Around the Horseshoe
Limestone District School Board Trustees' Update Fall 2019
Kingston Secondary School Update
Superintendent of Business Craig Young presented an update on Kingston Secondary School. As has been shared previously, the construction of the new school has experienced delays due to weather and labour issues. Given the size and scope of this large and complex build, such setbacks can have a cumulative impact on schedules. As a result, students and staff will remain in KCVI for the remainder of the school year until the end of June 2020. Work to move learning materials, furniture and technology into the new school will occur over late spring and summer 2020. Students and staff will move into Kingston Secondary School in September 2020 for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Superintendent Young said that the Board recognizes this is an additional delay, but the Board is focused on ensuring as smooth a transition as possible for students, families and staff.
September Meeting Highlights
Facility Services Summer Projects Update
Facilities Manger David Fowler stated that over $13.2 million in School Renewal Projects were undertaken this summer at 42 sites across the district -- that's 80 per cent of our schools.The projects varied in scope and magnitude. Schools received new roofs, boilers, mechanical upgrades, septic tanks, flooring, windows/doors, and improvements to school yards and drainage. Four schools received new generators to assist with any disruption to their electrical supply.
Strategic Plan Update
Director of Education Debra Rantz presented the Areas of Focus for 2019-2020 school year. Each Area of Focus relates to three big goals aligned with our LDSB pillars of Wellness, Innovation and Collaboration. Director Rantz stated that Trustees received a mid-term report on last year’s strategic plan at the end of May. An end of year report will come to the Board in November.
Business Update
Superintendent of Business Craig Young presented a brief report on short-term borrowing resolutions for 2019-2020 year to meet cash flow requirements (bridge financing). Periodically the Board is required to borrow funds for current operating purposes to provide interim financing until revenues are received from municipalities and the province. The Board is also required to arrange short-term bridge financing during the construction of major capital projects, capital additions/retrofits and for School Condition Improvement projects. Trustees approved the resolution as presented.
Student Trustee Report
Chair Suzanne Ruttan welcomed new Student Trustees, Jessica Crook and Annika Putnam, to the LDSB Horseshoe. Trustee Putnam is the rural representative from Granite Ridge Education Centre and Jessica Crook is the urban Trustee from Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute. Trustee Crook will attend her first-ever conference for the Ontario Student Trustee Association Working Group later this month in Toronto to discuss different innovations as part of the Student Advocacy Working group. Trustee Putnam shared that the Ontario Student Trustee Association has just released its results of an e-Learning survey from the end of last school year. Over 6,000 students have completed the survey and provided their own experiences.
Private Session Update
Private Session occurred prior to the Public Session on Sept. 11, 2019. Trustee Laurie French shared that confidential matters regarding personnel, labour and legal matters were discussed. A property matter was also discussed resulting in the following motion: That Trustees authorize the Superintendent of Business to negotiate and execute the sale of approximately one acre of vacant land, fronting Kildare Avenue on the site of Fairfield Elementary School, to The Corporation of the County of Lennox & Addington for $243,000 per acre plus the costs of severance. The motion was carried as presented.
Other Business
Trustee Joy Morning requested a staff report on 2019-2020 School Data. Trustee Morning indicated that Superintendent of Human Resources Andre Labrie had answered a number of her questions during a previous update and withdrew her request. Trustee Morning further requested a report on Choices at Seven statistics. The Chair reminded Trustee Morning that this item had already been requested in the spring and that a report is expected in October. Trustee Garrett Elliott asked the Director to speak to the province’s offer to school boards of an audit on use of their resources. Director Rantz replied that Limestone has produced a balanced budget, and already has rigorous internal and external auditing processes in place, as well as an operational review a few years ago. She stated that staff did not feel an additional audit was required, nor a good use of taxpayer dollars, and the offer has been declined.
Presentation: Summer Learning Programs
Trustees received a presentation on the Board's optional summer learning programs, Camp Read-A-Lot and Count on Me. These programs have evolved to meet the needs of the students within the system, with a focus on student voice and data for achieving good outcomes for students. The Read-A-Lot program has three blocks each day - phonics block, reading block and a writing block as well as independent reading and a read aloud every day. After three weeks, educators saw gains in each area. The Count on Me math and robotics program provides targeted intervention for Grades 3-5 for proportional reasoning and mental math strategies - problem-solving and community are key outcomes. Over three weeks, 85% of students experienced growth.
October Meeting Highlights
OPSBA Report
Trustee Laurie French provided a general update to ongoing work regarding government relations and access to a political issues playbook which is under development. There is also advocacy work planned for public opinion polling to inform policy recommendations. An Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park is planned for November 25 and will include question period participation and meeting with local MPPs. Trustee Karen McGregor and Trustee Robin Hutcheon detailed the recent OPSBA regional meeting which was focused on policy development and education programs. An Exemplary Practice Survey was also shared which included Limestone's work with skilled trades and apprenticeships.
Student Trustee Report
Student Trustee Jessica Crook attended her first-ever Working Group Co-Chair conference for the Ontario Student Trustees' Association as Student Advocacy Co-chair. The group discussed ideas including creation of a handbook for all Ontario students with an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. Trustee Annika Putnam shared that the second InterSchool Council meeting will discuss the recent motion to add an Indigenous Student Trustee, and a program for women who are involved in student council and leadership roles throughout their school. InterSchool Council will also discuss having two youth representatives participate on local Epilepsy South Eastern Ontario.
Transit Pass Partnership
Sustainable Initiatives Coordinator Dan Hendry provides Trustees with an update on the Kingston Transit partnership with the City of Kingston which began in 2012 with a focus on Grade 9s. Every student within city limits is provided with a free bus pass and orientation to teach students how use the bus, bus etiquette, how to access routes etc. and how to overcome barriers. Since 2012, the program has promoted student independence and removed socio-economic barriers of access to work, extra-curriculars, volunteering or hanging with friends. Students account for more than 600,000 rides annually. The program is now a model for other municipalities across the country. The newest addition to the program is the Teacher Field Trip Pass - again, removing barriers related to transportation costs for those schools within city limits. In addition to cost savings, this offers more experiential learning activities for students. Trustees asked if there could be an opportunity to eliminate some yellow school buses given increased ridership. Trustees request staff report on exploring this possibility.
Report: Student Identity Data Collection
Superintendent of Education Michele Babcock introduced Trustees to the upcoming student identity data collection project. In 2017, the Ministry released the Ontario Education Equity Action Plan which outlines provincial framework for identifying and eliminating discriminatory practices and systemic barriers and bias from schools. One component includes data collection, integration and reporting. Understanding student identity, lived experience and ability continue to be important in our efforts as educators to improve student achievement and well-being. A critical step to ensuring equity is to gain clearer understanding of who our students are and their experiences. The Board is planning to conduct an Identity-based Student Data Collection in the Spring of 2020. The Ministry is providing some funding through an application process to support this project.
Private Session Update
Private Session occurred prior to the Public Session on Oct. 9, 2019. Trustee Laurie French shared that confidential matters regarding safe schools, labour and Ontario Public School Boards' Association matters were discussed. There were no motions.
November Meeting Highlights
Presentation: Areas of Focus for Mental Health & Well-Being
Mental Health Lead Laura Conboy presented to Trustees on Limestone's key areas of focus for mental health and well-being for the 2019-2020 school year. Ms. Conboy first provided a brief introduction to School Mental Health Ontario which is an intermediary organization that develops/adapts, implements, and supports best practice programs and services, as well as builds environments and capacity within an agency or system to implement and sustain such programs. The Board is working in alignment with the SMHO 2019-2022 Action Plan to support all students' needs to build and sustain positive mental health. In Limestone, our key areas of focus include mental health workers in secondary schools, educator understanding of how to access school and community-based mental health services for students and families, and suicide prevention.
Private Session Update: Censure of Trustee Hutcheon
Trustee Laurie French provided a public report of topics discussed in private session including a labour update and five non-procedural motions.The motions included a censure and sanctions against Trustee Robin Hutcheon (Townships of Loyalist & Stone Mills) for conduct that violated the governance role, including her treatment of a school matter.
Discussion of potential breaches of Trustee Code of Conduct are to occur in public session except in cases where the privacy of students, families and staff would be compromised as was the consideration in this particular instance. The Board of Trustees passed the following motions on October 30, 2019: that the Board censure Trustee Hutcheon for conduct that violated the governance role, thereby in contravention of Policy 3 and Policy 5 (sections 4, 10, 11, 17); that Trustee Hutcheon be sanctioned by being asked to review the OPSBA Good Governance Guide; and that Trustee Hutcheon write a letter of apology to the Principal with the assistance of staff.
At the November 13 Board meeting, Chair Suzanne Ruttan asked Trustee Hutcheon for follow up on action following censure. Trustee Hutcheon indicated that she has begun review of governance guide but has not proceeded with letter of apology. Trustee Hutcheon was again directed by the Board to draft a letter of apology by the end of week.
In accordance with Bill 177, Section 218.3.6, censured Trustees may choose to make a written submission in response to this determination. This should be received by the Secretary of the Board no later than Friday, November 29, 2019. Also, in accordance with the regulation, the Board will consider any such written submissions within 14 days of receipt, to either uphold, revoke or modify the original motion.The Board of Trustees has not received any response or correspondence from Trustee Hutcheon on this issue.
Chair Report
Chair Suzanne Ruttan indicated that the November 13, 2019 meeting marked the close of this Board’s first year in office. Chair Ruttan thanked her fellow Trustees for the work they have collectively done, representing their constituents and ensuring students receive quality public education. She went on to say that much was accomplished during this first term, as new trustees learned about their important role and becoming familiar with information, data and legislation while advancing a vision and mission where everyone achieves success and well-being.
OPSBA Report
Trustee Laurie French provided a brief update from the Ontario Public School Boards' Association Eastern Region meeting which was hosted by Limestone at Granite Ridge Education Centre on November 2, 2019. The day's agenda included discussion on labour relations, and input on Grants for Student Needs (GSNs) funding.
Student Trustee Report
Student trustees attended the Ontario Student Trustees' Association conference where they met and spoke with the CEO of EQAO where they heard about policy changes to make the EQAO testing environment more like a typical classroom. They also heard from the Deputy Minister of Education who spoke about the government's eLearning mandate. Trustee Crook chaired her first Advocacy Working Group meeting where the group discussed the importance of advocating for students, and its goals for the year. Student Trustees also had the opportunity to speak with other student trustees about how they implemented an Indigenous Student Trustee. The new Student Trustee Regulation, which comes into effect January 2020, has revised dates for elections. Policy 9 will be updated once process for electing Indigenous Trustees is finalized. The dates were moved up to allow boards to provide more mentoring opportunities for new student trustees. We discussed with InterSchool council yesterday to get some feedback from them.
Strategic Plan Year-end Report for 2018-2019
Director of Education Debra Rantz and senior staff presented the year-end update for 2018-2019 school year (pages 37-98). Staff reported on yellow (making progress) and red (needs further attention) items in areas of three strategic pillars of Wellness, Innovation and Collaboration. Three areas for each pillar were presented. Staff also reviewed the Strategic Action Plan Evaluation Framework: 2017-2022 where each outcome is assessed as to its status, two years into five-year plan. Framework has been included to assist Board in tracking progress of goals.
December Initial Meeting
Chair Ruttan was acclaimed to her position. Trustee French and Trustee Garrett Elliott were both nominated for the vice-chair position. Vice-Chair French was elected following a secret ballot. Trustees elect a Chair and Vice-Chair each year of their four-year mandate.
Ruttan, who represents the Township of South Frontenac, expressed her appreciation upon being acclaimed to the role of Chair for a second time this term. "Thank you, fellow Trustees, for your confidence in acclaiming me to this position. I will serve and fulfill my duties as Chair with integrity and mutual respect for, students, staff, each other, and the broader communities we serve.
"Our responsibility is to maintain and enhance public education across our district through our governance and advocacy. As we formulate policy, approve operating and capital budgets, and monitor the Board’s Strategic Plan, we remain focused on: putting wellness first, turning innovation into action, and being committed to collaboration. Student achievement and well-being remain the focus of all Board decisions."
Read Chair Ruttan's full initial address
Ruttan was first elected in October 2010 and this is her third term representing the Township of South Frontenac. She served as Vice Chair of the Board for the 2017-2018 school year and Chair for the 2018-2019 school year.
Vice Chair Laurie French, who represents the Town of Greater Napanee, has served on the Board since 2000. French is President of the Canadian School Boards’ Association and past president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association.
Trustees also selected their committee roles for the 2020 year. Trustees must serve on at least one committee in addition to the Whole Board (Caucus) and Education Policy and Operations Committee.
Ontario Public School Boards' Association (Alternate):
Trustee Tom Gingrich.
Audit Committee:
Trustee Laurie French (Chair)
Trustee Garrett Elliott
Awards Committee:
Trustee Judith Brown
Trustee Garrett Elliott
Trustee Tom Gingrich
Trustee Karen McGregor (Alternate)
Special Education Advisory Committee:
Trustee Karen McGregor
Trustee Bob Godkin
Trustee Judith Brown (Alternate)
Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee:
Trustee Robin Hutcheon
Trustee Joy Morning
Parent Involvement Committee:
Trustee Garrett Elliott
Trustee Joy Morning (Alternate)
Trustee Judith Brown
Trustee Joy Morning (Alternate)
Expulsion Hearing Committee/Disciplinary Hearing Committee Pool:
Trustee Suzanne Ruttan
Trustee Karen McGregor
Trustee Robin Hutcheon
Trustee Bob Godkin
Trustee Garrett Elliott
Food Sharing Project:
Trustee Tom Gingrich
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