Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. The following are highlights of the October 23, 2024, Committee of the Whole Board Meeting. Board Meeting Agendas can be found on the website under Board Meetings.
All meetings begin with a Land Acknowledgement:
"The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit, and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We honour their cultures and celebrate their commitment to this land.”
YSIP and Short-Term Suspension Program Presentation
Associate Superintendent Gollogly and Rob Adams, CEO of the YMC of Eastern Ontario provided the Trustees with an overview of of the YMCA Student Impact Program.
Program highlights:
- Maintaining an 85% attendance rate
- Approximately 20 field trips
- 30 unique participants to date
- 8 Students Graduated in June 2024
- 7 from grade 8
- 1 from grade 12
- 1 student applied to college
- 3 students volunteer with the YMCA
- 1 student got their first job with the YMCA
Program testimonials from students attending:
I attend the Student Impact Program at the YMCA. I enjoy the room, with my anxiety, I struggle to walk into a normal classroom with students. Having the personal space to work on schoolwork has helped me feel more comfortable. Talking with Ashley and having the support of the teacher has made a big impact on my life; makes me feel that I’m not alone. I have felt supported emotionally, and socially; has helped with decision-making.” - Grade 11 Student
“I’m a Grade 12 Student and have been attending since I was in Grade 11. I struggle to focus classroom; a normal classroom, often getting distracted or not motivated to complete the work. In the SIP class, I have the help of a teacher who helps keep me on track, and Ashley who has helped with decision-making and life-skills outside of the classroom.” - Grade 12 Student
"I like the classroom; it’s a nice space and I enjoy going swimming at the YMCA. Our class goes swimming every 2 weeks and it’s something I look forward to the most when I come to class.” - Grade 10 Student
Private Session Report
Vice-Chair Bob Godkin provided the Private Session Report for October 23, 2024:
- The private session minutes were approved from the Regular Board Meeting of September 18, 2024
- Associate Superintendent Gollogly gave a safe schools update.
- Director Burra gave a legal update.
There was no other business conducted, or motions passed in Private Session.
Chair's Report
It is difficult to be gathered around this horseshoe, without her presence. The Board of Trustees and Limestone staff extend our sincere condolences to Judi’s family and friends, and the students and schools she served.
Trustee Brown had an unwavering commitment to student success and advocacy for Black voice within our schools and the broader community, leaving a lasting legacy.
Judi took great pride in her role as a trustee and approached it with unwavering diligence, always focused on our shared responsibility to strengthen and enhance public education across the district.
I would like to acknowledge the trustees and staff who were able to attend the internment last Thursday. Our understanding is that the family will be hosting a celebration of life at a future date.
For staff and Limestone community partners now, who wish to share thoughts and memories of Trustee Brown, there is a Book of Condolence set up in the foyer here at the Education Centre.
The passing of Trustee Brown is an immense loss that will be profoundly felt throughout our school board and the entire City of Kingston.
I would now ask that we share a moment of silence.
And this concludes my report.
Director's Report
Thank you, Chair Hutcheon, for your comments regarding the significant loss we face with the passing of Trustee Judi Brown. In my mind, Trustee Brown was a true legend. She was famous for her groundbreaking work, her passion, her moral compass, and her dedication to continuous improvement. She was also adored and admired by everyone who had the good fortune of knowing her or working with her. I know all of us will miss her wisdom, her passion, and her wonderful smile. For me, I know when I face future challenging or difficult decisions, which undoubtedly will arise, I will ask myself what would Trustee Brown do? I know LDSB senior staff and members of the LDSB equity team all feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with, and be led by, Trustee Brown.
As a reminder to Trustees and the viewing public, we are in the midst of the Fall 2024 United Way fundraising campaign. Given continuing, significant economic dislocation, housing costs, and food security concerns, it is critical for those that can support this campaign do so, to help support some of the most vulnerable children, youth, and families in the region. Limestone is a proud contributor to this annual campaign.
This evening, Trustees will see the initial annual report for the LDSB Strategic Plan, 2024-2028, and we will take a closer look at the 2023-2024 EQAO results. As Trustees are aware, Limestone saw some Good to Excellent improvement in 6/8 provincial EQAO measures, and slight declines in two. Our current focus on improving teaching and learning in classrooms are critical components of the provincial and board priorities, but also integral to our equity work in ensuring that each Limestone student has the skills and confidence to access their pathway of choice as they navigate through their K-12 years. While this data breaks down to percentage points, it is important to remember that each percentage equates to 14 or 15 students who have taken the assessment. These numbers add up. The stakes of our work are incredibly high, and we have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that we maintain focused attention on student achievement. I look forward to continuing our critical work in Limestone with the new Strategic Plan as we move into the future, doing the best we can to serve students and families.
This evening, Trustees will also receive a report on the current Trustee vacancy and make some decisions regarding next steps to address this vacancy.
And finally, I would like Trustees to be aware that a message I sent to families on October 7 met with a range of reactions. There is no question that the current crisis in the Middle East is directly impacting families in LDSB. I do feel compelled to share some additional messaging next week to better reflect the expansive and increasing impact of these events on some local Palestinian students and families. I apologize for this under-emphasis in my initial message and any harm this caused for some of the local families most impacted by this continuing and expanding war.
Thank you, Chair Hutcheon. That completes my update for this evening.
OPBSA Report
Trustee McGregor provided an OPBSA report.
Student Trustees' Report
Good evening trustees and the viewing public. Our October Inter-Student Council meeting took place on October 15th chaired by student Trustee Kumar and student Trustee Kolosov.
To start this meeting, we had a PD Session on Identity and Allyship from Andrea Barrow, who is the LDSB Equity and Inclusion Consultant. This presentation was aimed to help student leaders be better prepared to support their student bodies with the upcoming board wide culture week in November. This session also provided students with the opportunity to examine the idea of cultural appropriation versus appreciation as Halloween draws closer and schools often encourage dress-up days as a part of their celebrations and events.
In support of culture week plans, ISC representatives have been made aware of the Black and Racialized student affinity groups at their schools and affirmed their willingness to reach out and connect with these groups to help support them throughout their various culture week events. This collaboration aims to help support inclusion within schools and improve student connections at each site.
To further help ensure that ISC remains mindful in event planning and is able to accurately represent student voice, invitations to join Inter-Student Council by sending a representative to our monthly meetings will be extended soon to various board wide affinity groups such as the Black and Racialized student affinity group, The GSA group, and the Indigenous Student Leadership Circle. Our goal is to ensure that we are capturing a range of student voices and that we are able to provide support to group initiatives where needed.
We concluded our meeting with discussing the opportunity to create a board-wide fundraiser or charity event where all schools could raise money and awareness towards a specific goal or initiative within the community. As a team we have reached out to United Way KFL&A to invite a speaker to talk to ISC members about youth homelessness in November and open the opportunity for schools to plan their own ways of supporting the fight against youth homelessness.
That concludes our report for our October ISC meeting, thank you.
Reports for Information
Strategic Plan Update
Director Burra and members of senior staff provided Trustees with an update on the strategic plan, focusing on equity and excellence in student learning, achievement, and future success within a positive culture.
A summary of the strategic plan goals were outlined along with the 2023-2024 EQAO results that provide a foundation for the plan and the provincial Student Achievement Plan.
After the focus on EQAO results, Director Burra reviewed examples of Limestone's responsiveness to family voice over the 2023-2024 school year, including but not limited to:
- Special Education Model Changes After Consultation
- Budget Survey and Feedback
- New Board and School Websites
- School Year Calendar Consultation
- Continuing Virtual School
- Continued Enhancements to Reporting Tools
- Strategic Plan Consultations/Feedback
- Regular Family Updates
- Expanded Translation Services Incorporated into Communication Tools
As well as responsiveness to staff voice and creating a culture of service excellence (2023-2024), including but not limited to:
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Satisfaction Survey
- Continued to promote FSL teacher recruitment, partnering with Queen's FSL Multi-Session Program
- Leadership resources developed for administrators
- Continue mentoring program for new principals and vice-principals
- Aspiring Leaders workshops provided for teachers who are contemplating administration
- Provided equity, diversity and inclusion training to elementary occasional teachers
- Provided Human Rights training for investigations with K-12 Administrators
- Streamlined Online Incident Reporting process
- Developed MyLDSB
- Refined facilities improvement process
The full report can be found in the Agenda Package.
Trustee Vacancy
With the passing of Trustee Judith Brown on the evening of Friday, October 11, a seat at the Board of Trustees became vacant. Consequently, based on the Education Act and LDSB Procedural Bylaws, Article III, a replacement for Trustee Brown is required.
LDSB Procedural Bylaws, Article III, outline the necessary Board decisions required to fill the vacant Trustee seat. Article III is based on the requirements outlined in the Education Act. Historically, during the last 20 years, when a Trustee seat has become vacant, the Board has decided to make an appointment to fill the seat. As just two examples, Hamilton Wentworth DSB has a by-election set for January 2025; Durham DSB appointed a trustee in the spring of 2024.
Trustee vacancies fall within the Education Act but provide the options of a by-election or appointment. A final decision on filling a vacancy rests with the Board of Trustees, and requires a formal motion. Article III of the LDSB Procedural Bylaws is rooted in legislation outlined in Section 221 (1) & (2) of the Education Act.
The guiding Principles outlined in the Bylaws (Article III) for filling a trustee vacancy are as follows: (a) Timing of the vacancy relative to the previous/subsequent elections; (b) Relative support of the 2nd-place finisher in a previous election; (c) Financial cost associated with a by-election; (d) Representation of a particular geographic area on the board; and (e) Diversity of representation on the board at the time of the vacancy.
Trustees will need to make a decision regarding how they would like to fill the vacant seat through a by-election or through an appointment. Staff will support the Board’s decision and take the next logistical steps to fill the vacancy.
Trustee Morning presented the following motion:
Being that just over two years remain in this current Board term and the financial cost of a by-election is prohibitive, I move that our Board fill Trustee Judith Brown’s Loyalist-Cataraqui Collins Bayridge and Meadowbrook-Strathcona ridings by offering it to the second place candidate and if declined, offer it to the third-place finisher in the 2022 election.
The motion passed.
Meeting Recording
- October 23, 2024 Limestone District School Board Regular Board Meeting
Next Board Meeting
- November 13, 2024 (Annual Meeting)
- November 18, 2024 (Nominations/Special Meeting)
Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. Board Meeting Agendas can be found on the website under Board Meetings.