SCDSB Update 1 – Aug. 30, 2023
This update provides highlights of the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) Board Meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Agendas, reports, and a video recording of this meeting is available on the Board and Committee Meetings page of the SCDSB website.
Report from Student Trustees
Susan Sidlofsky, Superintendent of Education, introduced the student trustees for the 2023-24 school year and welcomed them to the position.
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, Aug. 30, 2023:
- That the Board approve the Chairperson and Vice-chairperson’s report, as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-c, dated June 21, 2023.
The Board has completed the Director of Education’s Performance Review. Goals and expectations of the role were met, resulting in a highly positive review.
- That the Board approve the school administrator appointments as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-a, School Administrator Appointments, dated Aug. 30, 2023.
Elementary Principal appointments
Ixchel Bennett from Goodfellow PS (VP) to Indigenous Education (Acting) effective Aug. 28, 2023
Secondary Vice-principal appointments
Delia Evans from Nantyr Shores SS (teacher) to Bradford DHS (Acting) effective Aug. 28, 2023
D-2-a Notice of Motion from the June 21, 2023 Board Meeting Re: The instrumental version of O Canada being included in the openings of Board and Standing Committee Meetings
This motion was deferred to the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
D-2-b Notice of Motion from the June 21, 2023 Board Meeting Re: Report on violence in schools
This motion was deferred to the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting.
D-2-c Notice of Motion from the June 21, 2023 Board Meeting Re: Report on inventory of all walkways/pathways to SCDSB schools
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Board approve that Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) staff develop an inventory of all walkways/pathways to schools at SCDSB schools with a goal of promoting safe and active routes to school. That staff report back to the Board in the fall of 2023 about the available pathways, their open or closed status and the level of maintenance required to have them remain open.
D-2-d Notice of Motion from the June 21, 2023 Board Meeting Re: Revisions/Additions to the Board By-laws
The Board approved the following motion:
- (1)
ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Inaugural Meeting (In Election Year) (Page 5, No. 3)
That item No. 3 be amended to include:
Land Acknowledgement of Traditional Territory as item 3.2 and Statement of Respect 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 (Page 7, No. 2)
That item No. 2 be amended to include:
Statement of Respect as item A. (2) and that the items following be renumbered.
(3)
ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Order of Business for Regular Board Meetings
Recommendations for Action (Page 8, Item D.)
That Item D be amended to include:
Consent Agenda as Item D (2) and that the items following be renumbered.
(4)
ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Special Board Meetings (Page 8, No. 4 A.)
That item No. 4 A. be amended to include:
Statement of Respect as item A.2 and that the items following be renumbered.
(5)
ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Committee Meetings in Closed Session (page 10, No. 6 C.)
That item No. 6 C. (4) be amended to read as follows:
Questions and Comments from Trustees
(6)
ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF TRUSTEES (Page 11, No.1)
That the wording “he or she is” be struck and replaced with “they are”.
(7)
ARTICLE V: STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD (Page 12, No. 2) That item No. 2 be amended to include:
Statement of Respect as item 2.2 and that the items following be renumbered.
(8)
ARTICLE VIII: DELEGATIONS AND WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO THE BOARD AND COMMITTEES
Delegations (Page 15, No.1.4)
That item No.1.4 be amended to read as follows:
Requests to appear as a delegation must be submitted by 1 p.m. a week before the meeting. A complete written copy of the presentation must be attached to the request.
And that an online submission form/portal be created and used to receive requests to appear as a delegation.
(9)
ARTICLE VIII: DELEGATIONS AND WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS TO THE BOARD AND COMMITTEES
Delegations (Page 15, No.1.9)
That the word “normal” be struck.
D-4-a Report of the Equity Advisory Committee Meeting held May 15, 2023
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Board approve revisions to the SCDSB EAC Terms of Reference, as set out in APPENDIX A of Report No. D-4-a, Report of the EAC Meeting, dated Aug. 30, 2023.
D-5-a Special Education Advisory Committee Member Appointment
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Board appoint to the SCDSB SEAC, effective Sept. 1, 2023, Katherine L’Etang as the SEAC alternate member representing Autism Ontario – Simcoe County, as set out in Report No. D-5-a, Special Education Advisory Committee Member Appointment, dated Aug. 30, 2023.
D-5-b Schedule of January Business and Facilities, Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings and March Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings
The Board approved the following motions:
- That the Board approve the rescheduling of the January Business and Facilities Standing Committee meeting from Jan. 3, 2024, to Jan. 10, 2024, and the January Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings from Jan. 10, 2024 to Jan. 17, 2024, as set out in Report No. D-5-b, Schedule of the January Business and Facilities, Program and Human Resources Standing Committee Meetings and March Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings, dated Aug. 30, 2023.
- That the Board approve the rescheduling of the March Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings from March 13, 2024, to March 20, 2024, as set out in Report No. D-5-b, Schedule of the January Business and Facilities, Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings and March Program and Human Resources Standing Committee meetings, dated Aug. 30, 2023.
Other Reports Received as Information
D-6-a Sustainability Advisory Committee - June 19, 2023
D-6-b Indigenous Education Advisory Committee - June 8, 2023
D-6-c First Nations Education Advisory Committee - June 8, 2023
D-7-a Employment Equity Action Plan
John Dance, Director of Education, presented the SCDSB Employment Equity Action Plan (EEAP). Director Dance reviewed the actions that led to the development of the EEAP, including the extensive consultation by Turner Consulting Group which involved a survey, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews with staff. Director Dance outlined the five priority areas as identified by the consultant and the actions that will take place over a five-year period to address the recommendations from the Employment Equity Audit. Director Dance noted that the plan will be shared with all staff at the beginning of the school year and will be posted on the StaffWeb and SCDSB public website.
Reports and Updates from Staff
Corry Van Nispen, Superintendent of Business and Facility Services, provided an update with respect to Education Development Charges.
Dawn Stephens, Associate Director, provided an update with respect to culminating tasks, secondary credit accumulation, and the new SCDSB Parents’ Guide to Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting that will be shared on the SCDSB public website in the fall.
John Dance, Director of Education, shared a video created by the board’s Communications department highlighting several initiatives that have been taking place in our schools throughout the past year that link directly to the SCDSB Strategic Priorities and spoke to the start of the 2023-24 school year.
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]