Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Highlights of the Feb. 22, 2011 meeting

Board Highlights

 

BRIEFING - Highlights of the February 22, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Trustees

 

Peel board recognizes Black History Month

Peel board schools are holding events throughout February in honour of Black History Month. In addition, more than 500 students participated in the Spotlight on Black Heritage – The Journey Continues events at the HJA Brown Education Centre on Feb. 9 and 10, facilitated by Jones and Jones Productions.

Students from Lincoln Alexander Secondary School worked to create artwork in honour of Black History Month. Students from the school, accompanied by their teacher Iris Smith, made a special presentation to the board to share their involvement in the creation of the artwork that is on display in the atrium, and to highlight Black History Month activities hosted at their school.

“Peel students, staff and parents are taking part in hundreds of activities during Black History Month to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of all Black Canadians who have done so much to help make Canada the culturally diverse country we know today,” says Tony Pontes, director of education. “Spotlight on Black Heritage is just one example of the many ways we celebrate all communities and cultures throughout the year in Peel.”

Canadian Parents for French present plaque to board

 

Canadian Parents for French recognized the board’s work in diversity with the presentation of a plaque. The poster plaque echoes Peel board values and direction around diversity and student leadership.  

Peel board volunteer receives Starfish Award

Eunice Peterson, a volunteer with the Peel board, 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 in the lives of students facing obstacles to their education.

 Board sets 2011-12 school year calendar

Trustees approved dates for the 2011-12 school year for all schools in the Peel District School Board. The calendar will be sent to the ministry for final approval. For a complete list of dates, visit www.peelschools.org or call 905-890-1010 (or 1-800-668-1146), ext. 2640.

Board approves 2011-12 school year calendar for Roberta Bondar Public School

Trustees approved the school year calendar for Roberta Bondar Public School for 2011-12. The calendar will be sent to the ministry for final approval.

Board approves 2011-12 school year calendar for the school at the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre

Trustees approved the school year calendar for the school at the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre. The calendar will be sent to the ministry for final approval.

Board approves tender for school construction

The tender for the construction of Bram East Secondary School was awarded to Bondfield Construction Co. Inc. at a cost of $33,365,510 including HST.

Trustees approve changes in board meeting schedule for June 2011

The second Regular Meeting of the Board in June 2011 was changed from Tuesday, June 28 to Wednesday, June 22.

Board approves reserve funds transfer of $5.9 million

The board of trustees approved a transfer of the 2009-10 year-end surplus of  $5,958,451 to the working reserve fund. The board's year-end surplus represents about 0.4 per cent of the board's total budget.

Funds will be transferred to a dedicated working fund reserve for:

• school and school support rollover funds—$478,669

• short term professional development funds—$1,472,590

• miscellaneous operational funds—$1,088,597

Board uses reserves to fund full-day kindergarten growth

Faced with continued enrolment growth and significant provincial underfunding for the full-day kindergarten program, the board has chosen to fund the growth beyond ministry funding from reserves and to slightly increase average class size in the program from 26 to two to 28 to two. The board rejected the option of capping enrolment and using a lottery system to determine access. Trustees also rescinded their motion from April 2010 directing administration to only offer classes based on the provincial funding available for full-day kindergarten.

Noted Janet McDougald, “Our position as a board has not changed.  The province needs to stop funding full-day kindergarten by a set amount and fund it the way it does all other programs—by actual enrolment. They need to fully fund the actual students we serve in full-day kindergarten. This is a provincially mandated program—and one we believe in as a board. There is no doubt about the incredible impact that full-day kindergarten will have on children and families. That is borne out by the strong interest in the program by eligible families. Beyond the 10 classes that were funded in year one, we are now expecting an additional eleven classes in year two. The fact that the ministry is not funding these spaces is unacceptable for our board, for parents, children and communities. But we should not make children pay for a poor funding decision by the province—as a board we have decided to do the right thing and let all children who are eligible to access the full-day program in their communities. It was not an easy decision—we do believe the province should pay for all students enrolled at approved schools—but the responsibility of the board of trustees is to do what is right for the children we serve. And this is the right educational decision and the one that best reflects our values of equity and accessibility to public education.”

Board approves audited financial statements for 2009-10

 

The board approved the audited financial statements for 2009-10.

Elementary principal and vice-principal promotion process

The board approved the following individuals to be considered for promotion to elementary principal, as vacancies occur:

Michael Bartalos, Lorne Park Public School

Cathleen Buchner, Claireville Public School

Joanne de Melo, Edenbrook Hll Public School

Fanitsa Housdon, Maple Wood Public School

Heather Marlbourough, Great Lakes Public School

Jane Marshall, Roberta Bondar Public School

Mohan Mathews, Arnott Charlton Public School

Daniella Perrott, Somerset Drive Public School

Brian Snair, Sheridan Park Public School

Rhonda Young, Rowntree Public School

The board approved the following individuals to be considered for promotion to elementary vice-principal, as vacancies occur:

Darren Batt, Franklin Public School, Waterloo Region District School Board

Lisa Evans, North Valleys High School, Washoe County School District (USA)

Lucy Fields, Teston Village Public School, York Region District School Board

Sabina Freemantle, Settler’s Green Public School

Jennifer Glass, Curriculum and Instruction Support Services

Patricia Holm, Conestoga Public School

Erla Jackett, South Field Office

Sumitra Lad, Eagle Plains Public School

Wayne Lee, Smithfield Middle School, Toronto District School Board

Jennifer Lording, Worthington Public School

Marlene MacPherson, Rosedale Public School, Toronto District School Board

Mary Mikhail, Hartsdale Public School

Kristina Morgan, McCrimmon Middle School/Edenbrook Hill Public School

Bettina Samson, Meadowvale Village Public School

Melanie Stenhouse, Hewson Public School

Anjali Tshering, Hewson Public School

Mason Vandermeersch, Hickory Wood Public School

Kervin White, Oakdale Park Middle School, Toronto District School Board

Ann Marie Williams, Harold F. Loughin Public School/Massey Street Public School

Elementary principal appointments and assignments

The board approved the following elementary principal appointments, effective April 1, 2011:

 

Sandy Kissoon-Singh from principal at Corliss Public School to principal at Parkway Public School

Tom Lowe from principal at Parkway Public School to principal at Russell D. Barber Public School

Retirements

Trustees recognized the contributions and years of service of the following staff who are retiring effective June 30 unless otherwise indicated:

Carol Bucknam, teacher

Anthony Calabretta, teacher

Deborah Hindmarch, teacher, will retire March 31

Barbara Johnson, teacher, will retire March 31

John McGurrin, teacher, will retire Aug. 31

Maria Moniz, school attendant, will retire March 4

Cheryl Neil, office assistant, will retire Feb. 28

Sandra Omson, principal

Giana Ricchetti, teacher

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The next regular meeting of the board of trustees is March 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.