Highlights of the January 2015 Board Meeting

MEDIA RELEASE

January 28, 2015

GUELPH, Ontario – The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on January 27, 2015. The following are highlights of the meeting.

Good News

Peter Le Blanc, principal of Erin Public School was named as one of Canada’s 40 Outstanding Principals™ of 2015 by the Learning Partnership. Peter was chosen by a two-tier process, first by the Ontario Principals’ Council, then a national panel of distinguished Canadian education, community and private sector leaders. Nominated by a teacher in his school, he was judged on evidence of his innovative leadership, evidence of partnerships with staff, parents and community, and examples of successful change resulting in improvement of student achievement, as well as corresponding letters of support. Congratulations Peter LeBlanc! (A media release has been issued).

Wellington North Accommodation Review

Option #1 as contained in the final report of the Elementary Accommodation Review Committee (ARC), together with Staff Report #3, were referred to the February 10, 2015 Business Operations Committee. The Staff Report calls for the closure of Kenilworth Public School and moving of students to Arthur Public School or Victoria Cross Public School in September 2015. The ARC Report Option #1 keeps the school open as a JK to grade 6 facility, with Full Day Kindergarten renovations being done and with the building maintained to the standard of all other Upper Grand schools. Trustees will debate the issue on February 10, and make recommendations. The board will have the opportunity to confirm any recommendations at the February 24th meeting.

Edward Johnson Overcrowding

The Board confirmed its decision of January 13, 2015 to take Option #2 off the table. Option #2 would have capped enrolment of Edward Johnson Public School French Immersion (FI) students in September 2015 (as well as other Guelph FI schools, regular and dual track). Four other options to help solve the overcrowding issue remain. The Board will debate the staff options at a special board meeting to be held on February 10, 2015. The move of the students must take place in September 2015. More information is available on the board’s website at /ejplan.

French Immersion Strategy

The board named trustees to serve on the French Immersion Strategy Committee. Trustees Evoy and Cooper were named for Wellington County (Trustee Schieck will serve as an alternate), Trustee White for Dufferin County and Trustees Busuttil and MacNeil for Guelph. All trustees are welcome, but those unnamed attend only as observers.

Letter from Thames Valley DSB

A letter from the Thames Valley District School Board requesting to raise awareness, and the lack of service supports and assessment mechanisms for students with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) was referred to the Board’s SEAC Advisory Committee.

A special board meeting will be held at on Tuesday, February 10 to debate the issue of the Interim Move of Edward Johnson FI Students.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

Both meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the 500 Victoria Road North Office, in Guelph. Everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information:

Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
 

Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext.544
[email protected]
 

Categories: News