Board Meeting Update, September 26, 2022
This update provides a summer of the public meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held September 26, 2022, 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 regular meeting in October.
Land Acknowledgement
Lucille Kyle, Trustee, North Hastings, recited the Land Acknowledgement: As Trustees for Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and as settlers to this land, we acknowledge and honour the land on which we reside, occupy and meet as part of the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and Anishinabek people. These Indigenous Nations agreed to mutual sharing obligations and responsibilities as stewards of the land and water. Today these responsibilities and obligations extend to all Peoples. These lands are steeped in rich Indigenous history, traditions and modern cultures that are proud and vibrant. The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board supports and is committed to the stewardship of the land and the responsibilities that we hold to ensure learning, education programs and services support all staff and students.
Presentations
Swearing in the student trustees
The three student trustees, Lawson Hung, Trenton High School; Shoshannah Spencer, Centennial Secondary School; and Julia Webster, Eastside Secondary School, were sworn in for the 2022-2023 school year. Congratulations and welcome!
Student trustees Lawson Hung, Trenton High School; Shoshannah Spencer, Centennial Secondary School; and Julia Webster, Eastside Secondary School, were sworn in to formally begin their term for the 2022-2023 school year.
Recommendations
Revised HPEDSB By-Laws
Board members adopted the revised by-laws, and in doing so, revoked Policy 2: Governance By-Laws and Standing Rules. The revised committee meeting structure will be in effect as of the inaugural and organizational Board meetings in November 2022. Find out more starting on page 14 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
Director of Education performance appraisal
Board members approved a recommendation to present Katherine MacIver, Director of Education, with a management letter. In accordance with Board Policy 4, section 5(d), a performance appraisal is required after the first year of service for the Director of Education. s per the Terms of Reference for the Ad Hoc Director’s Performance Appraisal Committee, the Chair of the committee will provide a final report, including recommendations, to Director MacIver and upon completion of the process the Board shall dissolve by motion the Director’s Performance Appraisal Ad Hoc Committee. Find out more on page 69 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
Dispose of surplus property
Board members approved a recommendation from the Budget and Finance Committee to Queen Elizabeth School (Picton), which has been deemed as surplus property. Find out more on page 70 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
Information
Summer learning and mental health supports
Summer learning opportunities were provided in-person and online to students in Grades K-12 from July 4-29, 2022.
The following academic outcomes were achieved:
- student learning gaps from the previous school year were reduced, resulting in increased skill acquisition in literacy and mathematics;
- students were supported in cross-panel transitions through the provision of reach ahead credit opportunities;
- Indigenous students were supported in the transition from Grade 8 to Grade 9 through their participation in Indigenous Culture camps focused on relationship building and cultural celebration associated with Eastside Secondary School and North Hastings High School; the camps also supported the acquisition of reach-ahead credits; and
- students earned increased credits toward graduation.
The following Special Education and mental health outcomes were achieved:
- social workers provided direct support to students on their existing caseloads and responded to crisis situations
- additional teachers were hired to support students with Special Education needs during the program offerings;
- Transition Back to School programs and supports were established prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year for students with Special Education needs and mental health concerns; and
- Social workers, social services workers and Behaviour Support Services team members engaged with students and families prior to the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Find out more on page 71 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
Enrolment update
At the start of each school year, elementary and secondary enrolments are collected, then compared to projections to determine the impact on teaching staff and school organizations in order to address provincial class size guidelines and match funding to expenditures.
Elementary and secondary enrolments were collected on September 14 and used to update projections for 2022-2023.
- Elementary: The revised elementary enrolment projection is 10,730 compared to a budget projection of 10,533. The significant increase of 197 students occurred primarily in Kindergarten (increase of 122). The number of students in the virtual school is 84, below the budget enrolment projection of 113. Overall, 0.8% of elementary students are enrolled in the virtual school.
- Secondary: The revised secondary average daily enrolment (ADE) projection is 4,548, which is close to the budget projection of 4,535. The year-over-year increase of 84 students continues the recent trend of increasing secondary enrolment. Due to lack of demand, a secondary virtual school is not offered this school year.
Find out more on page 74 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
Elementary and secondary achievement data
The report provided an outline of elementary and secondary student achievement data, and a review of system priorities, which focus on students progressing towards increased success, achievement and graduation outcome.
- Early reading: The Curriculum Services plan for foundational literacy aligns expectations in the HPEDSB plan with the recommendations in the Ontario Human Right’s Code Right to Read document. The HPEDSB plan includes a literacy assessment continuum, a system-wide reading data collection plan and access to foundational literacy resources, such as Scarborough’s Reading Rope and Heggerty Phonemic Awareness tools.
- Mathematics: To support explicit instruction of the fundamentals of math, as outlined in the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum, and to increase achievement for all students, Curriculum Services has the following supports in place: system-wide collection and analysis of numeracy data, co-planning and co-teaching with educators, and creating personalized and precise student learning and achievement needs. Data shows an overall increase in student understanding of targeted skills, emphasizing the importance of explicit instruction in the fundamentals of mathematics.
Find out more on page 78 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
EQAO update
Last spring the EQAO team announced a new approach to assessments. Part of this includes reviewing the levels (Level 1, 2, 3, 4), among other changes, and as a result, have not yet released the data from spring assessments.
Suspension and expulsion data report
HPEDSB has developed Procedure 378: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour, to promote a safe learning and working environment in all schools and to assist students in recognizing the behaviours required for optimal learning, achievement, good citizenship and well-being.
Progressive discipline uses a continuum of preventative measures, corrective and supportive interventions and responses to address inappropriate behaviour, and to build upon strategies that promote positive behaviours. Bias free and progressive discipline are built on a foundation of positive practices used to develop a safe school climate in which all students can reach their full potential.
When prevention and intervention strategies to promote positive behavior have not met with success, Procedure 378 provides direction for the delivery of possible responses to be used by administrators. Principals or designates have a duty under the Education Act to maintain proper order and discipline in schools, and students are responsible to the principal or designate for their conduct. In the case of serious incidents, principals or designates may find that bias free progressive discipline responses such as suspension or expulsion must be considered. Find out more on page 82 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
2022 Ontario Scholars
In June 2022, 418 students graduated as Ontario Scholars, meaning they achieved six Grade 12 credits with an average of 80% or higher. Find out more on page 84 of the September 26, 2022 agenda.
Report from the Director of Education
Highlights from this report included the following:
- an article about HPEDSB literacy practices is on the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario website
- Principal Derek DeLarge wrote an article about universal design for learning for Novak Education
- CWB Welding Foundation announced Bayside Secondary School as the national winner of an award, with a $15,000 prize for the school
- New Aviation and Aerospace Program at Eastside Secondary School this school year;
Report from student trustees
Highlights from this report included the following:
- visits to secondary schools are planned for early October to raise awareness about Student Voice and leadership, with more scheduled in the spring in advance of a student event
Report from the Audit Committee, September 21, 2022
Highlights from this report included the following:
- received the external auditor’s plan for 2021-2022;
- decided to appoint a new external auditor;
- reviewed the 2022-2023 internal audit plan; and
- reviewed the manner in which audits will be presented.
Report from the Budget/Finance Committee, September 19, 2022
Highlights from this report included the following:
- reviewed the interim financial report as of August 31, 2022.
Report from the Special Education Advisory Committee, September 19, 2022
Highlights from this report included the following:
- welcomed new members;
- meeting structure was reviewed;
- reviewed the SEAC term of 2022-2026; and
- goal-setting for the school year.
OPSBA Information Exchange
Highlights from this report included the following:
- OPSBA meeting this weekend for school board representatives; and
- the regional chair has asked for input on good new stories and Trustee Chatten will share the aforementioned Director of Education report.
Questions, reports and proposals from trustees
Highlights from this report included the following:
- when visiting schools last week, the Trenton trustee was made aware of strike votes occurring.
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications and Privacy Manager, 613-966-1170, extension 62354, or 613-847-0696, or [email protected]