Two Toronto public school board trustees have expressed mixed opinions on the idea of Afrocentric schools ahead of Monday night's private meeting to discuss a new report.

The 156-page document, drafted by senior school board staff and obtained by CTV News on Wednesday, recommends black-focused school curriculums to be implemented at three city schools.

The report recommends one of those schools be located in Toronto's north-west end and that it be open to all students.

The document suggests the African-centred curriculums be implemented at three existing schools, as early as this fall. The report doesn't say which schools should offer the programs.

Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher is praising the approach, saying it will improve the academic performance of black youth.

"I think this is an absolutely fabulous idea," she told CTV Toronto. "We do alternative schools for almost any reason. There is a group of parents who feel that this is important that they have the curriculum that reflects their history."

Supporter Lilia Esi said not all residents understand that the idea isn't about "black-only" schools.

"There's a misconception about black-focused schools that it's only for black students and it's exclusive," Esi said on Thursday.

"An African-centred framework isn't exclusive, and it involves all members of the community."

'Slippery slope': trustee

But trustee Josh Matlow opposes the idea, saying it's the "tip of a slippery slope."

"And it's a dangerous direction that our society, never mind our school board, does not want to go in," Matlow said. "It opens up a whole ray of concerns around dividing kids in schools based on race."

In a year-end interview with CTV Toronto, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty also said he doesn't support the initiative.

"I still don't think it's a good idea for us to divide our kids," McGuinty said.

The board proposal for a black-focused school has been met with both criticism and praise.

Some parents are enraged, saying the initiative is a dangerous throwback to the days of segregation.

But proponents, which include parents, community leaders and educators, support the concept. They say an African-centred alternative school would lower the dropout rate of young black males

Trustees have planned a closed-door meeting on Monday night to discuss the report. The board will host another public meeting about the controversial idea later this month, and a decision to move ahead with the recommendations will be made before the end of the month.

With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman