This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, September 23, 2019 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next regular meeting in October 2019.
Shannon Binder, Chair of the Board, acknowledged the First Peoples of the territory. This evening we acknowledge that the land on which we are gathered is part of the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee people. We acknowledge the land to show respect and recognize the First Peoples of the territory; their history, culture and perspectives and as a step towards reconciliation.
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 Spencer Hutchison, Trustee, Trenton & CFB Trenton, 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.
Presentation
Video: All Students First, Learning Happens Here
The first few weeks of school are exciting for students and staff alike as they settle into new routines, and learning gets underway. From the first day of school, students in HPEDSB schools have been engaging in experiential learning activities and inquiries, with a focus on team building, creativity, and building literacy and numeracy skills. Staff at HPEDSB are first-class and are committed to our new approach of all students first.
Kerry Donnell, Communications Manager, screened All Students First, Learning Happens Here, a short video featuring students from HPEDSB schools.
Recommendations
2019-2020 Policy review, Part 1
Board members approved reviewing the procedures noted below. The review will take place over the next couple of months and the revisions voted on in November 2019.
- Policy 3: Board Operations
- Policy 3A: Delegations and Presentations
- Policy 3J: Board Review/Self-Evaluation
- Policy 11: Committees of the Board
- Policy 12: External Committees and Trustee Advocacy
Borrowing resolution amendment
Board members approved a borrowing resolution, authorizing the borrowing of a sum of up to $18,654,000 from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, in order to meet short-term borrowing requirements for various school improvements under the School Condition Improvement Program, in order to meet planned expenditures.
Elect/appoint a replacement trustee for committee vacancies
Board members approved the appointment of trustees to two committees. The vacancies resulted from the passing of Trustee Michael Rush, Belleville/Thurlow on July 2, 2019.
- Trustee Alison Kelly, South Prince Edward County, will be the Chair of the Operations and Finance Committee.
- Trustee Kelly will also become a member of the Executive Committee representing the Operations and Finance Committee.
- Trustee Kristen Parks, Sidney & Frankford, will be the Vice-chair of the Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee.
- Trustee Krista McConnell, Belleville/Thurlow will be on the Information Technology Advisory Committee.
- Trustee Shannon Binder, Southeast Hastings, will be on the Specialist High Skills Majors Committee.
- Trustee Lucille Kyle, North Hastings, will be on the Food for Learning Partnership Committee and also as the alternate member on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association.
These appointments are effective immediately and will be in place until the end of the current term on November 30, 2019. New elections will take place at the Annual Board Meeting on December 2, 2019.
Information
Calendar of events
A number of district and school events (Pdf) are scheduled for October 2019. Upcoming events include the following among many more.
- October 3:
- Meet the Staff & BBQ Country Dance, Tyendinaga Public School, 5:30 p.m.
- School Bus Safety presentations, Frankford Public School and Trent River Public School
- October 4: Canadian Lacrosse Programming, Bird's Creek Public School
Preliminary enrolment update
Elementary enrolments were collected on September 6, 2019 and updated on September 13, 2019. Secondary enrolments were collected on September 13, 2019. The projected enrolment for the 2019-2020 school year is 10,382 elementary students and 4,460 students for a total of 14,842.
Elementary enrolment
Elementary enrolment on September 13, 2019 was 10,382 compared to a projection of 10,385, a decrease of three students from projection. A net total of two additional elementary classes have been added to comply with class size regulations. The largest change in enrolment is in the kindergarten classes, with an additional four early childhood educators being added. Overall, elementary enrolment continues to show evidence that it is stabilizing, with a year-over-year increase of 16 students.
Secondary enrolment
Using the data collected on September 13, 2019, the revised average daily enrolment (ADE) was projected for the year as 4,460. The revised projection shows a decrease of 50 ADE over original projections, and a year-over-year decrease of 104 secondary students. No changes to secondary staffing have been made as a result of September enrolments.
Administration is in the process of finalizing the impact on staff needs and class sizes to determine whether further adjustments are required.
Collective bargaining update
Superintendent Laina Andrews provided a collective bargaining update. All education sector collective agreements in the province expired August 31, 2019. A two-tier process is in place in Ontario: some items are bargained centrally and others locally. We will be working on new agreements with the unions for elementary teachers, secondary teachers, education support workers and support staff. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing support staff, has given notice that it will be in a strike position as of September 30, 2019.
HPEDSB has a good relationship with all unions and looks forward to bargaining in good faith
Summer Learning Program update
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board received $45,000 to host three summer learning programs (SLP) with the expectation of a minimum attendance requirement of 15 students per program. Summer learning programs were offered at Marmora Public School, Prince of Wales Public School and Prince Charles School (Belleville) based upon a review of SLP historical attendance patterns and student data. The Marmora site had 12 students registered, serving students in the Centre Hastings region and a family from North Hastings. The Prince Charles and Prince of Wales programs were over-subscribed with registration of 29 and 26 students, respectively.
The SLPs at each of three sites focused on reading and numeracy skill development for students exiting Year 2 (Senior) Kindergarten to Grade 5. Each program ran daily from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for three weeks in July 2019 and involved interactive literacy and numeracy instruction, physical activities intentionally linked to skill development (e.g. sight word hopscotch, number scavenger hunts, syllable bean bag toss). Daily learning opportunities in partnership with parent/guardians to model specific skills and/or strategies for home connection and skill retention practice (e.g. modeling Number Talk strategies such as counting on and making friendly numbers) were also part of the day. The learning was intentionally aligned with instructional and intervention strategies used during the school year to support sustainment of skills. Literacy skill development focused on developing students' understanding of phonological awareness, reading fluency and reading-writing connections through Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI). Numeracy skill development focused on Number Talks and mental math strategies to develop concept of number and number relationships.
Having parents engaged in their child's learning increases opportunities for success in school. The summer learning programs offered unique occasions to connect with parents/guardians who were encouraged to participate in learning alongside their child for the first 10-20 minutes and the last 20 minutes of each day by supporting and modeling skill development. Students and families were also provided with daily take home books from the Leveled Literacy Intervention program to support the continuation of reading at home and to celebrate achieved reading fluency. Parents/guardians received a variety of supplemental literacy/numeracy activities (and often asked for specific games and resources to be provided) to support the practice and development of strategies at home (e.g. sight word cards, LLI writing extensions, dice games, cut and paste literacy activities) and had an opportunity to participate in regular dialogue with the SLP site team to receive feedback, next step goals and ideas to support with skill development/sustainability.
The number of students who showed improvement in literacy reading level, as measured by running records, is shown below:
- Marmora Public School: 7 of 12
- Prince Charles School (Belleville): 15 of 29
- Prince of Wales Public School: 16 of 26
A comprehensive review of the program design will be conducted to ensure appropriate programming, target populations and use of data sources.
"Moving Ahead" Report from the Director of Education
Sean Monteith, Director of Education, presented a report outlining his entry plan as the new director. It is based on two key perspectives: 1) the openness and transparency of listening, observing without bias or prior judgement; and 2) the lived professional and personal experiences as director of education coming from one school board to another.
Director Monteith highlighted the following 10 themes that will be his focus during the 2019-2020 school year:
- Tone and Building Culture
- Staff Engagement
- Board of Trustee Empowerment
- Recognition and Acceptance of Challenges, Opportunities
- Empowerment of Principals and Vice-Principals to be Leaders of Student Achievement
- Autonomy
- Reconciliation with Indigenous Partners/Advocates for Social Justice
- Community Engagement
- Mentorship
- Public Confidence
Director Monteith also presented a draft Senior Administration Organization Chart.
Report from the Chair
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Welcomed new trustee Krista McConnell for Belleville/Thurlow.
- Policy review.
- Senior administration organization chart review.
Report from the Indigenous Trustees' Council
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Five priority areas:
- Actions related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- Minister's Advisory Work Group
- Retention and Revitalization of the Indigenous Language
- Curriculum Revisions
- Education Service Agreements
Correspondence
Letter from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board received July 5, 2019 about the passing of Trustee Michael Rush.
Upcoming meetings
All meetings take place at the Education Centre unless otherwise noted.
- Wednesday, September 25: Audit Committee, 3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, September 26: Special Education Advisory Committee, 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, October 7: Executive Committee, 11:00 a.m.
- Monday, October 15:
- Program and Human Resources Committee, 5:30 p.m.
- Operations and Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 22: Parent Involvement Committee, 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 24: Special Education Advisory Committee, 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, October 28: Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Manager, extension 62354, [email protected]