Elia's Field is Not for SaleBy Matias DovitiisLast year, word got around that there were plans to sell the soccer field at Elia Middle School. The Toronto District School Board was short on money for renovations and building projects, and hoped to generate revenue by selling off “excess” land in the suburbs.Many of us thought selling the local soccer field was a terrible idea. We got to work collecting signatures to let the school board know that the community would not support the sale.We need green spaces in our community and we need to protect our public assets. It is short sighted to sell school land to relieve immediate budgetary pressures. Without a long term vision, the TDSB will face new holes in future budgets, while leaving kids without green space to play in.Once a school field is sold, the community loses control of the type of development that takes its place.It could be more condos, commercial space, but nobody knows for certain. The only thing we do know is that the TDSB will want to sell quickly to make money. And that is not good enough for our children and our community.Under pressure, the TDSB backed off from selling Elia's field. Downsview is safe until the next planning cycle, but what of other communities? Late into 2013, Don Mills was still fighting to save another school field slated for sale. In total, eight sales were approved as part of the TDSB’s three year capital plan.It is upsetting to see all this happen at the same time that public funds are being misspent on extravagant salary increases. In December, a forensic audit revealed that TDSB senior staff collected $1.3 million in raises over the last few years – in direct contravention of provincial government directives.Over the last two years, the TDSB has dismissed teachers and school support workers, frozen salaries for most of those who remain and cut school maintenance budgets. It is neither fair nor transparent for decision makers to give themselves raises while sacrificing public space to offset a deficit.There needs to be a higher level of public accountability for what happens in our schools. We need to improve the quality of education, but it is hard for teachers to do this in schools that are falling apart and in classrooms that lack resources. In many cases, decision makers are disconnected from the communities they represent and do not see the impact of their decisions on local residents.We owe it to our children and our community to pay closer attention to this issue. Schools – and their green space – are an important part of Downsview. Good schools make good communities. Let’s protect this key investment in our future.