Around the Horseshoe
Limestone District School Board Trustees' Update Winter 2019
January Meeting Highlights
Trustee Laurie French, Limestone's representative on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, provided a brief update on its last meeting. The December meeting included a visit from the Minister of Education, regional caucus breakouts to discuss various items including funding consultation (Grants for Student Needs or GSNs) submission to the Ministry of Education and updates on finance, legislative matters, Indigenous council as well as program and policy updates. She also outlined the upcoming OPSBA governance review.
Student Trustee Update
Student Trustees Sean Kim and Shylah Hart provided an update on the recent InterSchool Council meeting in December. Student Council representatives learned about Medlife, an organization that partners with low-income communities in Latin America and Africa to improve their access to medicine, education and community development initiatives. Medlife is looking for high schools to start their own chapters and get involved.
Tri-Board Student Transportation Report
Tri-Board Student Transportation CEO Gord Taylor provided trustees with an overview of its student transportation operation which services LDSB as well as the Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and the Hasting & Prince Edward District School Board. Mr. Taylor outlined Tri-Board's coverage area explaining that 40 per cent of its business involves Limestone bus routes. He provided rider and route statistics and also outlined its inclement weather protocol and various safety programs.
Permissions & Payments System Report
Superintendent of Education Michele Babcock provided an update on the Board's new School Day: Permissions & Payments (cashless schools) system. The secure online portal allows families to provide permission and payments for school activities such as field trips and hot lunch. Families can use etransfer or credit card. All transactions are completed via a secure portal that requires the use of a unique key code for each student that is specific to each parent/guardian. The system is in the pilot stage at five Napanee area schools. The remaining Napanee area schools will be added in March. The rollout will continue in phases with all schools online by 2021 although hope is to adopt earlier if possible. Trustees were also provided with a demonstration by project lead Andrea Branch.
Director's Annual Report for 2017-2018
Director of Education Debra Rantz provided an update on the Director's Annual Report 2017-2018 school year. Report includes the Board’s strategic goals, progress and actions in priority areas where goals are not being met. School boards are also asked to report on progress in relation to equity and human rights. Our strategic plan outlines several goals related to ongoing efforts to promote and meet goals for equity and inclusion, as well as our strategic pillars of Wellness, Innovation and Collaboration. Since 2011, this report has been created using an electronic format. The report is now available on the Board's strategic plan microsite.
Presentation: Exploring Pathways for All
The Grade 7/8 Guidance Team works with students at elementary and intermediate schools to empower students to get to know themselves and who they are and how they learn. They also cover various topics such as financial literacy and transition planning to high school.
Much of the work preparing students for high school begins with myBlueprint, an online
This year, the Grade 7/8 Guidance Team has co-planned with The Experiential (hands-on) Learning Team to offer students an opportunity to try out culinary and construction learning.
February Meeting Highlights
Trustee Brown recognized for advocacy efforts
Chair Suzanne Ruttan congratulated Kingston area Trustee Judith Brown on receiving the Queen's University Alumni Association Jim Bennett Award. The award recognizes Trustee Brown for her tireless work supporting Kingston’s black community on campus and in our community for decades. She is a longtime advocate for the African and Caribbean communities, and is a key organizer of Kingston’s Black History Month Opening Ceremony. Read more on the Queen's Alumni website.
Ontario Public School Boards' Association Update
Trustee Karen McGregor provided an update on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association and its recent Public Education Symposium. She indicated that she believes Limestone was one of the only boards to have all trustees in attendance. She outlined there was a variety of workshops for new and returning trustees and all were informative and useful including an overview of the role of OPSBA provincially as well as the opportunity for valuable one-on-one networking/sharing with Trustees from across Ontario. The next regional meeting will be held in April.
Student Trustee Update
Student Trustees Sean Kim and Shylah Hart shared that the InterSchool Council Meeting scheduled for February 11 was postponed due to inclement weather. Both Student Trustees will attend the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association's annual Board Council Conference in Ottawa where they will learn new ways to represent and advocate for student voice, hear from speakers, plan new and innovative initiatives, and learn about other initiatives from peers.
Budget Development Schedule released
Superintendent of Business Craig Young provided an update on 2019-2020 budget development schedule. Ministry has yet to announce details of 2019-2020 Grants for Student Needs (GSN) upon which board budgets are largely based. We anticipate an announcement by the end of March 2019. Based upon prior year reporting timelines, that school boards will be required to submit their 2019-2020 estimates by June 28, 2019. The budget development schedule has been established to meet this timeline.
Health & Safety Briefing
Associate Superintendent of Safe & Caring Schools Scot Gillam shared a recent concern from a CUPE member regarding the security of the LDSB Education Centre after hours. Many meetings take place at the centre after hours, including Board and committee meetings. Staff are concerned about the safety of staff following meetings when unknown individuals might remain in the building.As a result, the front door of the Education Centre will now be locked 20 minutes after the conclusion of evening meetings.
Notice of Motion: Live streaming/recording of Board meetings
Trustee Robin Hutcheon brought forth a Notice of Motion regarding live streaming/recording of Board meetings. Trustees agreed to a broad staff report to be delivered at the March 6 Education, Policy & Operations Committee of the Whole that would include information on costs (equipment and human resources), measurement options to determine the return on investment, and the feasibility of having students do the recording and/or borrowing equipment from schools.
One-Year Retrospective – Wellness, Innovation & Collaboration
Director of Education Debra Rantz debuted the "One-Year Retrospective – Wellness, Innovation & Collaboration" video which highlights the work of staff and students in meeting the goals outlined in the 2017-2022 strategic plan. The video profiles outdoor and Indigenous education (wellness), TechnoMath (innovation) and field trip transit pass (collaboration). Although the selected stories are intended to focus on one pillar, each actually demonstrates all three. Video will be shared w/ all stakeholders over next several weeks. View more stories of Wellness, Innovation & Collaboration on our website portal.
March Meeting Highlights
Ontario Public School Boards' Association Update
Trustee Laurie French, Limestone's representative on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA), provided a brief update on its last meeting. OPSBA President recently met with NDP education critic to discuss current issues and plans to meet with Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) President. She met with Ontario Secondary Schools' Teachers Federation (OSSTF) President prior to Christmas. She and executive will meet with MPPs for an advocacy session in April. Program and Accommodation Review guidelines are reportedly ready for release in the upcoming weeks. Grants for Students Needs (GSNs) reported to be on schedule for late March/early April and transportation funding formula review to occur. A summary is available on OPSBA website.
Student Trustee Update
Student Trustees Sean Kim and Shylah Hart Recently attended the Ontario Student Trustees' Association Annual Board Council Conference in Ottawa. There, they participated in many opportunities to gain professional development including topics such as: building a brand for yourself, what advocacy really means & how to communicate on social media. They participated in additional leadership opportunities through board and regional breakout sessions including a chance to discuss several topics about what was happening in their regions, as well as have debates regarding whether or not they agreed with different educational policies and/or ideas.
Staff Update on Ministry of Education Announcements
Director of Education Debra Rantz provided a brief update to Trustees on recent high-level "vision for education" announcements from the Ministry of Education. Senior staff participated in a teleconference on March 18 to understand some elements intended to provide guidance on developing 2019-2020 board budget. She asked Trustees to understand staff are doing their best to assess potential impact to Limestone but there are still many unknowns.
The announcements reference upcoming revised curricula, budget assumptions for planning secondary class size is substantial moving to 28-1 average up from 22-1. Government says this will be supported with attrition protection to avoid involuntary frontline layoffs. There is also a proposal that secondary students take more eLearning courses beginning in 2020-2021. Staff does not yet know what this will look like. Grants for Student Needs (GSNs) are not expected until later in April and more information will be coming with respect to all these items.
The Director indicated that all of the announcements have been prefaced with government’s desire to have continued consultation with education partners to help shape their plan. She indicated that Limestone and various associations such as union and federation partners, OPSBA, Council of Directors of Education and other groups will participate in these consultations.
Superintendent of Business Craig Young provided some planning assumptions based on the preliminary potential changes. He indicated that many questions asked by staff during the teleconference were not answered. Until GSNs are released (now not until after provincial budget) which is likely at the end of April, staff can only provide high level estimates. Class size caps are being maintained at primary and junior divisions but funding is being adjusted (reduced). Increases to funded class averages at secondary level from 22-1 to 28-1 will result in reductions in funding. There will be a five-year phase in of new supplementary area factor that will reduce operations funding to offset the reduction in classrooms required at secondary.
Superintendent Young reported that other offsetting measures include an increase of 2% to School Operations Allocation to offset increasing utilities; an increase of 4% to student transportation; attrition protection for teacher reductions due to class size changes; and an increase of 1% to salary benchmark. If all proposed changes are implemented, Limestone could see reductions of about $4.85M and increases of about $2.67M (this doesn't include all figures as several details are currently unknown).
Trustees agree to send letter to Ministry
Trustees spent a considerable amount of time discussing the potential impact of proposed cuts on students and staff. Trustee Robin Hutcheon requested that the Board of Trustees respond formally to the government to express their discontent with the proposed changes in the form of a letter. There was much back and forth among Trustees about what the letter would include and when it would be delivered. Following additional discussion, Trustee French put forth a motion asking staff to compose a draft letter for Trustee review at upcoming April 10 Board meeting. Trustees agreed unanimously.
Trustees approve School Calendar
Associate Superintendent Scot Gillam provided the draft 2019-2020 School Year Calendar for review and approval by the Board of Trustees. Trustees received a report outlining the process for determining the school year calendar. Provincial regulations state that the school year start on or after Sept. 1 and end on or before June 30. Every school year shall include a minimum of 194 school days. Boards in the Tri-Board Student Transportation consortium (LDSB, HPEDSB & ALCDSB) have traditionally agreed on a common calendar to share transportation costs. Trustees approved the calendar as presented. It has to be approved by the Ministry of Education before it can be officially released. This should occur sometime in May.
Presentation: Dual Credits - SWAC & WITTS
Dual Credits provide students with the opportunity to: earn high school credits while studying at a local college or taking apprenticeship training; gain experience that will help them with their post-secondary education or apprenticeship; and get a head start on learning and training for their future careers.
Tonight's presentation focused on School Within a College (SWAC) and Women in the Trades programs. These programs offer a variety of courses in disciplines such as early childhood education, police foundations, graphic design, culinary arts and business, and trades are among the possibilities. More recently, the Board has introduced more opportunities such as carpentry, millwright, electrical, welding, masonry and plumbing.
Students in the program indicate that SWAC/WITTS is often a better fit for them than conventional high school. Currently there are about 11 students attending Dual Credit programs in Limestone and the programs have a 98 per cent success rate.
Limestone District School Board
Email: communications@limestone.on.ca
Website: www.limestone.on.ca
Location: 220 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613.544.6920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Limestone-District-School-Board-308623265872996/
Twitter: @LimestoneDSB