This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in September 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 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 Jennifer Cobb, Trustee for North Prince Edward County, asked all to reflect on respect: We value ourselves, others and our environment. We give consideration to the thoughts and actions of others. We treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves, with courtesy and dignity.
Presentation
Achieving Excellence & Equity in the Arts: Park Dale School Grade 5 Students, Music Canada 150
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Grade 5 students singingTrish FitzGibbon, Superintendent of Education, introduced Park Dale School Principal Derek DeLarge, Teacher Vivian Thompson and her Grade 5 students. Mrs. Thompson wrote a song called "Thank You Canada" in honour of Canada's 150th birthday. Her students performed it and also "O Canada."
Pictured right: Grade 5 students from Park Dale School perform "Thank You Canada," an original song written by Teacher Vivian Thompson.
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Recommendations
New name for Marmora Senior Public School
Board members approved the name Marmora Public School for the consolidated Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Marmora. This resulted from the Ministry of Education approving a business case to consolidate Marmora Senior Public School and Earl Prentice Public school through a renovation and addition to Marmora Senior Public School. Construction begins this month and has an anticipated date of completion and consolidation of March 2018.
Accommodation review final recommendations
Board members approved a number of recommendations related to accommodation reviews for several Belleville schools, Madoc/area schools and Prince Edward County schools. The review process began in November 2016. Public input was received through accommodation review committees and public meetings.
The Belleville final recommendations are as follows:
- Recommendation 1: Consolidate Hillcrest School and Prince of Wales Public School at Prince of Wales Public School, effective September 2017. Hillcrest will close at the end of June 2017.
- Recommendation 2: Consolidate Moira Secondary School and Quinte Secondary School at Moira Secondary School, effective September 2018. Rebrand the consolidated school with a new name and logo. Modify boundaries so that some Quinte students move to Centennial Secondary School in order to ensure an equitable distribution of students for programming purposes. Seek Ministry of Education funding/approval to build a new 9-12 school in Belleville, in consultation with the City of Belleville. Potential locations could include the former Hillcrest School site, current Moira site or another location in east Belleville. If funding/approval for a new school is not approved, seek Ministry of Education funding/approval for an addition/renovation to Moira Secondary School.
- Recommendation 3: Consolidate Queen Elizabeth Public School (Belleville) and Queen Victoria School, pending submission of a business case to the Ministry of Education seeking funding/approval to build a new K-8 school in Belleville in consultation with the City of Belleville. Potential locations could include the current Queen Elizabeth site or another location in east Belleville. Should funding/approval for a new school not be approved, seek Ministry of Education funding/approval for an addition/renovation to Queen Elizabeth School. Harry J. Clarke Public School students would remain at the current site.
- Recommendation 4: Relocate Grade 7 and 8 students from Sir John A. Macdonald School to Centennial Secondary School, creating a 7-12 school, effective September 2017.
- Recommendation 5: Revise attendance boundaries between Sir John A. Macdonald School and Susanna Moodie Elementary School effective September 2018. Families with children registered at Sir John A. Macdonald School will not be impacted by the attendance boundary changes.
- Recommendation 6: Continue to explore opportunities for community partnerships for the consolidated school(s), including child care opportunities that are aligned with the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan priorities.
The Madoc/areas final recommendations are as follows:
- Recommendation 1: Madoc Township Public School becomes K-8 effective September 2017, with Grade 7 and 8 students from Madoc Public School who live within the Madoc Township boundary returning to Madoc Township. Madoc Public remains a K-8 school.
- Recommendation 2: Consolidate Centre Hastings Secondary School, Madoc Public School and Madoc Township Public School pending submission of a business case to the Ministry of Education for funding to build a new K-12 school located in the Madoc area, and in consultation with the municipality regarding location options and plans to enhance green space for the K-12 school. Should a business case for a new K-12 school not be approved by the Ministry of Education, consolidate Madoc Public School and Centre Hastings Secondary School as a K-12 school pending Ministry of Education approval for an addition and/or renovations at Centre Hastings Secondary School along with funding to demolish Madoc Public School, and subject to the provision of complete architectural drawings showing separation of learning and designated outdoor activity areas for elementary and secondary students, and upon funding approval, the subsequent demolition of Madoc Public School to create green space for the K-12 school.
- Recommendation 3: Continue to explore opportunities for community partnerships for the consolidated school(s), including child care opportunities that are aligned with the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan priorities.
The Prince Edward County final recommendations are as follows:
- Recommendation 1: Sophiasburgh Central School remains open subject to conditions the following conditions being in place:
1. All agreements relative to establishing "The Sophiasburgh Opportunity" a community hub at Sophiasburgh Central School, are signed in accordance with Administrative Procedure 570: Community Planning and Partnerships (October 2015);
2. Signed contractual agreement(s) with the Sophiasburgh Community Hub and The County of Prince Edward fund sourcing and governance building stakeholders are required by no later than April 30, 2018;
3. Student population sustainability to ensure program viability must be part of the ongoing contractual considerations.
If signed contractual agreement(s) for the establishment of a financially viable community hub at Sophiasburgh Central School are not in place by May 1, 2018, the students from Sophiasburgh Central School will be consolidated with students at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute for September 2018 and Sophiasburgh would close.
- Recommendation 2: Consolidate Pinecrest Memorial Elementary School and Queen Elizabeth School (Picton) at Queen Elizabeth School effective September 2017 to form a K-6 school. Pinecrest will close at the end of June 2017.
- Recommendation 3: Relocate Grade 7 and 8 students from Pinecrest Memorial Elementary School and Queen Elizabeth School (Picton) to Prince Edward Collegiate Institute effective September 2017 creating a 7-12 school.
- Recommendation 4: Effective September 2018, consolidate students from Queen Elizabeth School (Picton) and Prince Edward Collegiate Institute at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, creating a K-12 school. Queen Elizabeth School would close at the end of June 2018.
- Recommendation 5: Continue to explore opportunities for community partnerships for the consolidated school(s), including child care opportunities that are aligned with the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan priorities.
2017-2018 budget
Board members approved the 2017-2018 operating and capital budgets in the amounts of $199,909,852 and $23,416,066, respectively.
A three-year Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan (2016-17 to 2018-19) that contained a proposed action plan to make permanent staff reductions, consolidate and close schools, and take a number of other savings measures was approved by the Board on November 21, 2016. This Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan was approved by the Ministry of Education on February 24, 2017 and requires the board to develop a financial budget for 2017-2018 that is balanced or contains a small in-year surplus for 2017-2018 while allowing for contingencies.
On April 12, 2017, the Ministry of Education announced education funding for 2017-2018. Detailed information related to funding amounts under each of the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) and Education Program Other (EPO) lines has been provided at previous Budget Committee meetings.
Enrolment projections for the purpose of developing the 2017-2018 budget were calculated based upon input from schools. There is forecast to be a slight increase for elementary enrolment and a slight decrease for secondary enrolment. Overall, it is anticipated that the board enrolment will increase by 93 students.
The proposed budget has a projected in-year surplus of $3,065 and includes all planned savings measures from the Multi-Year Financial Recovery plan (except that only two elementary schools are considered to close as a result of consolidation for 2017-2018, rather than the four elementary schools proposed in the plan). As well, the proposed budget includes additional savings measures achieved through further reductions to professional development and school budgets.
Borrowing resolution
Board members approved the borrowing of up to $12 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year in order to meet expenditures until revenues have been received. This is a normal part of business done at this time of year.
Attendance at the Canadian School Board Association National Congress
Board members approved the attendance of Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board, at the Canadian School Board Association National Congress in Whistler, British Columbia, from July 5 to 8, 2017. The Canadian School Board Association National Congress is an annual conference for trustees from across Canada for professional learning related to current issues. This year's event will begin with a National Trustee Gathering on Aboriginal Education. The focus of this year's conference is Indigenous Education and includes speakers such as Charlene Bearhead, along with sessions on collaboration, innovation and leading in turbulent times.
Policy/Program Memorandum 131: Home Schooling
Board members approved a motion to request the Ministry of Education amend Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) 131 by replacing "should" with "shall." This PPM provides direction to school boards and schools concerning policies related to home schooling and the excusing of children from school who are receiving home schooling. As part of the Ministry of Education's discussion paper to Strengthen Education in Ontario's Rural and Remote Communities, trustees have been invited to contribute feedback. A point of discussion with some communities is that if students who were home schooled attended schools in rural areas it could support more healthy enrolments. The language in PPM 131 is not strong enough to encourage parents to register their children in the public school system and should be amended to do so.
Information
Calendar of events
A number of district and school events (Pdf) are scheduled for the remainder of June 2017.
Some upcoming student/school events include the following:
- June 28 and 29: Secondary school graduation ceremonies at various locations
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Presentation to outgoing student trustees
Chair Lucille Kyle and Vice-chair Dave Patterson made complimentary remarks about the two outgoing student trustees, Delanie Austin, Quinte Secondary School; and Saud Haseeb, Moira Secondary School. They commented on the leadership, energy, exceptional work ethic and that the Board has benefitted from students being at the Board table. During their term, both Delanie and Saud identified issues that were important to students, and suggested ways to help address student achievement and well-being. Our best wishes to Delanie and Saud as they progress to the next phase of their education and life journeys.
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Pictured right: Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education; Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board; Delanie Austin, Student Trustee, Quinte Secondary School; Saud Haseeb, Student Trustee, Moira Secondary School; and Dave Patterson, Vice-chair.
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Farewell to Trish FitzGibbon
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Pictured right: Dave Patterson, Vice-chair; Delanie Austin, Student Trustee, Quinte Secondary School; Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education; Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board; Trish FitzGibbon, Superintendent of Education; and Saud Haseeb, Student Trustee, Moira Secondary School.
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Superintendent of Education
Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board made a presentation to Trish FitzGibbon, Superintendent of Education, who is retiring from HPEDSB after 30 years in education. FitzGibbon has been a teacher, vice-principal, principal, system principal and superintendent. She has led numerous school- and system-based initiatives over the years, most recently as the human resources lead. C-1_CalendarofEvents
Report from the Executive Committee
- Highlights from this report included the following:
Review of feedback on the strategic plan.
Report from the Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Recommendations for the three accommodation review areas.
Report from the Operations and Finance Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Borrowing resolution.
- Name for the renovated Marmora Senior Public School being Marmora Public School.
Report from the Program and Human Resources Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Delegation by Wendy Riley, School Council Chair, Bayside Public School about the French Immersion Program at Bayside Public School.
- A project during this school year about literacy comprehension for students.
Reports from Trustees
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Participation at the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, particularly presenting a motion, which passed. The home schooling motion, approved earlier at this meeting, is the second one to be presented to OPSBA, thereby increasing the profile of HPEDSB in the province.
- Participation at an event with Sophiaburgh Central School. Students performed songs and were part of the first Legacy Room established at Books & Company in Picton which is dedicated to the memory of residential school survivors.
Reports from Student Trustees
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Studying for exams.
- Completion of the Indigenous mural painted at Moira Secondary School.
- Colour Run held at Bayside Secondary School.
- Student Senate meeting with the new student senators.
- Leadership camp for elementary students hosted by Quinte Secondary School.
Upcoming meetings
All meetings take place at the Education Centre and are public unless otherwise noted.
- Monday, September 5, 2017: Executive Committee, 11:00 a.m.
- Monday, September 11, 2017: Student Enrolment/School Capacity Committee, 3:30 p.m.
- Monday, September 11, 2017: Program and Human Resources Committee, 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, September 11, 2017: Operations and Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 20, 2017: Audit Committee, 3:30 p.m.
- Monday, September 25, 2017: Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, September 28, 2017: Special Education Advisory Committee, 5:00 p.m.