The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
Director acknowledges library team’s provincial award
Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed the Board to the first meeting after the winter break.
Among the items in his report was congratulations to NNDSB Library Services, which won the Ontario School Library Professional of the Year Award. While this award is typically awarded to an individual, the president of the Ontario School Library Associations said she and other council members have been so impressed by the work done by NNDSB library services, that they wanted to make an exception and requested that the entire team be nominated for the award. The NNDSB team won unanimously, and will be presented with its award in Toronto on Jan. 30. The team will also be featured in the spring issue of the Teaching Librarian. Read more in this media release.
The Director acknowledged NNDSB Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu, who recently met with Education Minister Jill Dunlop and was leading the charge to advocate for Indigenous Student Trustees on all boards. Myles noted that NNDSB is proud of Sidhu’s representation for ensuring the voices of Indigenous students are heard.
Chippewa Secondary School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program was acknowledged in the Director’s report. The program has recently completed its five-year evaluation, reaffirming its commitment to providing IB education. Learn more in this media release.
The Indigenous Youth Circle, in partnership with the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre and the Anishinabek Police Service, held a Stuff the Cruiser fundraiser at the end of last year. For several months, students at six NNDSB secondary schools held fundraisers and collected toys to donate to the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre for its holiday gift-giving. Myles noted that the board is proud of Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau, the Indigenous Youth Circle and the NNDSB team for their work on this initiative.
Trustees seek investigation into board efficiencies
The Board unanimously passed a motion brought forward by Trustee Bill Steer requesting that NNDSB write a letter to the Ministry of Education, asking that the Ministry initiate, study and begin consultations regarding efficiencies within the four-board system model. Trustees also requested a letter be sent to the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association asking it to share the letter with its member boards.
In his notice of motion, Trustee Steer noted that school boards face reduced funding, the effects of which ripple through the education system. Lack of resources can hinder the ability to provide quality education, disproportionally affecting students in low-income areas where schools may be underfunded. In the long term, “reduced investment in education during economic hardships can widen achievement gaps and weaken community development.”
The motion understands the fundamental cultural, language and religious rights of all Ontarians (Canadians) and notes that consolidation can be seen as a means of increasing the access for all students to a quality education. Read more in this media release.
Trustees approve 2024-2025 capital projects list
The 2024-2025 capital projects list was presented to trustees, who approved 10 school condition improvement projects totalling $4,916,969 and 11 school renewal projects totalling $3,377,118. These are projected, not actual costs.
The list was submitted by Trustee Shane Hall, who chairs the finance committee. The capital branch of the Ministry of Education provides allocations on an annual basis for school condition improvement funding and school renewal funding. Unused allocations remain available for the board for future spending.
NNDSB’s school condition improvement funding is $3,984,203 and the school renewal projects funding is $2,705,243. The projected costs of these projects exceed the allocations, however, NNDSB has sufficient unspent capital funds available to cover the costs of the projects.
Indigenous Student Trustee’s report
Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau reported on the successful Stuff the Cruiser event, which was the Indigenous Youth Circle’s (IYC) fundraising initiative to collect holiday toys for the North Bay Indigenous Youth Circle.
She said during the second semester, IYC hopes to achieve some of the ideas coming out of individual schools. Northern hopes to find a way to put the school tipi up, and wants to do more art projects. At F.J. McElligott, students plan to create a community garden and want to have Indigenous food every week.
Teachings are happening within NNDSB schools. West Ferris has completed and is working towards medicine teachings, water teachings, powwow dance and culture teachings.
Each school has individual and personal goals and plans, which will be discussed at the next meeting. As a group, IYC will help each school move toward its goals.
IYC members are helping plan their school powwows. Parry Sound High School is holding its powwow on May 30.
IYC is also attending an event at West Ferris with Ted Nolan on May 6, and IYC is hoping to take a leadership role at this event.
Student Trustee’s report
Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu reported that January has been busy with students getting ready for exams and completing final projects before the semester wraps up.
From Feb. 13-16, the Ontario Student Trustees Association hosts its annual executive council conference, focusing on empowering student trustees “to harness their networks and collaborate effectively as leaders within their communities”.
The most recent Student Senate meeting included Laurentian Learning Centre (LLC) senators for the first time. Senators will meet on Jan. 17, and agenda items include recently created Senate materials and potential partnerships, planning the board-wide spirit event and making it an annual event and plans for the upcoming elections for Senate positions and the student trustee role, ensuring an easy transition process.
Revised budget estimates show operating deficit
Finance Chair Hall presented 2024-2025 revised estimates, which show that a 2.9 per cent decrease in enrolment, an increased cost to salaries and benefits, and an increase in transportation expenditures have altered the state of NNDSB’s budget.
In July, the Board approved a compliant draft surplus budget with an operating surplus of $61,324 and revenue and expenses of $188.8 million and $188.7 million. The revised estimates project an in-year deficit of $1,535,203. Trustees approved the revised estimates as presented, and the in-year deficit elimination plan as presented and recommended by the finance committee.
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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.
