Board Meeting Update #183: September 28, 2020

Posted on 09/28/2020

September 28, 2020_This update provides a summary of the online public meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held September 28, 2020, livestreamed (the recorded version will be available within 24 hours). It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in October 2020.

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, 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 Mohawk, Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. We conduct tonight's business recognizing that we are all Treaty people and give respect to this territory and all its young 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 Shannon Binder, Vice-chair and trustee for Southeast Hastings, asked all to reflect on Cooperation: We work as a team for a common good. We value the opinions of others and show a willingness to work together towards a common goal.

Presentation

Buzz Box Fun Kits for Kids

Introducing Myles Ramsay, a Grade 11 student at Eastside Secondary School. Myles is the founder and owner of Buzz Box Fun Kits for Kids, a company he started in May 2020. Knowing that entertainment options are limited for kids due to COVID-19, Myles has a solution: provide a safe, home delivery service of activity kits full of fun, creativity and active play for kids ages 4-10.

Kits are themed, with new ones being added. The current offerings include the following:

Be Your Own Superhero (top seller)
Space Explorers
Trash Can Treasures
Mindful Moments
Magic Mania
Robots Rock
Unicorn Wishes
Top Secret Spy
Backyard Bug Safari
Campfire Kids
Mermaid Magic (sold out)

Introducing Myles Ramsay, a Grade 11 student at Eastside Secondary School. Myles is the founder and owner of Buzz Box Fun Kits for Kids, a company he started in May 2020.

Coming soon are Brain Gym and Finance 4 Fun. Find out more at the Buzz Box Fun Kits for Kids website.

Find out more starting on page 2 of the September 28, 2020 agenda (Pdf).

Recommendation

Borrowing resolution amendment #2 to a credit agreement

Ensuring effective management of all resources is a strategic priority for Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Part of the effective management of all resources includes establishing various credit facilities to meet the operating and capital expenditures until funds are received from the Ministry of Education.

Board members approved an amendment to the credit agreement with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce that authorizes the following borrowing in order to meet short-term borrowing requirements for capital projects:

borrowing of a sum of up to $21,144,213 for various school improvements under the School Condition Improvement Program;
borrowing of a sum of up to $7,890,000 for additions and renovations at Eastside Secondary School;
borrowing of a sum of up to $5,557,725 for the construction of an addition and renovations to the existing Centre Hastings Secondary School; and
borrowing of a sum of up to $11,488,900 for the construction of Easthill Elementary School at the Queen Elizabeth School site.

Information

2020 Elementary Summer Learning Program update

The Ministry of Education (EDU) provided funding to school boards to deliver summer learning programming to students in grades K-8. The purpose was to mitigate learning loss during the summer, in support of increasing student achievement, and close learning gaps in literacy and numeracy. Considering the COVID19 pandemic and student staff and family safety, the EDU stipulated that the 2020 summer learning program must include a minimum of 45 hours of learning, with 30 hours being delivered in a direct, synchronous manner. HPEDSB received $60,000 to offer four summer learning classes over a 3-week period from July 6-24, 2020.

Due to the level of interest in and need for a summer learning program and its gap closing priority, HPEDSB offered 16 classes for students from grades K-8. Four were funded through EDU and 11 through HPEDSB.

Find out more on page 38 of the September 28, 2020 agenda (Pdf).

K-12 Virtual School update

A survey of families conducted from August 10 - 14, 2020 revealed that 84% of the students in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board were planning to return to regular classes on September 3, 2020. An analysis of the data survey indicated that more than 1,600 students would learn from home. On August 13, 2020, the Ministry of Education issued Policy/Program Memorandum No. 164 with the requirements for remote learning during times of pandemic. The memorandum provides direction to school boards about remote learning requirements, including implementation and reporting.

Based upon the survey results and the requirements established by PPM 164, on August 17, 2020 a decision was made by the senior team to begin to make and to implement plans to create the K-12 Virtual School for students who planned to learn online. This school began serving students on September 14, 2020. It started with approximately 1,800 students and, as of this evening, enrolment will increase to approximately 2,400+ students by the end of next week when Block B/Octomester 2 begins.

Find out more on page 39 of the September 28, 2020 agenda (Pdf).

Ontario Scholars

This report listed the number of student who achieved Ontario Scholar status at each HPEDSB secondary school from 2015 to 2020, inclusive.

Find out more on page 45 of the September 28, 2020 agenda (Pdf).

Report from student trustees