Mark Bailey re-elected chair of the Upper Grand District School Board
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 4, 2013
GUELPH, Ontario – Mark Bailey, a trustee representing wards 1 and 5 in the City of Guelph was re-elected Chair of the Upper Grand District School Board at the annual organizational meeting of the board on December 3, 2013. It is his second year as the board’s Chair.
Trustee Marty Fairbairn, who represents Guelph Ward 6 and Puslinch Township, was acclaimed to serve as Vice-chair for a second year.
The positions are for a one-year term ending November 30, 2014.
Mark Bailey was first elected to the board in 2006. He was Vice-chair in 2011, succeeding Trustee Bob Borden as Chair in 2012. Bailey has chaired the board’s Program Committee and has held several leadership positions in the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA). He is currently the First Vice-President of OPSBA.
Marty Fairbairn was first elected to the school board in 2003. In addition to his duties as Vice-chair, for the past year Fairbairn has chaired the Special Education Advisory Committee, as well as the board’s budget committee.
In his acceptance speech Bailey thanked his fellow trustees placing their trust in him for a second term, pledging to “create consensus, run effective meetings, and foster a collaborative environment.”
Looking forward to the challenges in the coming year, Bailey said he was cautiously optimistic that upcoming labour negotiations will be “much more fruitful and respectful than the last round”.
Other priorities and issues for the board in 2014 include strategic planning, rapid capital development, the final year of Full Day Kindergarten implementation, and the increasing popularity of French Immersion.
“We will continue to ask ourselves the hard questions, and honestly reflect on how we can support our students in challenging subject areas, particularly in math,” said Bailey. “And we must continue to explore ways to deliver our programs and services equitably, across board geography and socio-economic divides.”
Bailey also noted that “we will continue our quest to develop services that support student well-being,” in partnership with other agencies, especially those related to children and youth health and social services.
In other business at the meeting, the membership of board committees was confirmed or modified. Trustees acclaimed to serve as the Chairs and Vice-chairs of the board’s two Standing Committees are:
- Lynn Topping (Townships of Amaranth, East Luther/Grand Valley, Melancthon, Mulmur, and Towns of Mono and Shelburne) is Chair of the Program Committee.
- Susan Moziar (Guelph Wards 2, 3 and 4) is Vice-chair of the Program Committee.
- Kathryn Cooper (Township of Guelph/Eramosa, Township of East Garafraxa and Town of Erin) is Chair of the Business Operations Committee.
- Bruce Schieck (Township of Wellington North, Town of Minto and Township of Mapleton) is Vice-chair of the Business Operations Committee.
Full text of speech by Chair Mark Bailey
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]
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