Highlights from the Board Room – November 24

Board Meeting   |  Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Presentations

Director’s Recognition Award

The Director’s Recognition Award highlights extraordinary contributions made by staff members, students, school 

volunteers, or community members, and is presented  by the Director at each Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) Regular Meeting of the Board. Director of Education Wes Hahn introduced this month’s recipients of the Director’s Recognition Award. 

Matt Beaton

The first recipient of this award was K-12 FSL/ESL Consultant Matthew Beaton. Matthew was recognized for his high degree of knowledge and compassion in his support for TLDSB schools and language learners, and for taking on a leadership role, creating the first-ever French language summer learning program.

Aimme Buller

 

The second recipient of the award was Gravenhurst High School (GHS) Visual Arts Teacher Aimée Bulloch-Moore for her
student-centered approach to lesson planning and teaching. Aimée’s willingness and easy ability to work with staff and students makes her valuable to GHS and the community.  

Embrace change! Finding the positives during COVID-19

Superintendent of Learning Jennifer Johnston shared with trustees how the TLDSB Strategic Plan is coming to life during the 2020-2021 school year, despite the many changes and challenges TLDSB has faced as a system. 

Joined by Langton Public School Vice-Principal Joanna Gibson and Huntsville Public School Principal Todd Truax, and with input from Haliburton Highlands Secondary School Principal Chris Boulay, the team highlighted what learning is looking like not only from the physical and surface level perspective, but also from the deeper learning that is inherent in student work this year.  

Administrative Reports

2019-2020 Financial Statement and Auditor’s Report

Superintendent of Business Services Tim Ellis presented the 2019-2020 financial statements and auditor’s report to Trustees. Ellis provided an overview of the statements and told Trustees that it was considered a clean audit. Major variances in expense or revenue when compared with the budget were primarily a result of loss of revenues through suspension of daycare and permit fees, sick-leave utilization exceeded fund amounts, COVID-19 expenses, and changes in Actuarial assessment.

Equity Task Force

Superintendent of Learning Dave Golden provided Trustees with an update on the establishment of a TLDSB Equity Task Force, which will support the Board in accessing student, staff, and community input in order to develop strategic plans related to equity and inclusion in TLDSB. Further information will be shared with Trustees once an action plan is developed. The first meeting of the Task Force will occur in December 2020.

Director of Education First 100 Day Report

Director Hahn provided an overview to trustees of his first 100 days within his role. Hahn framed the report based on three Cs: collaboration, connection, and compassion. He shared the details of the ongoing collaboration with the senior team, Trustees, and school administration. He shared the connections he has made to date with local municipalities, health units, directors across the province, unions and federations, and local media. Hahn then highlighted compassion for families and staff through various projects and initiatives, including the return to school, the creation of the Feed All Four Fund and the Director’s Recognition Award, equity and inclusion planning, and available mental health supports.

Success of the secondary octomester 

Superintendent of Learning Katherine MacIver provided Trustees with a brief update on the completion of the second block of the octomester schedule, currently taking place in TLDSB secondary schools. MacIver reported 4,304 credit opportunities, with a 97.7 percent credit accumulation. Recognized areas of improvement include student support around credit accumulation and credit rescue and recovery to ensure students stay on track for graduation.

Announcements

Trustees approved the following staff to be added to hiring pools:

  • Principal hiring pool: Erin Hills and Tom Ernst.
  • Vice principal hiring pool: Emile Ferlisi, Shaun Kruger, and Tom Ernst.

Trustees approved the following administrative placement:

  • Melissa Oke, Acting Vice Principal, Bobcaygeon Public School.

Director Hahn announced the upcoming retirement of Superintendent of Learning Dave Golden, effective December 2020.

Policies and procedures

The following policies were approved by Trustees:

  • HR-4509 Principal/Vice Principal Evaluation Policy
  • HR-4519 Responding to Student Violence Towards Staff Policy
  • BU-3010 Borrowing for Current Expenditures Policy
  • OP-6025 Video Surveillance Policy
  • BU-3005 Cheque Signing Policy
  • BU-3000 Travel Rate Policy
  • ES-5025 Co-instructional Activities Plan Policy

2020 Board and Committee of the Whole meeting schedule

Meeting Date Time Location
Organizational Meeting December 8, 2020 6:00 p.m. Muskoka Education Centre, Bracebridge
All Regular Meetings of the Board are webcast and may be accessed through the TLDSB website www.tldsb.ca.

 

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