Special Board Meeting
Nov, 14th 2022
[video link] [agenda] [minutes]
[0:18] Meeting is called to order by Chair.
After the playing of O Canada, the business commences:
Chair mentions that this is the first hybrid meeting of it's kind in WRDSB.
Chair asks for motion to accept the meeting agenda (moved by Trustee Tremble, seconded by Trustee Weston, carried).
Declarations of Pecuniary Interest
There are no declarations of pecuniary interest. Chair notes there were non in the in-camera session.
Announcements/Board Activities
[4:04] Trustee Woodcock mentions the remembrance day ceremony at the End Center, which was streamed from Coronation P.S.
Trustee Miller mentions attending the KCI commencement.
Delegations
There are no delegations scheduled.
Staff Follow-up
[5:44] In response to a question from trustee Watson in a previous meeting, associate Director Miller explains the difference between the following roles:
System navigator - liaison between the school system and families of identified students trying to navigate a challenging system. (2SLGBTQIA+, Muslim, Indigenous, Black, etc) (expanded from 2 positions to 6 this year).
Student Well-Being and Equity Workers - provides student facing support, and facilitates affinity groups and other supports as they try to find students and work with students who look like them and those who want to be allies in supporting them . Provides insights for decision making.
[8:56] Trustee Watson asks for clarification of the third role below. Associate Director Miller explains.
Equity and inclusion officer - helps develop procedures and implement policies. Supports the implementation of the Ontario equity action plan and the WRDSB equity and indigenous action plan. (2 positions).
[9:56] Trustee Watson asks, with regards to the wellbeing and equity advisor role, what the process of providing insight and recommendations to staff entails and who would be consulted and involved.
[12:12] Director Chanicka responds that it is the responsibility of the school principle on who to collaborate with and consult with on school level decisions.
[13:53] Trustee Tremble asks if these positions are permanent and where the funding for these positions comes from.
Staff indicates that the funding comes from various sources including the COVID relief fund, and that decisions will be made in the future on the impact of these roles.
[15:12] Trustee Watson asks for more clarification on the consultation in school level decisions.
[16:58] Director Chanicka reiterates that we should trust the principle to make the right decisions and include the right people
[19:00] Trustee Watson expresses a concern from her constituents in relation to not being consulted on the removal of a nameplate on a donated land without consulting the donors or the parents.
Trustee Miller calls a point of order indicating that the subject of trustee Watson's comment is unrelated. Chair agrees.
Trustee Watson agrees to ask her question during question period.
[20:45] Trustee Ramsey asks a question about the level of authority of these roles in making recommendations to the principle.
[21:44] Director Chanicka responds that when experts make recommendations to the principle it should be implemented.
[23:38] Trustee Ramsey asks to clarify if any of these roles have an authority to direct the principle.
[24:30] Director Chanicka answers that if the principle is in disagreement with a recommendation, it would be raised to the superintendent to assess.
No other questions received.
Reports
EQAO Test results presentation
[26:20] Associate Director Miller starts by highlighting that there will be a new baseline and no historical comparison due to a pause in testing since 2019, a new grade 1-9 Mathematics curriculum, the destreaming of grade 9 Mathematics, and a new mode of delivery (online).
Dr. Liebermann shared the results:
Grade 3 reading, 72% of WRDSB students who wrote the EQAO achieved the provincial standard, which was 1% below the provincial average of 73%
Grade 3 writing, 63% of WRDSB students achieved the provincial standard, which is 2% below the provincial average.
Grade 3 mathematics, 58% of WRDSB students achieved the provincial standard, which is 1% below the provincial average.
Grade 6 reading: 85% of WRDSB students who wrote the EQAO achieved the provincial standard, which is on par the provincial average.
Grade 6 writing, 85% of WRDSB students achieved the provincial standard, which is 1% above the provincial average.
Grade 6 mathematics, 49% of WRDSB students achieved the provincial standard, which is 2% above the provincial average.
It was also noted during the presentation that students identifying as multilingual learners scored below the provincial average. Superintendent Hill concluded the presentation with suggested steps for improvement.
[39:35] Trustee Watson enquires as to why there was no report received by the board to accompany this presentation. She notes that the Multilingual learners' results are concerning and asks what the board is doing with this information.
Associate Director Miller responds that there is a lot of work ahead, and that the data will be used to identify groups needing support. He notes that this information was recently received and staff wanted to present it to the board, but had not had the time to put together a report.
Trustee Watson asks when trustees will hear about recommendations or strategies as an outcome of this report.
Associate Director Miller responds that some actions such as the structured literacy program are already in place and some will come out as a result of the analysis done on this report.
[45:27] Student trustee Raina asks for reasoning behind destreaming grade 9 mathematics.
Associate Director Miller answers that it was a provincial initiative.
[46:20] Trustee Woodcock asks for a copy of the presentation and states that she looks forward to the plan that comes out of this report.
[47:36] Trustee Meissner notes/confirms that multilingual learners are being tested in English.
Trustee Watson asks if multilingual students have any accommodations or supports.
Associate Director Miller answers that there are accommodations in place such as extra time and scribes.
Other Business
[50:21] Chair and trustees say farewell to superintendent Gerrard as he moves on to his new role.
[1:02:50] Chair announces that this is the last meeting for outgoing trustees Whetham, Herring, Tremble, Miller, and Meissner. Trustees exchange words of gratitude.
Question Period
[1:10:15] Trustee Meissner asks staff whether we are considering implementing any measures such as masking in relation to the pandemic. Coordinating Superintendent Shantz indicates that there have been various provincial announcements recently. Staff will continue to support those choosing to wear masks, and encourage good hygiene practices. Staff will continue to monitor the situation and watch for Ministry of Education or Public Health direction.
Trustee Woodcock attempts to call for adjournment, and is asked to wait for question period to end.
[1:12:50] Trustee Watson asks about communication at the school level when schools receive recommendations by Equity and Inclusion Officers.
[1:14:03] Director Chanicka answers that principals do their best to communicate and make collaborative decisions while handling competing demands. He notes that not all decisions are shared with everyone at all times. But that consultation strategy depends on the nature of the decision.
Trustee Watson asks a follow-up question specific to the parcel land mentioned earlier.
Trustee Woodcock calls a point of order indicating that this subject is appropriate for in-camera.
Chair requests that trustee Watson's question be general and not specific.
Trustee Watson reiterates that she wants to make sure parents and parent groups are consulted in decision making.
Director Chanicka affirms.
There are no future agenda items.
Adjournment
Chair asks for a motion to adjourn. (Moved by Woodcock, seconded by Whetham).
Meeting adjourned.
Inaugural Board Meeting
Nov, 21st 2022
[video link] [agenda] [minutes]
Director Chanicka calls meeting to order in the capacity of Chair until a new Chair is elected.
[0:54] Director Chanicka kicks off the meeting with a 2.5 minute land acknowledgement, followed by the playing of O Canada.
Music
[7:42] Director Chanicka asks Shonna Buschlen, who is a student in the integrated arts program at Eastwood collegiate institute to introduce the musical performance (heart of gold - Neil Young) which she was part of.
A presentation of the performance follows.
Director Chanicka thanked Shonna on behalf of the board.
Guest Speaker
[14:46] According to board tradition, the guest speaker was selected by the outgoing Chair, trustee Piatkowski.
Director Chanicka invites trustee Piatkowski to introduce the guest speaker for the evening, Idrisa Pandit, founder of Muslim social services Waterloo region, to give a talk [17:15] titled “Triple A: Awareness, Acknowledgement, Action - A path to building an antiracist school system in Waterloo region”. The talk concluded with a pledge [27:58] to be an active antiracist.
Director Chanicka thanks the guest speaker.
Swearing In
[30:09] Director Chanicka announces the names of the following individuals elected to the school board:
Cambridge: Bill Cody, Carla Johnson, and Cindy Watson
Kitchener: Maedith Radlein, Mike Ramsey, Meena Waseem, and Joanne Weston
Waterloo: Scott Piatkowski, Marie Snyder, and Kathleen Woodcock
Wesley and Woolwich: Fred Meissner
The candidates were sworn in by Madam Justice Catrina Braid.
Director Chanicka thanks Madam Justice Braid.
Election of Board Chairperson/Vice-Chairperson
[54:26] Director Chanicka asks associate directors Miller and Shantz to act as scrutineers
Trustee Johnson nominates trustee Weston for chair.
Trustee Woodcock moves to close the nominations, seconded by trustee Weston.
Trustee Weston accepts the nomination and presides over the meeting as chair.
Trustee Radlein nominates trustee Woodcock for vice-chair.
Trustee Waseem moves to close the nominations, seconded by trustee Meissner.
Trustee Woodcock accepts the nominations.
[59:18] Vice Chair Woodcock makes a statement indicating that she is looking forward to working with the trustees and chair and have a productive term.
[1:00:08] Chair Weston makes a statement thanking colleagues and staff.
Adjournment
Chair Weston asks for motion to adjourn. (Moved by Piatkowski, seconded by Waseem).
Meeting adjourned.
Board Meeting
Nov, 28th 2022
[video link] [agenda]
Meeting is called to order by Chair.
After the land acknowledgement and the playing of O Canada, the business commences:
Chair asks for motion to accept the meeting agenda (moved by Trustee Johnson, seconded by Trustee Snyder, carried).
Consent Agenda
[3:04] Trustee Watson moves to accept the meeting minutes, but she wanted to discuss folio 55 and 56 (unclear who seconded due to Audio issues).
Trustee Watson explains that there is an oversight with regards to her question from November 14th question period (folio 55). The minutes do not mention that her question around school level consultation was specific to the equity and inclusion officer role.
Chair asked for the minutes to be updated as per Trustee Watson’s comment and for a motion to accept folio 55 and 56 (moved by Watson, seconded by Piatkowski, carried).
Declarations of Pecuniary Interest
There are no declarations of pecuniary interest.
Announcements/Board Activities
Regrets from trustees Ramsey and Woodcock
Communication good news update
[6:07] Chief communication officer Russell presents the November good news update themed growth, highlighting remembrance day, national indigenous veterans day, Groh P.S. kindness club, in-person graduation ceremony at Huron heights S.S., and WRDSB schools participating in planting micro forests, among other highlights. The presentation concluding with statistics for the WRDSB website and social media presence.
Chair thanks Chief communication office Russell.
Reports
[17:10] Superintendent lemon speaks about folio 70 Annual suspension and expulsion. We continue to refine in our data collection process to present the most accurate data possible. He notes that in Folio 72 - suspensions increase year over year.
Watson, notes that grade 9, a transitional period in students’ life had a high suspension rate. She states that the board should ensure students are supported. She also notes that Code of Conduct violations are the highest, and asks for specifics of what that means?
[20:42] Superintendent Lemon explains that Code of Conduct here refers to the school level, although there is much overlap between board, school, and ministry Codes of Conduct.
Trustee Watson states that it is difficult to understand the data. Are we looking at ways to clean up the data to be able to understand it better.
[22:47] Superintendent Lemon explains that in the previous system allows multiple codes to be selected in one instance, which makes the stats hard to interpret. He states that there is work in progress that would make this more concise and accurate.
[23:34] Trustee Piatkowski makes an observation that he wanted to tie this report to the enrollment report. It was reported that many parents are choosing not to enrol their children to JK and SK where a lot of conflict resolution skills are taught early, and now that we returned almost exclusively to in-person learning, many students have missed that. He asks if there is a strategy in place to teach those skills to students that missed out on them during the pandemic.
[24:47] Superintendent Lemon states that in terms of the social skills development mentioned, some work is being done with our kindergarten educators, he defers to one of his colleagues to gauge the specifics of what the program looks like.
[25:15] Associate Director Miller states that our goal is to meet students where they are at, and in recognizing that the pandemic had disproportionate effects on students. Some have had many social opportunities where others have not, teachers are working with the students to build those skills.
[26:21] Trustee Waseem notes that there suspensions are higher among male identifying students, and asks if there is a specific strategy to address that.
[27:05] Superintendent Lemon states that the differentiated numbers were identified early in the process and have engaged schools in a variety of ways in response to that, in particular as a highlight the work with keeping students in schools ministry pilot. Some of the work being done is creating transformative classrooms has aided in that. He adds that some secondary schools have started to engage the male identifying students in different ways to provide them with opportunities. That social problem solving is a skill necessary for life. He adds that Safe school consultants do work around social problem solving and social emotional learning, Anti-bulling intervention, and activities to support pro-social behavior in grade 7-8 schools during break times. Lemon ends by stating that it is a multi-faceted approach tailored in an age appropriate way to meet the students' needs.
[29:35] Trustee Watson asks a second question specific to any expulsions relating to bringing a gun to school.
[30:10] Superintendent Lemon states that many of the suspensions leading to expulsion relate to knifes but there was one incident relating to a replica, toy pistol which activated that code and was resolved with the student and the family.
As a follow-up, she confirms if there were no incidents relating to real firearms of the 28 suspensions leading to expulsions.
Superintendent Lemon agrees.
Trustee Committee Membership
[31:53] Chair starts the presentation by stating that this is an annual report start on folio 76.
Chair states that on November 23, chair, vice chair, past chair, and manager of corporate services met to review the surveys submitted by all incoming trustees. Work was done to get all trustees their first choice but there was one committee where 3 trustees requested to join so names were drawn.
The committee selection is on on folio 77, and looks for a motion to move the selection forward (moved by Radlein, seconded by Meissner, carried)
Chair thanks trustees for filling the survey and selecting committees.
[33:49] Ontario public school director and voting delegate
Chair mentions that in accordance with the boards bylaws , associate Directors Miller and Shantz will act as scrutineers for the election of the Opsba voting delegate,
Trustee Piatkowski nominates trustee Johnson for voting delegate.
Motion to close nominations (Radlein, seconded by Cody, carried). Trustee Johnson accepts and is acclimated.
Trustee Johnson nominates trustee Piatkowski for Opsba director.
Motion to close nominations (Radlein, seconded by Snyder, carried). Trustee Piatkowski accepts and is acclimated.
No nominations for alternate voting delegate, chair clarifies the role and states that the director has also been the alternate voting delegate in the past and vice versa for alternate director. Trustee Johnson nominates trustee Piatkowski for alternate voting delegate.
Motion to close nominations (Snyder, seconded by Radlein, carried). Trustee Piatkowski accepts and is acclimated.
Trustee Piatkowski nominates trustee Johnson for alternate director.
Motion to close nominations (Meissner, seconded by Cody, carried). Trustee Johnson accepts and is acclimated.
Board communications
No questions or comments
Other Business
[41:10] Chair makes a presentation thanking the outgoing Chairperson Piatkowski.
Outgoing chair expressing his thanks for being allowed to serve for a year. And looks forward to his role as past chair.
Question period
[43:15] Trustee Watson asks a question regarding Chicopee Hill P.S., she has concerns in regards to vehicle traffic and student safety. She states that she has visited the site and a number of concerns stood out (no reflective signs, speed is 60 in a school zone), there was supposed to be a pathway made, and parents are concerned as they have been for 7 years. How and when do we engage the city of Kitchener and the region and all the partners to try to resolve this.
[45:17] Associate Director Shantz states that there have been many efforts attempted over a number of years, he then differs to Manager Agar (Manager of planning).
Manager Agar states that there have been ongoing discussions with the city and other partners, the latest being 2 weeks ago. Trustee Watson was involved in the site visit where they witnessed the situation described in the record article. She is working with the region to find a solution to have school zone signs on a regional road and still comply with highway traffic act. Other solutions were presented such as looking at removing a light post that is obstructing vision. There have also been education campaigns to students and family to encourage safety, as well as a school planning facilitator at school.
[49:32] Trustee Watson follows up asking that a more wholesome discussion about this topic as 10 minutes is not enough.
Director Chanicka offers that a report be presented at a later time.
Trustee Radlein asks if there is a timeline given.
Manager Agar will follow up to see that a timeline is included in the report.
[50:51] Trustee Piatkowski mentions that Region of Waterloo Public Health was asked to attend the meeting tonight to provide an update on medication measures for various airborne viruses including COVID and otherwise. And asks if the board heard back.
Associate Director Miller confirms an invite was made. He indicated that they were unable to attend but sent written communication that will be shared.
[51:55] Trustee Radlein asks a question in regards to hearing concerns about the new board reporting system (Aspin) decreasing the ability for staff to report on student achievement.
[52:34] Associate Director Shantz indicates that the ministry of education sets the framework for the reporting of student achievement. That includes the formatting of the progress reports and report cards. The process reports are identical except for the font which is a bit smaller on the new report. The templates for the terms 1 and 2 report cards have also been updated by the ministry. One of the advantages of the new system is the ability for families to interact with staff in a more modern way.
Future agenda items
[54:08] Trustee Snyder presents a notice of motion that the board requests all students and staff to wear masks indoors if they can (seconded by trustee Piatkowski)
Adjournment
Chair Weston asks for a motion to adjourn. (Moved by Radlein, seconded by Johnson).
Meeting adjourned.
What to expect in the next edition:
At the Dec 12th meeting (agenda here), there will two discussions that may be of interest to the community:
Based on your feedback, we have included links to timestamps in the meeting videos for easier browsing. We are also working on a Glossary of terms which will help define some of the terminology used in board meetings.
Please continue to provide your feedback to help this newsletter improve.
Thank you.