Presentations
Muskoka Falls Public School student speeches
Trustees were presented with two delightful speeches from Muskoka Falls Public School Grade 3/4 students. Myles Middleton was the junior winner at the school-level competition and spoke about health and fitness. Jameson Knight was the second speaker who brought listeners a new understanding of bananas!
Director’s Student Voice Forum update
Student trustee, Logan MacInnis, presented trustees with the findings from the second Director’s Student Voice Forum that took place this spring. 85 students in Grades 7 to 10 from all Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) schools participated and were given questions to reflect on and provide answers to on topics within the Board’s Strategic Plan. MacInnis ended his presentation with a video of students speaking about the importance of student voice in the education system.
Director’s recognition for innovation and leadership
The Director’s Recognition for Innovation and Leadership Award celebrates individuals in TLDSB who have combined the characteristics of innovation and leadership to improve our system and advance the strategic direction goals of improving student learning and achievement, and fostering student and staff well-being. The award is presented by the director of education, Wes Hahn, at each TLDSB Public Meeting of the Board. Hahn introduced this month’s recipient:
K.P. Manson Public School (KPMS) special education resource teacher, Derek Schofield, is committed to all students at the school. He has demonstrated dedication, imagination, a commitment to student achievement, and an unwavering desire to put others first. His engaging resource interventions and commitment to extracurricular activities truly enrich the student experience at the school. He works to enhance student academic growth by thinking outside the box. Schofield is a valued member of the school team, his connections to our community and community agencies support student success. Schofield has made an indelible impact on the school community!
Director’s report
Director of education, Wes Hahn, introduced the portfolio updates that superintendents spoke to individually.
Superintendent of Business Services, Tim Ellis, highlighted the work of many teams that work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure TLDSB staff and families are supported, specifically Payroll Services, Accounting Services, Finance Services, and Transportation Services departments.
Superintendent of Human Resources Services (HRS), Traci Hubbert, provided a brief overview of the the work completed by the department over the school year. She noted that most of the work goes unseen due to the nature of the work, yet there are many success that can be shared, including:
- Successfully negotiating five collective agreements for many of the employees within TLDSB
- Staff attendance strategies to address absenteeism
- A refreshed onboarding process for new staff
- A staff-wide mental health campaign during the National Mental Health Week
Superintendent of learning, Jennifer Johnston, who has the responsibilities of special education, equity and inclusion, and Indigenous education shared highlights from these portfolios, including:
- A secondary pathways project to support students with developmental disabilities to gain employment through a school-to-employment continuum
- Training opportunities and professional development for senior members of the system
- The team focused on aligning disproportionalities for academic achievement and well-being, as a result of the recent Student Census
- A successful year supporting indigenous students, resulting in approximately 100 new self-identified students this school year and more than 60 visits by Indigenous elders
Associate superintendent of learning, Tanya Fraser, responsible for mental health services shared that the Board’s focus continues to be on prevention and promotion of mental health. Fraser highlighted the following:
- Further implementation of PreVenture – a substance use prevention program
- A total of 1,148 referrals to the TLDSB regulated counsellors to date
- A Climate Survey was conducted for Grades 4-12 students in May that saw a participation rate of 84 percent, which is much higher than in previous years
- Increased parent/guardian engagement through monthly newsletters and events for supporting children’s wellness, which saw over 50 parents/guardians participate
2024 Board meeting schedule
Board meetings are open to the public to attend at the host location in-person. For viewing, the meetings are live-streamed and the link is made available on the tldsb.ca website on the day of the meeting.
| Meeting | Date | Time | Location |
| Public Board Meeting | June 11, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Lindsay Education Centre |
| Public Board Meeting | August 27, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Muskoka Education Centre |
| Public Board Meeting | September 24, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Lindsay Education Centre |
| Public Board Meeting | October 22, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Archie Stouffer Elementary School |
| Public Board Meeting | November 26, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Muskoka Education Centre |
| Organizational Meeting of the Board | December 3, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Lindsay Education Centre |
