This is an amazingly delicate decision. In a country that is familiar, if not comfortable, with gender-restricted schools, this opens a new focus of debate. Bringing memories of segregation in the United States, some view this move as a step backwards towards racism and segregation. Others see it as an opportunity-driven decision. Still others make comparisons to the Affirmative Action laws in the United States, for better or worse.
You can read more about the board's decision directly from their website.
Living in a country that doesn't have the racial history as our neighbours, I am not naive enough to think that racial tensions are non-existent. I can't help but think that this will only amplify those tensions in too many ways.
The following day, Ontario Premiere D. McGuinty came out opposing the decision, and the public fray that seems inevitable to me is heightened one more step.
There is no doubt that I acknowledge there must be something done about the 40% drop out rate of Toronto's black teens, but I'm not convinced this is the right way to go. I hope I'm proven wrong. I also hope this is not the only measure that is undertaken to attack this problem.
Education is a fundamental in our society. Education is meant to be inclusive, and I'm left to ponder how further discrimination of entry to a publicly-funded school can be inclusive. How can public money to a public educational system be used in a closed-entry system? Yes, I do realize there are other educational systems, some in my own province of Alberta, that are discriminatory. I'm not dismissing this as better or worse, but as adding to the issue that should be fixed, not accepted.

I would have enjoyed being in the Trustee's council room last night to listen to what must have been a fascinating discussion. If nothing else, it would have given me some insight into how they came to the decision they did, because for me, from the outside, I have ample concerns.
I have no doubt this will continue to make news in the weeks to come, leading up to the proposed September 2009 opening. Time will tell the impact of this decision.