TDSB officially closing 3 schools in 2016

The Toronto District School Board is closing three schoolsthis year under its plan to reform operations.

• TDSB names 10 more schools for possible closure
• Mostelementary schools on closure list serve vulnerable students

TDSBcommunications officer Ryan Bird saidEastern Commerce Collegiate Institute,Nelson A.BoylenCollegiate Institute andSir Robert L. Borden Business and Technical Institute are all set to close.

Bird told CBC News the lattertwo schoolswill be referred to the Toronto Lands Corporation, the board's real estate arm, to be sold.

Eastern Commerce CollegiateInstitute "was essentially closed last year due to low enrolment," Bird said via email. "In this case, while the school is closed, the building itself remains in our inventory as it currently holds an alternative school and our museum and archives."

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NelsonA.BoylenCollegiate Institute was also essentially closed in 2015 because of a lack of students. However, the board only voted to officially close the North York schoolon Wednesday.

Bird confirmed the TDSBhad addressed a $21-million deficit in May. While he admitted the board was going to make money from selling theseproperties, he added:"The closure of these schools has nothing to do with the deficit."

In February, it was revealed that the TDSBhad70 schools under review for possible closure as the board seeks to rid itself of under-utilized buildings. It is not yet clear if any other schools will be closed in 2016.

• TDSBcould be broken up, education ministersays
• TDSBvotes to implement province's 13 directives