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Highlights from the board meeting of March 26, 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 27, 2013

Guelph, Ontario: The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on Wednesday, March 26, 2013. The following are highlights from the meeting.

International Baccalaureate Program Approved

Following a delegation by Bruce Dadey and Jason Offer, two parents who sat on the Learning Choices Committee, trustees approved the start up of a Diploma International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Guelph Collegiate. Mr. Dadey and Mr. Offer spoke in favour of the program and expressed appreciation for the committee’s work. The program is expected to begin in September 2016 for grades 11 and 12, with a pre IB program for grades 9 and 10 to start in 2014. A $100,000 budget will be established for the 2013-14 school year to pay for start up costs: fees, release time for a coordinator at the school, and initial training for staff. Parents will be asked to pay not more than $1300 a year for the program to cover the costs of examinations, materials teacher release time and student enrichment opportunities. There are no fees for the pre IB program. Transportation will not be provided. A bursary fund will also be established to help students facing financial barriers who are accepted through the application process. The issue of geographic equity was also raised by trustees and the delegation. It was noted that program at GCVI will be open to any student in the district whose application is accepted. The committee’s discussions also looked at the opportunity to offer the program in other areas of the board, or through other formats (e-Learning), and these may be considered in the future.

New South Guelph Boundary Review

A boundary was approved for the new South Guelph JK to grade 8 French Immersion (FI) school to be built on Zaduk Place. The boundary affects students who currently attend John McCrae, Paisley Road and FA Hamilton public schools. Trustees also asked that the Chair respond to a family who provided comments on the boundary by letter instead of appearing as a delegation. The full report with boundary descriptions and maps is posted on the board’s website at www.ugdsb.ca/sgbr. The school is expected to open in September 2014.

Naming of New School in Shelburne

The new school being built in the town of Shelburne will be named Glenbrook Elementary School. The naming committee composed of the local trustees, school principal, two parents and the school superintendent chose the name as it is a combination of the names of the two areas where most of the children reside. Students were also asked to provide possible names for the school as well. Glenbrook ES is expected to open in September 2013.

Policies Approved

The board approved two amended policies: #213 code of Conduct and #606 Assessment and Evaluation. In addition, policy #211 Accessibility Standards for Customer Service was rescinded and replaced with Policy #214 Accessibility Standards. The new accessibility policy contains not only standards for customer service, but those required in transportation, information and communication, and employment due to Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The next monthly meeting of the Upper Grand DSB will be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at the Guelph Board Office 500 Victoria Road North, beginning at 7:00 p.m. 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: Media Releases