This update provides a summary of the Public Meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, October 15, 2018 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in November 2018.
Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board, acknowledged that the meeting is taking place on the land of the Haudenosaunee people.
Character Moment of Reflection
Each Board meeting opens with a Character Moment of Reflection. At Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, Growing with Character is our intentional focus on creating safe, caring, respectful and inclusive learning environments where students develop the foundation for good character. Growing with Character is the foundation of the school board strategic plan. Through Growing with Character, we model, teach and expect demonstrations of our eight character traits which are: caring, cooperation, honesty, humour, integrity, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness.
This evening Melissa Elliott, Student Trustee, North Hastings High School, asked all to reflect on Caring: We demonstrate concern for self and others. We show empathy and express genuine concerns. We consider the long term effect of our actions.
Presentations
Globally Minded Learners and Leaders at Stirling Public School: Project Simple Machines
The vibrant presentation described the HPEDSB involvement in an international project known as New Pedagogies for Deep Learning. NPDL involves school boards from seven countries. It engages educators in shifting their practice and beliefs about student abilities and achievement, as well as encouraging them to take risks, collaborate with others and seek out learning partnerships locally and globally. The presentation showcased the work of two teachers, Terri-Lynn Kirkey and Anne Marie Christie-Sharpe, Stirling Public School, and shared that their work is one of five projects receiving international recognition.
Thank you to the presenters: Susan Carleton-Maines, Principal, Stirling Public School; Anne Marie Christie-Sharpe, Teacher, Stirling Public School; Suzanne Cholasta, Principal, Prince Charles Public School (Trenton); Tracy Demianchuk, Curriculum Services Coordinator; Andrea Kerr, Learning Support Coordinator; and Terri-Lynn Kirkey, Teacher, Stirling Public School.
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Thank you to the presenters from Stirling Public School, pictured with school board officials, trustees and student trustees.
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Summer Learning Programs
Summer learning programs provide students with learning outside the school year. They consist of the Summer Learning Program for elementary students and Summer School for secondary students.
The elementary program focused on developing reading skills, understanding number sense, and coding and robotics. It was for students in SK, Grades 1 - 4, and was hosted at Marmora Public School, Maynooth Public School, Prince Charles School (Belleville,) Prince of Wales Public School, Queen Elizabeth School (Picton), Queen Victoria School and Trent River Public School.
Summer School had over 500 registrations from students throughout Ontario, with over 200 from HPEDSB. Just over 91% of students achieved credits. The success is due to personalized supports for HPEDSB students, Guidance teacher communicating with students daily, connecting students to their teacher, communicating with parents and individualized video links for HPEDSB students.
Thank you to presenters Terri Cook, Vice-principal, Centennial Secondary School; Heather McMaster, Early Years Lead; Marg Thompson, Student Success Lead; Roger Ramsay, Curriculum Coordinator.
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Thank you to the Summer Learning Programs presenters, pictured with school board officials, trustees and student trustees.
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Report from Committee of the Whole Board
One item was discussed at the Committee of the Whole Board meeting: Disposal of surplus property: Earl Prentice Public School. These meetings are closed to the public as provided by subsection 207 (2) of the Education Act.
Recommendations
External Audit Plan
Board members approved the External Audit Plan. This is required as a result of amendments to Ontario Regulation 361/10 in July 2015. Since that time, audit committees are required to make recommendations to the Board on the content of the External Auditor's Audit Plan and on all proposed major changes to the plan.
Appointment of External Auditors for 2018-2019
Board members appointed BDO LLP as the external auditor for 2018-2019 with remuneration of $38,900. BDO has provided audit services to HPEDSB for a number of years and has developed a strong relationship with staff, management, the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders, including Audit Committee members. Administration is satisfied with BDO's performance to date. BDO has delivered its services in a professional, timely and accurate manner.
Information
A number of district and school events (Pdf) are scheduled for the remainder of October and into November 2018.
Upcoming events include the following:
- October 17: Dairy presentation for all classes, Bird's Creek Public School
- October 18:
- Scissor Lift Training for students in the Construction Specialist High Skills Major Program, Centre Hastings Secondary School
- Fall Parent/Teacher Interview Evening; Post-secondary Parent Information Night; Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Parent Information Night, Prince Edward Collegiate Institute
- October 22: Bus Patroller Training, Tyendinaga Public School
- October 23:
- Wear Purple Day for Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect, all schools
- Bus Patroller Training (for students), Athol-South Marysburgh Public School
- October 25:
- Family Movie Night, 6:00 p.m., Prince of Wales Public School
- Fun Fair, Frankford Public School
- October 25-28: Ontario Student Trustees' Association Fall General Meeting, Toronto
- November 9: Remembrance Day assemblies at various schools
Report from the Chair
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Attendance at the Indigenous Leads Gathering in Toronto, a provincial event that has been hosted by HPEDSB for the past five years.
Report from the Executive Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- The Ministry of Education is inviting public input on curriculum-related items and the Board of Trustees will be submitting suggestions.
Report from the Audit Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- 2018-2019 Regional Audit Activities update.
- Creating the Audit Annual Report.
Report from the Operations and Finance Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Presentation and annual update by Gord Taylor, CEO of Tri-Board Transportation Services.
- New rate for travel reimbursement (kilometres) to align with the Canada Revenue Agency rate, increasing one cent to 0.55 cents effective November 1, 2018.
- Policy review.
Report from the Program and Human Resources Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Presentation about mental health initiatives .
- Addition of social workers at secondary schools.
- Update on standardized testing (EQAO) in Ontario.
- Review of novels requested for use in secondary schools.
- Policy review.
Report from Student Trustees
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Planned initiatives by the Student Senate, including creating a website and planning a student symposium next spring.
- Student senators meeting with students in their schools for knowledge sharing.
Notice of Motion: 2018-2019 Policy review
Notice of motion was given that amendments to the following policies will be on the agenda for the November 2018 meeting:
- Policy 3-C: Student Representation on Board
- Policy 3-H: Filling Vacancies on the Board
- Policy 4: Corporate Board Job Description
- Policy 9: Role of the Board Member
Upcoming public meetings
All meetings take place at the Education Centre unless otherwise noted.
- Wednesday, October 24: Parent Involvement Committee Annual General Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 25: Special Education Advisory Committee, 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 5: Executive Committee, 11:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, November 7: Audit Committee, 3:30 p.m.
- Monday, November 12: Program and Human Resources Committee, 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, November 12: Operations and Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 19: Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Marmora Public School
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, extension 2354, [email protected]