Gianfranco Cristiano

Trustees, the Board, and the Province

The most important thing I’d act on is making sure families in Ward 5 feel heard at the board table and not just consulted and forgotten. When you call, I will show at your door and listen. I’m a parent with young children in our TCDSB system. I know what the conversations at the school gate sound like, and I know what has been getting lost by the time it reaches the board. My background in community organizing and my private sector experience have taught me how to take concerns and turn them into real outcomes.

Bullying in Schools

I believe a trustee’s job is to show up, listen, and ensure the policies that already exist are actually working in classrooms, and if they're not, push for the changes needed. I’d be responsive to parents, and take the feedback from front line school staff and ensure accountability. There is no place for bullying or discrimination in our schools. My priority is making sure every student in Ward 5 feels safe going to school, and that our programs help to keep our students on the right path.

Class Sizes and Staffing

I understand the limitations of the role and that trustees don’t set staffing formulas. But that doesn’t mean I sit quietly. My priority would be transparency and communication, where parents know what is actually happening in their child’s classroom as it happens, and not weeks later. I will listen to parent and educator concerns and find ways to ensure every child is in the right environment where they can thrive.

Special Programs and Program Access

As a former International Languages Teacher in the TCDSB system, special programs have shaped the man and father I have become. Right now, there are specialized programs that are technically available, but practically out of reach for too many families. I’d push the board to do a review of who is accessing special programs across the ward to identify gaps. Then I’d advocate for solutions that give every student across our schools, the same opportunity to participate in the programs that could shape their lives, just as they shaped mine.