These are highlights from the public meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held October 27, 2025.
Affirmation of Traditional Lands
Kandis Hambly, Trustee, Trenton and CFB Trenton, offered a Land Affirmation.
Presentation: Grade 9 Math EQAO Successes and Strategies
This presentation explained how to strengthen math learning at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute. The school focus was on building a community of learners in math through a thinking classroom approach. Students worked in collaboration at whiteboards where they could show their thinking in two different ways. This allowed the students to show the models they were taught.
Thank you to the presenters (L to R): From PECI, Marg Thompson, Principal; Teachers Jenny Lyons and Alyssa Leavitt; Anne Brown, Vice-principal; and Chris Lee from Curriculum Services.
Ontario Public School Boards' Association update
Highlights from this report included the following:
- The OPSBA Board of Directors met September 26 and 27, 2025. Within the President’s report it was noted that OPSBA has taken a step back from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference this year given the scrutiny of expenses by the current government, which is unfortunate given the desire to increase relationships between school boards and municipal councils.
- Saturday was dedicated to a legal review of Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, which would shift governance power from local school boards to the provincial Minister of Education. Trustees province-wide have been meeting with MPPs but there is a lack of information on the Minister’s plans, as well as a lack of accountability for the underfunding of school boards by the government. This current time has been identified as a super hyper political landscape, undermining the role of trustees.
- This issue has resulted in reduced fees for OPSBA because school boards under supervision do not pay OPSBA membership fees. Lower attendance is expected at symposium events. Cost mitigation strategies by OPSBA include securing additional sponsorships, hotel procurement savings and holding more virtual meetings while advocating for strong local government, believing in the value of local democracy.
- OPSBA is regularly updating trustees on mis- and dis- information in order to support local advocacy. It was stressed that broader support is needed to sway government opinion, not solely by trustees but by the general public.
- The elimination of trustees will make a case for what is to come: less contact for families within supervised boards and supervisory officers making operational decisions.
- Also discussed was the reality of a $360,000 annual salary for an appointed supervisory officer, not including their staff, versus less than half that for a group of up to 12 elected trustees, an economical difference many parents and community members may not be aware of.
- Members were also given the opportunity to provide input into OPSBA’s governance changes: reviewing its governance structure to best position the OPSBA to remain sustainable for the long term; and preserving accountability while maintaining presentation. There was disagreement by some members over this due to the fact Board of Directors is at the table to represent their individual boards and not to assist OPSBA with their restructuring, relevance and effectiveness. Nonetheless, we moved forward with the brainstorming task and a draft of possible changes will be available mid-November.
- A question was asked about OPSBA’s advocacy position has been with regard to Jordan’s Principle funding. OPSBA has been actively advocating for the reinstatement of federal funding and representatives headed to Ottawa earlier this month to meet with the Canadian School Board Association and the Assembly of First Nations to further champion the cause.
- The Eastern Regional Meeting hosted by Renfrew County District School Board is November 1, 2025.
Governance and Policy Committee: October 20, 2025
Board members approved revisions to Policy 20: Equity and Policy 22: Exclusion of a Student from Class or School. By-Law revisions were also approved. In addition, a letter regarding Bill 98: Trustee Attendance, was presented for review. The letter will be sent October 28, 2025 with no revisions.
Find out more on page 33 of the agenda.
Physical Planning, Finance and Budget Committee: October 14, 2025
Board members approved an authorizing resolution in order to transition the corporate credit card accounts to the Bank of Montreal and then terminate the existing PCard agreement with US Bank once the transition to BMO has been complete so as to not cause any service interruption to the organization.
Find out more on page 98 of the agenda.
Student Voice
Highlights from this report included the following:
- October 20, 2025 was the fall Student Voice conference with guest speaker Dr. Kylie Bragden. The focus was on leadership, artificial intelligence and the Words Matter campaign. Students also participated in a brainstorming activity using a dot-mocracy approach (putting dot stickers on one's first, second choices). A spring conference will take place.
Chair's report and trustee sharing
Highlights from this report included the following:
- The Board remains focused on the Bright Futures strategic plan.
- Recognized the dedication of coaches this fall.
- Recognized the partnership with the Learning Foundation and also staff member Glenda McComb who is a leader for the Have You Heard? soundfield campaign.
- Recognized the meaningful connections made during the Community Partner Breakfasts in Bancroft, Belleville and Picton earlier this fall.
- Participation in the Foxboro Public School Family BBQ on October 9.
- Engaging with students at Susanna Moodie Elementary School last week during Local Government Week.
- Attendance at the Student Voice event last week, with commendations to the three student trustees for their leadership in organizing it.
- Attendance at Otterpalooza, an event hosted by York River Public School. The annual turkey toss was a highlight!
Director's report
Highlights from this report included the following:
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Congratulations to the Communications team for winning a BRAVO! Award from the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) for the project Shine On, Vapes Gone.
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Participation in the launch of the Have You Heard? soundfield campaign launch on October 8.
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Expressed appreciation to Superintendent Elliott for running a pilot project in some English Language Learner classrooms using soundfields that can translate.
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Expressed appreciation to the student trustees for being hosts in our seven high schools at events connected to the strategic plan.
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Collaborative conversations with community partners during breakfast meetings in Bancroft, Belleville and Picton.
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Celebrating 25 years of the International Student Program.
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Attendance at a recent artificial intelligence meeting with senior staff.
EQAO report
This report provided a contextual overview of the HPEDSB EQAO successes and strategies from the 2024–2025 school year.
In the absence of the official EQAO results, staff are using available data from the system, school and classroom levels to guide work. Teams are demonstrating a continuing intentional approach to building data literacy and being responsive to
student learning needs,
Find out more on page 99 of the agenda.
Calendar of events
The dates for upcoming school events, committee and Board meetings are listed on page 102 of the agenda.
Motion for consideration
At the September 22, 2025 Regular Public Board Meeting, Trustee Parsons brought forward the following Notice of Motion:
That the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board immediately amend all public agendas to add an item to permit members of the community to appear as a delegation.
The motion was not approved.
For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications and Privacy Manager, 613-966-1170, extension 62354, or 613-847-0696, or [email protected]