Highlights of the August 2014 Board meeting
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 27, 2014
GUELPH, Ontario – The August 2014 meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on Tuesday, August 26, 2014. The following are highlights from the meeting.
Director’s Objectives 2014-15
Director of Education, Martha Rogers provided the board with her objectives for the coming school year. Based on three strategic directions established by the board – High Level of Student Achievement, Energizing Staff and Increased Public Confidence – there are a variety of action plans to guide the work of the board throughout the year, and all are aligned with the Ministry of Education’s directions.
Action steps for student achievement include Board Improvement Planning including the development of the Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (BIPSA), the ongoing development of the mental health strategy and the special education plan. Diversity of instruction will see action in the areas of international students, “at risk” learners, and special needs students, plus the continuation of the “bring your own device” program. Rounding out the strategic direction will be the prioritizing of initiatives and resources in the areas of environment, implementation of Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) at all elementary sites, the International Baccalaureate Program and the French-language plan.
In the area of energizing staff, there will be the ongoing development of virtual meeting software, the review and revision of electronic communication tools, support for staff development in all areas including wellness, math, caretaking and IT, among others. The Director’s Annual Report and the celebration of staff and student accomplishments will continue through media releases, the board and school websites, and social media.
Public confidence will also be highlighted with attention paid to clarifying expectations, accountability and transparency through the budget process, the Audit Committee and the development of local collective agreements with all employee groups. The formalization and implementation of a multi-year health and safety plan will also be included, and the development of a new platform for sorting, searching and archiving documents called Docushare.
The community will also be engaged through continuing expansion of the community use program, the multi-year accessibility plan, the Parent Involvement Committee and the promotion and communication of the newly re-named Student Support and Program Services Department, and the redesign of the board’s website.
The Director will also continue to provide strong leadership and visibility in the system and community serving on many educational committees, supervise the work of the senior administration and the ongoing development and review of board policy.
The Director’s objectives are posted on the board’s website under Director’s Plans and Reports.
Compliance Audit Committee
The board approved the appointment of three members to the Compliance Audit Committee to hear and decide on applications for compliance audits for the next four years as required by the Municipal Elections Act. The committee will consider an application made by an elector for a review of a candidate’s election campaign finances, granting or rejecting the application. If granted, the committee will appoint an auditor to conduct the compliance audit.
Bruce Robinson, a chartered Accountant with RLB LLP (Guelph), Steven Routenburg, CGA and Certified Internal Auditor (sole proprietor, Moorefield) and Nancy Claridge, a lawyer with Carters Professional Corporation (Orangeville) were appointed for the four-year term.
Process for Appeals to Transportation Decisions
A newly-designed process for appeals of decisions made by Service de Transport Wellington Dufferin Student Transportation Services (STWDSTS) was introduced by the board’s representative on the consortium’s Transportation Management Committee, Janice Wright. Since the committee meets only every four months, the original process was never implemented and a new process taking less time has been drafted.
The policy contemplates a written appeal to the Manager of STWDSTS after a full review by the transportation technician and the Operation’s Manager. The manager would then respond in writing within 10 days giving reasons for the decision.
The Transportation Management committee is suggesting that the next phase of the appeal is made to a two member appeal board (representatives from Upper Grand and the Wellington Catholic District School Board). The Appeal Committee would meet, and provide a written response within 20 days with any new reasons for the decision. That would end the appeal to STWDSTS.
Trustees questioned the role of the school board in the process since the board often hears transportation appeals directly. In response it was suggested that this could still happen after the STWDSTS Appeals Committee reaches a decision, if the school board agrees and the appellant chooses to go to the board. The purpose of the process is to solve as many problems as possible in transportation directly. Trustees suggested that a report be prepared early in the school year, setting out the issues that form the basis for appeals. As a contractor, STWDSTS decisions are final, but a school board can direct transportation to do something (such as provide transportation) if it sees fit. The board’s comments will be taken back to the Transportation Management Committee for further fine tuning of the draft appeals process.
Summer Project Update
Paul Scinocca, Manager of Capital Projects, and his team provided trustees with an update of the work done over the summer. Along with building four new schools for potential opening in September 2014, they managed numerous other projects including renewal and construction for the implementation of FDK across the board. The total amount of money spend was in the area of $45 million.
Pictures to highlight the work that was done in demolition, rebuilding and repair were highlights of the presentation. It is expected that all schools will be open for students on September 2. The projects at the new schools have some work to be done after September 2, but this should not prevent them from opening to students.
- Spencer Avenue ES (Orangeville) – occupancy has been granted
- École Harris Mill PS (Rockwood) –partial occupancy has been granted but the gym and library will not be finished for students to use
- École Arbour Vista PS (Guelph) – – occupancy has been obtained
- William C. Winegard PS (Guelph) – partial occupancy is expected before September 2 but the gym, library and few classrooms will not be available until completed
Strategic Plan Directions Update
Strategic Planning Committee Co-chair, Linda Busuttil provided a verbal update on the work of the committee. An additional direction will be added to the 2015-2016 plan: Equity of Access and Opportunity. This meets the Ministry of Education’s directives, and there are many equity issues in the Director’s Objectives (highlighted above) that will be undertaken in 2014-15. The Board approved, in principal, the addition of the new Strategic Direction, with a full motion to come back later during the current board’s term of office. Additionally, input will be sought from workshops presented in the school system as determined by the Strategic Planning Committee.
The next regular monthly meeting of the board will be held on September 30, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Guelph office, 500 Victoria Road North. 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