This is a summary of the November 27, 2023 Organization Meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board. Official minutes will be approved at the next regular meeting.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Lands
Recited by Erica Charlton, Trustee, Bellevile/Thurlow: 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 we hold to ensure that learning, education programs and services support all staff and students.
Rise and report from Committee of the Whole
- October 24, 2023 public meeting: Recommendation that the Board of Trustees do not have individual trustee social media accounts; this was approved. Find out more starting on page 32 of the November 27, 2023 agenda. The Board also approved a motion about notices of motion.
- November 6, 2023 closed meeting: Personnel matter.
- November 27, 2023 closed meeting: Human Resources matter.
Report from trustees appointed to external organizations
Ontario Public School Board Association (OPSBA)
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Eastern Region Meeting on November 4 was hosted by Upper Canada DSB in Gananoque. Trustees Hambly, Maracle and Robertson attended.
- The OPSBA Board of Directors met November 26, 2023 in Toronto, with agenda items including the following:
- Ministry of Education announced professional development funding for chairs and vice-chairs; a session is tentatively scheduled for the day after the Public Education Symposium in late January
- OPSBA submission for the 2024-2025 GSN consultation was emailed to all trustees last week
- Update on Bill 98.
- OPSBA sent a letter to the Minister of Education regarding the Accelerated Apprenticeship Pathways and another letter about regarding the Digital Privacy Charter
- Two recommendations were passed: 1) to adopt Policy 230 Legal Action Fund; and 2) to send the OPSBA updated mission, vision and values to the general membership to be voted on at the AGM in July
- Today was Advocacy Day at Queens Park and Trustee Amanda Robertson participated.
- Registration is open for the Public Education Symposium scheduled for the end of January 2024.
Food for Learning, November 23, 2023
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Safe Food Handling Training Manual is being prepared for schools and volunteers.
- Food cost review is underway due to the rising cost of groceries.
- Student Nutrition Ontario is a partner organization to Food for Learning.
- Costs for Food for Learning annually are in the $800,000 to $900,000 range.
- The annual Feed the Meter campaign is underway, along with Mistletoe Magic, food drives and more
- Black Diamond Cheese is donating 90 cases of cheese strings to schools in recognition of its 90th anniversary.
Standing Committee reports
Governance and Policy Committee November 21, 2023
Recommendation for Trustee Committee Membership
Board members approved the committee membership for the Standing, Statutory, Advisory and External committees with the exception of OPSBA and SEAC. Find out more starting on page 33 of the November 27, 2023 agenda.
Additional topics discussed included potential professional learning sessions about anti-racism and parliamentary procedures; change the start time of meetings to 3:30 PM.
Chair and Vice-chair elected for the Physical Planning, Finance and Building Committee
Kari Kramp was elected Chair and Erica Charlton was elected Vice-chair of the Physical Planning, Finance and Building Committee.
Chair and Vice-chair elected for the Student Learning, Well-being and Equity Committee
Stacey Lewis was elected Chair and Rachael Prinzen was elected Vice-chair of the Student Learning, Well-being and Equity Committee.
Physical Planning, Finance and Building Committee, November 13, 2023
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Reviewed reports on student enrolment and Education Centre air quality testing.
- Update on the boundary review process.
Student Learning, Well-Being, and Equity Committee, November 6, 2023
School year calendar change
Board members approved a recommendation to move the April 12, 2024 PA Day to April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024 and parts of HPEDSB will be in the path of totality, which means that these regions will experience complete darkness at approximately 3:20 PM. The duration of the eclipse will be approximately between the hours of 2:00-4:00 PM. Find out more starting on page 36 of the November 27, 2023 agenda.
Recommendation for social media mass tort
Board members approved a recommendation to contact law firm Neinstein LLP to discuss potential participation by HPEDSB in the Social Media Mass Tort, as presented to Ontario Public School Boards’ Association Board of Directors October 19, 2023. Find out more starting on page 37 of the November 27, 2023 agenda.
Statutory Committee reports
Audit Committee
2022-2023 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements & Auditors Report
Board members approved the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ending August 31, 2023. The total accumulated surplus available for compliance is $11.2 million. Find out more starting on page 57 of the November 27, 2023 agenda.
Parent Involvement Committee, November 15, 2023
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Continued strong attendance by parents at these meetings.
- Update about the Math Achievement Action Plan; Math facilitators working with students in Grade 3, 6 and 9 classrooms.
- Update from the Learning Foundation.
- Recap of the Community Partner Breakfasts; reminder about the new student absence reporting system called SafeArrival starting December 4, 2023.
- Update about the Parents Reaching Out grant applications.
Special Education Advisory Committee, October 26, 2023 & November 23, 2023
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Presentation about Education and Community Partnership Programs.
- Support to send a letter to the Ministry of Education for increased funding for SIP.
- Presentation about Tier 1 Oral Language program which has been implemented in Grade 2 classes for vocabulary and comprehension.
- Grade 7 and 8 Literacy Module implementation plan.
Supervised Alternative Learning Committee, November 1 & 15, 2023
Highlights from this report included the following:
- 33 students approved for Supervised Alternative Learning.
Advisory Committee reports
Student Voice Committee
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Establish representatives from each of the seven secondary schools, with Student Voice groups at each school.
- Priority initiatives for this school year include the following:
- crowding in school bathrooms;
- planning a Student Voice Conference in June 2024; and
- creating positive communication channels among Student Voice representatives and school administrators.
Chair’s report, invitation for trustee sharing
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Canadian Peace Museum announced that Bird's Creek Public School was awarded the first prize and $500 through the Stories of Peace Award.
- Grace Shelter Inn open house is happening soon.
- Recent death of a student who attended Prince Edward Collegiate Institute.
Director’s report
Highlights from this report included the following:
- Community Partner Breakfasts in Bancroft, Belleville/Quinte West and Picton were an opportunity to share HPEDSB work with other publicly funded organizations, as well as to collaborate on best practices to serve the communities.
- Visited Tyendinaga Public School with MPP Todd Smith to see the Food for Learning program and the influx of additional funds that our local food for learning program received, approximately $73,000. Many thanks to the volunteers and staff who volunteer at all our schools every day.
- The change about the school year calendar will be forwarded to the Ministry of Education for final approval, then information will be shared with families and the community.
- Grade 7 and 8 sessions for Mental Health Literacy Modules, three per grade connected to Strand D of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum and skilled trades carts
- Destreaming in Grade 9 brings changes in the curriculum for Math, Language, Civics + Citizenship, Digital Technology. It is a cultural shift, a curriculum shift and a parent/guardian shift. What de-streamed classes require is simply good teaching using Universal Design for Learning, differentiated instruction, and culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy. This applies to every class in every grade, not just newly de-streamed classes. Our coaches support this learning and work with their peers. Some training is required; it centers around re-culturing, overcoming bias and understanding the effects of streaming.
- Pleased to see the ETFO tentative agreement; we are awaiting details and ratification by ETFO and the Central Table.
2023 Director’s Annual Report
The 2023 Director’s Annual Report showcases learning during the 2022-2023 school year. It opens with a story telling the connection to the illustration on the front cover., which is of a new mural at Harry J. Clarke Public School, inspired by the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. Reports like this are possible due to the people behind the scenes. Thank you to the school and Education Centre staff who contributed article ideas and make us Proud2BeHPE. Find out more starting on page 102 of the November 27, 2023 agenda.
Upcoming meetings
Public Board Meetings
- December 11, 2023 at 6:00 PM
- January 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM
- February 26, 2024 at 6:00 PM
- March 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM
- April 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM
- May 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM
- June 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Several school events are scheduled for December. Find our more starting on page 103 of the November 27, 2023 agenda.