the school to move forward.

“If you’re doing nothing in feeder schools in Grades 7, 8 to promote the school, how about just have the guts to be transparent and say, ‘Yeah, we are closing this school down,’” said parent Matt Hawkins. “If you keep saying you’re not, tell us what your plan is.”

“With 400-and-something schools, spreading these kids out all over the place, they are not going to get the support they need, and my child was in regular stream up to Grade 4 and she was basically left behind,” said co-chair Paulet Slyfield.

Current students worried

The school means everything to 15-year-old Sammy Teague and her mom, Grace Zelek.

Zelek said initially, it was recommended Teague attend a large academic in which she believes Teague would have been lost and would have hated school. Instead, she said Teague loves school and looks forward to being at Heydon Park every day.

“In fact, right now we’re going through some stuff where we are trying to get her back on her feet and out of this wheelchair and I tell you, wouldn’t happen in another school,” said Zelek. “They are supporting her, getting her in her walker here every day, cheering her on, giving her the support she needs to get in and out safely.”

In June, the TDSB told CTV News Toronto no decision had been made about the school and the Grade 9 enrolment for 2025 was cancelled after only nine students applied.

The board said back then that enrolment was declining because neighbourhood schools were getting better at inclusionary practices.

When it comes to special education, Education Minister Paul Calandra’s office has said since 2018, Ontario has increased spending by 31 per cent.

In a statement on Thursday, the TDSB said the school has struggled with a limited number of Grade 9 students in recent years, pointing out that it would have only eight students in that grade this year.

“Looking ahead and after careful consideration, and in the interest of managing the community’s expectations, we will not be proceeding with an Open House regarding Grade 9 admissions for the 2026-27 school year,” the board said.

“We recognize that this will be disappointing for some families who love this school, but as was the case this year, we cannot operate a Grade 9 program when there are not enough students to make it viable.”

CTV News Toronto is waiting for a response from the minister’s office on the future of Heydon Park.

Teague knows what she wants decisions makers to do.

“Keep it open,” she said.

Teague said she’d be very upset if Heydon Park had to close.