Friday, May 17, 2024 

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, May 14, 2024. 

Ashley St. Pierre elected Chair of Board

Indigenous Trustee Ashley St. Pierre was elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees at last night’s meeting. The position was left vacant after the resignation of Erika Lougheed in April. St. Pierre, who was elected as the Vice-Chair in the fall, has been serving as the Interim Chair since the resignation.

Zone 4 Trustee Howard Wesley was elected as the new Vice-Chair.

Chair St. Pierre commented that the election to the Chair’s position was meaningful. She said she is among the first Anishinaabe-kweg (Anishinaabe women) elected as the Chair of a Board of Education in Ontario, and may well be the first Anishinaabe-kwe Chair in the public system in the province.

Later in the meeting, during the Chair’s remarks, Chair St. Pierre shared that the Anishinaabe phrase mino-bimaadiziwin means living in a good way. She said that she would like to see the Board moving forward in a good way, and building trust with each other.

Trustee Caren Gagne sworn in

One of the first items of business at Tuesday’s Board meeting was the swearing in of Zone 2 Trustee Caren Gagne.

Trustee Gagne, who was the runner-up in the 2022 election to Erika Lougheed, agreed to step in after Lougheed’s resignation.

Trustee Gagne has as long history of community service, and has previously served as an NNDSB trustee.

Literacy team acknowledged at Board meeting

Members of NNDSB’s literacy team were acknowledged at Tuesday’s meeting, in recognition of being a recipient of the Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate exceptional dedication within school communities in supporting students with dyslexia. According to Dyslexia Canada’s website, the award recognizes the contributions of a variety of school staff who showcase, “remarkable commitment and innovation in ensuring equitable education for students with dyslexia.”

Among the initiatives of the literacy team to support their work is the creation and curation of an internal K-12 literacy site (which has been used by almost 600 different NNDSB educators), a literacy lending library to support educators, system professional development sessions, book clubs and engagement in literacy professional development to support work across the district.

Alicia Smith, executive director of Dyslexia Canada, attended the Board meeting to present the award in person. She also brought congratulatory letters from Dyslexia Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

Smith said there were 120 nominations for the excellence awards, and only three were entire school boards. She said NNDSB’s nomination stood out because the literacy team was so proactive; they had started their work before the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read inquiry report was released.

Trustee Initiative Funds to be shared among schools

Trustees approved a motion that will see the Trustee Initiative Funds shared equally among all schools.

The motion was brought to committee of the whole by Trustee Howard Wesley. His motion acknowledged the staff crisis being experienced by staff, the extra work staff tackle and the fundraising that takes place to support school supplies, events and activities. The motion called for the allocation of the Trustee Initiative Fund equally among all schools to provide financial assistance as deemed appropriate by the principals.

Director welcomes incoming student trustees

In his report to the Board, Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed the incoming student trustees, who attended as observers. The incoming student trustee is Nanak Sidhu of Chippewa Secondary School, and the incoming Indigenous student trustee is Riley Trudeau of Northern Secondary School.

Myles shared recognition of school and student achievement with trustees. Chippewa Secondary School has been recognized as one of the top secondary schools in the province for Terry Fox fundraising. West Ferris student and multi-sport competitor Riley Bell has been named the recipient of the Special Olympics Award of Excellence for 2023. Chippewa will be hosting the AA OFSAA boys’ soccer championship June 6-8, with games being held at Nipissing University, the Omischl Sports Complex and Cundari Field.

In promoting excellence in teaching and learning, Myles pointed out the virtual family math night sessions held for primary and junior students and their families, as well as the award presented to the board’s literacy team. More about this award can be found in this media release.

NNDSB staff, working with colleagues at two other boards and the North Bay Society of Architects, supported by Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program engaged in a month of planning to offer the second annual climate change challenge. The goal was for students to create and construct a model of a shelter using only a few provided materials.

Work of NNDSB acknowledged at OPSBA  

Trustee Bill Steer, who is the NNDSB delegate at the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), presented a report to trustees.

Highlights include that the Board’s letter (discussed at April’s meeting) was in the OPSBA agenda package, and was highlighted within the correspondence section. The proposed Living Consciously course (also discussed at the April meeting) was presented, with a resolution that the items be referred to the Education Program Work Group for discussion.

Student Trustee Chen’s report to the Board

Student Trustee Dora Chen’s report highlighted the opportunities available to students to equip them with life skills and insights into future opportunities. At Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, life skills workshops were held where students visited four employers, providing graduating seniors with valuable insights. F.J. McElligott also held a career day with 12 presenters.

Many sports are in full play, with soccer, tennis, baseball and track underway. Badminton teams participated at the NDA championship, which was held at Chippewa and West Ferris Secondary Schools.

Several arts activities are underway, including band performances with the 22 Wing Band, and local representation at drama fest. Chippewa placed first with its performance of Complaints Department and Lemonade.

Student Senate welcomed its new Student Senators at the April meeting, and Student Trustee Chen was able to provide guidance to incoming members on their future roles. Student Trustee Chen also gave a presentation on the expectations of the student trustee.

Within the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA), Student Trustee Chen participated and presented at the first ever virtual town hall meeting, with more than 40 student trustees from across Ontario. She presented on the mission statement and priorities of advocacy for Northern Ontario’s Student Trustees. She is excited to be attending the annual general meeting, which will conclude her work as a member of OSTA.

Indigenous Student Trustee Benson report to the Board

Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson’s report covered updates from the Indigenous Youth Circle. The primary focus at Parry Sound High School has been preparation for the community powwow in the summer. At West Ferris, an Instagram account has been created to post information about what is happening at the Indigenous Centre, and

students will be attending a staff meeting to talk about what it was like coming from their communities to WFSS. Students at Chippewa have drumming sessions for men and women, prepared a ceremony and acknowledgement of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and are preparing for the Moose Hide campaign. Members of OKIMAKAN are working on a presentation that explains different dances to support students’ understanding. Northern has finished presentations to students in Grades 7 and 8, and are also organizing something to honour MMIWG. Almaguin continues to plan for the celebration of National Indigenous People’s Day at the school, MMIWG and the Moose Hide campaign. At F.J. McElligott, the student success hub has been creating an Indigenous banner and preparing for National Indigenous People’s Day with four sessions of Indigenous arts and sports.

IYC is holding its end-of-year retreat at Nipissing University, and the four-board powwow (taking place May 30) was discussed.

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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.

Friday, May 3, 2024

Caren Gagne, Zone 2 trustee runner-up, appointed to Board

Caren Gagne, who was the runner-up in the 2022 election for Zone 2 trustee, will be appointed to the Near North District School Board pending the official swearing in May 14 Board meeting. She served a partial term as the Zone 2 trustee when she was appointed in September 2021 to replace a former trustee that moved out of area.

The decision to appoint the runner-up, Ms Gagne, was made by the Board at a special meeting held Monday, April 22, 2024.

At that meeting, Trustee Howard Wesley thanked Director of Education Craig Myles for the report, noting that “the province created (trustee) roles to be elected,” so Trustee Wesley was in support of the recommended option.

Trustee-elect Gagne, who has an extensive history of community service, says, “I am honoured to be back on the NNDSB. I have a readiness to work hard for good, solid, educational policies with a focus on collaboration and equity for the diverse needs and abilities of all our students.”

 

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Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has provided Near North District School Board with this letter and asked that it be sent to our school communities.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

 Monday, April 29, 2024 

Conference Promotes School Emergency Preparedness 

Principals representing the four local school boards – Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, and Near North District School Board – convened with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and North Bay Police Service (NBPS) for a Safe Schools Conference held on April 24 and 25 at the Best Western in North Bay. 

During the conference, the OPP and NBPS provided invaluable insights into board/police protocols, prioritizing emergency preparedness. Their contributions aimed at ensuring that school leaders are equipped with the most current information to effectively train staff in areas pertinent to emergency preparedness, including bomb threats and lockdown procedures. 

The Safe Schools Conference spanned two days and featured various sessions dedicated to student safety and well-being to over 125 participants. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from Constable Alison Haras, a member of the OPP’s Threat and Behaviour Analysis Team, and Constable Chris Fox from the Durham Regional Police, who shared insights on violence threat assessments. These assessments serve as crucial tools in bolstering violence prevention efforts both within our communities and educational institutions. Additionally, participants engaged in mental health training facilitated by School Mental Health Ontario resources. 

This initiative was spearheaded by Éric Foisy, Superintendent of Education at Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord. Foisy emphasized, “Ensuring safe schools isn’t merely a goal; it’s a fundamental promise to every student, parent, and educator. Our conference aimed to unite voices and strategies, establishing a comprehensive framework for fostering safe, inclusive, and empowering learning environments where every child can thrive.” 

All school boards express their gratitude to the OPP and NBPS for their invaluable support in disseminating this vital safety information to our local school leaders. 

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Wednesday, April 24, 2024

NNDSB’s literacy team receives national honour

Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) literacy team has been chosen as one of the recipients of the Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Awards by the Dyslexia Canada Board of Directors. The winners were officially announced on Tuesday.

The awards celebrate exceptional dedication within school communities in supporting students with dyslexia. According to Dyslexia Canada’s website, the award recognizes the contributions of a variety of school staff who showcase, “remarkable commitment and innovation in ensuring equitable education for students with dyslexia.”

The NNDSB literacy team – K-12 Student Achievement and Well-Being Principal, Stephen Krause, Lorianne Haslehurst, Amy Bartlett Gibson, Genive Di Bernardo, Lisa Rogers, Michael Watson and Rebekah Felsman – will be presented with a Literacy Leader Award at the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Ontario Literacy and Learning Conference in Toronto on Saturday.

In advance of the awards ceremony, K-12 Student Achievement and Well-Being Principal Stephen Krause said, “It is an honour to receive this acknowledgement from Dyslexia Canada, who continues to be at the forefront of supporting and leading literacy learning and work across the country. I am so very proud of the members of our literacy team and the collaboration they engage in alongside educators across our system every day. However, this award is also a recognition of our district and all who work in it, especially our K-12 educators as they dive deeper into their learning and work in school teams to make continual shifts in the literacy programming and delivery of instruction to meet the needs of all students most effectively.”

Award criteria includes commitment to dyslexia support, impact and results, collaborative approach and sustainability and scalability.

Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Melanie Gray said she was immensely proud of the work of the literacy team and was gratified to see them receive recognition by Dyslexia Canada.

“The work of this team is making news across the country, and I am happy to see them acknowledged for all the work they do to support their colleagues in furthering the board’s goal of student achievement and well-being,” said Gray.

Team member Genive Di Bernardo said, “The journey to literacy is not a solitary one and requires the collective, collaborative effort of educators, administrators, parents and communities … not to mention, students! We are grateful and proud to work in a district which continually challenges itself with this cause and champions this work. Personally, I’ve never before felt more empowered and prepared to teach children to read as I have through this work.”

Colleague Lorianne Haslehurst is grateful for the opportunity to do this work. “Being a part of the Near North literacy team has been the opportunity of a lifetime. As a literacy intervention teacher who taught during the days when we did not use evidence-based practices, my life was turned upside down (in the best way!) when I began to learn about how our brains learn to read and how to support students by learning how to explicitly teach foundational literacy skills.  Being able to work in a role where I can continue to deepen my knowledge of the science of reading be able to engage in this learning alongside educators is an incredibly rewarding experience.  There is a renewed energy in schools. As more teachers become immersed in this work, we see changes in our students’ confidence, attitudes towards reading and overall achievement. This is just the beginning. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a dedicated and impassioned team.

At this point in the school year, 94 per cent of schools have received direct support from literacy team members. The team has offered guidance and support for 8,977 Acadience reading screening assessments that have been administered by educators.

Among the initiatives of the literacy team to support their work is the creation and curation of an internal K-12 literacy site (which has been used by almost 600 different NNDSB educators), a literacy lending library to support educators, system professional development sessions, book clubs and engagement in literacy professional development to support the work across the district.

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Friday, April 12, 2024

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

International Baccalaureate program reviewed

Trustees received a report providing a five-year review of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered at Chippewa Secondary School.

NNDSB was authorized in 2014 to begin the IB program. The program started the next year, and in 2017 the first cohort of students graduated.

This is the second five-year review of the program. Of note is that 14 senior students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) were accommodated for exams. IB provides accommodations for students who have an IEP and related psychoeducational or medical documentation.

Languages spoken by students in the program include Afrikaans, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Urdu. Countries represented by attendance in the program include Brazil, China, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain and Ukraine.

As a result of destreaming, the pre-IB program at Chippewa is now open to any student who considers themselves a good fit with the mission and vision of the IB, which has included an equity and inclusion focus.

There are four students being bused out of zone to attend the IB program, and 41 students who have previously attended an out of board school before attending Chippewa. There is also significant uptake in the program from new families from out of the country. There are more than 20 students in the program who are new to Canada.

Among the initiatives undertaken by Chippewa’s IB students for their service projects are a necessities collection for Ukraine, talent show fundraisers, mental health initiatives, mentoring younger students academically and musically, creating and displaying equity and inclusion murals and a female hygiene product collection. 

Surplus properties sold to Canadore College

In June 2023 the Board of Trustees approved a motion declaring the former E.W. Norman Public School and E.T. Carmichael Public School as surplus and that the properties be sold.

On Feb. 13, 2024, the Board approved two motions accepting offers from Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology for the purchases of both properties. The sale was completed on March 28, 2024.

The E.W. Norman site was purchased for $825,000 plus HST, and the E.T. Carmichael site was purchased for $650,000 plus HST.

Director’s report shines a spotlight on well-being

Director of Education Craig Myles submitted a written report to the Board. Included in his report were a number of events that spotlight student well-being. He made note of the students of Chippewa and West Ferris and their feeder schools who attended the second annual Jack Lyons Memorial Exhibition in a day of hockey that supported One Kids Place summer autism camp. This was a great day of hockey, fundraising and exhibiting school spirit for incoming Grade 7 students.

The report also highlighted the staffing crisis facing education, which is also affecting NNDSB. Demands on staff include Ministry of Education objectives that NNDSB is mandated to fulfil, closing COVID-19 gaps in learning, regenerating engagement, promoting consistent attendance, managing newly manifested student behavioural difficulties, keeping schools safe and clean and managing countless student reports and attendance.

Student Trustee Chen reports to Board

Student Trustee Dora Chen told trustees about accomplishments and activities of students across the district in her report.

Soccer and track and field have begun, and the tennis teams are preparing for NDA competitions. Secondary schools’ music programs are participating in the Kiwanis Music Festival this month. Secondary schools also celebrated World Theatre Days to celebrate their theatre and drama programs.

The Student Senators from each secondary school have been elected, and will be meeting on April 15 with incoming, transitioning and outgoing Student Senators.

Student Senate is working with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit on the Icelandic Youth Model for Prevention of Drug Use and Violence, and is creating posters and recording videos at the April 15 meeting.

In her work on the public cabinet in the Ontario Student Trustees Association (OSTA),  Student Trustee Chen has been developing a new resource for the OSTA website called My Student Trustees for incoming student trustees. It will include templates for motions, advice and tips , presentation templates, senate constitution examples and more. The project’s goal is to ensure that student trustees feel well-prepared for their roles.

Indigenous Student Trustee Benson reports to Board

Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson submitted a report on the activities of the Indigenous Youth Circle to the Board.

At Chippewa, students are having bi-weekly moccasin making workshops, and welcomed Woodland Public School students to make drumsticks. Students are also planning powwow dancing workshops in advance of the May powwow. Students are also learning drumming.

At Northern Secondary School, students are holding drumming lessons, beading workshops, ribbon skirt/shirt making workshops and wampum bracelet making sessions. These students are also preparing for their upcoming powwow and round dance, received teachings about the four medicines, and are planning the setting up of their new tipi.

F.J. McElligott students are planning activities for National Indigenous People’s Day and have had teachers speak about appreciation versus appropriation to students. Students are also brainstorming ideas for the next necessities drive.

At Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, students are planning for National Indigenous People’s Day, and are preparing for the moosehide campaign and to go to a few museums.

West Ferris students were able to see the Witness Blanket, and spoke about including Grades 7 and 8 students in their weekly meetings to give them an idea of what IYC is. Students are also planning upcoming events like sweat lodge teachings, the end of the year collaboration with the Friendship Centre and the moosehide campaign.

All IYC members who are interested in the Indigenous Student Trustee position for 2024-2025 were to put their names forward in advance of the group’s April 15 meeting, when an election will be held.

Trustees will be addressing dire HR crisis

After heart-felt discussions with union leaders in the committee of the whole meeting, Trustees approved a motion to send a letter to the Minister of Education and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) to support staff and advocate for relief measures to alleviate critical staffing shortages.

In the absence of the Director of Education, Superintendent Gay Smylie read Myles’ comments on the issue, which is affecting school boards across the province. In the report, Myles noted, “Across the province, staffing shortages are occurring all employee groups of the education sector including but not limited to, bus drivers, office and operational staff, custodial staff, educational assistants, early childhood educators, and educational assistants, teachers, administrators, varied support staff, mental health and special education experts. This issue impacts student safety, day-to-day operations, quality of education, access to education, implementation of ministry initiatives and overall well-being of students, parents, families, and staff across the system. The burden has far-reaching implications as all staff attempt to mitigate circumstances amongst increased public scrutiny and demands for data from a growing variety of sources.”

The report also noted staff are making heroic efforts to ensure the quality of care and engagement in learning that students deserve, despite situations that threaten burnout and an increase in emerging student behaviours. They support their peers and students with “grit and grace”.

In response to a question, Smylie told the Board that support must come from the Ministry of Education, and that as occasional teachers run out of the number of days they are allowed to work, the situation will become critical.

Addressing the issue on behalf of staff were union presidents Rob Hammond,

Parker Robinson, Troy Simkins and Margaret Soroye, and Chair of NNDSB’s Principals’ Council Sean Ruddy.

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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.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

NNDSB Board Chair Erika Lougheed resigns as trustee

The resignation of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) Chair and Zone 2 Trustee Erika Lougheed was announced at last night’s Board meeting. Vice-Chair, Indigenous Trustee Ashley St. Pierre, who chaired last night’s meeting, is now the Board’s Interim Chair.

Interim Chair St. Pierre made the announcement during open session of the Board meeting.

“I would like to take this time to thank Erika for her dedicated service and commitment to us. She has made invaluable contributions to our board and will be missed,” said Acting Chair St. Pierre.

NNDSB is fortunate to have the experience of Interim Chair St. Pierre, who is the Education Director at Moose Deer Point First Nation.

“To ensure a seamless transition and adherence to the Education Act I have requested Director Myles to provide us with a written report outlining the steps in this process,” said Interim Chair St. Pierre. “He will be submitting that shortly. I will be requesting a Special Board meeting to review that report for decision and also where we can appoint an interim vice-chair.”

In the absence of a trustee, residents of Zone 2 should contact the board office at 705-472-8170 and speak with the receptionist as needed until a new trustee is in place.

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Wednesday, April 10, 2024

NNDSB and OSSTF education workers ratify new collective agreement

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) District 4 Educational Student Support Professional (ESSP) Unit representing education assistants, designated early childhood educators and professional student services personnel members, have ratified a four-year local collective agreement covering the period from Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2026.

“OSSTF District 4 ESSP BU is pleased to announce that both OSSTF and NNDSB ratified a new four-year collective agreement, allowing OSSTF ESSP members to continue supporting students, while addressing the working conditions of our members,” said Troy Simkins, president of OSSTF District 4 ESSP BU. Simkins went on to say, “A big thank you goes out to our local negotiating team for the hard work they put in on behalf of our membership.”

Previously at the provincial table, a voluntary binding interest arbitration agreement was ratified between OSSTF, the Council of Trustees’ Association and Ontario Public School Boards Association.

“The Board is grateful that the negotiation teams have been able to achieve this collective agreement,” said NNDSB Interim Chair Ashley St. Pierre. “The work these staff members do every day is vital to creating safe, caring and supportive educational environments for our students.”

Director of Education Craig Myles said the ratification of the four-year collective agreement means that “the valuable work of education workers and their contribution to supporting the pillars of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) will continue. NNDSB is appreciative of the efforts to achieve this agreement.”

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