SCDSB Update 8 – Jan. 31, 2024
This update provides highlights of the SCDSB Board Meeting held Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. For agendas, reports, and items addressed at the meeting visit the Board and Committee Meetings page of the SCDSB Website. For a video recording of the Board Meeting visit the SCDSB YouTube channel.
Report from Student Trustees
Student Trustee Majid provided an update on behalf of the Student Trustees. Student Trustee Majid shared that elections for Student Trustees for the 2024-25 school year will be held virtually on Feb. 13. Student Trustee Majid noted that the next Student Senate meeting will take place on April 24.
Report from the Closed Session of the Board in Committee of the Whole
The Board ratified the following recommendations taken in the Closed Session meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024:
- That the Board approve exercising the Option to purchase the school site located at 400 Lockhart Road, known as block 299, as set out in Report No. CL-BF-D-1, City of Barrie – Elementary School Site Acquisition – Option Agreement, dated Jan. 10, 2024.
- That the Board approve the school administrator appointment as set out in Report No.CL-HR-D-1 School Administrator Appointment, dated Jan. 17, 2024.
Secondary Principal appointment effective Feb. 1, 2024
Colleen Ireland from Simcoe Shores SS to Nottawasaga Pines SS (Acting)
Trustees received the following transfers:
Secondary Principal transfer effective Feb. 1, 2024
Kelly Lalonde from Nottawasaga Pines SS to Collingwood CI
Consent Agenda
All recommended actions outlined in the Board Meeting Reports were approved by the SCDSB Board of Trustees during public session of the regular meeting of the Board.
D-3-a Notice of Motion from the Dec. 20, 2023 Board Meeting Re: Revisions/additions to the Board By-laws
The Board approved the following revisions/additions to the Board By-laws:
(1) ARTICLE II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
Inaugural Meeting (In Election Year) (Pg. 5, No. 3)
That item No. 3 be amended to include:
National Anthem as item 3.3 and that the items following be renumbered.
(2)
ARTICLE II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
Order of Business for Regular Board Meetings (Pg. 7, Item 2 A.)
That item No. 2 be amended to include:
National Anthem as item A. (2) and that the items following be renumbered.
(3)
ARTICLE II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
Special Board Meetings (Pg. 8, No. 4 A.)
That item No. 4 A. be amended to include:
National Anthem as item A.2 and that the items following be renumbered.
(4)
ARTICLE V: Standing Committees of the Board (Pg. 12, No. 2)
That item No. 2 be amended to include:
National Anthem as item 2.2 and that the items following be renumbered.
(5)
Article II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
Inaugural Meeting (In Election Year) (Pg. 5 No. 1)
That 7 p.m. be struck and that the wording be amended to read as:
The Inaugural meeting of a newly elected Board will be held on November 15 if it is a Monday or on the first Monday following November 15.
(6)
Article II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
First Meeting (In Non-Election Year) (Pg. 6 No. 1)
That 7 p.m. be struck and that the wording be amended to read as:
On November 15 if it is a Monday, or on the first Monday following November 15, of each non-election year, the Board will meet to elect a member to the offices of Board Chairperson, Board Vice-chairperson and the third member on the Selection Committee.
(7)
APPENDIX A
Election of Board Chairperson, Board Vice-chairperson, Committee Chairperson and Committee Vice-chairperson, third member of the Selection Committee and OPSBA Director/Alternate Director (Pg. 18 No. 2)
That “elect to stand” be struck and replaced with “accept” and that “decline to stand” be replaced with “respectfully decline the nomination” and that the wording be amended to read as:
The Director of Education or designate/Chairperson of the Meeting shall call for nominations and the nominee(s) shall indicate whether they accept or respectfully decline the nomination.
(8)
APPENDIX A
Election of Board Chairperson, Board Vice-chairperson, Committee Chairperson and Committee Vice-chairperson, third member of the Selection Committee and OPSBA Director/Alternate Director (Pg. 18 No. 4)
That the wording “elects to stand” be struck and replaced with “accepts the nomination” and that the wording be amended to read as follows:
If only one person is nominated and accepts the nomination, that member shall be declared elected by acclamation.
(9)
APPENDIX A
Election of Board Chairperson, Board Vice-chairperson, Committee Chairperson and Committee Vice-chairperson, third member of the Selection Committee and OPSBA Director/Alternate Director (Pg.18 No. 7)
That the wording “stands for election” be struck and replaced with “accepts a nomination” and that the wording be amended to read as follows:
Where more than one nominee accepts a nomination, a vote will be taken by ballot and the member receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected.
(10)
APPENDIX B
Rules of Procedure at the Board (Page 21 No. 14)
That the wording “stand” be struck in No. 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 and replaced with “rise if they are able” and that the wording be amended to read as follows:
14.1 those for the motion will be asked to rise if they are able until their names are noted;
14.2 those against the motion will be asked to rise if they are able until their names are noted;
14.3 Those abstaining will be asked to rise if they are able until their names are noted;
D-6-a Revisions to Policy 2130 – Student Trustee Representation on the Board
The Board approved the following motion:
-
That the Board approve revisions to Policy 2130 – Student Trustee Representation on the Board, as set out in APPENDIX C of Report No. D-6-a, Revisions to Policy 2130 – Student Trustee Representation on the Board, dated Jan. 31, 2024.
E-3 Notices of Motion for Next Meeting
-
That the Simcoe County District School Board commit to a 10% reduction of violence in schools using 2022 as a baseline and accounting for changes in enrollment.
That the Simcoe County District School Board establish a working committee entitled the Safe Schools Committee to develop strategies to address and reduce violence in schools. This committee is tasked with working with the community, taking a multidisciplinary approach to addressing and preventing violence in schools with an overall goal of creating safer school environments for students and staff.
That the Director of Education report back to the board with a draft terms of reference for the committee which includes, but is not limited to;
a) Develop strategies to reduce violence in schools,
b) Find available resources within school communities to reduce violence,
c) Recommend programs to schools to address violence prevention,
d) Identify funding opportunities,
e) Track data on violent incidents across the SCDSB,
f) Recommend programs and services to meet the goal of reducing violence in schools.
That the composition of the committee include;
i) 2 Trustees
ii) 1 Superintendent
iii) 1 Principal
iv) 3 parents
v) Representatives from 4 – 6 Community Organizations possibly selected from the following:
- CMHA
- Simcoe Connections
- Native Friendship Centre
- Empower Simcoe
- Equity seeking groups
- Health Unit
- Police
- Justice Organization
- YMCA
- Union Representative
- Victim Service Organization
- Other
That the committee report back to the board through the existing reporting structures, reporting to a standing committee and then to the board of trustees. That the reports include meeting minutes and recommendations to achieve the goal of reducing violence.
That the efficacy of the committee be evaluated within 18 – 24 months.
-
That staff notify Trustees of incidents of violent activity in any of our schools as per PPM 120 when the police are called to respond or investigate these incidents. These notifications will be timely, confidential and exclude the names of any persons involved. The notifications will identify the type of incident the area or school where the incident occurred and what actions were taken to remediate the incident.
-
That the Board recommend the development of a policy on a final evaluation process that is structured and scheduled at or near the end of a period of learning.
Reports/Updates from Staff
John Dance, Director of Education, highlighted upcoming staff recognition opportunities including the Share the Love and You Make a Difference campaigns that begin in February. Director Dance noted that Feb. 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month and shared that the board will be hosting an evening conference for Black students and their families on Feb. 15 at Bear Creek Secondary School.
SCDSB Celebrates
The SCDSB would like to highlight initiatives that are taking place in our schools that link directly to the SCDSB Strategic Priorities. View this month’s video feature.
Visit www.scdsb.on.ca for information about future Board and Committee meetings.
Information:
Sarah Kekewich, Manager of Communications
705-734-6363 x11328 or [email protected]