DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST · Regular Board Meeting – February 5, 2019 District School Board Ontario North East Board Package - Page 3 MINUTES of the Regular Meeting

AGENDA Page(s)

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL TERRITORY

Ahnii! We begin our meeting by acknowledging that we are in the Traditional Territory of the

Ojibway and Oji-Cree people of the Mattagami First Nation, located in Treaty 9 Territory.

2. REGULAR SESSION

3. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

5. PRESENTATION: February Strategic Plan Vignette: Mental Health and Well Being

6. PRESENTATION: Culture: Pathways and Graduation Rates

7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Board meeting, January 8, 2019 ................................................................. 3-10

8. BUSINESS AND/OR QUESTIONS ARISING OUT OF MINUTES

9. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

10. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

i. Cash Disbursements (December 2018) ........................................................ 11

ii. WE Miller Public School Update

iii. Cell phone data usage ................................................................................... 12

iv. Efficacy Assessment ..................................................................................... 13

v. Indigenous Grad Coach Pilot Project ........................................................... 14

vi. Funding Updates ........................................................................................... 15

vii. School Councils – request for criteria for Principals .................................. 16

viii. Common Acronyms used by DSB1 (for information) .................. attachment

DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST

Regular Board Meeting Tuesday, February 5, 2019 @ 6:15 p.m.

Location:

SCHUMACHER BOARD OFFICE

153 Croatia Avenue, Schumacher

MISSION STATEMENT: Together, we inspire innovation and a passion for learning.

Regular Board Meeting – February 5, 2019

District School Board Ontario North East Board Package - Page 2

Page(s)

11. COMMITTEE REPORTS

i. Special Education Advisory Committee (October 3, 2018 minutes) .... 17-18

ii. Special Education Advisory Committee (December 5, 2018 minutes) . 19-22

iii. Finance and Property Committee (February 5, 2019 minutes) ......... handout

12. OTHER BUSINESS

13. ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS’ ASSOCIATION (OPSBA)

i. Reports by Trustees attending OPSBA Public Education Symposium

14. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

i. Memo 2019: B03 Hiring Practices and Class Size Engagement ...........................

.............................................. 23-24 and attachements (2)

15. CORRESPONDENCE

i. Rainy River DSB to Minister Thompson

re: delay in funding Ojibwe Language Strategy ............................ 25-26

16. STUDENT TRUSTEE REFLECTIONS

17. ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

i. February 19, 2019: Culture: Strategic Plan Mid-Year Update

ii. March 5, 2019: Innovation: PACE Reimagined

iii. March 19, 2019: Equity: Special Education Updates

iv. April 16, 2019: Innovation: Experiential Education

v. May 21, 2019: Innovation: iPad Initiative

vi. June 18, 2019: Culture: DSB Ontario North East Branding

18. MOTION TO ADJOURN



MINUTES of the Regular Meeting of District School Board Ontario North East was held at 6:15 p.m. in the Schumacher Board Room, 153 Croatia Avenue on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

TRUSTEES PRESENT:

Bob Brush, Chair Dennis Draves, Vice Chair Howard Archibald Val Fuller Tom Henderson (via v/c) Steve Meunier Brian Peever Rosemary Pochopsky Cindy Pye-Reasbeck (via v/c) Doug Shearer (via v/c) TRUSTEES ABSENT: Ken Steinbrunner STUDENT TRUSTEES PRESENT:

Danielle Beaudoin (Kirkland Lake District Composite School) (via t/c) Chloey Frank (Indigenous – Kirkland Lake District Composite School) (via t/c) Noble Stow-Gore (Timiskaming District Secondary School) (via v/c)

ADMINISTRATION PRESENT:

Lesleigh Dye - Director of Education Steven Pladzyk - Superintendent of Schools Jo-Anne Plaunt - Superintendent of Schools Pearl Fong-West - Superintendent of Business/Finance and Treasurer Jim Rowe - Superintendent of Human Resources ADMINISTRATION ABSENT: Kristen Niemi - Superintendent of Schools

STAFF PRESENT:

Susan Allen, Executive Assistant to the Director of Education – Recording Secretary Andreanne Denis – Communication Officer Larry Souliere – Coordinator, Information Services GUESTS:

JP Desilets, District President, OSSTF Maureen Rintamaki, OSSTF President, Educational Assistants REGULAR SESSION The meeting opened with the land acknowledgement of our being on the Traditional Territory of the Ojibway and Oji-Cree people of the Mattagami First Nation, located in Treaty 9 Territory. 7048-19 HENDERSON/MEUNIER: THAT this Board resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole.

CARRIED



7049-19 POCHOPSKY/FULLER: THAT this Board resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, In-Camera.

CARRIED 7050-19 ARCHIBALD/MEUNIER: THAT we now rise and report to the Board.

CARRIED 7051-19 POCHOPSKY/MEUNIER: THAT this Board reconvene in Regular Session.

CARRIED The Regular session commenced at 6:39 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 7052-19 FULLER/MEUNIER: THAT the Agenda for the Regular Board Meeting dated January 8, 2019 be approved, with the following addition:

ADD, under Other Business: o January 22, 2019 Board meeting

CARRIED CONFLICT OF INTEREST Trustees were asked to declare conflicts of interest as they arise.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 7053-19 SHEARER/PEEVER: THAT the Board approve the minutes of the Regular Board

meeting held December 18, 2018. CARRIED

BUSINESS AND/OR QUESTIONS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES UNFINISHED BUSINESS PRESENTATION: Strategic Plan Monthly Vignette (January) Director Lesleigh Dye provided an introduction to the short new monthly vignettes to be produced as evidence of what is happening across DSB Ontario North East. Communications Officer Andreanne Denis presented the January “Culture of Caring” vignette, created under the Staff Strategic Planning Committee and with the intent of sharing stories in and with our systems and communities. These vignettes will be posted on our website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

7054-19 MEUNIER/HENDERSON: THAT the Board receive the presentation of the Strategic Plan Vignette for January 2019.

CARRIED ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Policy Review: Trustee Expense Policy 3.1.7 7055-19 SHEARER/DRAVES: THAT the Board approve the Trustee Expense Policy 3.1.7 and

receive the related Operational Procedures. CARRIED

COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance and Property Committee 7056-19 DRAVES/STEINBRUNNER: THAT the Board approve the Finance and Property Committee minutes for the meeting held December 18, 2018.

CARRIED



Ministry Funding

7057-19 FULLER/POCHOPSKY: THAT the Board receive the update on Ministry funding. CARRIED

Additional Staffing and Supports - 2018-2019 *** *** the backgrounders for the following 6 staffing motions are found at the end of this document 7058-19 SHEARER/MEUNIER: THAT the Board approve the addition of 25 secondary course Backgrounder: p.5 sections for Semester II of the 2018-2019 school year as follows:

Kirkland Lake District Composite School - 4 sections

Timiskaming District Secondary School – 13 sections

Timmins High and Vocational School – 8 sections CARRIED

7059-19 PEEVER/SHEARER: THAT the Board approve the hiring of 3.4 FTE High Support Backgrounder: p.6 Classroom Teachers and 6.0 Educational Assistants within the Special Education portfolio.

CARRIED 7060-19 MEUNIER/FULLER: THAT the Board approve the hiring of additional staff within the Backgrounder: p.6 Mental Health and Wellness portfolio from January 2019 to June 2019.

CARRIED 7061-19 DRAVES/PEEVER: THAT the Board approve the funding for professional learning for Backgrounder: p.6 experienced Educational Assistants who do not have formal qualifications.

CARRIED

7062-19 FULLER/MEUNIER: THAT the Board approve the addition of a 1.0 FTE Financial Backgrounder: p.7 Analyst for the remainder of the 2018/19 fiscal year.

CARRIED

7063-19 ARCHIBALD/PEEVER: THAT the Board approve funding for three (3) additional staff for Backgrounder: p.8 the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year to support Indigenous students in Iroquois Falls Secondary School, Timiskaming District Secondary School and Cochrane Public School.

CARRIED Wintergreen Learning Materials Ltd. (re: donation from Wintergreen of 12 “wobble stools” for use in our schools) 7064-19 MEUNIER/POCHOPSKY: THAT the Board receive the following Administrative Report:

Wintergreen Learning Materials Limited re: wobble stools CARRIED

COMMITTEE REPORTS Finance and Property 7065-19 ARCHIBALD/DRAVES: THAT the Board approve the minutes of the Finance and Property



Committee meeting held January 8, 2019. CARRIED

OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Committees

7066-19 MEUNIER/PEEVER: THAT the Board accept the Trustee Committee Structure and Membership for 2018-2020.

CARRIED January 22, 2019 Board meeting 7067-19 POCHOPSKY/PEEVER: THAT the Board cancel the Regular Board meeting scheduled

for Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019. CARRIED

ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS’ ASSOCIATION (OPSBA) MINISTRY CORRESPONDENCE CORRESPONDENCE STUDENT TRUSTEE REFLECTIONS

ITEMS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

i. February 19, 2019: Culture: Pathways and Graduation Rates

ii. March 19, 2019: Equity: Special Education Updates

iii. April 16, 2019: Innovation: Experiential Education

iv. May 21, 2019: Innovation: iPad Initiative

v. June 18, 2018: Culture: DSB Ontario North East Branding

vi. Date to be determined: Innovation: PACE Reimagined

ADJOURNMENT

7068-19 ARCHIBALD/MEUNIER: THAT we do now adjourn.

CARRIED

The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. SECRETARY OF THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE BOARD



*** Following are the backgrounders for the motions for Additional Staffing & Supports from the Minutes of the Regular Board meeting held January 8, 2019 (p. 3):

Agenda Ref. No. 2019-01-08

Re: MOTION 7058-19 SHEARER/MEUNIER: TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST RE: STAFFING – Secondary – 2018-2019, Semester II

Backgrounder: DSB Ontario North East is committed to optimizing and increasing support for student learning and achievement while adhering to the parameters of staffing and class size maximums outlined in our Collective Agreements. Recognizing that increasing the staffing in our secondary schools by the proposed allocations in the following chart will come at a cost, we are confident that this increase will support student achievement, resulting in both broadened pathway experiences and increased graduation rates.

School # additional sections

Rationale

Kirkland Lake District Composite School 4

- To meet Collective Agreement max class size caps;

- To maintain French Immersion pathway

Timiskaming District Secondary School

13

- to meet Collective Agreement max class size caps;

- to expand options for student pathways to graduation (COOP education)

Timmins High & Vocational School

4

4

- to meet Collective Agreement max class size caps;

- to expand options for student pathways, including essential level programming

Total additional sections: 25

The total approximate cost for the above is $465,000. RECOMMENDATION: THAT the Board approve the addition of 25 secondary course sections for Semester II of the 2018-2019 school year and as outlined in the above chart.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Rowe Superintendent of Human Resources

Lesleigh Dye Director of Education



Re: MOTION: 7059-19 PEEVER/SHEARER MOTION: 7060-19 MEUNIER/FULLER MOTION: 7061-19 DRAVES/PEEVER: TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF Agenda Ref. No. 2019 01 08 DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST RE: Special Education and Mental Health – Additional Staffing for 2018-2019

Backgrounders: Special Education As our schools continue to try to meet the increasing needs within our district, some situations have proven to require additional support. Particularly, the three schools below are experiencing an increase in students with high needs and also have a number of students who are struggling. It is felt as this time, that additional supports are required to assist current efforts to help students meet with success. All three schools will offer programming unique to their local needs. Schools:

Englehart Public School 1.2 fte teacher + 2 EAs

Schumacher Public School 1.2 fte teacher + 2 EAs

JHK Public School 1.0 fte teacher + 2 EAs Mental Health Although we are seeing an increase in successfully addressing student mental health needs with the additional staff from earlier in the year, there continue to be gaps where we believe we can do better. By adding approximately $100,000 (which may be 2.0 fte) for Mental Health, we believe we can achieve better results for our students, schools and communities. Professional Learning for Education Assistants Some of our experienced Educational Assistants do not have formal qualifications; we will be providing the opportunity for these EAs to receive qualifications in partnership with Northern College. The approximate cost for these three initiatives for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year is $440,000.00.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. THAT the Board approve the hiring of 3.4 FTE High Support Classroom Teachers and 6.0 Educational Assistants within the Special Education portfolio.

2. THAT the Board approve the hiring of 3.0 FTE within the Mental Health and Wellness portfolio from January 2018 to June 2018.

3. THAT the Board approve the funding for professional learning for experienced Educational Assistants who do not have formal qualifications.


Steven Pladzyk Superintendent of Schools Lesleigh Dye Director of Education



Re: MOTION: 7062-19 FULLER/MEUNIER: TO THE CHAIR AND TRUSTEES OF AGENDA REF. NO. 2019 01 08 DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST RE: Financial Analyst

BACKGROUNDER: Over the past few years, the demands from the Ministry of Education for reports has increased. There has been a shift to more detail in the reporting of major projects on a project by project basis and on a component by component basis within each project. This data is now used to determine how much of our allocation is released under the school condition improvement funding, school renewal funding and other capital funding. This is compounded by the increase in our allocations in these areas thereby increasing the number of projects that must be reported to the Ministry. As a result, there has been an increase in the workload for the Business Department, specifically the Superintendent of Business and the Manager of Financial Services. As well, the number of EPO (Education Programs – Other) has increased (except for the current year), and each of the EPO’s requires a financial report, regardless of the dollar amount of the grant. The additional demands on the Business Department has caused some backlog and additional support is necessary to meet the reporting requirements for the Ministry while still ensuring that other business functions are running efficiently and effectively. The approximate cost for this position is $45,000.00 RECOMMENDATION: That the Board approve the addition of a 1.0 FTE Financial Analyst for the remainder of the 2018/19 fiscal year.



Pearl Fong-West

Superintendent of Business/Finance



Re: MOTION: 7063-19 ARCHIBALD/PEEVER: TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF Agenda Ref. No. 2019 01 08 DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST RE: Indigenous Education Supports –2018-2019

Backgrounder: District School Board Ontario North East continues to partner with our Indigenous communities and is working hard to find ways to further support students who identify as Indigenous who attend a DSB Ontario North East school. Additional supports for students who live in Wahgoshig as well as Timiskaming First Nation are needed. The intent is to provide either a teacher or Indigenous Student Advisor to work directly with students who are enrolled at either Iroquois Falls Secondary School and Timiskaming District Secondary School and are not attending on a daily basis. Alternative types of education are being considered for these students such a full-day co-operative education positions in the First Nation community. In addition, Cochrane Public School has the highest number of students who identify as Indigenous in District School Board Ontario North East with 148 students on October 31, 2018. It is important to create an Individual Student Advisor position for the elementary school to ensure the students who identify as Indigenous have significant support in elementary as well as secondary schooling. The approximate cost of this funding is $78,000.00 RECOMMENDATION: THAT the Board approve funding for three (3) additional staff for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year to support Indigenous students in Iroquois Falls Secondary School, Timiskaming District Secondary School and Cochrane Public School.

Respectfully submitted, Lesleigh Dye Director of Education



TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF Agenda Ref. No. 2019 02 05 DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST RE: DECEMBER, 2018 CASH DISBURSEMENTS

Details of the cash disbursements for the month of DECEMBER, 2018 in the amount of $10,578,018.62

are enclosed. Should Trustees have any questions regarding these disbursements, please contact the Superintendent of Business and Finance.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE REPORT ON CASH DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 2018 IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,578,018.62.

Respectfully submitted, Lesleigh Dye Director of Education Pearl Fong-West Superintendent of Business/Finance

CASH DISBURSEMENTS SUMMARY

For DECEMBER, 2018

District School Board O.N.E. Bank Transfers TOTAL

$ 5,817,937.69

$ 4,760,080.93

$ 10,578,018.62



Trustee Cell Phone Usage (2018-19)



Agenda Ref. No. 2019-02-05 TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST RE: Efficacy Assessment

Backgrounder: Our DSB Ontario North East Strategic Plan identifies our focus commitments for 2018-2019 as putting the needs of learners first, inspiring and promoting learning, and ensuring respectful working and learning environments. These focus commitments both support and build on our vision of “empowering all learners to achieve personal excellence”. As part of the action plan to meet these commitments, we will conduct an efficacy assessment, using the Pearson’s Efficacy Framework, of how effective we are in our efforts to fulfill our vision. The full Pearson Efficacy Framework document may be found online here: https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/global/Files/efficacy-and-research/methods/Efficacy-Workbook.pdf Using this efficacy framework as the lens, we will explore how we are doing, how we can improve, and seek recommendations for improving student outcomes. Our consultant, Victoria Hemming, will conduct both individual interviews and group focus sessions (including with Trustees, Senior Admin, Principals/Vice Principals, school staff and Board office staff) and will then analyze the data and present a final report to the Board. The timelines for the data collection, data analysis and presentation of the final report on our Efficacy Assessment are February to April 2019. RECOMMENDATION: THAT the Board receive the report on the Efficacy Assessment as outlined.



https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/global/Files/efficacy-and-research/methods/Efficacy-Workbook.pdf

https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/global/Files/efficacy-and-research/methods/Efficacy-Workbook.pdf



MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Project Plan #B8: Indigenous Graduation Coach Pilot Project

School: Timmins High and Vocational School (as selected by Ministry of Education) Project dates: September 2018 – August 30, 2019 The Indigenous Graduation Coach Pilot will provide intensive supports to Indigenous learners with the goal of obtaining an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and successfully transitioning into post-secondary education, training or labour market opportunities.

A key component of this pilot is the presence of an Indigenous Graduation Coach (hereafter Coach) who has deeply rooted experiential ties to the Indigenous community(ies) and their culture(s), working in close collaboration with the School Administrator and Student Success/Core Team, supportive structures crucial to the success of the pilot. The Coach acts as a mentor and an advisor to students, facilitating access and referrals to academic supports and community resources. The coach also plays an essential role as an advocate for each learner with teachers, other school staff, and families.

This pilot is primarily modeled after the Indigenous Graduation Coach model adapted in Ontario by Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) in 2014 to address the long-standing graduation gap between self-identified Indigenous students and all students in KPDSB.

The KPDSB model shares similar components with other graduation coach models including the dedicated space and parent/guardian engagement elements, but is distinct in the following ways:

The model is grounded in a caring adult developing a trusting relationship with the students and understanding the strengths, needs and interests of each student and then making connections to support their successful transitions throughout their high school journey; and

The monitoring and tracking of students’ progress through utilizing real time data collection and communication tools enables the model’s supportive structures to be better informed of the specific needs of the Indigenous learners and make timely decisions about how best to support the Indigenous learner at any given time.

Positive outcomes in the schools participating in the KPDSB model have included: an increase in self-identification among Indigenous students; and credit accumulation rates among Grade 9 students now on par with their non-Indigenous counterparts.

Indigenous Graduation Coach Pilot Stages The Recipient (school board) shall ensure that each secondary school participating in the Indigenous Graduation Coach Pilot implements the four stages described below. In the first year of the pilot, this will largely be comprised of, but not limited to, establishing/assembling the necessary supportive structures and completing the needs assessment.



funding updates



REQUEST FOR PRINCIPAL CRITERIA FROM SCHOOL COUNCILS

(on school letterhead)

SCHOOL COUNCIL INPUT

for PRINCIPAL PROFILE

2019-2020

DRAFT

School: _____________________________ Date: _______________________________ To be completed annually by the end of March by the School Council Chair and Council. Name of School Council Chair: _______________________________________ Date consultation completed: _________________________________________

1. What do you like and appreciate about this school and would like to retain?

2. What skills and qualities would you like to see in a Principal?

3. What changes would you like to suggest to improve the school?

Please forward the completed form to: ________________________ Thank you,



MINUTES of the Special Education Advisory Committee held on Wednesday, October 3, 2018

at the Schumacher Board Office.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Christine Heavens Chair, parent representative Arline Chasle Education Director, Timiskaming First Nation Samantha Shortt Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario Timmins Lisa Lamarche Community Living Timmins Saunders Porter Alternate Trustee Dennis Draves Trustee Bruce Cutten Trustee Alice Hearn-Flannigan VOICE COMMITTEE MEMBERS REGRETS: Peter Osterberg Trustee Gary Dowe Cochrane Timiskaming Resource Centre STAFF PRESENT: Steve Pladzyk Superintendent of Schools - Special Education

Patricia Chertow District Special Education Administrator Shawn Donovan Vice Principal Alison Fantin Principal (call in)

Denise Plante-Dupuis Mental Health & Well-Being Lesleigh Dye Director of Education RECORDING SECRETARY: Dianne Gaudreau Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 12:01pm, video conferencing and round table introductions were made. ADOPTION OF AGENDA MOVED BY Bruce Cutten, SECONDED BY Saunders Porter THAT the agenda be approved.

CARRIED BUSINESS ARISING: Superintendent Pladzyk welcomed Lisa Lamarche and Samantha Shortt as official SEAC members.

Superintendent Pladzyk stated that we have a Vice Chair vacancy, inquiring if we have any potential candidates. Samantha Shortt put her name forward.

MOTION: MOVED BY Dennis Draves, SECONDED BY Bruce Cutten that Samantha Shortt be nominated as Vice Chair for SEAC.

CARRIED Superintendent Pladzyk reported that there are no updates regarding the Provincial PAaC conference. Superintendent Pladzyk stated that we will be engaging with IPAC (Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Committee) for new representation to replace Arlene Chasle. AGENCY/TRUSTEE REPORTS:



Trustee Porter reported that this might be the one of the last SEAC meetings for Trustee Osterberg, Trustee Cutten and himself, as they are not running for re-election in November. Chair, Christine Heavens, inquired if there was any orientation to support new SEAC members. Director Dye stated there is orientation for new trustees but not necessarily for SEAC members. Lisa Lamarche, Community Living Timmins:

Family Nights is a new initiative, which will be held monthly and open to all families who have a child on the Autism Spectrum. First session will take place on October 17 at Siva’s Restaurant.

November 17 - Sensitive Santa will be held at the YMCA Samantha Short, LDAO:

October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, calendar of events will be emailed to members Discussion ensued if other events are being promoted throughout the schools.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM UPDATES Denise Plante-Dupuis, Mental Health and Well-Being Lead made a presentation at the Board meeting on October 2 in partnership with Porcupine and Timiskaming Health Units on the implementation of school Overdose Prevention and Education campaign to address the current opioid crisis. The focus will be on universal prevention and harm reduction practices with a health equity lens. With our partners the board is aiming to create opportunities for open and clear communication about medication and drug use. Together, we want to ensure that students, families, and staff know what opioids are, their effects and risks. Communicate safe and appropriate use of medication and other legal substances that we know youth may use. Hiring Updates:

o will be interviewing for two new Social Worker positions for the North and South regions which will serve our rural locations

o have filled the Behaviour Consultant, Autism Support Officer, and Technology & Assessment SERT positions

Team working on a report for the Director on the Teams’ vision with primary education and alignment of services at the forefront.

Met with Northern College regarding EA shortage and hoping to partner with the College on a pilot project for semester II to offer a blended educational program, including a paid co-op placement, for EA’s who are working on getting fully qualified.

November 13 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm all District School Board Ontario North East families and staff are invited to Dr. Greg Wells’ presentation at TH&VS. A YouTube link will be made available for schools in the North and South regions. Topic: Eat Well, Sleep Well and Move Well.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:

November: EQAO results

Discussion points were raised regarding the results which will be shared at the November meeting.

ADJOURNMENT:

Moved by Dennis Draves that the meeting be adjourned at 12:44pm

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: November 7, 2018 – 12:00 noo



MINUTES of the Special Education Advisory Committee held on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018 at the Schumacher Board Office. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Christine Heavens Chair, parent representative Dennis Draves Trustee Bob Brush Trustee Doug Shearer Trustee Samantha Shortt Vice Chair, Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario Timmins Gary Dowe Cochrane Timiskaming Resource Centre Alice Hearn-Flannigan VOICE v/c NLBO Anne Commando EPP Liaison - Wabun Tribal Council COMMITTEE MEMBERS REGRETS: Lisa Lamarche Community Living Timmins STAFF PRESENT: Steve Pladzyk Superintendent of Schools - Special Education Lesleigh Dye Director of Education Patricia Chertow System Lead of Special Education Shawn Donovan Vice Principal Alison Fantin Principal v/c NLBO

Denise Plante-Dupuis Mental Health & Well-Being RECORDING SECRETARY: Lisa Nixon Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools CALL TO ORDER Chair Christine Heavens called the meeting to order at 12:05pm, video conferencing and round table introductions were made. ADOPTION OF AGENDA MOVED BY Bob Brush, SECONDED BY Gary Dowe THAT the agenda be approved.

CARRIED BUSINESS ARISING: October 3rd, 2018 minutes to be addressed and approved at January 9, 2019 meeting which will also include December 5th, 2018 minutes to be approved. Chair Heavens asked for members to introduce themselves to new member Anne Commando, EPP Liaison for Wabun Tribal Council and new recording secretary Lisa Nixon, Executive Assistant to Superintendent of Schools. Superintendent Pladzyk welcomed Anne Commando, representing First Nations as official SEAC member. EQAO Results: System Lead of Special Education, Patricia Chertow presented the EQAO results for Special Education students.

Document was sent to all members by email to follow along. Discussion regarding EQAO presentation:

Anne Commando inquired about EQAO results and data for Indigenous students to verify what support and funding might be available from her Board to make these students successful.

Director Dye responded that statistics are available and can be brought to the attention of Lisa Innes, VP Indigenous Education.

Trustee Draves inquired about a debrief or interview to see how students feel about EQAO testing.

Superintendent Pladzyk responded that informally, the school is very involved in helping students become encouraged between the SERT and the students in the classroom. SERTS are to make changes at the student desk as needed day to day which is more important than a test once every 3 years.



Principal Fantin reported via VC that EQAO students with special needs are given IEP and a more quiet area to complete the test. She also reported that test anxiety is not always about the test but sometimes about everyone watching the student.

Vice-Principal Donovan reported that THVS provides students with a 6 week block before the testing to help prepare special needs students for EQAO. This is the 2nd year this practice has been in place and it has shown to help reduce stress and anxiety regarding the testing and has increased enrolment by 6%.

Director Dye responded with a reference from Greg Wells presentation that claims kids doing an activity before the assessment can also help with the stress of the testing.

Chair Heavens responded with a question asking if there is something that can be done to help parents prepare for EQAO.

Conversation ensued how to possibly support parents around how to support their child regarding EQAO.

Trustee Brush questioned how we can convince the students of the value of taking the test and not emphasize on the reason it has to be done.

Vice-Principal Donovan responded that if a student has to redo the test, they may have to take a 5 month course to complete the testing and that fears students.

Director Dye responded that EQAO is 30 of the Grade 9 summative evaluation.

Trustee Brush questioned what happens between Grade 6 and Grade 9 for academic and applied data to show that improvement.

System Lead of Special Education Chertow responded that in Primary and Junior, the Provincial standard is 70% and in Grade 9, it is a pass or fail for the Provincial standard.

Chair Heavens questioned if strategies can be developed.

System Lead of Special Education Chertow responded that there are many accommodations for language and writing with text to speech and text to voice instead of always visually like mathematics. Students with math challenges don’t have comparable technology to assist and a lot of times, it is the concepts and cognitive learning in perception and visual understanding which is difficult for some students.

The Ministry has taken a different direction on Mathematics and are seeing it is not working. They are trying to find something new that will allow our students to achieve success.

Trustee Brush responded that he is unsure if we are going back to the basics for math.

Director Dye responded that the curriculum hasn’t changed and the resources the Ministry is putting out are on the same curriculum.

Chair Heavens requested a year over year, one page document to extract data annually to see how well we are doing.

Director Dye responded to Chair Heavens request stating data can be looked at to roll averages for 3 years or 3 different EQAO tests.

Chair Heavens discussed demographics may also have an impact and would like correspondence from the Board.

Director Dye responded support would come from the Board and elected officials.

Trustee Shearer responded stating another letter with a broken process. There are issues of the same reflection that our funding formula no longer works and there is a division between urban and rural areas. Trustee Brush responded that Northern Ontario is looked at differently and funding is not provided where it is needed. CORRESPONDENCE: 1. Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic DSB – letter received regarding

findings in the Auditor General’s Annual Report. The Auditor General found that benchmarks in the funding formula and the dollar amount assigned to the Ministry Funding are out of date.

2. Upper Grand DSB – letter supporting Bill 44.

Chair Heavens presented any recommended action from the SEAC table. NONE AGENCY/TRUSTEE REPORTS: Bob Brush, Trustee

Reported and reviewed the Inaugural meeting swearing in new trustees on Tuesday, December 4th, 2018.



The Board is extremely pleased with 6 experienced and 5 new trustees as this is a good balance for learning and sharing for the next 4 years.

News release and webpage to be updated with new Trustee positioning.

SEAC Committee structure is being reviewed and the Board is to assign trustees to different committees. The trustees of the Board will have to select 3 committees after their December 18th, 2018 meeting and will know who will be serving on what committee at the January meeting.

Lisa Lamarche, Community Living Timmins: ABSENT Gary Dowe, Cochrane Timiskaming Resource Centre

Reported that CTRC has invested in case management services to support initiatives on the James Bay Coast. They have expanded operations which includes a permanent FTE in James Bay for case management.

Samantha Shortt, Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario Timmins

Reported that the LDAO will be having a carousel event at THVS on January 23rd, 2019 and Angie Dimarco will be doing a presentation on Disability Tax Credit and Mental Health.

Further details to be announced at the January 9th, 2019 SEAC meeting. Anne Commando, EPP – Wabun Tribal Council

Presented a brief description of her role.

Only started her current position this year but has a background in Educations Partnership Liaison, Indigenous Services Canada, 5 First Nations, and now newly elected Mayor of Matachewan.

Currently obtaining data for the current projects she is working on and parent involvement is important.

How can Wabun Tribal Council help support the educators to help support students and land based learning for Indigenous ways of learning and hands on.

Suggestion: Language camps for understanding and learning in a land based environment.

Values that we are all here and came to this land together whether locally, provincially, nationally or globally.

Very passionate about supporting Indigenous students.

Member Commando summarized that KLDCS has created a cultural connection and relationship with First Nations and the educators at KLDCS.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM UPDATES Superintendent Pladzyk presented Special Education Team Updates:

Innovation:

EA and online training for the Kurzweil Technology System with a lot of positive feedback.

More PD sessions are needed to expand this training. Culture:

Collaborating with Curriculum about self-regulation skills in early primary.

There continues to be several needs to address within DSBONE.

Student population may be decreasing but needs are increasing.

There were 561 referrals for mental health in the month of September 2018.

Doing the best we can to build programs that work for the population.

High support classrooms are being blended. Equity:

Hired 2 school Social Workers: North Region – Heather MacDonald and South Region – Matthew Schofield.

Special Education team visited Rainbow DSB to learn about their process to increase the level of inclusion within their Board.

Includes collapsed classrooms to have students blended into regular classrooms.

If a classroom is collapsed, funding is not reduced.

Member Dowe responded that previous support was up to age 6 and that has now lowered to school age children.

Chair Heavens questioned students working with new hires.

Mental Health Lead Plante-Dupuis and Superintendent Pladzyk reported that Stephan Beaulne provides support in schools for new hires.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:

January Pearl Fong-West to discuss business and finance

Annual report to SEAC



February Board Improvement Plan will be made available to SEAC

ADJOURNMENT:

Moved by Shawn Donovan that the meeting be adjourned at 1:15pm

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: January 9, 2019 – 12:00 noon, Schumacher Board Office



Ministry memo 2019:B03





Rainy River DSB



Documents

DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ONTARIO NORTH EAST · Regular Board Meeting – February 5, 2019 District School Board Ontario North East Board Package - Page 3 MINUTES of the Regular Meeting