Around the Horseshoe
Limestone District School Board Trustees' Update Fall 2017
September Board Meeting
Sustainable Initiatives Coordinator Dan Hendry shared three important updates with Trustees starting with several projects completed with Canada 150 grant funding. The Board received $11,640 to enhance outdoor physical activity space at eight schools. The Board also learned that Limestone will increase its school gardens to 20 thanks to a $500,000 Trillium Grant to community partner, Loving Spoonful. Loving Spoonful works with schools across our district to adopt, plant, raise, and harvest a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, learning first-hand the processes of growing food as a team. A series of classroom sessions complement their garden time, organized to help students gain a more holistic understanding of food. Finally, Mr. Hendry provided an update on the Board's innovative partnership with the City of Kingston and Kingston Transit. Student ridership had increased to 600,000 trips for the 2016-2017 school year. He also outlined the new teacher field trip pass which will allow teachers to take students (who already ride for free) to various outings with a special pass. The success of this overall program is now the subject of a University of Waterloo Master’s thesis.
New Intermediate & Secondary School
Superintendent Krishna Burra shared that the Ministry of Education has approved the awarding of the contract for construction of the new Intermediate/Secondary School to Bondfield Construction. The awarding of the contract allows Limestone to continue to move forward with preparation for the opening of our new Intermediate/Secondary School for the 2019-2020 school year. A ceremonial ground breaking is scheduled for October.
Strategic Plan Update
Director or Education Debra Rantz presented an update on the development of the Board's new Strategic Plan. Senior Staff are currently working on strategic goals, as they relate to the newly established pillars of wellness, innovation and collaboration. The communication of the plan to students, staff, families and partners has begun and will continue over the fall until the official roll our in early November. Staff are working hard to make sure there is cohesion with the Board Improvement Plan, and School Improvement Plans.
Celebrating Kingston's first high school in 40 years
Trustees, Board and school staff, students, families and community partners gathered on October 20 to celebrate a ceremonial ground breaking for the Board's new Kingston Intermediate & Secondary School. The ceremony was the culmination of many years of collaboration and commitment to doing what is in best interests of all of our students. Attendees came together to "break ground" by planting perennials in student-made cedar planters that will be placed on the grounds of the new school. With assistance from contractor Bondfield Construction, a more traditional "ground-breaking" of the land by an excavator also took place.
Above (left to right), Trustee Laurie French, Trustee Wess Garrod, Director of Education Debra Rantz, Architect Paul Stevens, Trustee Alec Ross, Trustee David Jackson, Chair Paula Murray, MPP Sophie Kiwala. Student Nate Loken, Trustee Tom Mahoney and Ministry of Education Representative Denis Chartrand.
October Board Meeting
Capital Projects Update
Facilities Manager David Fowler provided an update of various capital projects completed over summer 2017. Projects included roof repairs and replacements, mechanical and electrical upgrades, parking lot expansions to improve student drop off/pick up and accessibility enhancements. Other upgrades include accessibility upgrades. Much of the work isn't necessarily exciting but critical to providing students and staff with safe and welcoming spaces.
10-Year Capital Plan
Superintendent of Business Paul Babin presented 10-Year Capital School Renewal Project Plan that calls for $18 million in improvements. The process for deciding which improvements are completed are based on site assessments and areas of urgent need to provide for safety and comfort. Trustees approved the plan as presented.
Literacy Presentation
Program Consultants Joanne Mace and Erica Wyncoll presented how they support teachers in building strong student readers and writers. Their roles involve working with teachers to build their capacity in order to improve student engagement and achievement. Several teachers have attended a voluntary Reading Course where consultants break down for teachers the elements of HOW to teach reading. They note it is important to provide time during class to promote reading. The program team is also working to close gaps among Gr 7-10 students as part of year-long project.
Local Government Week
Trustees helped raise awareness of the important civic contributions of school boards and municipalities during Local Government Week. Trustees play key leadership role in public education by ensuring schools operate within provincial standards and remain responsive to communities they serve.Some Trustees visited Limestone schools to share first-hand knowledge about local government with Grade 5 students. Limestone's nine publicly-elected trustees and two student-elected student trustees provide input and insight into defining vision, policies & resources that build the foundation for quality programming and operations of the Board.
(Below left) Trustee Laurie French spoke to Grade 5 students at Southview Public School in Napanee while (below, right) Trustee Wess Garrod addressed students at Amherstview Public School.
November Board Meeting
Chair Paula Murray recognized the November meeting as the close of the third year, of Trustees' four-year term. The Chair recognized fellow trustees for the work they have done to ensure Limestone students receive quality educational services. Highlights from the past year include:
- Completion, and roll-out, of the Board’s new Strategic Plan
- More students are graduating than ever before as a result of focused efforts by school teams as well as integrating specialty programs.
- Awarding a contractor for the new Kingston Intermediate & Secondary School
- Balanced budget
- 10-year Capital School Renewal plan
- Various Canada 150 celebrations including the Limestone Learning Foundation’s Canadian Flags for Limestone Classrooms project and Canadian Crystal showcase of student talent
- Renewal, and extension, of our student transit pass partnership with the City of Kingston and the introduction of a new Field Trip Pass for teachers and staff
- Rideau Heights Community Centre nearing completion and on target for opening in winter 2018.
Transportation across school district
Tri-Board Student Transportation CEO Gord Taylor outlined a smooth start up for 2017-2018 school year. The call centre that receives additions, deletions and changes to busing was dismantled in 12 days after start up. Training for school bus patrollers under way and more than 1,000 students involved across all three boards. In-school bus safety presentations ongoing. Tri-Board is also assessing experience in other boards re use of wifi on buses for longer rural routes. Limited implementation will be introduced over the next few months and use will mirror board policy. Currently, there is a policy review under way to ensure alignment with all policies of all member boards.
Indigenous Education Month in Limestone
To help celebrate November was Indigenous Education Month in Limestone, students and teachers shared how they care creating awareness while learning. The Katarowki Drummers from Katarowki Learning Centre shared their gift of drumming and song to begin the presentation. Next, students from Frontenac Secondary School shared how they are supporting reconciliation. Students Nia Leonard, Abigail Lesage-Cooper and Kyla Hagen shared that reconciliation is work and sometimes it is not easy to hear the real history of Canada, especially for those who have lived experience like in residential schools.
Below, students Kimaya Tegtmeyer, Caitlin Drohan, Jamie Lyddon, Jordan Taylor and Hayley Snook supported by teacher Kelly Maracle and Helena Neveu perform.
Strategic Plan embedded in Wellness, Innovation & Collaboration
Director of Education Debra Rantz updated Trustees on the upcoming roll out of new strategic plan and communication back to all stakeholders who participated in the initial consultation process. She unveiled a short video that outlined the process to date. Part of the communication includes a dedicated website that allows everyone - students, staff, families and community partners, to share their stories of Wellness, Innovation & Collaboration via new website. Staff and students are beginning to show how they are embedding the new pillars into their school learning plans. Trustees are working with Senior Staff to develop a monitoring plan to be released in spring 2018.
Staff connect the dots
Students share their thinking
Team effort
December Board Meeting
Trustees Murray and Ruttan acclaimed for 2018
Trustee Paula Murray and Trustee Suzanne Ruttan were acclaimed to the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the final year of the current four-year term of the Limestone District School Board at the Initial Board Meeting on December 4, 2017. Trustee Murray represents the City of Kingston: Williamsville & Sydenham (Districts 9 & 10) and the following schools: Module Vanier, Rideau Public School, Sydenham Public School, Winston Churchill Public School and Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute. She was first elected in November 2006. She is currently serving her third term as a Trustee. Vice-Chair Ruttan represents the Township of South Frontenac and the following schools: Sydenham High School, Harrowsmith Public School, Loughborough Public School, Perth Road Public School, Prince Charles Public School and Storrington Public School. Trustee Ruttan was first elected in 2010. This is her second term in office. Trustees elect a Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board each year of their four-year mandate. The Board's current four-year term runs until November 30, 2018.
Additionally, Trustees decided on their committee membership for the 2018 term. Committee membership and committee chairs is outlined below.
Awards Committee:
Trustee Elaine Crawford, Trustee French (Chair), Trustee Karen McGregor, Trustee David Jackson (Alternate)
Special Education Advisory Committee:
Trustee Karen McGregor, Trustee Alec Ross, Trustee David Jackson (Alternate). Co-Chairs will be voted on at the first meeting of the session.
Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee:
Trustee David Jackson, Trustee Tom Mahoney (Alternate). Co-Chairs will be voted on at the first meeting of the session.
Parent Involvement Committee:
Trustee Wess Garrod, Trustee Alec Ross (Alternate)
Supervised Alternative Learning:
Trustee Wess Garrod, Trustee David Jackson (Alternate)
Food Sharing Project:
Trustee David Jackson, Trustee Paula Murray (Alternate)
Expulsion Hearing Committee/Disciplinary Hearing Committee Pool:
The following Trustees indicated that they would like to be placed in the Expulsion Hearing Committee/Disciplinary Hearing Committee Pool:
Trustee Wess Garrod, Trustee David Jackson, Trustee Karen McGregor, Trustee Paula Murray, Trustee Alec Ross, Trustee Suzanne Ruttan
Trustees get first-hand experience with coding
Limestone District School Board
Email: communications@limestone.on.ca
Website: limestone.on.ca
Location: 220 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-544-6920
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Limestone-District-School-Board-308623265872996/?fref=ts
Twitter: @LimestoneDSB