Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Highlights of the Mar. 27, 2007 Supplementary meetingBoard Highlights
Peel Board Teacher Receives Starfish Award
Susan Martin-Johnson, teacher of the Teen Education and Motherhood (TEAM) program south, has been selected by Peel District School Board Social Work Services as the recipient of the Helen Des Roches Starfish Award. This award is given to an individual who has made a significant difference for children and/or their environment by helping them to overcome obstacles which interfere with their ability to benefit from educational experiences.
Peel board exceeds UNICEF expectations by increasing donations
The Trick-or-Treat results for Peel District School Board are in. Peel schools did amazingly well with the new Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Peel board staff, students and community raised over $90,000 -- almost $20,000 more than last year. This is the highest increase for a school board in Ontario. Chair McDougald congratulated the schools on their achievement, noting "This campaign is not only successful financially, but also a success in increasing student awareness of the need for social responsibility. I want to personally thank the many dedicated teachers who took the time to the campaign results so positive."
Board asks Ministry to Review changes to role of student trustees
The board has written to the Minister of Education to express concerns regarding the recent amendments to Section 55 of the Education Act which direct school board to admit student trustees to all meetings of the Board and its Committees, including closed sessions. The Board's concerns are based on the fact that student trustees are under 18 years of age and cannot be bound to an agreement to maintain confidentiality. As well, being privy to confidential information related to negotiations, business agreements or land acquisitions could put inordinate pressure on the student trustees by members of staff or media seeking details, and does not increase their capacity to represent students. The board has asked the Minister to review the implications of admitting student trustees to closed meetings and urged further amendments to the Education Act that would more appropriately encourage student trustee participation in public meetings of the Board and continue the focus on providing a true leadership growth opportunity for students.
Delegations
Joel Brown, Chair of the Castlebridge School Council delegated the board to ask for a change in the wording of the proposed changes to policy #5 (fundraising).
Peel Board Names New Schools
Three schools in Peel have officially been named as follows:
- Springdale North #1 Junior, in Brampton is now officially named Hewson Public School
- Springdale North #3 Junior, in Brampton is now officially names Shaw Public School
- Churchill Meadows #5, located on Perennial Drive in Mississauga is now officially named Oscar Peterson Public School and the existing Oscar Peterson Public School located at 3240 Erin Centre Boulevard is renamed Erin Centre Middle School
2007-08 School Year Calendar approved
In accordance with the Education Act and Regulation 304 (School Year Calendar), district school boards are required to prepare, adopt and submit to the Ministry of Education, on or before May 1st of each year, the school year calendar to be followed in the next school year. The school year calendar for Roberta Bondar Public School was approved by the board on February 26, 2007. Once confirmed by the Ministry of Education, the calendar will be widely distributed.
Board Appoints Trustee to the Transportation Governance Task Force
It is a Ministry of Education requirement that the Peel board and the DPCDSB establish a Student Transportation Governance model to oversee our joint transportation system. A Task Force was established to provide input into the development of the model. The Task Force includes: Chair of the board, Janet McDougald; Vice-chair, Ruth Thompson; Chair of Physical Planning and Building Committee, David Green; Trustee, Valerie Arnold-Judge and Trustee Steve Kavanagh. The task force also includes Associate Director Wayne McNally and Controller Jaspal Gill for the Peel board and Norbert Hartmann from the DPCDSB.
Board Allows Capital Fundraising with changes to Partnership Policy
A Board appointed Task Force brought forward changes to policy #5 Partnerships/Fundraising that will now permit fundraising for capital projects such as a school auditorium, theatre or pool. Any proposals for capital projects are required to go through a full Viability Review to determine if the project is approved. The policy changes were proposed after consultation with school councils and school administrators. Over 80 per cent of school council members responding to the survey stated that the Peel District School Board requires a policy on capital fundraising and that ethical guidelines and procedures should be set in place. The majority of respondents were also in favour of the formal Viability Review process. A copy of the revised policy can be found at www.peelschools.org
Board Revises Consolidation of School Accommodation policy
The Ministry of Education requires all school boards to approve a consolidation of schools policy that complies with the Ministry's Pupil Accommodation Guidelines by March 31, 2007. The Consolidation of Schools Policy Review Committee completed an analysis of the Board's current Policy #45 and reported to the Board on its finding. A communication and consultation plan for the valuation framework which Accommodation Review Committees will use is being developed. The results of this consultation along with consolidation timelines will be brought to the Board for review and approval.
Board Approved Tenders for Construction of School Additions
The board approved the tenders for the following school additions:
- Parkway Public School addition to Garritano Bros. Ltd., at a cost of $2.6 million. The addition includes 6 classrooms, 1 special education room, computer room, barrier free washrooms, change rooms and library office and workroom.
- Goldcrest Public School addition to Deciantis Construction Ltd., at a cost of $1.9 million. The addition includes 3 classrooms, 1 kindergarten, 1 seminar room, barrier free washrooms and an elevator.
- Glendale Public School addition to Struct-Con Construction Limited, at a cost of $1.5 million. The addition includes 5 classrooms, 3 seminar rooms, and barrier free washrooms (replacing 8 incrapak classrooms)
- Jefferson Public School addition to W.S. Morgan Construction Ltd., at a cost of $1.7 million. The addition includes 3 classrooms, 1 kindergarten, 1 seminar room, barrier free washrooms and an elevator.
French Immersion students to be accommodated at Settler's Green Public School during the construction of the Britannia Public School addition
On February 13, 2007 the Board approved effective September 2007 the boundary and the new grades 1-6 French Immersion program to be organized and located at Britannia Public School. During the construction of the addition at Britannia Public School – expected to be completed for occupancy September 2008 – French Immersion students will be accommodated at Settler's Green Public School.
Minister Provides Board with Approval to Proceed Britannia School Farm Development
The Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynne, has responded to the board's request for approval to proceed with a lease of 10.9 hectares of the Britannia School Farm property. The approval to proceed with the lease is provided under subsection 194(4) of the Education Act. The plan for the 10.9 hectares along Hurontario Street and part of Bristol Road West is to generate revenue to support student-focused environment "green" programs that may take place on the farm and potentially the Board's field centres. The Board will lease this land to allow development to proceed. The revenue from the lease will support the student-focused programs.
Retirements
Trustees recognized the contributions and years of service of the following staff who are retiring effective June 30 unless otherwise indicated:
Domenic Barbuto, custodian, retired Mar. 12
Carol Blackmere, teacher
Evelyn Castellarin, teacher, will retire Apr. 30
Richard Christensen, teacher
Allison Clinton, superintendent of education, will retire Aug. 31
Carolyn Crosby, alternative programs principal, will retire July 31
Douglas Curtin, assistant mechanical supervisor, will retire July 27
Meredith Dupuis, teacher, will retire Mar. 30
Geoffrey Elliott, teacher
Harvey Fainer, teacher
Michele Fisher, teacher
Bernadette Gowland, teacher
Sharon Hutton, teacher
Jane Jarrell, teacher
Cornelis Kersten, teacher
Diane Laforge, teacher
Jane Leslie, teacher
Peter McCallum, teacher
Donna Nesbitt, teacher
Grace Pennington-Hundert, teacher
Gayle Rotenberg, principal
Jo Anne Schut, teacher
Rosann Scott, teacher
Daavid Sintzel, teacher
Sidney Skinner, teacher
Sylvia Skinner, teacher
Andrina Skuterud, teacher, will retire Apr. 30
Stephen Spencely, teacher
Anne Tompsett, teacher
Marilyn Williams, teaching assistant, will retire Mar. 31
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NOTE: The next regular meeting of the board of trustees is Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
