Around the Horseshoe
Limestone District School Board Trustees' Update Spring 2017
April Board Meeting
More than 400 students in Grades 4 to 12 competed in 22 different areas at the annual Limestone Skills Competition held at St. Lawrence College. Students compete in a variety of challenges in areas such as engineering, construction, robotics, photography, welding and hairdressing. Matt Huyck and Zach Norman, gold medalists in Team Carpentry from Ernestown Secondary School, brought their winning project - a potting bench - to the meeting to show off their handiwork to Trustees. Both students say that co-operative education and Grade 10 civics course helped them find their path. Both are currently completing apprenticeships at area businesses. Twenty-four LDSB students moved on to the provincial skills competition.
International Education update
For more than 20 years, students from around the world have attended Limestone's International Education program to gain Canadian experiences inside and outside the classroom. Typically, the program enrols about 40-50 students annually for an overall enrolment of about 125 students across our district. Most students come from China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Spain, Portugal and Russia. About 80 per cent of students live with local homestay families. There are numerous benefits for all students including added diversity within our schools. Learn more here https://youtu.be/PHZIl2KRqGg
Interim Financial Report
Quarter 2 (September 2016 to February 2017) Interim Financial Report was presented. At that time, 50 per cent of the Board's $236,654,793 operating budget had been spent. The Board is on target to finish 2016-2017 school year in balanced budget position.
New Kingston intermediate & secondary school
Trustees were provided with an update on the new Kingston intermediate and secondary school including revisions to the design. During the costing phase, which allows the Board and consultants to prepare a cost estimate for the tendering process, the overall cost came in higher than the $36M budget. As a result, some items were altered to allow for cost efficiencies. The majority of items, including all learning spaces, remain unchanged. Some of the revisions included a squared-off (rather than round) library, removal of skylights and relocation of mechanical rooms. It is estimated that construction will begin in the summer of 2017. The school is expected to open in the 2019-2020 school year.
May Board Meeting
MISA team work highlighted
Elementary Managing Information for Student Achievement (MISA) team shared their knowledge and leading practices recently with other school boards at the regional MISA Teaching Symposium. Trustees heard about the work by Limestone to close the gaps in phonic knowledge for struggling readers. Teachers targeted explicit instruction to close the specific gaps through small group and one-on-one support. Data showed there was an overall improvement in student knowledge of phonic code, reading levels, writing and confidence.Graduation Rate surpasses provincial target
Trustees learned that graduation rates continue to improve, and Limestone’s graduation rate continues to surpass the provincial target. Our current five-year graduation rate is 86 per cent - an increase of 6 per cent over five years. The provincial and Limestone goal is to reach a graduation rate of 85 per cent. Focused efforts by school teams as well as integrating specialty programs aimed at helping students achieve success whatever their strengths, interests and career goals contributes to this success.
Trustees begin budget deliberations
Trustees began operating and capital budget deliberations for 2017-2018. Preliminary operating revenues show significant reduction of provincial grants. Enrolment decline, changes in allocation and benchmarks continue to put pressure on Board. Trustees received budget priorities submissions from various employee associations at a deputation meeting.
Board of Trustees celebrate Limestone Student Achievers
Ten exemplary secondary students from across the district were recognized for making a significant difference throughout their high school careers, both in their school and throughout the broader community. Recipients demonstrate exemplary achievement in at least three of the following categories: the arts, athletics, leadership, and academic standing. Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Limestone Student Achievers Award recipients.
Saying farewell to Student Trustees
The Board of Trustees bid farewell to outgoing Student Trustees Josiah Ascough and Will Sanderson. Chair Paula Murray recognized both students for their exceptional, respectful and passionate leadership in representing all secondary students in Limestone. She lauded both for their efforts at the provincial level to further student voice. Trustee Ascough, who graduates from LCVI, will attend Queen's University in the fall to study Global Development and Economics. He is one of 50 students to receive Queen's University Chancellor Scholarship valued at $36,000. Trustee Sanderson, who graduates from Sydenham High School, is heading to Western University where he will take a dual degree in Engineering and Business Management from the Ivey School of Business. He, too, received a scholarship - $70,000 from TD Scholarship for Community Leadership. Both Student Trustees received a $2,500 honorarium to recognize their terms of office and help further their studies.
June Board Meeting
Trustees approve closure of Yarker Family School
At a Special Meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees on June 5, Trustees voted to close Yarker Family School in September 2018 and relocate its students to Odessa Public School. Furthermore, the Board voted to declare Yarker school surplus to the Board in the fall of 2018. The vote follows a Pupil Accommodation Review Process regarding Yarker Family School and Odessa Public School. The review process began in October 2016 and included consultation with the Pupil Accommodation Review Committee, the public and the broader school community over the past eight months. The intent of the review is to ensure appropriate program opportunities for students while balancing the ongoing challenges of declining enrolment and changes to funding that no longer support under-enrolled rural schools. The Board will now work to support the movement of students and staff into their new school in a way that is both positive and supportive of both school communities. An integration committee will work over the next school year to support the transition of students and staff.
Trustees learned about the progress on the Renewed Math Strategy from Board math leads. The Board's Program Team has lead professional learning at schools and centrally focused helping students better understand math including content, pedagogy and knowing our students so we can work with educators to close the gaps for students. The work of our math team has been singled out by the Ministry of Education, who asked Limestone to share its learning. Here is a snapshot of that progress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frIti533K6w
Balanced budget for 2017-2018
Trustees of the Limestone District School Board approved a balanced budget for the 2017-2018 school year, which includes total expenses of $268,970,131 at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 21. Budget Chair Suzanne Ruttan said the majority of the Limestone budget is directed to instruction and special education. Board continues to supplement special education funding, directing additional $1M to compensate for reductions made by provincial government. Despite challenging provincial funding framework, balanced budget directs resources in a manner that supports the priorities, values and objectives of the Board that keeps students at forefront. Highlights of the 2017-2018 budget include hiring two new Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) positions to support students in the area of speech and language; professional learning investments to promote teaching and learning strategies that support the learning needs of students; and improvements in parent and community engagement through technology investments and upgrades to school websites, notifications and alerts. In addition, over $17.4 million is directed to School Condition Improvement, School Renewal and Green House Gas Reduction capital investments in our facilities to maintain safe learning environments for our staff and students.
Equity and inclusion highlighted via #SeeYourselfInLimestone project
Equity and inclusion is a continued focus in Limestone. Sir John A. Macdonald Public School Vice Principal Susanna Jurkowski recently spearheaded a video and poster project that aims to create common language around equity, inclusion, progress and success in LDSB. The project began with survey to K-12 students to seek student voice. What does equity, inclusion, progress and success mean to them? She then took that feedback and using the student responses, created a series of posters. Ms. Jurkowski also shared the feedback with Polson Park Public School Teacher Nathan Nesdoly who wrote a song called The Friendship Song (Travel Side By Side) which provided the soundtrack to a video featuring the student messages all anchored by the hashtag #SeeYourselfInLimestone. The video and posters have been provided to Limestone schools to use as instructional material - many schools have since launched their own initiatives.
Sir John A. Macdonald Public School
Centennial Public School
Bayridge Secondary School
New Student Trustees welcomed
As part of their final duties, outgoing Student Trustees Ascough and Sanderson welcomed incoming Student Trustees Marie-Ange Kanellos from Frontenac Secondary School (urban representative) and Ayrison Haynes from Sydenham High School (rural). Trustees Kanellos and Haynes will assume their duties in August for the 2017-2018 school year.
Trustee French acclaimed OPSBA President
Trustee Laurie French has been acclaimed as President of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) for the 2017-2018 school year at its Annual General Meeting held on June 9, 2017. President French's depth of experience and invaluable knowledge of the province's school system will continue to contribute to the strength of public education in the province of Ontario.
Trustees attend OPSBA AGM
Trustees further learning through workshops
Limestone District School Board
Email: communications@limestone.on.ca
Website: limestone.on.ca
Location: 220 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-544-6920
Twitter: @limestonedsb