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Board Meeting Highlights for August 2018

For Immediate Release
August 29, 2018

GUELPH, Ontario – The August meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on August 28, 2018. The following provides highlights from the meeting.

Director’s Objectives 2018-19

Director of Education, Martha Rogers provided the board with her objectives for the coming school year. Based on four strategic directions established by the board – Achieving Excellence, Promoting Well-Being, Ensuring Equity of Access and Opportunity, and Enhancing Public Confidence – there is a variety of action plans to guide the work of the board throughout the year.

Student achievement and well-being are primary goals as a school system and are reflected in many of the Planning Objectives for 2018-2019.

Action steps for achieving excellence include the implementation of the Board French Action Plan, the implementation and review of the Board Special Education Plan, and of the 5 Year Cycle of Support. Board staff will continue to implement the Ontario Early Years and Child Care Strategy, and the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan. The board will continue to implement the Learning Choices Policy and Procedures and ensure that Information Technology changes are addressed equitably and sustainably within established budgets.

In the area of promoting well-being, the board will continue to support the well-being of students by promoting positive mental health, fostering safe and accepting schools, developing healthy schools and supporting equity and inclusive education initiatives. Staff will be provided with programs and services that offer support on a personal and professional level. The board will continue its implementation of a multi-year Health and Safety Plan to ensure a safe working and learning environment.

The board will ensure equity of access and opportunity by providing programs and services that meet the learning needs of students with special education needs. At-risk students will be provided with Student Success, Engagement and Re-engagement programs and services. Career and life-planning courses will be provided for all students from JK-12. The board will continue the implementation of the International Baccalaureate program and will continue to provide programs and services for international students and adult learners. The board will work collaboratively with parents, community partners and third party operators to expand affordable child-care opportunities for Upper Grand students and communities.  Staff will continue the implementation of the First Nation Métis Inuit Board Action Plan.

Public confidence will be highlighted through the completion of all Financial Reports, and staff will support the Audit Committee with Ministry reports, external auditors and the board’s internal audit team. The board will continue the management of the review and revision of current policies and the development of new policies as required. The board will initiate the design of Ministry-approved Capital Projects and will develop and implement the 2018-19 Renewal Plan for school facilities, while ensuring efficiency and accountability in the business operations of the board.

The board will continue to support parent and community engagement in board-level committees including the Special Education Advisory Committee, the Parent Involvement Committee, the French as a Second Language Committee, and the Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Director’s Performance Appraisal and Senior Staff Achievements

Following the Director’s Objectives report, trustees commended the board’s Director of Education, Martha Rogers, on her exceptional leadership skills and her senior administrative team. Trustees praised the Director’s competence, outstanding performance, work done with adverse communities, ability to meet the objectives of both provincial and local issues, and her continued focus, care and commitment to staff and students. They also commended the Director’s skills in setting out the goals and expectations for senior administration, departments and staff, motivating, leading, coordinating and monitoring, as well as her ability to lead and inspire a large system to achieve the objectives set each year.

The Board of Trustees also commended the achievements of the board’s senior administrators over the past year and their successful undertakings in areas including:

 As well as the noted objectives and achievements, the senior administration was involved in the successful coordination and management of elementary and secondary schools, environmental issues, staff wellness initiatives, and planning activities such as boundary reviews.

Annual Capital/Renewal Projects Update

Paul Scinocca, the board’s Operations Officer, provided trustees with an update of the construction and renewal work done over the summer, as numerous projects took place at schools across the district.

This summer’s work included three child care buildings, two elementary school additions, major renovations at five elementary schools and two secondary schools, numerous energy upgrades, and additional work including roofing, paving, mechanical, electrical and accessibility projects.

Appointment of Election Compliance Audit Committee

Trustees approved the appointment of Bruce Robinson, Pradeep Mehta and Debbie Speight to the UGDSB’s Compliance Audit Committee. The Municipal Elections Act requires school boards to appoint an audit committee to hear and decide on applications for compliance audits for the next four years.

The next regular monthly meeting will be held on Tues. September 25, 2018, at the Guelph Board Office, 500 Victoria Road North. Everyone is welcome to attend. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

About the Upper Grand District School Board

The Upper Grand District School Board serves approximately 34,000 students through 65 elementary schools and 11 secondary schools in the City of Guelph, County of Wellington and County of Dufferin. The UGDSB covers the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territories. Student success is the goal of over 3,000 dedicated teaching and support staff who are aided by the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners.

Learn, Lead, Inspire…Together

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Media contact:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]

Megan Sicoli, Administrative Officer, Communications
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.764
[email protected]

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