Around the Horseshoe
Limestone District School Board Trustees' Update Spring 2019
Presentation: French as a Second Language in Limestone
French as a Second Language Consultant Elisabeth Beaulieu and Teachers Bruce Emmerton from Sydenham Public School and Amy Daoust from Southview Public School provided Trustees with an update on our programs in Limestone at the April Board Meeting. Limestone uses Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) which defines levels of proficiency which allows learners’ progress to be measured at each stage of learning and on a life-long basis. What does the implementation of CEFR look like in the classroom? Ensuring there is a daily focus on using language to communicate with each other, improving student proficiency, encouraging risk-taking and increasing student engagement. All French teachers are engaging learners in "Action-Oriented Authentic Tasks." In primary, robotics are used to introduce new unit vocabulary, soft-landing/intro to directions, reinforce and consolidate learning around numbers. Check out this clip.
April Meeting Highlights
Ontario Public School Boards' Association Update
Trustee Karen McGregor, Limestone's alternate representative on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA), provided a brief update. Trustees attended the OPSBA Education Labour Relations/Human Resources Symposium where they could select various workshops. Local and central bargaining were front and centre throughout the conference and trustees learned more about the complexities of upcoming negotiations. On April 8, OPSBA Executive Council members and senior staff participated in an Advocacy Day at Queen's Park. The day was intended as an opportunity for OPSBA representatives to build on collaborative relationships with provincial stakeholders – both MPPs and political staff. The day featured meetings and conversations with all four political parties. Trustee Laurie French, in her capacity as OPSBA Past President, attended the day.
Election of OPSBA Representative
Trustees voted on the election of Limestone's Ontario Public School Boards' Association representative who will serve from June 2019 to June 2020. Trustee French is acclaimed. Trustee McGregor was voted in as alternate representative should Trustee French be unavailable.
Student Trustee Update
Student Trustees Sean Kim and Shylah Hart shared that the recent annual InterSchool Coffee House featuring student talent from across the district raised $170 for the United Way. Plans continue for its upcoming Lip Sync Battle, which will also see proceeds directed to the United Way. Applications are now open for Student Trustees for 2019-2020. Senior students in Gr. 10-12 are invited to apply as an urban or rural representative. Student applicants must fill out an application form and prepare a two-minute speech. InterSchool Council will choose their new Student Trustees May 7, 2019.
Kingston Secondary School Update
Superintendent of Education Krishna Burra provided an update on the new Kingston Secondary School. As of April 1, construction is 65 per cent complete. Construction is scheduled to be competed in the winter of 2019-2020. A recent new school info night for families and students was held April 3. Questions related to transportation, parking, and timing of the move. Work has begun on additional FAQs to support the transition. Work continues on items related to: transition of memorabilia, transition planning from KCVI to KSS, preparation for revising transportation when KSS opens and assessing transportation and traffic impact and Champlain Park revitalization project with City of Kingston.
Staff Update on Ministry of Education Announcements
Superintendent of Human Resources Andre Labrie provided an update on Ministry of Education funding announcements. Ministry memo regarding secondary class sizes move from average of 22:1 to 28:1 could result in loss of 77 secondary positions over the next four years. Average retirement per year is about 20 which would absorb these lost positions over 4 years. This deals theoretically with staff lay off but results in significant program loss. There is a slight decline in enrolment (about 100 students overall) which would result in a loss of about six teachers across both panels regardless of changes imposed by government. Budget planning is very much dependent on enrolment. There will be additional clarity once we have received our Grants for Student Needs, or GSNs, which we expect around the end of April. It is important to note that we also must abide by current Collective Agreements and there may be difficulty in reconciling these with the Ministry direction.
Private Session Update
Private Session occurred following the Public Session on April 10, 2019. Trustee Laurie French provided a report indicating there was a brief property matter discussed and a personal trustee matter.
Board honours outstanding secondary students
Trustees honoured outstanding students at their regular Board meeting May 22, 2019. The annual Limestone Student Achievers Award recognizes the achievements of secondary students whose exceptional accomplishments merit recognition beyond the separate categories of awards at the school level. Recipients demonstrate exemplary achievement in at least three of the following categories: the arts, athletics, leadership, and academic standing. As well, significant in-school contributions and achievements are accompanied by out-of-school activities. Learn more about these amazing students by reading their citations.
May Meeting Higlights
OPSBA Report
Trustee Laurie French provided highlights from recent Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) Board of Directors' meeting and other events. She shared that OPSBA President is working hard on partnership opportunities and advocacy efforts in support of public education with co-terminus associations, union leaders and People for Education. OPSBA approved its budget and a small surplus will be redirected to government relations work/outreach. Trustee French indicated that regional caucus held breakout sessions regarding consultation on class size and hiring practices which will help inform the provincial submission to the government.
Student Trustee Report
Student Trustees Sean Kim and Shylah Hart shared that the LDSB InterSchool Council had its final meeting of the 2018-2019 school year on May 7 and included both current and newly elected representatives of secondary schools. The Council elected new Student Trustees for the 2019-2020 school year: Jessica Crook from Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute as the urban trustee and Annika Putnam from Granite Ridge Education Centre as the rural representative. The Student Trustees will attend the Ontario Student Trustees' Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) conference from May 23-26 with their incoming peers. The AGM is the final conference of the school year and is held in order to setup the foundation for the following 2019-2020 school year. Members will review the successes of the organization such as the OSTA Vision Document - The Students’ Vision for Education - as well as the possible areas of improvement.
Staff Update on Ministry of Education Announcements
Director of Education Debra Rantz and Superintendent of Human Resources Andre Labrie provided an update on Ministry of Education directives. The Director shared that while the Board has received high level Grants for Student Needs, it has not yet received the detailed Technical Paper which provides specifics around funding for Limestone. With the information the Board has received so far, staff have analyzed the class size and budget changes to determine specific impacts. Staff are concerned with the large increase to secondary class sizes as well as several additional cuts. While job loss will be mitigated through attrition, there is still a loss of positions meaning that LDSB will have fewer program options in the coming years. The Director stressed that Board staff are participating in any and all opportunities for consultation and are committed to decision-making that supports the success of all students. Board staff hope to have more detailed information for the next Budget Meeting on June 12.
Election of Audit Committee Representative
Due to a new vacancy, Trustees voted on the election of a new Trustee representative to sit on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the financial reporting process of the Board. This responsibility includes communications with the external auditor concerning the auditor's roles and responsibilities within the financial reporting process.Trustee Elliott was acclaimed as the newest Trustee representative.
Private Session Update
Private Session occurred prior to the Public Session on May 22, 2019. Trustee Laurie French shared that confidential matters regarding safe schools, property, OPSBA and labour were discussed. No motions or decisions were presented.
Board presents outgoing Student Trustees with honorariums
Chair Suzanne Ruttan recognized outgoing Student Trustees Shylah Hart and Sean Kim as exceptional student leaders, as evidenced by their continued efforts to further develop student voice across the district and at provincial level via the Ontario Student Trustees' Association. She said that both students had made a positive difference around the horseshoe, and that they represented their student peers with integrity and passion. She presented each with a $2,500 honorarium to recognize their term of office, and to help further their studies.
June Meeting Highlights
Trustees approve 2019-2020 budget
Budget Chair and Vice Chair Laurie French acknowledged that Trustees approved a balanced budget for 2019-2020 school year at the June 12, 2019 Budget Meeting, which was confirmed as part of the consent agenda during the June 19, 2019 meeting. The balanced budget includes an operating budget of $244.7 million and $27.8 million for capital expenditures. The majority of the budget – almost 79% – is directed to classroom instruction which includes staffing costs for teachers and support staff. The next most significant expense is pupil accommodation – school operations and maintenance – which accounts for 10% of the overall operating budget. The Capital Budget is approximately $27.8 million and will be used for School Condition Improvements, School Renewal and major capital projects like the construction of Kingston Secondary School. To review the full 2019-2020 Limestone District School Board Budget, please review the budget report.
Kingston Secondary School Update
Superintendent of Business Craig Young presented an update on Kingston Secondary School. As of June 10, 2019, construction is now 73% complete. There continues to consistently be about 80 labourers on site each day. As is commonplace in projects of this size and scope, the contractor has experienced some delays as a result of inclement weather, and most recently, province-wide labour disruptions involving two sub-contractors. These unforeseen delays have resulted in adjustments to the project schedule. We anticipate the new building will be in the “substantial completion” phase in the winter of 2020 with a revised occupancy timeline to be released later this summer.
Business Updates
Superintendent of Business Craig Young presented a brief report on various building improvement projects to take place this summer. Some of the projects include roofing work, boiler replacements and control upgrades. The work totals over $6.2 million. Superintendent Young also presented a report for decision regarding a resolution to utilize an accumulated surplus of $205,011 to address Amortization of Employee Future Benefits. This was approved as presented.
Private Session Update
Private Session occurred prior to the Public Session on June 19, 2019. Trustee Laurie French shared that confidential matters regarding labour were discussed. No motions or decisions were presented.
Introduction of incoming Student Trustees for 2019-2020
Current Student Trustees Shylah Hart and Sean Kim introduced incoming Student Trustees for 2019-2020 to the Board. The urban Student Trustee is Jessica Crook, a Grade 10 student from Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute. She has taken on leadership roles in many events that take place at her school, such as volunteering to support Relay for Life. The rural Student Trustee is Grade 10 Granite Ridge Education Centre student Annika Putnam. Annika is heavily involved in athletics and has taken on many leadership roles in her community. She was charter president for the Sharbot Lake Leo’s Club and has also been an active member of student council. The new Student Trustees were elected by their peers in early May. They will begin their term in September.
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