UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2011 06 07
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday, June
7, 2011, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee Moziar presided, and the following Trustees were present: Bailey, Borden,
Busuttil, Cooper, Fairbairn, Gohn, Schieck, Topping, and Waterston along with Student
Trustees MacDougall and VanderVlugt. Present from the Administration was Director of
Education Dr. M. Rogers, Executive Officer of Human Resources J. Rose, Chief Information
Officer J. Shanks, and Communications Officer M. McFadzen, along with Superintendents
Benallick, Boswell, Fyfe, Kelly, Morrell, and Wright.
AGENDA
Trustee Busuttil moved that the Agenda be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Waterston moved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, May 3,
2011 be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
UPDATE ON YOOMAGAZINE – HEALTH LITERACY PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
Board Chief Psychologist, Dr. Mary Sue Crawford provided an update to the introduction
of YooMagazine and the Health Literacy Program for Youth introduced to the Board last year.
Through a PowerPoint display, Dr. Crawford reviewed the obstacles and implementation
strategies. In collaboration with several mental health partners, the Program was launched in
February 2011. The on-line Literacy Resource website is available 24 hours each day and
has been used as an academic resource, as well as a source for dealing with personal issues
on a variety of subjects. A pie chart of data from 11 Upper Grand secondary schools
illustrated school usage. Dr. Crawford noted topics frequently accessed and the male/female
ratio. YooMagazine services were highlighted and included information sheets, quizzes,
climate surveys, and other resources. Dr. Crawford proposed that the Program continue in
schools for the 2011-2012 year and that data tracking be maintained. In-services for teachers
and administration will be provided.
RECOMMENDATION #1
Trustee Waterston moved that;
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11 06 07
a) this Committee recommend to the Board that the presentation entitled, “Update
on YooMagazine – Health Literacy Program for Youth” be received, and
b) the Board continue to support the Health Literacy for Youth Program for the
2011-2012 school year, with a report to come to Board in June, 2012.
The motion carried.
UPPER GRAND BOARD IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE
Superintendent of Program, Heather Boswell provided background to the vision of the
2010-2011 Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement. Program Department staff,
along with Director of Education Dr. Martha Rogers and the Superintendents of Education,
has met with the Ministry on several occasions to address the literacy and numeracy
initiatives of the plan, share goals and progress, and seek further guidance.
Superintendent of Program, Heather Boswell, Superintendents of Education, Linda
Benallick, Rosemary Fyfe, Erin Kelly and Doug Morrell and Principal of Program, Bonnie
Talbot, used a multi-media presentation to share the progress made toward the goals in the
Board Plan. Superintendent Rosemary Fyfe shared a slide that highlighted the initiatives
supported by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat: Schools in the Middle (SIM), Ontario
Focused Intervention Partnership (OFIP), Collaborative Inquiry and Learning in Mathematics
(CIL-M), and Student Work Study Teacher (SWST) initiatives. Through Principal Learning
Teams (PLT), Professional Learning Communities (PLC), and Professional Network
Communities (PNC), specialized training and skill-sharing sessions have been offered. The
Committee watched two video clips that demonstrated how teachers have changed their
instructional practices in math and language based on their learning at numeracy and literacy
networks.
Superintendent of Education, Linda Benallick reviewed Peer Coaching and
Collaborative Inquiry Models that include curriculum leaders, literacy and tech coaches, and
SWST’s. An audio clip of the impact of Literacy Coaching on teachers was played.
Principal of Program, Bonnie Talbot noted the many resources used to aid in planning,
learning, and assessing, the implementation of new report card templates, and supports in
place for students in LDCC courses, second-time OSSLT writers, and students taking applied
mathematics courses.
Superintendent of Program, Heather Boswell examined steps taken to further close the
learning gap through the Community Culture and Caring pillars that include mental health
supports, assistive technology, and support through Student Success Leadership.
Superintendent of Education, Doug Morrell highlighted the Equitable and Inclusive
School initiative, adopted by Trustees in October 2010, to promote a safe and inclusive
school community. The implementation plan includes the development of a survey to be
posted on the Board website, community input, curriculum content, and staff professional
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11 06 07
development. Increased support of native studies is offered in schools and Aboriginal
Education Leader Donna Gerber continues to provide assistance through parent partnerships,
PD sessions, and other resources. Next steps include offering an Equity Symposium
partnership with OSSTF and ETFO.
Superintendent of Education, Erin Kelly highlighted the Pathways Pillar of support for
students. The major strategies include Credit Recovery, Specialist High Skills Major, and the
Co-op Recall Programs. Ms. Kelly highlighted the improved success rates and increase in
credits earned. Other re-engagement approaches include the Continuous intake Co-op and
Young Parent Education Programs. The presentation concluded with a video of students’
views of the “21st Century Learner”.
RECOMMENDATION #2
Trustee Cooper moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
presentation entitled, “Upper Grand Board Improvement Plan Update”, be received.
The motion carried.
OPSBA REPORT
The OPSBA report was nil. Trustee Busuttil advised that Trustees Bailey, Borden,
Fairbairn, Moziar, and Waterston plan to attend the OPSBA AGM in Ottawa from July 7-10,
2011.
RECOMMENDATION #3
Trustee Fairbairn moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the verbal
OPSBA report be received.
The motion carried.
REPORT FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES
Student Trustee MacDougall distributed a copy of the OSTA-AECO Student Council
Handbook that contains contributions from a number of Student Trustees and their Boards
pertaining to Student Trustees, Student Council, and Student Senate, along with other useful
resources. Trustee VanderVlugt reported on the success of last year’s Ontario Student
Survey and advised that it is offered again this year, along with a Parent Survey. Links to
the Student Council Handbook and the Student and Parent Surveys can be found at the
OSTA-AECO website at www.osta-aeco.org.
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11 06 07
RECOMMENDATION #4
Trustee Borden moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the Student
Trustee presentation be received.
The motion carried.
OTHER
Trustee Borden advised there will be no June Chairs’ Committee Meeting. Attention
was drawn to the 2011-2012 System Calendar posted in the Trustee conference on
FirstClass.
IN-CAMERA
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Borden moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:40 p.m. to report to the Board.
The motion carried.
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