UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2012 11 06
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday,
November 6, 2012, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, commencing at
7:00 p.m.
Trustee Moziar presided, and the following Trustees were present: Bailey, Borden,
Busuttil, Cooper, Fairbairn, Gohn, Topping, Waterston and Student Trustees Brown and
Sampson. Present from administration was Executive Officer of Human Resources J.
Rose, Communications Officer, M. McFadzen, Administrative Officer M. Weidmark, Chief
Information Officer, J. Shanks, along with Superintendents Benallick, Kelly, McDonald,
Morrell, and Talbot, and Assistant Superintendent Zen.
AGENDA
An In Camera Discussion was added to the agenda as item 10.
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the Agenda be approved as amended.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Bailey moved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on October 2, 2012 be
approved as printed.
The motion carried.
TEACHER LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (TLLP) – iPADS
STUDENTS WITH AUTISM
FOR
Resource Teacher, Dr. Sean Cameron, provided a report on the Teacher Learning
and Leadership Program (TLLP) – iPads for students with Autism. He explained that two
years ago, a TLLP grant was secured to provide three primary students with Autism
Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who had significant impairments in expressive communication,
behavioural and academic needs, with an iPad for their individual use. The device is able
to assist ASD students who have difficulty with traditional forms of writing and who might
benefit from the use of a visual schedule to help them predict and organize their day. The
importance of the involvement of the Speech Language Pathologist in setting up the
device appropriately and developing the visual schedules, etc. was noted. Dr. Cameron
demonstrated some of the applications available on the iPad that provide more flexibility
and convenience at a lower cost than other traditional forms of augmentative
communication devices. Feedback from teachers has been very positive. The success of
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12 11 06
the use of the device is in part due to the ease in using it and the portability of the device.
It was noted the potential for iPads is only as limited as the applications available and that
there is a real potential to benefit students with many other special education needs.
There is also the possibility for future SEA claims to procure iPads. It was acknowledged
that it would be important to validate the program’s impact on reading and writing through
objective research.
Recommendation #1:
Trustee Bailey moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
report entitled, “Teacher Learning and Leadership Program (TLLP) – iPads for
students with Autism”, be received.
The motion carried.
SUMMIT ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH 2012 - UPDATE
Dr. Lynn Woodford, Manager of Mental Health/Addiction Programs provided an
overview of the Summit on Children and Youth Mental Health 2012, held last month.
She reviewed the charter of rights for mental health and noted the focus of the summit
was putting knowledge into action. Dr. Woodford then highlighted some of the
information provided during the sessions. The importance and cost effectiveness of
promotion and prevention of mental health issues was stressed. In particular, Dr.
Woodford reported on the importance of self regulation and the delay of gratification as
a predictor of academic achievement and antisocial behavior and susceptibility to drug
use. Most disorders have a self regulation component. There is a need to reduce
stress in the classroom to enable children to be calm and alert and able to learn, and it
was noted that children need an opportunity to get away from so much stimuli.
Strategies for self regulation are required to assist with raising the students’ awareness
of themselves and to learn strategies to deal with their feelings.
It was noted that Dr. Woodford’s position is new in this Board and that she is
developing a strategy on mental health and determining the resources required by our
schools and by the teachers to implement good classroom strategies to address mental
health issues. The strategy will include training for staff to recognize signs and
symptoms and provide the knowledge they require to direct the student to the
appropriate assistance. Once the initial information has been gathered, a strategy will
be brought forward to the Board.
Recommendation #2:
Trustee Fairbairn moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
update on Children and Youth Mental Health 2012, be received.
The motion carried.
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UPDATE ON THE BOARD IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
(BIPSA) 2011-2014
Principal of Program, Ms. Tracey Lindsay, presented an update on the Board
Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (BIPSA) 2011-2014, which was distributed
at the meeting. The revisions resulting from this year’s review were highlighted and
were made to address alignment, cohesion, clarity and precision, links to the system
foci and the four board pillars. The format was changed to align with the Ministry’s
review template and the document is now presented in a two-page format. The system
goals remain as literacy, numeracy and student engagement. The data used for the
needs assessment was also reviewed. It is intended that everyone in the system sees
themselves and their role in the BIPSA and uses it when developing the school plans
and in cycle planning with the four pillars underpinning everything included in the plan.
The BIPSA will be rolled out across the system and will also be posted on the website to
ensure the community is aware of the plan. The plan is in place until 2014, with
analysis taking place in the last year to determine the needs for the next three years.
Recommendation #3:
Trustee Borden moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
update on the Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement (BIPS) 20112014, be received.
The motion carried.
OPSBA REPORT
Trustee Busuttil reported that OPSBA’s annual Public Education Symposium
(PES) will be held from January 31 to February 2, 2013 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in
Toronto. Information regarding the cost will be circulated to Trustees as soon as
available.
Recommendation #4:
Trustee Cooper moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
verbal OPSBA Report, be received.
The motion carried.
REPORT FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES
Student Trustees Kaitlin Brown and Emileigh Sampson presented an overview of
the OSTA/AECO Fall General Meeting held October 25-28, 2012. Details of the Stick It
to Fast Food Campaign were explained. The keynote address was on the topic of
stress, identifying signs of stress and strategies for students to deal with it. The results
of the student survey have not yet been released: 10,625 students, 2205 parents, and
947 educators participated using survey monkey. The survey was available in both
English and French this year and the overall response rate was tripled over last year.
The Ontario Schools-Greener program was highlighted, including how schools across
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the province are dealing with the environment, climate change, efforts to become
paperless and environmental education. A session entitled, “In and Around the Board
Room,” was also held to encourage student trustees to participate in the meetings they
attend and emphased the rules of order.
Activities that took place in high schools across the Board during the month of
October were also highlighted.
Recommendation #5:
Trustee Busuttil moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
Student Trustee Report be received.
The motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS - Nil
IN CAMERA
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:55 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.