Upper Grand District School Board
Board Meeting, Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Minutes
The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on
Tuesday, December 17, 2013 in the Board Room at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph,
starting at 7:00 p.m. All Trustees, with the exception of Trustee Busuttil were present,
together with student Trustees Brown and Dong.
Brisbane Student Choir
Trustees and staff had the pleasure of enjoying The Brisbane Student Choir who sang
multi-lingual Christmas carols, and fun-filled seasonal songs in English, Spanish, and
French. Cheryl Zumbach, French Immersion Planning Teacher led the choir, while
Former Superintendent Keith Conrad played the keyboard. Trustees Cooper and Bailey
thanked all involved for a wonderful presentation.
Opening Prayer
Trustee Waterston read an excerpt from a letter written to Canadians by the late NDP
party leader, Mr. Jack Layton. A portion of the message was: “ My friends, love is
better than anger, hope is better than fear, optimism is better than despair, so let us be
loving, hopeful and optimistic, and we'll change the world.”
Condolences
Trustee Bailey, Chair, reported that condolences were sent on behalf of the Board to the
following: Sandy Maggiolo, Finance Department, on the loss of her father; Lynn
Dunseith, Office Assistant at King George PS , John McCrae, and St. George’s ESL
Centre, on the loss of her father; Katie Osborne, teacher at Centre Peel PS, on the loss
of her grandfather; the family of Mr. Murray Young, former Superintendent with the
Dufferin County Board of Education; the family of Dennis Weishar, Technical Head at
Orangeville DSS; Susan Brighton, President of Office Clerical and Technical, OSSTF,
on the loss of her infant twin grandsons, and Tammy White-Troyer, teacher at Minto
Clifford PS, on the loss of her mother.
Good News
Dr. Rogers highlighted the Good News as follows:
Elora PS
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
The Elora PS Primary, Junior and Intermediate choirs along with the concert band,
performed at the Starlight Shopping event in downtown Elora on Thursday, November
21. More than 100 students participated in this outdoor concert, which was very well
attended by families and members of the Elora Community.
On Saturday, November 30, The Elora PS Concert Band performed on the school's float
as part of the Elora Santa Claus Parade. The float was designed and constructed by
members of school council and staff, in particular, Derrick Payne created the concept
and built an incredible Santa's Workshop on the truck, which was supplied by
Vandermarel Trucking. The band played for the entire length of the parade, despite
their very cold fingers. Thirty other students played the part of elves. Their hard work,
and that of staff and parents, was rewarded with the title and prize for best “Not For
Profit" float in the parade!
Career Education Council
We have recently learned that a grant submission to the Ministry of Training, Colleges
and Universities was successful. This one-year grant will provide funding to hire a new
staff person for a one-year contract and will cover some CEC overhead expenses over
the next year.
The project "Hot Jobs - Work Here" will increase awareness and engagement among
youth, educators and parents of the high demand careers and job opportunities
available in our region. As identified by local Economic Development Departments and
Chamber of Commerce, these growth sectors have a high demand for skilled workers
and will continue to be important employment sectors in the future. These sectors
include Agriculture & Food, Advanced Manufacturing, Green Industries and Healthcare.
This project will include a series of interactive tours, career fairs, social media campaign
and other outreach activities for students and parents in 2014.
Wellington Heights SS – Construction Students Lend a Helping Hand (Confederate –
December 4, 2013)
Construction students from Wellington Heights SS came to the rescue of Canadian Tire
store staff in Mount Forest. The store received extensive damage from a wind storm
that hit the area. Staff arrived at work the morning of November 18 to find their 50-foot
greenhouse destroyed by high winds of the previous night. Staff were surveying the
damage when a bus-load of Wellington Heights construction students with teachers Mr.
Griffiths and Mr. Verbeek stopped to see if they could help out. The students and
teachers spent most of the day helping staff clean-up the damage.
East Garafraxa PS
The East Garafraxa PS “Me to We” team partnered with Centre Wellington’s Aboriginal
Club to provide gently used winter clothing to three aboriginal communities. The
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
students were able to pack an SUV with hundreds of winter jackets, boots, sweaters,
hats and mittens.
Kiwanis Christmas Luncheon
Director Rogers advised that last week, Trustee Waterston volunteered at the Kiwanis
Christmas luncheon and was challenged to say that “Trustee Waterston looked like an
elf in public”. Dr. Rogers thanked Trustee Waterston for volunteering as the elf or Mrs.
Claus and for adding to the joy for the Developmentally Delayed class this year.
Confirmation of the Agenda
Trustee Fairbairn moved, seconded by Trustee Topping, that the agenda be
confirmed as printed.
The motion carried.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest
There were no conflicts of interest.
Approval of the Minutes of the Final Board Meeting for 2013 and the
Organizational Board Meeting Held December 3, 2013.
Trustee Waterston moved, seconded by Trustee Gohn, that the Minutes of the
Final Board meeting for 2013 and the Organizational Board meeting held
December 3, 2013 and the Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting held
immediately prior to the Board meeting, be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Ratification of Business Transacted by the Committee of the Whole In
Camera
Trustee Borden moved, seconded by Trustee Cooper, that the business
transacted by the Committee of the Whole In Camera be now ratified by the
Board.
The motion carried.
Motion to Rise and Sit in Committee of the Whole
Trustee Topping moved, seconded by Trustee Schieck, that the Board rise and
sit in Committee of the Whole with the Chairperson presiding.
The motion carried.
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
Delegations
Lisa Clarke, a parent of a student who currently attends Brisbane PS requested that the
Board consider grandfathering her daughter who is currently in SK French Immersion at
Brisbane, as well as her son who will be entering JK in September 2014, to continue
their education at Brisbane PS, in the FI program.
Jen Tulloch, a parent of a French Immersion student who currently attends Brisbane
PS in SK was also in attendance to request that the Board consider grandfathering her
child to continue at Brisbane PS.
Trustee Bailey thanked both delegations and advised that their input would be
considered in the final decision, which should be made at the January 2014 Board
meeting.
Business Operations Committee
Trustee Cooper moved that the minutes of the Business Operations Committee
held December 10, 2013 be received and considered.
The motion carried.
Trustee Cooper moved the adoption of recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 as
contained in the minutes of the Business Operations Committee, dated
December 10, 2013, as follows:
That:
1.
Memo PLN:13-36 entitled “Ponsonby PS Boundary Review – Report # 3”
be received.
2.
a)
The Board approves Scenario 1 as described in Section 4.1 in the
report attached to memo PLN:13-36 which assigns the Ponsonby
Grade 6 students to Elora PS, and
b)
The RT boundaries for Ponsonby PS and Elora PS outlined in
Appendix B, Maps 1-3 attached to memo PLN:13-36 “Ponsonby PS
boundary Review – Report 3” be approved.
3.
The implementation timeline applicable to Scenario 1 be approved as
follows:
a)
All Grade 6 students will remain at Ponsonby PS, subject to annual
enrolment monitoring.
b)
Staff be directed to implement the transition of the Grade 6
students from Ponsonby to Elora PS in 2015/16 or any year
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
thereafter, if enrolment projections indicate that there will be more
than 203 pupils at Ponsonby PS. Further, staff be directed to
inform the parents of Ponsonby PS Grade 6 students of the
transition to Elora PS by the end of February for the change to be in
effect for the coming school year.
4.
Memo PLN:13-34 entitled “James McQueen PS Boundary Review –
Report # 2” be received.
5.
That memo PLN:13-37 entitled “City of Guelph – Adult School Crossing
Guard Program” be received.
The motion carried.
Policy Management Committee
Trustee Gohn moved that the Minutes of the Policy Management Committee
held December 10, 2013 be received and considered.
The motion carried.
Trustee Gohn moved that Policy 201 School Councils be approved.
The motion carried.
Special Education Advisory Committee
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the minutes of the Special Education Advisory
Committee held December 11, 2013 be received.
The motion carried.
2013-14 Interim Financial Reporting as at October 31, 2013
Superintendent Wright presented the 2013 2014 Interim Financial Report as at October
31, 2013 for the purpose of sharing with Trustees enrolment information and year-todate spending comparisons for the 2013 2014 fiscal year. She noted that, although the
Board is experiencing declining enrolment, enrolment statistics for international students
have indicated a growth in this area. She praised Superintendent Morrell for his hard
work and results in the successful international student recruitment which resulted in
more students in our system, and increased revenue accordingly. She also noted that
in the areas of Professional Development and Occasional Teachers, spending was
restricted by Provincial labour relations issues over the last year, and that this year,
spending has resumed to the normal level. Trustees thanked and congratulated staff
for the wonderful job in international student recruitment, the results of the labour
relations issues, and the current financial status.
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the report “2013 2014 Interim Financial Reporting
as at October 31, 2013 (Finance # 2013-38)” dated December 17, 2013 be
received.
The motion carried.
Resignations and Retirements
Executive Officer of Human Resources presented the Retirement report dated
December 17, 2013. Trustee Schieck expressed his thanks to our long serving staff for
the tremendous amount of time served in education.
Trustee Schieck moved that the report Resignations and Retirements (Appendix
A) dated December 17, 2013 be received.
The motion carried.
Trustee Representation on School Naming Committees
Superintendent Benallick updated Trustees regarding the communication plan for the
broader public to advise of the procedures for input for school naming. The public will
have opportunities for input through a link on the Board’s website, boxes at schools, and
through local newspaper advertisements.
Trustee Bailey, suggested that, although Trustee Busuttil was absent and therefore not
able to volunteer to sit on the school naming committee for King George PS, he
suggested that she be placed on the school naming committee for King George PS.
Trustees agreed. Trustees volunteered to sit on the following school naming committees
as follows:
Lee Street PS: Trustees Bailey, Moziar, and Waterston
Zaduk Place PS: Trustees Moziar, Fairbairn, and Bailey
King George PS: Trustees Bailey, Waterston, Moziar, and Busuttil
Settlers Creek PS: Trustee Borden
Rockwood PS: Trustee Cooper
Trustee Waterston moved that the composition of the School Naming
Committees be confirmed.
The motion carried.
Board Correspondence
Trustee Bailey advised that he received correspondence from Coalition on Physical
Punishment of Children and Youth, requesting endorsement of their stance against child
physical punishment. Trustees supported the endorsement, with the exception of
Trustee Moziar, who abstained.
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
Trustee Fairbairn moved that Chair, Trustee Bailey correspond with Coalition on
Physical Punishment of Children and Youth, in support of their stance against
child physical punishment.
The motion carried.
Trustee Bailey advised that he also received correspondence from the Ottawa–Carleton
District School Board advocating for expanded use of education development charge
funds and also correspondence from that Board related to extended day programming
specifically in consideration of families in need. Trustee Bailey welcomed input and
comments from Trustees in the development of a response to the Ottawa-Carleton
District School Board in support of this latter issue.
Trustee Moziar moved that, in consultation with Trustees, Trustee Bailey, with
input from Trustee Busuttil, develop a response to the Ottawa-Carleton District
School Board in support of providing extended day programs for families in need.
.
The motion carried.
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the Board correspondence dated December 17,
2013 be received.
The motion carried.
Trustee Questions and Reports
Trustee Cooper expressed her appreciation and thanks to Student Success Lead Zen
as well as Superintendent of Program Lindsay for a fantastic job in bringing this Board
together in environmental education and encouraging environmental responsibility in
areas other than curriculum including purchasing and operations.
Trustee Schieck sought clarification regarding the registration process, primarily
whether Trustees register individually, or staff register them for the Public Education
Symposium scheduled for January 30 to February 1, 2014. It was agreed that, after the
adjournment of this meeting, Trustees would discuss the process and determine the
procedure.
Dates of Future Meetings
Director of Education Rogers added the following to the dates of future meetings:
Monday, January 13, 2014, Dufferin Parent Council, 7:00 p.m. at Princess Elizabeth PS
Monday, January 20, 2014, Learning Foundation, 5:30 p.m., room 3
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Board Meeting, December 17, 2013
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the January 2014 schedule for Board and Standing
Committee Meetings be approved as follows:
Program Committee
Business Operations
Board Meeting
January 7, 2014
January 14, 2014
January 28, 2014
The motion carried.
Trustee Cooper moved that the Dates of Future Meetings dated December 17,
2013 be received.
The motion carried.
Motion to Rise and Report to the Board
Trustee Moziar moved that the Committee of the Whole rise and report to the
Board.
The motion carried.
Ratification of Business
Trustee Topping moved, seconded by Trustee Borden that the business
transacted by the Committee of the Whole be now ratified by the Board.
The motion carried.
Trustee Bailey, on behalf of the Trustees, expressed his thanks to Senior Administration
for a stellar performance in a challenging year. He is proud of the work done, and
optimistic of the work to be done in the coming year. He wished everyone a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Adjournment
Trustee Waterston moved, seconded by Trustee Cooper, that the Board adjourn
and this meeting now close at 8:20 p.m.
The motion carried.
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