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Board Meeting Highlights for August 2019

For Immediate Release
August 28, 2019

GUELPH, Ontario – The August meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on August 27, 2019. The following provides highlights from the meeting.

Director’s Objectives 2019-20

Director of Education, Martha Rogers provided the Board of Trustees with her objectives for 2019-20 school year. Based on four strategic directions – 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 2019-20.

Action steps for achieving excellence include implementing the UGDSB Math Strategy in both elementary and secondary in accordance with Ministry guidelines and funding, continue to implement the Board French Action Plan, Special Education Plan, Environmental Sustainability Action Plan and the Ontario Early Years and Child Care Strategy. The board will ensure that Information Technology changes are addressed equitably and sustainably within established budgets. The board will provide in-services and other professional learning opportunities aligned with board and Ministry initiatives and priorities, and will continue to develop, implement and monitor the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP).

In the area of promoting well-being, action steps include promoting and supporting positive mental health initiatives, safe and accepting schools initiatives, healthy schools, and equity and inclusive education initiatives. Other action steps include providing programs and services to support all staff on a personal and professional level, and continuing the implementation of a multi-year Health and Safety Plan.

To ensure equity of access and opportunity, action steps include providing programs and services to meet the learning needs of students with specific education needs, providing student success, engagement and re-engagement and experiential learning programs and services for all students including those at risk, providing career and life-planning and transition programming for all students from JK-12, and continuing the implementation of the First Nation Métis and Inuit Board Action Plan.

Public confidence will be highlighted through the revision and implementation of the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan, with a focus on school-based energy initiatives, the completion of all Financial Reports, the implementation of the 2019-20 Renewal Plan for school facilities, and by 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, the First Nation Métis and Inuit Advisory Committee, and the Safe Equitable and Inclusive Schools Steering Committee.

Director’s Performance Appraisal and Senior Staff Achievements

Following the Director’s Objectives report, the Board of Trustees commended UGDSB Director of Education, Martha Rogers, on her exceptional leadership skills and her senior administrative team. The Trustees recognized the Director’s exemplary public education leadership skills, locally, provincially and nationally.

“Dr. Roger’s vision and skills have created a strong and cohesive UGDSB system that serves the needs of our students,” said UGDSB Chair Linda Busuttil.

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 and accommodation activities.

Annual Capital/Renewal Projects Update

Operations Officer Paul Scinocca provided the Board 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 major renovations at five elementary schools and three secondary schools, technology shop upgrades, upgrades to nine Library Learning Commons, numerous energy upgrades, and additional work including roofing, paving, mechanical, and electrical projects.

Policy Updates

Trustees approved the following revised board policy: Policy 213 Code of Conduct.

To view all UGDSB policies and procedures, and to provide feedback on draft policies, visit www.ugdsb.ca/policy.

The next regular monthly meeting will be held on Tues. September 24, 2019, 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]

Categories: Media Releases • News