Boardroom Briefs

April 26, 2023 Meeting of the LDSB Board of Trustees

Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. These briefs do not serve as the official record of the meeting. Please refer to Board minutes which are approved at the next regular meeting. Community members are also invited to follow along during live tweets of regular Board meetings using the hashtag #LDSBmtg.


You can view the entire Twitter thread here.


You can view the full Board Agenda Package here.

Each meeting, a different Trustee will present the Indigenous Acknowledgement of Territory and include their own personal reflections.

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Delegations

English as a Second Language: Adult Non-Credit – Carrie Barr & Wendy Bonnell

  • Summary of ESL non-credit program
  • Highlighted how team members support learners in learning the English language
  • Explained how education assists in building community and strengthening learners' ability to access community supports, advocate for their families, become Canadian citizens and gain employment


Literacy Basic Skills: Adult Non-Credit – Julia Perkins & Wendy Bonnell

  • Described the LBS program including who is served; positive impacts on increasing literacy in adults
  • Explained how goals are achieved
  • Highlighted the successes and how newcomers to Canada can be further supported


ESL Secondary Programming – Andrea Loken & Wendy Bonnell

  • Highlighted the connection between high school ESL programming and adult non-credit programming
  • Explained the ways in which adult ESL, literacy and basic skills support newcomers to Canada, specifically within the family dynamic

Presentations

Legacy Wall and Book of Remembrance – Joanne Whitfield & Kevin Reed


Retired educators Kevin Reed and Joanne Whitfield provided a presentation about recent projects they led called the KCVI-QECVI Legacy Project and the Book of Remembrance.


The Legacy Project captures the rich history of the former Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KCVI) and the former Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute (QECVI) with a wall panel installation inside Kingston Secondary School (KSS), the KSS library, and an online catalogue resource.


This project began following the decision to consolidate KCVI and QECVI into KSS, ensuring the public had access to the history of both schools. For more information, please visit:


KCVI QECVI Legacy Project at KSS

LDSB News Release: KCVI-QECVI Legacy Wall


Reed and Whitfield also shared details about the Book of Remembrance, a book of the KCVI memorial wall that honours former KCI and KCVI students who died in World War I and World War II. To learn more and to purchase a book, please visit:


Book of Remembrance Supports KSS Legacy Fund

KCVI Roll of Honour



Indigenous Languages Program – Superintendent Gillam & Vice-Principal of Indigenous Education and Reconciliation Lead Liv Rondeau


Liv Rondeau highlighted Indigenous languages programming across the Limestone District School Board by first sharing some statistics and information about Indigenous languages around the world, including:


  • Conservative estimates suggest that more than half of the world’s languages will become extinct by 2100. Other calculations predict that up to 95 per cent of the world’s languages may become extinct or seriously endangered by the end of this century.​


  • The threat is the direct consequence of colonialism and colonial practices that resulted in the decimation of Indigenous peoples, their cultures and languages. ​


  • Article 13 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states that Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their languages, oral traditions, writing systems and literatures.

    • Some Indigenous peoples are successfully revitalizing and developing their languages through their own initiatives.​

    • The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages to draw attention to the critical loss of Indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote them at the national and international levels.

    The LDSB is providing the following programming:

    Graphic sharing information about LDSB Kanyen'kéha programming
    Graphic sharing information about LDSB Anishinaabemowin programming
    Photos of student work as it relates to learning Indigenous languages
    In addition, there are students learning the Algonquin language at Granite Ridge Education Centre, and the LDSB is looking to have Cree language opportunities for students next school year.

    Private Session Report

    Vice Chair Godkin was called upon to Rise and Report from Private Session. Updates regarding labour and personnel were discussed. No other business conducted or motions passed.

    Chair's Report

    Chair Hutcheon thanked Vice Chair Godkin for taking the Chair at the March Board Meeting. Following a concussion over March Break, Chair Hutcheon was unable to attend the last Board Meeting.


    Chair Hutcheon noted how it's okay to ask for help and that she's privileged to have family, community and colleagues who were able to assist her.


    She shared that privilege is not always financial because it can be found in the people, love and culture that surrounds us.

    "Those of us sitting around these tables tonight are privileged. By virtue of being here; being tasked with making decisions that impact children, decisions to make things the best they can be for children, we are privileged." - Chair Robin Hutcheon

    Chair Hutcheon said that budget season should remind the Board of Trustees that, "Like Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. It is incumbent on us to recognize and remember the advantages we do have and to keep things in perspective when we make decisions. To remember to bring forward the voices that do not have family, that do not have community, that do not have homes; that do not have our privilege."


    Chair Hutcheon said the Board is there to serve students to level the playing filed and take part in a future to be proud of.

    Director's Report

    Director Burra spoke to the province releasing funding information to school boards, which is vital for the board's planning in preparation for the 2023-2024 school year. Along with funding announcements, the government tabled legislation, The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023, which has a number of implications for school boards and the government is consulting on a number of potential changes.


    Director Burra shared that the LDSB would be releasing the first See Yourself in Limestone Student Census: Student Sense of Belonging Report the following day (now available). This report is the first in a series of reports that focuses on belonging at school for different demographic groups: race and racial background; religion; country of birth; first language; and newcomer or refugee status, and how these identities relate to student experiences.

    "The report clearly identifies we continue to have critical work ahead of us to ensure all students positively experience school while continuing on their learning journeys." - Director Krishna Burra

    Director Burra said the data from this report will provide guidance to the board moving forward, and also be a prompt for further conversations about the data to fully understand it and create meaningful change.


    He shared that the Ministry of Education approved the LDSB school year calendar for 2023-2024, and will be available on the website very soon. In addition, the day before, 2,000 secondary students viewed a live presentation by Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe that was focused on resilience and mental health. This presentation, along with a number of additional student engagements, was supported by the Limestone Learning Foundation.


    Finally, Director Burra noted the upcoming Education Week with the province releasing the theme of "Education for a Brighter Future." Director Burra said he believed it to be a worthy theme because the board has been focusing its attention on the notion of hope, and the power of education for social change and mobility. He said all Limestone schools need to be a source of hope for the children and youth they serve.

    Student Trustee Reports

    Student Trustee Kolosov introduced the three new Student Trustees for the 2023-2024 school year.

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    Indigenous Student Trustee Eckloff: “[Emily] has a passion for a variety of different arts and she has been involved in the Indigenous Leadership circle for several years.” Student Trustee Kolosov added that Emily has held several leadership positions where she has gained skills that will help her make a positive difference in this position.


    Urban Student Trustee Wang: “Andrea is passionate about balance between sports, community and school." She added that Andrea's adaptability, passion, collaborative and communication skills will make her a great addition to our team. Student Trustee Wang has stepped in to replace Student Trustee Elshrief for the remainder of this school year.


    Rural Student Trustee O'Keefe: “[Ava Jean] is very active in her school and community as she is a member of the student council and has worked in South Frontenac for years.” Her experience has provided her with an understanding of the different experiences students face.


    Student Trustee Kolosov also spoke to the many different initiatives taking place at schools in the coming months including KASSAA sports, La Salle hosting exchange students from France, KSS hosting a spring dance, open barbecue and diversity dinner, and LCVI hosting spirit days, as well as celebrating Jewish Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month (South East) in May.


    Lastly, she noted the kick-off of the knowledge-sharing program.


    "Although it is a busy time for students, the program mentors and mentees had a chance to connect with one another, discuss the plan for the program, speak with Danka, our guest community knowledge-keeper, share some food and of course do some drumming with the Grandmother Drum, which is always one of my favorite things to do," she said. "This was a great way to start off this year’s program. We are looking to have another get-together as a team before the end of the year to wrap-up the program and celebrate our new connections and learnings that we have made over the past year together."

    Reports for Information

    ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: INTERIM REPORTING QTR 2 2022-2023

    The full report is available in the Board Meeting Agenda Package on Pages 18-20


    This is a report about the Interim Financial Operating expenditures for the period of September 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023 (Quarter 2).


    The 2022-2023 Interim Financial Report was presented to the Board on January 18, 2023 and provided updated revenue and expenditure information from the budget to the revised estimates, as well as operating expenditures for the period ending November 30, 2022 (Quarter 1).


    Below is the 2022-2023 Interim Financial Report for the period ending February 28, 2023 (Quarter 2), which has been presented in a similar format to the 2022-2023 operating budget, indicating the amount spent by expenditure category and the associated percentage.


    As at Quarter 2, $137,438,412 of the $277,826,881 operating budget or 49% has been spent. It is important to note, that expenditures are based upon items paid within the stated period. Certain expenditures may be non-cyclical in nature, which may lead to higher or lower expenditures within a given period. (See Appendix 1 for more information.)


    The 2022-2023 interim financial report for Quarter 2 indicates a spending level of 49%. This is comparable to the 49% spending level reported for the same period last year.


    The Board is on target to end the 2022-2023 fiscal year within the budgeted deficit of ($2,530,208).

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    ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: STRATEGIC PLAN MONITORING MID-YEAR UPDATE

    The full report is available in the Board Meeting Agenda Package on pages 21-60


    The purpose of this report was to update Trustees on the progress of the Strategic Action Plans for 2022-2023.


    Under the Education Act, the Director must review the Multi-Year Strategic Plan annually with the Board of Trustees, timed to align with the Director’s Annual Report at the end of the calendar year. To assist Trustees with their ongoing monitoring, a mid-year update is provided using a ‘traffic light’ system to evaluate the progress of specific actions which were designed to operationalize the achievement of LDSB strategic goals.


    As indicated, the action plan areas for this school year were approved by Trustees in the fall of 2022. At the Board Meeting on April 26, 2023, Senior Staff presented a monitoring update, focusing on the items that have been assessed as high priorities to focus our work through the 2022-2023 school year.


    The mid-year update includes the period from September 2022-January 2023. These items are assessed using the ‘traffic light’ system indicating the degree of progress on the action plans. A semi-annual assessment allows staff to make adjustments to ensure that the MYSP goals remain on track to the maximum extent possible.


    Staff’s commitment to Trustees is that the areas of focus will also populate Board and EPOC agendas throughout the five-year Strategic Plan, thereby providing ongoing monitoring opportunities at every board and committee meeting.


    Updates are available on pages 24-60.

    ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: KC/QE CHATTEL

    The full report is available in the Board Agenda Package on pages 61-62


    The purpose of this report was to provide Trustees with an update on the current and planned expenditures associated with revenues from the sale of chattels from the former QECVI and KCVI.


    Kingston Secondary School (KSS) and the new Module Vanier opened December 15, 2020. It currently houses students in Grades 7 and 8 French Immersion (Vanier) and students in Grades 9-12 (KSS). KSS is a fully composite secondary school that was created with the closures of QECVI and KCVI.


    At the November 26, 2021 Education, Policy and Operations Committee meeting, Trustees received a report outlining next steps for the sale of remaining chattels from the former QECVI and KCVI with a recommendation that proceeds for the sale of any remaining chattels originally belonging to the QECVI and KCVI communities be returned to the same communities now amalgamated at KSS.


    At the time, Trustees requested an update in the future on expenditures associated with the sale of chattels from the former QECVI and KCVI. Currently, approximately $85 thousand was raised through the public sale of artwork, two grandfather clocks, memorabilia, and resources (e.g., science equipment, yearbooks, programs from former musicals, older maps that would have rolled down in front of classroom chalkboards, trophies, etc.).


    To date, approximately $20 thousand has been spent to support the design and installation of the Legacy Wall which was unveiled officially at KSS on October 5, 2022.


    It was clear during the integration process that capturing the history of both buildings and their student populations was critical. The series of panels with selected artifacts help capture some of the visual history and information related to the history of secondary schools in Kingston with particular attention to QECVI and KCVI. The panels help share highlights of the history of the school community that was once together, separated as QECVI and KCVI, and has now come back together again at KSS.


    There is a brief written explanation included on the wall to help communicate the significance of the artifacts and photos and it includes QR codes that allow people to access additional historical information from a website.


    Next Steps: Approximately $15 thousand has been allocated toward the restoration of the Canadian flag that was previously displayed at KCVI but originally flew at Parliament Hill in Ottawa once the ‘new’ flag design was adopted in 1964-1965. This historical artifact will be professionally restored and properly preserved and displayed at KSS for students and community members to serve as both a national symbol and a recognition of the rich history of the legacy schools that form the foundation for KSS.


    The goal for $30 thousand is to help enhance the KSS student experience by spending dollars on items not covered by Ministry funding. For example, part of this money could be used to help initiate fundraising efforts toward outdoor bleachers that will invite members of the community to cheer on students competing in a variety of athletic events and promote gathering for other outdoor school, and community-based, events.


    The plan for the majority of the remaining $20 thousand will be used to form bursaries for KSS students in financial need who are pursuing post-secondary education.

    Limestone District School Board

    The Board serves more than 19,000 elementary and secondary students in 60 schools and 8 education centres covering a geographic area of 7,719 square kilometres. To get in touch with your trustee, visit Meet Your Trustees.