This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, March 23, 2015 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in April 2015.
Character moment: Coe Hill School, "We're All in this Together"
Superintendent June Rogers introduced guests from Coe Hill School, including Principal Rob Lake, Resource teacher Mary Saunders and Grade 5/6 students from Mr. Suurd's class. They have been exploring the relationship between movement and music through lessons about poetry and song. This learning has been further connected to the concept of caring and how others are made to feel like they belong. Students performed a silent vignette with the song "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. as the soundtrack. Their performance illustrated the true culture of caring at Coe Hill School.
Report from Committee of the Whole
- This report included the following:
- Filling the vacancy on the Board
- Refinements to the Ministry of Education definition of a graduate student
- Placements in the Elementary Principal Pool
- Placements in the Elementary and Secondary Vice-principal and Principal Pools for the North
- Hastings School Group
Recommendations
2014-2015 Board Policy Review, Part B
Board members approved revisions to the following policies:
- Policy 03-C: Student Representation on the Board
- Policy 03-F: Trustee Expense Reimbursement
- Policy 03-G: Hospitality
- Policy 11-A: Committees of the Whole Board
- Policy 11-G: Special Education Advisory Committee
- Policy 11-J: Accessibility Committee
- Policy 11-K: Parent Involvement Committee
- Policy 13: Appeals and Hearings Regarding Student Discipline
- Policy 13: Appeals and Hearings Regarding Student Discipline FORMS
- Policy 17: Transportation
- Policy 18: Learning Foundation
Short-term borrowing
Board members approved two borrowing resolutions related to capital borrowing for a child care addition to Stirling Public School (up to $10,300,000) and also for the new Trenton elementary school (up to $1,000,000) in order to meet short-term borrowing requirements for construction.
Amendment to terminology related to the Ontario Public School Boards'Association
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board supports the role of the Ontario Public School Boards'Association (OPSBA) as the key advocacy partner in publicly-funded education. The Education Act RSO, 1990, predominately uses the terminology 'board member'or 'member of the board'and makes a singular reference to 'trustee'in acknowledging that for the purpose related to the Act 31.s.1(7): "A member of a board may be referred to as a trustee." Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has worked to align its policies with the language in the Education Act. OPSBA By-Law Number 5 (Constitution) exclusively uses the term "trustee(s)."
Board members approved a resolution to request that the OPSBA use the terminology 'board member'or 'member of the board'in place of 'trustee.'
Educational Programs in Care, Treatment and Correctional Facilities (Section 23)
Each year the care, treatment and correctional facilities memoranda of understanding, in accordance with Section 23 of Ontario Regulation 287/98, are reviewed by Ministry of Education and school board personnel. These formal agreements outline the roles, responsibilities, and relationship of the school board and the facility.
Board members approved programs to continue during the 2015-2016 school year at the following facilities:
- Parent-Child and Youth Clinic at Queen Victoria School;
- Honeywell House, Children's Mental Health Residential;
- Junior Day Treatment Program at Park Dale School; and
- St. Leonard's Home.
2015-2016 School Year Calendar
Each spring, school boards are required to establish a school year calendar for the next school year in accordance with Regulation 304 School Year Calendar. This regulation sets the beginning and end dates for the school year, stipulates school holidays, and prescribes the minimum number of instructional days (194) and the maximum number of professional activity days (6), examinations days
(10) and board designated holidays (2).
In establishing the annual school year calendar, it is the practice of the Board to consult with employee groups, parents, community members and neighbouring school boards about the use and placement of professional activity days, examination days and board holidays in order to ensure the optimum use of school time and to determine transportation costs. Meetings have also been held with representatives of the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (with whom this board shares bus routes) and the Limestone District School Board (with whom the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board shares bus routes).
Board members approved the following dates for the 2015-2016 school year calendar. These dates are subject to Ministry of Education approval, which is expected by the late spring.
- The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 8, 2015.
- The Christmas break will be from Monday, December 21, 2015 to January 1, 2016.
- Semester 2 will begin Thursday, February 4, 2016.
- The mid-winter (March) break will be from Monday, March 14, 2016 to Friday, March 18, 2016.
- The last day of school year will be Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
- The following six dates will be designated as professional activity days:
- Thursday, September 3, 2015;
- Friday, September 25, 2015;
- Friday, November 13, 2015;
- Thursday, February 4, 2016;
- Friday, May 20, 2016; and
- Thursday, June 30, 2016.
- A Board designated holiday will be Friday, September 4, 2015.
- Ten examination days for secondary schools will be:
- Wednesday, January 27, 2016 through to Tuesday, February 2, 2016; and
- Wednesday, June 22, 2016 through to Tuesday, June 28, 2016.
Information
Calendar of events
A number of district and school events are scheduled for the remainder of March and into April 2015.
Upcoming events include the following:
- Throughout March: Student art on display in the Cultural Corner at Hastings Highlands Centre.
- Tuesday, March 24: Skills Competition for secondary school students hosted at Loyalist College.
- Thursday, March 26: School-wide breakfast, Hillcrest School.
- Wednesday, April 1: Parent/Teacher interviews at Centennial Secondary School and Moira Secondary School.
- Wednesday, April 8: Pink Shirt Day at HPEDSB schools.
- Thursday, April 9: 27th Annual Secondary School Art Show, John M. Parrott Art Gallery, Belleville.
- Tuesday, April 14: Pedal for Hope launch event, Madoc Public School, with Belleville Police Service.
- Saturday, April 25: The Art of Adventure, artwork by Queen Victoria School Adventure Class students on display at the John M. Parrott Art Gallery, Belleville.
Report from the Chair
Highlights from this report included the following:
Review of the process to fill the trustee vacancy; it must be completed within 90 days, as per the Education Act. Details of the process are being finalized and will be shared in early April.
Report from Executive Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- An upcoming speaking engagement for the director of education at a luncheon with the Rotary Club at the Belleville Travelodge. The Executive Committee will hold its meeting on-site and join the Rotary meeting.
Operations and Finance Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- A report on the short-term borrowing resolutions mentioned earlier in this document.
Program and Human Resources Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Presentation about a reading/comprehension program being used in all schools with Primary grades, known as Levelled Literacy Intervention. It was piloted in six schools last year and expanded to all this year. Results have shown an increase in students'reading skills, comprehension, writing and behaviour.
Reports from Trustees
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Participation in a session called Meal or No Meal about poverty, hosted by the health unit.
- Attendance at the event to open the Carl Pitman Centre at Stirling Public School.
- Attendance at the Skills Competition for secondary school students tomorrow at Loyalist College.
Upcoming meetings
All meetings take place at the Education Centre unless otherwise noted.
- Thursday, March 26: Special Education Advisory Committee, 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, April 7: Executive Committee, 11:00 a.m.
- Monday, April 13: Program and Human Resources Committee, 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, April 13: Operations and Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
- Monday, April 27: Public Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, extension 2354, [email protected]