Board Meeting Update #159: October 15, 2018

Posted on 10/15/2018

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.

Board Meeting Group

Thank you to the presenters from Stirling Public School, pictured with school board officials, trustees and student trustees.

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.

Board Meeting Group 2

Thank you to the Summer Learning Programs presenters, pictured with school board officials, trustees and student trustees.

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