UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2013 02 05
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday,
February 5, 2013, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, commencing at
7:00 p.m.
Trustee Cooper presided, and the following Trustees were present: Bailey, Borden,
Fairbairn, Gohn, Moziar, Topping, Waterston and Student Trustees Brown and Sampson.
Present from administration was Communications Officer, M. McFadzen, Administrative
Officer, M. Weidmark, along with Superintendents Benallick, Kelly, McDonald, Morrell, and
Assistant Superintendent Zen.
AGENDA
Item 11. In Camera Discussion, was added to the agenda.
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the Agenda be approved as amended.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Borden moved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on January 8, 2013 be
approved as printed.
The motion carried.
DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY FOR THE BOARD
Dr. Lynn Woodford, Manager of Mental Health/Addiction Programs and Services
presented data pertaining to mental health among youth and detailed causes, onset, comorbidity and impacts. Schools provide an optimal setting in which to reduce stigma,
promote positive mental health, build student social emotional learning skills, prevent
mental health problems in high risk groups, identify students in need and build pathways to
care. In her role as the mental health lead, Dr. Woodford is responsible to bring mental
health needs to the forefront and work with educators and students to promote mental
health wellbeing and develop strategies. The priorities include creating organizational
conditions for effective school mental health and capacity building by implementing
evidence-based mental health promotion and prevention programs for educators. Dr.
Woodford illustrated the tiered support in systems of care that are in place to support those
with mental health issues. The key deliverables for the year were highlighted and include:
a board scan (November 2012), resource mapping (January to March 2013), developing a
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board mental health strategy (March 31, 2013 – to be reviewed annually), planning for
implementation (May/June 2013), and implementation of the strategy for promotion,
prevention and intervention and capacity building for educators (beginning in fall 2013).
The anticipated ripples of impact at the provincial level, Board level, school level and
student level were also reviewed.
Dr. Woodford then conducted a resource mapping exercise with Trustees as part of
the first step towards assessing board needs, identifying possible redundancies and/or
gaps in services, and to assist in formulating strategies for the Board mental health plan.
In response to questions from Trustees, Dr. Woodford explained that students will
develop better coping skills if the foundations are in place in the classroom to support them
and make them more aware of resources that are available. A spike in reporting could
also result as acceptance and awareness increases. In addition, it is hoped there will be
significant impact on our student success as well as on the emotional well being of
students. While there is currently not a clear strategy regarding the need to also educate
parents to recognize signs and symptoms before their children enter the school system, it
is part of the overall provincial mental health strategy, and there is a parent education
component that could be part of the Board strategy. Dr. Woodford also explained that she
is reaching out to students by attending a Student Senate meeting and through the social
workers in the schools.
Dr. Woodford posed some discussion questions and Trustees provided input and
were encouraged to submit any further comments to her via email at any time.
Recommendation #1:
Trustee Moziar moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
update on Developing a Mental Health Strategy for the Board be received.
The motion carried.
UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD – TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Mr. Bill MacKenzie, Information Technology & Communication Consultant and
Mr. Steve Wynen, eLearning Contact presented an update on Technology in the Board.
He explained the initiatives tie into the BIPSA by incorporating technology at the point of
instruction to engage students and by supporting students and staff in learning anytime,
anyplace, and with any device. Components, improvements and the significant
increase in the use of the UG2GO, e-Learning and Blended Learning technologies were
highlighted.
Ms. Louise Coffey, Co-op Department Head at Centre Wellington DHS,
highlighted her experience with using e-Learning and Blended Learning in providing an
opportunity to reach students in dual credit and guidance Co-op programs.
Mr. Bill MacKenzie played a video introduction of Google Apps for education in
the classroom which allows for documents to be shared and worked on collaboratively.
Accounts will be established for all staff and all students in the Board. He also shared
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13 02 05
research findings relating to cloud computing. The first Google Apps for Education
Ontario Summit will be held in Kitchener April 20-21, 2013 and will show teachers how
they can use technology effectively in their classrooms. Other training sessions to
assist teachers in gaining confidence and expertise in the use of technology are also
planned as well as a training session for Trustees.
Details of Refresh 2013 were reviewed and include new technology coming into
schools this fall to address Mobility (iPads, laptops and chromebooks) and Equity
(application).
Recommendation #2:
Trustee Bailey moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
Upper Grand District School Board – Technology Update be received.
The motion carried.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AMOUNT (SEA) UPATE
Ms. Sandra Szpular, Special Education Coordinator/Collaborative Projects Lead,
presented an update on the Special Equipment Amount (SEA). Total claims have risen
from 82 in 2005-2006 to 358 in 2011-2012. Students with special needs within the
Board are being empowered through a variety of technologies that have also changed
and improved over time. The Special Education, Curriculum and IT departments work
in close collaboration regarding the equipment. A Special Education Technology
Committee is in place that provides an excellent problem solving forum for challenges
and opportunities. Special funding is received that allows the Board to purchase
equipment for students who have a documented learning, cognitive or physical need. A
per pupil amount is available for computers, software and related devices as well as
training and furniture and claims-based funding is available for non-computer equipment
including sensory, hearing, vision, personal care and physical equipment. The pilot
projects and the lessons learned were highlighted along with the details of the Special
Education refresh program plans for 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15. The refresh
program ties into the BIPSA as a targeted strategy for teachers to incorporate
technology into daily class work. The four areas of focus during the 2012-13 school
year were also presented. In conclusion, Ms. Szpular presented a video of students
explaining the benefits they gain through the technology they are using.
In response to a question from Trustee Moziar, it was explained that while the
Board is prohibited from providing personal computers to employees at a discounted
cost, teachers are able to bring their own devices to assist them with their learning
needs in order to help their students.
Recommendation #3:
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
update Special equipment Amount (SEA), be received.
The motion carried.
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DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT: POLICY/PROGRAM MEMORANDUM NO. 155
Ms. Tracey Lindsay, Principal of Program, provided an overview of the PPM 155
that was put in place as a result of the implementation of the Putting Students First Act,
and highlighting the changes and resulting impact. The PPM 155 enables the teachers
to use their professional judgement relating to diagnostic assessment of students,
including which assessment and/or evaluation tool is used, for which students and the
frequency and timing of the use of the tool. The ability for the global collection and
measurement of data within the Board is removed, which will negatively impact the
school and Board improvement plans. Formerly, the emphasis was on reading
comprehension for students in Grades 1 – 12 and the PPM now calls for the focus on
diagnostic assessment in all subject areas. Clarification is being sought from the
Ministry regarding the use of formal versus information diagnostic assessment and the
Board approved list of assessment tools. Ms. Lindsay also provided an overview of the
various types of classroom assessment and highlighted the purpose and nature of the
assessment and how the information is used.
Recommendation #4:
Trustee Borden moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
report, Diagnostic Assessment: Policy/Program Memorandum No. 155, be
received.
The motion carried.
OPSBA REPORT - Nil
REPORT FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES
Student Trustees Brown and Sampson provided a summary of activities that took
place in January at the Secondary Schools throughout the Board.
The Student Trustees will be touring several high schools in the near future to let
students know who they are and about their role as Student Trustees.
Recommendation #6:
Trustee Fairbairn moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
Student Trustee Report be received.
The motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS - Nil
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IN CAMERA
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:45 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.