This update provides highlights of the SCDSB Board Meeting held Wednesday, May 28, 2025. 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 Shaw provided an update on behalf of the Student Trustees. Student Trustee Shaw shared that the final Student Senate meeting for the 2024-25 school year took place on Wednesday, May 28 and noted that the incoming Student Trustees for 2025-26 school year were introduced. Student Trustee Shaw spoke to a video series produced by the Student Trustees called SCDSB Student Talks and shared that feedback on the videos has been positive and effective in raising awareness about the role of the Student Trustee.
Delegations
- Parents Against Racism Simcoe County – Natasha Shakespeare and Sarah Peart Re: Dreams Delayed Report - OHRC
Chairperson Powell accepted the delegation for information.
Notice of Motion for Next Meeting
- The Simcoe County District School Board strongly supports the recommendations outlined within the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) report Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System.
And that
The Director of Education report back to the Board of Trustees with a thoughtful and comprehensive plan to address recommendations contained in the report at a school and board level.
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, May 28, 2025:
- That the Board approve the appointment of Iain McMeekin from Interim Superintendent of Human Resource Services to the role of Superintendent of Human Resource Services, effective immediately, in accordance with the terms of a personal services contract between Iain McMeekin and the board, as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-a, Removal of Interim Tag for the Superintendent of Human Resource Services, dated May 28, 2025.
- That the Board approve the appointment of Kelly Lalonde as Supervisory Officer – Superintendent of Education K-12, effective August 18, 2025, according to the terms of a personal services contract between Kelly Lalonde and the board, as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-b, Appointment of Supervisory Officer – Superintendent of Education K-12, dated May 28, 2025.
- Trustees received the following appointments:
Elementary Principal appointment effective June 2, 2025
Juli Miller from Mapleview Heights PS (VP) to Mapleview Heights PS (Acting)
Elementary Vice-principal appointment effective June 2, 2025
Louise Pike from Well-being Facilitator (teacher) to Mapleview Heights PS (Acting)
- Trustees received the following transfers:
Elementary Principal transfers:
James Dobson from Mapleview Heights PS to Cundles Heights PS effective June 2, 2025
Kristy Reynolds from Assikinack PS to Student Services effective August 18, 2025
Secondary Principal transfer:
Tyson Maxwell from Eastview SS to Special Education effective August 18, 2025
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-2-a Notice of Motion Re: Rescinding the motion from the March 25, 2025, Board meeting asking the Chair to write a letter to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
The Board approved the following motion:
- Due to new information that the Board has received, Trustee Rafeek moves that the Board of Trustees rescind the motion from the Board meeting on March 23, 2025, asking the chair to write a letter to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
D-2-b Notice of Motion Re: Writing a letter to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) chair write a letter to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services advocating on behalf of the SCDSB Board of Trustees for adequate funding to, at a bare minimum, be able to provide new schools with student nutrition funding, equal to that of what other Ontario schools are receiving. The letter should also again advocate for increased overall funding for student nutrition, and discuss current financial struggles, and the resulting effects.
D-2-c Notice of Motion Re: Writing a letter to the Peterborough Child & Family Centre
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the SCDSB chair write a letter to the Peterborough Child & Family Centre advocating on behalf of the SCDSB Board of Trustees that all new schools be included in, and receive funding for student nutrition.
D-2-d Notice of Motion Re: Revisions/Additions to the Board By-laws
The Board approved the following motions:
- That the Board approve revisions/additions to the Board By-laws.
Report available on the SCDSB website beginning on page 46.
- That the Board approve that the revisions/additions pertaining to the Board and Committee meeting structures take effect as of September 2025 and that all other revisions/additions to the Board By-laws take effect immediately.
D-5-a Additional Professional Activity Day for the School Year Calendar 2025-26
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Board approve an additional PA day scheduled for April 24, 2026, as set out in Appendix A of Report No. D-5-a, Additional Professional Activity day for the School Year Calendar 2025-26, dated May 28, 2025.
D-5-b New Policy 3117 – Workplace Accommodation
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Board approve the adoption of Policy 3117 – Workplace Accommodation, as set out in Appendix A of Report No. D-5-b, New Policy 3117 – Workplace Accommodation, dated May 28, 2025.
Reports/Updates from Staff
Dawn Stephens, Director of Education, shared that she visited Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) and toured the technology classrooms. Director Stephens noted that while at CCI, she met with Landon F., a CCI student who achieved gold in the Automotive Service Technician competition at Skills Ontario. Director Stephens congratulated Landon and wished him and his teacher Kevin Dea well at the Skills Canada competition occurring in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 29 and 30. Director Stephens also shared that Aiden P. and Zecheriah F. from Innisdale, accompanied by their teacher Chris Zimmermann, are also competing at Skills Canada in 3D Character Animation after winning gold at Skills Ontario.
Director Stephens congratulated Anne B. from Cookstown Central PS, Solomon K. from Bear Creek Secondary School, Annabel W. from Georgina Bay District High School, Aaryav S. from Cookstown Central PS, Fatima A. from Cundles Heights PS, and Katriina A. and Madison R. from Elmvale District High School who are competing at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton, New Brunswick from May 31 to June 7.
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]