Board Meeting Highlights for October 2015
October 28, 2015
GUELPH, Ontario – The October meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on October 27, 2015. The following provides highlights from the meeting.
GCVI International Baccalaureate Program Update
Trustees received an update on the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute is a candidate school for the program and is pursuing authorization as an IB World School.
GCVI’s principal Julie Prendergast and Acting IB coordinator Angela Snell presented an in-depth overview of the program.
The IB is a non-profit foundation that aims to foster respectful, caring and inquiring youth who work to make the world a more peaceful and understanding place. The programs encourage students to become active and engaged citizens, within their local and global communities.
The presentation detailed GCVI’s IB curriculum, progress in training teachers and how the program encourages learners to become risk-takers, communicators, and caring, balanced thinkers.
GCVI is holding an information night on the IB program on Thursday Nov. 19.
Health and Safety Report
Upper Grand’s Manager of Health and Safety, Nancy Culham, presented a report on Health and Safety in board schools. Culham highlighted the status of projects underway, such as updating obsolete machinery in tech classrooms, creating a draft tech safety manual as well as testing and repairing all fume hoods in science labs.
Culham noted that the Ministry of Labour will be going into Ontario schools, conducting blitzes in schools that focus on tech and science inspections.
She added that all staff will have completed new WHMIS training by the end of the year.
Trustee Expenses
Trustee expenses for the 2014-15 financial year were received by the board. The expenses, totaling $38,522, include trustee spending on professional development, travel, office supplies and meeting expenses. The expenses are posted on the board’s website.
School Closures in Extreme Cold Weather
Trustees Martha MacNeil and Barb White presented a report regarding school closures in extreme cold weather. The report reflected comments or concerns from parents of elementary and secondary students regarding school closure policy during extreme cold weather.
A number of questions were put forward, and staff will provide responses to those questions during the November Business Operations meeting.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held by on Tuesday Nov. 24, 2015, at the Guelph Board Office, 500 Victoria Road North. Everyone is welcome to attend. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
Categories: News