Public Board Meeting Update #143: May 23, 2017

Public Board Meeting Update #143: May 23, 2017
Posted on 05/23/2017

This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, May 23, 2017 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in June 2017.

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 (web page) is our intentional focus on creating safe, caring, respectful and inclusive learning environments where students develop 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 Mike Brant, Trustee for Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, asked all to reflect on integrity: We do what is right for ourselves and others. We demonstrate values and ethnics that are good for all. We speak directly, clearly, and respectfully.

Presentation

16th Annual Great Place Awards

Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer introduced the 16th Annual Great Place Awards. They are the highest recognition within Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Great Place Awards recognize outstanding contributions to support student achievement and well-being, and emphasize the commitment to the Growing with Character attributes of caring, cooperation, honesty, humour, integrity, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. The committee reviewed 37 nominations and selected 10 awards, consisting of 21 recipients.

Great Place Awards

Congratulations to Great Place Awards recipients:

  • Natalie Brownell, Volunteer, Bird 's Creek Public School
  • Eric Caley, Maintenance Mechanic, Prince Edward Collegiate Institute
  • Keith Dickey, Bus Driver, R&L Bus Lines, North Hastings High School
  • Robyn Elson and Reece Monk, Students (Grade 8), Tyendinaga Public School
  • Sherry Harrison, Secretary, Queen Elizabeth School (Picton)
  • Saud Haseeb, Student (Grade 11), Moira Secondary School
  • Debbie Stott, Educational Assistant, Bayside Secondary School
  • Heather Taylor, Teacher, North Hastings High School
  • Sue Tripp, Teacher, Trenton High School
  • Anne Anderson, Rachel Bush, Marilyn Callahan, Nadia Clark, Carrie Dutton, Deniece Hunter,
  • Tracey Locke, Debbie Royle, Angela Schaefer, Lynne Ulrich, Volunteers and Mike Brown/team from Best Buy, Breakfast Club Volunteers, Harry J. Clarke Public School

Report from the Committee of the Whole

Highlights from this report included the following:

  • Probationary teachers
  • Easement at Queen Elizabeth School (Picton)
  • Termination of employment of a teacher, with just cause

Recommendations

Student trustees for 2017-2018

Board members appointed Meera Moorthy, Moira Secondary School, and Morgan Beatty, Centennial Secondary School, as student trustees, and Delanie Austin, Quinte Secondary School as alternate student trustee, effective August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018.

Location of November 2017 Board Meeting

Board members approved holding the November Board meeting at Trent River Public School, Trenton. This is done to accommodate submission of the approved audited financial statements within the timeframe set by the Ministry of Education. Moving this meeting to this school will continue the cycle of offsite meetings in the regions throughout the district.

Election of OPSBA Representative

Board members elected Dave Patterson as the representative to the Ontario Public School Boards' Association. This membership will be in effect for one year until the Board meeting in May, 2018, unless there is a municipal election in 2018 at which time this membership will be in effect until the municipal election. Mary Hall was elected as the alternate.

Summary Report for the 2016-2017 Special Education Plan

Board members approved the amendments to the 2016-2017 Special Education Plan. Student Services staff reviewed the plan to ensure that current programs and services were reflected accurately. The Summary of Amendments reflect changes to the Special Education Plan during the 2016-2017 school year.

Textbook/novel approval
Board members approved the textbooks and novels noted below for use in schools.

Teacher with student

Textbooks/Novels Approved for Use in Schools

Title - Nutrition and Healthy Eating: An Introduction, Family Studies: Foods (HFN10, HFN20, HFL4E). Authors- C. Ghartey, J. Johnson, D. Nembhar. Published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in 2013 CDN, audience Grade 9, 10, 12.

Title - Nutrition and Health Eating: Choices, Practices and Patterns: An Introduction, Family Studies: Foods (HFL4E, HFA4C, HFA4U). Authors-C. Ghartey, D. Nembhard. Published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson in 2013 CDN, audience Grade 12.

Title - "En francais, Sarah!": French as a Second Language. Author-Nathalie Lachance. Published by The Luck Editions in 2015 CDN, audience Grade 9, 10, 11, 12.

Title - Indian Horse: English: Contemporary First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices. Author-Richard Wagamese. Published by Douglas and McIntryre in 2012 CDN, audience Grade 11.

Title - Three Day Road: English: Contemporary First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices. Author-Joseph Boyden. Published by Penguin Random House Canada in 2005 CDN, audience Grade 11.

Tender for parking lot improvements and paving at various schools

Board members approved a tender for parking lot improvements and paving at various schools, as follows:

  • Danford Construction Ltd. for work at Centre Hastings Secondary School in the amount of $162,993;
  • Danford Construction Ltd. for work at Centennial Secondary School in the amount of $355,440;
  • Cooney Excavating for work at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (front works) in the amount of $370,275; and
  • Cooney Excavating for work at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (back works) in the amount of $217,443.

Earlier this year the Ministry of Education announced capital funding to support the expansion of community hub use in schools and improve accessibility that will benefit both students and the local community. HPEDSB has been allocated $770,986. This funding will be to be used for parking lot and paving improvements at Centennial Secondary School and Centre Hastings Secondary School. These projects will improve accessibility to the schools for the benefit of the students and enable use by a broader range of community partners. Each of the parking lots are in significant need of improvement. In addition, Building Renewal funds will be used for parking lot and paving improvements to Prince Edward Collegiate Institute. This project is an identified and approved building renewal project.

Ontario Universities Application Centre

Board members approved a draft letter to the Ontario Universities Application Centre regarding the implementation of an additional $50 fee to students who wish to make changes to their OUAC applications. The OUAC processes undergraduate and professional applications for admission to the province's universities. The OUAC is fully funded through application and contract revenues, operates on a cost-recovery basis, and any excess revenue is transferred to the universities.

Information

Calendar of events

A number of district and school events (Pdf) are scheduled for the remainder of May and June 2017.

Some upcoming student/school events include the following:

  • May 24: Lacrosse game at Moira Secondary School
  • May 25, 26 and 27: OSTA-AECO's Annual General Meeting (Ontario Student Trustees' Association)
  • May 23 to June 5: EQAO assessments for all students in Grades 3 and 6
  • Various dates in June:
    • Track and field meets
    • Grade 8 graduation ceremonies
  • June 22: Graduation ceremony for Quinte Adult Education students
  • June 28 and 29: Graduation ceremonies for all eight secondary schools

Report from the Chair

Highlights from this report included the following

  • Participation in Ministry of Education engagement sessions on May 12 on the topic of rural and remote communities (both an afternoon session with municipal partners and an evening session with members of the public)

Report from the Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee

Highlights from this report included the following:

  • Receipt of the final staff recommendations for the Belleville and Prince Edward County accommodation reviews

Report from the Operations and Finance Committee

Highlights from this report included the following:

  • Receipt of a report from the Terry Fox Foundation stating that HPEDSB schools raised $45,964 in 2015-2016 and in the past 30 years, a total of $991,599

Report from the Program and Human Resources Committee

Highlights from this report included the following:

  • Presentation by representatives from Moira Secondary School about a new Indigenous gathering space where the focus is on building relationships and inclusive culture. A next step is to create a hallway mural; that work is beginning now
  • Overview of the new HPEDSB website which will launch in early July 2017

Reports from Trustees

Highlights from this report included the following

  • Spoke about the importance of reminding
  • Successful Prom Project in North Hastings, with over 100 students receiving gently-used, donated clothing
  • Student Benefit Auction raised over $15,500 for student nutrition programs

Reports from Student Trustees

Highlights from this report included the following

  • Participation in Ministry of Education engagement sessions on May 12 on the topic of rural and remote communities (both an afternoon session with municipal partners and an evening session with members of the public). It was an engaging session at which the students felt they could contribute and have their voices heard
  • Bi-annual Relay for Life held at Quinte Secondary School which raised over $14,000 for cancer research
  • Painting of the mural at Moira Secondary School began today with involvement of students from Indigenous and Arts classes
  • Moira Secondary School is gearing up for the Rock of Ages event
  • A Colour Run coming up at Bayside Secondary School

Upcoming meetings

All meetings take place at the Education Centre and are public unless otherwise noted.

  • Thursday, May 25, 2017: Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee Meeting for Delegations, 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, May 29, 2017: Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee Meeting for Delegations, 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, June 5, 2017: Executive Committee Meeting, 11:00 a.m.
  • Monday, June 7, 2017: Audit Committee Meeting, 3:30 p.m.
  • Monday, June 7, 2017: Budget meeting, 5:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 8, 2017: Special Education Advisory Committee, 5:00 p.m.
  • Monday, June 12, 2017: Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee, 2:00 p.m.
  • Monday, June 12, 2017: Program and Human Resources Committee, 5:30 p.m.
  • Monday, June 12, 2017: Operations and Finance Committee, 5:30 p.m.
  • Monday, June 19, 2017: Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, extension 2354, [email protected]