Parry Sound High School students return to class Monday

It was announced at last night’s (Sept. 9) meeting of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) that the Town of Parry Sound has granted occupancy of Parry Sound High School to NNDSB.

Since then, the administration has been working with its partners to implement a plan for getting staff and students into classrooms.

We are pleased to share that the school will be ready to welcome students back to in-person learning on Monday, Sept. 15.

The transportation consortium has up-to-date busing information for all PSHS students on their BusPlanner Web Parent Portal. Details on how to access the portal can be found here. Please note that limited student parking is available in the student lot on Joseph Street.

Thank you for your patience as we worked through a number of challenges to ensure students can return safely to school. The administration and staff are very excited to welcome everyone back to the PSHS building on Monday.

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Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025

NNDSB updates contingency plan, moves PSHS to remote learning

After thoughtful consideration, Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has decided to move Parry Sound High School (PSHS) to remote learning. Though the list of unresolved items at PSHS is small, administration made the decision in order to give staff, students and families time to prepare for a remote start to the school year.

This move to remote learning affects secondary students (Grades 9-12) at PSHS only. Students in Grades JK-6 will attend school at McDougall Public School, and students in Grades 7-8 who would have attended the new JK-12 school will attend school at Nobel Public School.

NNDSB will post an updated contingency plan and revise the JK-12 Parry Sound school page on Aug. 27 to reflect this information.

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Monday, Aug. 25, 2025        

Chair commits to strengthening governance practice

The Near North District School Board (NNDSB) Board of Trustees wishes to address recent events concerning the unfair treatment of NNDSB administration.

As trustees, our foremost responsibility is to serve students, families and our communities with integrity and respect. In this instance, our actions created uncertainty and concern among staff and the public. We recognize that the way in which this matter was handled did not reflect the standards of fairness, professionalism and collaboration that our communities expect of us.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we extend a sincere apology to our NNDSB administration, to all employees of NNDSB and to the public. We deeply regret the impact this has had on trust and confidence in the important work of our school system.

Moving forward, the Board is committed to strengthening our governance practices. Our collective focus remains on providing safe, supportive and high-quality learning environments for all students.

We thank our staff, students, families and communities for their continued dedication and support.

Ashley St. Pierre

Chair of NNDSB

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025       

NNDSB releases PS JK-12 school contingency plan

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has prepared and published a comprehensive contingency plan as it continues to respond to the delay in the completion of the JK-12 school in Parry Sound. The plan for parents, caregivers and students is now posted.

The board acknowledges that this delay and the resulting confusion have affected students and their families. The plan ensures student safety and well-being and the continuation of learning, which are of paramount importance.

Since the news of the delay was confirmed, NNDSB staff have been working diligently behind the scenes to create a contingency plan that meets the needs of not only its students and staff, but also the board’s partner organizations. A contingency plan of this magnitude involves a variety of the board’s departments, as well as outside organizations, which have many roles in ensuring safe learning environments for students and staff.

Because of its nature, the contingency plan is fluid, and at times, changes may need to be made. Changes may be communicated via the board, the school, and/or the webpage.

The plan and FAQs can be found on the board’s website, on this page.

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025

NNDSB will release Parry Sound JK-12 school contingency plan for students and families on Aug. 15

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has prepared and is implementing a comprehensive contingency plan as it continues to respond to the delays in the completion of the JK-12 school in Parry Sound. Staff are diligently working to prepare welcoming and appropriately resourced learning environments for students, and will be ready to welcome students to school Sept. 2, 2025.

The board acknowledges that these delays and resulting confusion have affected students, families and staff. The plan has been carefully designed to consider all aspects of student safety and well-being. It will be released on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.

The ongoing delays have resulted in a contingency plan that meets the needs of students, staff, families and board partner organizations. A contingency plan of this magnitude must consider all board departments and outside organizations which contribute to the success of NNDSB.

The contingency plan will remain fluid, and changes may be required at which time communication will be shared. Information will be included on the webpage, and we will endeavour to keep it updated.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025       

Storm forces cancellation of NNDSB summer school programming at Canadian Ecology Centre

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is sad to announce that the devastating storm that swept through the Mattawa area on Saturday evening has forced the cancellation of summer school programming offered by our long-standing partner, the Canadian Ecology Centre (CEC).

The Canadian Ecology Centre is a non-profit organization supporting outdoor and environmental education. Teachers and students from across the province register every year to take advantage of the unique learning opportunity at the CEC.

Thankfully, all who were at the CEC on Saturday evening are safe, but the centre and surrounding Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park took a direct hit from the severe storm. The storm caused significant and landscape-altering damage.

Both sessions of the summer credit courses have been cancelled.

Staff of CEC have reached out to registered students and staff, and the process of demitting and refunding students has begun. Phone lines are down, and people are asked to be patient as staff reach out over the coming days.

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NNDSB accepts the resignations of Trustees Fuscaldo and Phillips

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

At the regular meeting of Near North District School Board last night, Zone 3 Trustee Jeanie Fuscaldo announced her resignation, effective June 11.

At May’s meeting of the Board of Trustees, Zone 1 Trustee Chantal Phillips announced her resignation, effective at the end of June.

Chair St. Pierre thanked Trustees Fuscaldo and Phillips for their contributions to public education.

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Friday, May 16, 2025

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Resignation of Trustee Chantal Phillips announced

Board Chair Ashley St. Pierre announced the resignation of Zone 1 Trustee Chantal Phillip, effective June 30, 2025.

Trustee Phillips noted that she has appreciated the work, but is moving out of the region.

Trustees vote to divide funds among schools 

Trustees voted to support a notice of motion put forward by Trustee Jeanie Fuscaldo and Vice-Chair Howard Wesley to divide the funds in the Trustee Initiative Fund equally between all NNDSB schools.

Discussion took place about whether the funds would be divided on a per capita basis or by school. It was decided that since rural schools don’t have as large a student population, which affects funding, funds would be split equally between all schools.

Incoming Student Trustee introduced

In his written report to the Board, Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed incoming Student Trustee Dev Bassi, who attended the Board meeting. Dev will be sworn in at the September Board meeting. The report also noted that Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau is serving a two-year term, and the Director looks forward to her continued hard work, contributions and successes.

Other items in the Director’s report included an ALS-inspired ice bucket challenge at Chippewa Secondary School to raise awareness, break the stigma and support mental health education. The staff encouraged their colleagues at West Ferris to participate.

West Ferris Secondary School students in the personal life management program were recognized by The Gathering Place during Volunteer Appreciation Week. Every Tuesday, student volunteers assist with folding laundry, rolling cutlery and  packaging snacks.

Parry Sound High School students had great success at the Skills Ontario Competition 2025 in Toronto. Rachel Nobel placed second and Miya Rochon placed third in the restaurant service competition, and Makayla Strydom and Ashlyn Belanger finished first in TV and Film Production. They will be travelling to the Skills Canada National Competition in Regina on May 29-30.

The report also notes that school boards will receive funding to support students in summer 2025, to provide consistent and reliable mental health services. This will ensure continuity of services over the summer months.

Indigenous Student Trustee’s report

Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau reported that the Indigenous Youth Circle (IYC) has been busy with Red Dress Day, the Moose Hide Campaign and powwows. IYC has been raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) while fundraising to support the Ojibwe Women’s Lodge in Nipissing First Nation.

IYC members attended a visit by Ted Nolan, who spoke about being a member of the Garden River First Nation community and his journey into the National Hockey League as a player and coach.

Teachings and powwows have started at schools, including events at which feeder school students attend secondary school events as a transition activity. Indigenous perspectives are connected to classroom topics such as art, literacy, social studies and history. IYC is grateful for the Niigan Gdizhaami (NG) fund, which supports events in collaboration with Dokis First Nation.

Schools are preparing for their powwows, including the first teaching and learning powwow at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School.

Student Trustee’s report

Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu reported that student life across the district has been busy, with cultural celebrations, athletic excellence, artistic flair and community-minded service.

At Chippewa, students participated in the Special Olympics North Bay Fun Run, and delivered 150 pounds of non-perishable food to the North Bay Food Bank. A group of West Ferris Trojans completed the North Bay Fire and Emergency Services Firefighter-in-Training camp, gaining first-hand experience in emergency response teamwork.

At the Kiwanis Music Festival, Chippewa’s Grade 7/8 band earned silver, the secondary concert band earned silver and gold, the Jazz Ravens struck gold, and the guitar ensemble earned silver.

West Ferris hosted the regional DramaFest North, at which Almaguin’s Tartan Theatre advanced to the provincial showcase with Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison.

Jiya Savsani of West Ferris attended the Renfrew Regional Science Fair, winning gold in Engineering and Computer Science. She won the OACETT/OPG Award and the grand award, earning a spot at the Canada-wide Science Fair in Fredericton.

Newly elected Student Senators were provided with foundational information about meetings. The upcoming meeting will focus on strategic planning.

Later this month, Student Trustee Sidhu will represent NNDSB at the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association annual general meeting in Toronto. This will be his final conference as president.

Trustees seek meeting with Education Minister

Trustees voted to request a meeting with Education Minister Paul Calandra, at which they would like to discuss the new JK-12 Parry Sound school and the Board’s decision to keep McDougall Public School open for one more year.

There have been several letters written between Board Chair Ashley St. Pierre and the Minister of Education about the decision. The Board wants a meeting in which they wish to discuss past decisions, including minutes of past meetings.

The Board seeks a meeting with Minister Calandra, Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith, and delegates of NNDSB (including Chair St. Pierre, other trustees and board staff).

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Note: the full agenda package is posted on the website prior to meetings, and official minutes are posted after they are approved at the next Board meeting.