SCDSB Update 9 – Feb. 28, 2024
This update provides highlights of the SCDSB Board Meeting held Wednesday, Feb. 28, 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 Duncan provided an update on behalf of the Student Trustees. Student Trustee Duncan shared that the student trustee elections for the 2024-25 school year occurred on Feb. 13, 2024, and reported that Aubrey Shaw from Georgian Bay District Secondary School was elected to represent the North and East region, J’Dae Simmons from Nantyr Shores Secondary School was elected to represent the Central and South region, and Vishid Lad, from Banting Memorial High School was elected to represent the South and West region. Student Trustee Duncan indicated that the incoming student trustees will be introduced at the Board meeting in March.
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, Feb. 28, 2024:
- That the Board ratify the collective agreement reached with the Simcoe County Elementary Designated Early Childhood Educators (SCDECE) Bargaining Unit for the term of Sept. 1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2026, as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-a, Board Ratification of the Simcoe County Elementary Designated Early Childhood Educators (SCDECE) and Its Local Agreement, dated Feb. 28, 2024.
- That the Board approve the School/System Administrator Eligibility List as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-b, School/System Administrator Eligibility List – February 2024, dated Feb. 28, 2024.
- That the Board approve the School Administrator Appointments as set out in Report No. CL-B-2-c, School Administrator Appointments, dated Feb. 28, 2024.
Elementary Vice-principal appointments effective March 18, 2024
Amy Hsiao from Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (teacher) to Baxter Central PS (Acting)
Pamela Marshall from West Bayfield ES (teacher) to Tecumseth Beeton PS (Acting)
Elementary Principal appointments effective March 18, 2024
Maria Elena Cameron from External to Alcona Glen ES
J. Derek Mereweather from External to Alliston Union PS
Brodie Wilson (Vice-principal) from Baxter Central PS to Baxter Central PS (Acting)
Secondary Vice-principal appointment effective April 1, 2024
Evelyn Tigwell from Maple Ridge SS (teacher) to Orillia SS (Acting)
Trustees received the following transfers effective March 18, 2024:
Elementary Vice-principal transfer
Sandra Crawford from Tecumseth Beeton PS to Steele Street PS
Secondary Vice-principal transfer
Ashley Knight to Simcoe Shores SS
Elementary Principal transfers
Jeff Dunlop from Nottawasaga & Creemore PS to Mountain View ES
Tina Holroyd from Admiral Collingwood ES to New Wasaga Beach PS (effective Aug. 26, 2024)
Don Shackell from Mountain View ES to Nottawasaga & Creemore PS
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 Jan. 31, 2024 Board Meeting Re: School Safety
The Board approved the following motion:
- That the Simcoe County District School Board commit to a reduction of violence in schools using recent and current information as baseline indicators.
- 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 before June 30, 2024 which includes, but is not limited to;
a) Develop strategies to reduce violence in schools,
b) Identify available resources within school communities to reduce violence,
c) Identify funding opportunities,
d) Recommend programs and services to meet the goal of reducing violence in schools.
- That the composition of the committee include;
a) 2 Trustees
b) 1 Superintendent
c) 1 Principal
d) Parents of SCDSB students in elementary and secondary schools located throughout Simcoe County
e) Representatives from Community Organizations located throughout Simcoe County and include social service agencies, organizations working with students and youth, and other interest groups including groups that have traditionally experienced barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources, and agencies supporting Indigenous youth.
- That the reports from the committee include meeting minutes to be shared at board meetings on an ongoing basis following meetings of the committee.
- That the committee report back to the Board of Trustees with an interim report in June 2025, and with a final report in January 2026.
D-3-b Notice of Motion from the Jan. 31, 2024 Board Meeting Re: Violent Incidents
This motion was withdrawn as the mover of the motion advised the Board Chairperson that they no longer wished to move the motion forward, and there were no other movers for the motion.
D-3-c Notice of Motion from the Jan. 31, 2024 Board Meeting Re: Development of a Policy on a Final Evaluation Process
This motion was withdrawn as the mover of the motion advised the Board Chairperson that they no longer wished to move the motion forward, and there were no other movers for the motion.
D-5-a Program Feb. 14, 2024
The Board approved the following motions:
- That the Board approve the submission of the school year calendar for 2024-25 to the Ministry of Education for approval, as set out in APPENDIX A of Report No. PRO-D-1, School Year Calendar 2024-25, dated Feb. 14, 2024.
- That the Board approve revisions to Policy 4260 – School Food and Beverage, as set out in APPENDIX C of Report No. PRO-D-2, Revisions to Policy 4260 – School Food and Beverage, dated Feb. 14, 2024.
Trustees also approved the following motion:
That the Board approve that a letter be written by the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) Chairperson to the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and copied to all local members of the provincial and federal parliament, as well as OPSBA, and all board chairpersons, in support of the recent advocacy by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) for a National School Food Program.
3. That the Board approve revisions to Policy 4140 – Selection and Approval of Learning Media, as set out in APPENDIX C of Report No. PRO-D-3, Revisions to Policy 4140 – Selection and Approval of Learning Media, dated Feb. 14, 2024.
E-3 Notices of Motion for Next Meeting
- Revisions/additions to the Board By-laws
(1)
Article II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
First Meeting (in Non-election Year) (Page 6 No. 1)
That the wording be amended to read as follows:
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 and Board Vice-chairperson, Business and Facilities Standing Committee Meeting Chairperson and Vice-chairperson, Human Resources Standing Committee Chairperson and Vice-chairperson and Program Standing Committee Chairperson and Vice-chairperson. Elections for the third member on the Selection Committee will also be held at this meeting.
(2)
Article II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
First Meeting (in Non-election Year) (Page 6 New No. 6)
That the following wording be added:
The Board Chair or designate will conduct the election of a Chairperson and Vice-chairperson for the Business and Facilities Standing Committee, Human Resources Standing Committee and Program Standing Committee according to the procedures in APPENDIX A.
(3)
Article II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
Order of Business for Regular Board Meetings (Page 7)
That item No. 2 A (6) Approval of Minutes be struck.
That Declaration of Conflicts of Interest be renumbered as No. 2 A (6)
That Approval of Consent Agenda be added as No. 2 A (7)
That Approval of Minutes be added as No. 2 A (8)
(4)
Article II: Meetings of Board of Trustees
Order of Business for Regular Board Meetings (Page 8)
That item No. 2 D (2) Consent Agenda be struck and that the items following be renumbered.
(5)
Article V: Standing Committees of the Board (Page 12 No. 1)
That December be struck and replaced with November so that the sentence reads as follows:
Standing Committee meetings will not take place in November during an election year.
(6)
Article V: Standing Committees of the Board (Page 12)
That a new statement be added to the end of No. 1 to read as follows:
The election of Chairperson and Vice-chairperson of the Business and Facilities Standing Committee, Human Resources Standing Committee and Program Standing Committee will be held at each of the respective standing Committee meetings in December in a municipal election year.
The Director of Education or designate will conduct the election of a Chairperson and Vice-chairperson for the Business and Facilities Standing Committee, Human Resources Standing Committee and Program Standing Committee according to the procedures in APPENDIX A.
(7)
Article VIII: Delegations and Written Submissions to the Board and Committees
Delegations (Page 15, No. 1.3)
That the following wording be struck:
arranged through the Director
And replaced with:
submitted through the online Delegation Request Form located on the SCDSB public website.
(8)
Article VIII: Delegations and Written Submissions to the Board and Committees
Delegations (Page 15, No. 1.4)
That item 1.4 be amended to read as follows:
Requests to appear as a delegation must be submitted by 1 p.m. a week prior to the Board or committee meeting. A complete written copy of the presentation (including a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, if applicable) must be attached to the request.
(9)
Article VIII: Delegations and Written Submissions to the Board and Committees
Delegations (Page 15, No. 1.5)
That the following wording be struck:
and/or an outline
And replaced with:
(including a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, if applicable)
(10)
Article VIII: Delegations and Written Submissions to the Board and Committees
Delegations (Page 15, No. 1.7)
That No. 1.7 be amended to read as:
Delegations will be granted up to ten minutes for their presentation and trustees will have up to 10 minutes for questions of clarification. Any extension of this time limit will be granted only by the permission of the Chairperson. Delegates are permitted to only raise and discuss issues specifically addressed and contemplated by their approved submission.
(11)
Article VIII: Delegations and Written Submissions to the Board and Committees
Delegations (Page 15, No. 1.9)
That No. 1.9 be amended to read as follows:
A delegation request does not guarantee the approval of the delegation. The SCDSB reserves the right to have the delegation heard at a different Board or Standing Committee meeting and/or on an alternative date than has been selected. The SCDSB may also request a presentation in written format as opposed to verbal or PowerPoint. Individuals who have submitted a delegation request will be contacted and advised of the status of their request once it has been reviewed and will be made aware of the delegation process.
(12)
Article VIII: Delegations and Written Submissions to the Board and Committees
Delegations (Page 15, New No. 1.10)
That the following wording be inserted as item No. 1.10 and that the items following be renumbered:
Presentations (whether in-person or in written submission) to the Board or a committee of the Board shall be free of statements or material which are contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and other laws of Ontario and Canada. Delegations will be informed that at all times during their presentation or written submission they must be respectful, civil, courteous and that decorum is expected in addressing the Board or committee, and that all comments must be addressed to the Chairperson. Delegates who fail to adhere during their presentation to these requirements will be given direction by the Chairperson to comply; failing which, the delegation may be directed to proceed in writing, or the delegation terminated early.
Reports/Update from Staff
John Dance, Director of Education, provided an update regarding the Employment Equity Action Plan and shared that staff continue to make progress towards the goals outlined in the plan. Director Dance noted that Manager Bokhari is leading this work through the Human Rights and Equity Office and will bring a report to the Board of Trustees in March that highlights how the goals are being addressed, as well as an update on the work taking place through the Human Rights and Equity Office.
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]