Friday, Feb. 17, 2023

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

Literacy supports outlined for trustees

Trustees were presented with a report that outlined NNDSB’s response to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) Right to Read Report. Every month at the Board meeting, progress within an area of the multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) is highlighted; last night Excellence in Teaching and Learning was highlighted, with an emphasis on literacy.

Trustees heard that before the OHRC’s report release, a central team of program and special education staff worked to identify key priorities, actions and performance measures that have informed the plan to support improved literacy outcomes for all students. Key objectives include engaging staff in professional learning, initiating strategic investments in literacy resources, providing evidence-based assessment tools and implementing timely and effective literacy intervention programs.

Read more in this media release.

Director’s report highlights program successes

Director of Education Craig Myles’ report highlighted key pathway initiatives being implemented at the Laurentian Learning Centre. The personal support worker (PSW) program is now in its second session, with 34 graduates expected from the Parry Sound, North Bay and Mattawa classes. There will be a third session in Parry Sound. To date, 100 per cent of grads have been offered employment.

Information sessions are now being held for the new custodial services training program, scheduled to begin in March. This program, like the PSW program, aims to fill community needs for trained custodial workers. The program is for adults 18 years or older, who either have or are working toward their secondary school diploma.

These programs illustrate NNDSB’s commitment to Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Excellence in Innovation by helping people gain skills and knowledge that will also fill labour gaps in our communities.

TOROS administrative guideline received

After months of work from the ad-hoc Theatre Outreach on Stage (TOROS) committee, trustees received a report that included the administrative guideline for the program.

TOROS was on hold for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic and is being restarted this spring and summer.

The report outlines that the guideline may require updating once the program is started.

Administrative guidelines can be found on the board’s website.

Gender identity, expression admin guideline received

Trustees received the board’s gender identity and gender expression administrative guideline at its meeting. The document will help ensure that all members of the educational community are provided with a safe and respectful place at school.

The guideline recognizes there are gender-diverse people who may request accommodation on the part of a school and/or board, including how students are addressed in records, washroom access, dress code, sports and extracurricular activities, change rooms and student support and advocacy.

The Ontario Human Rights Code outlines equal rights and opportunities and freedom from discrimination for all persons in the delivery of educational services. The administrative guideline will help NNDSB staff implement appropriate accommodation solutions.

Trustees approve 2023-2024 school year calendar

Trustees approved the 2023-2024 school year calendar following public consultation about the date of a board holiday. The public was able to provide feedback on whether a board holiday took place on the Friday before the start of March Break, or at the end of the school year.

More families indicated they wanted the day to take place on Friday, March 8.

The 2023-2024 school year calendar was planned in collaboration among the district’s four co-terminus school boards.

Although the Board has approved the calendar, it still needs to be approved by the Ministry of Education. Once it is approved, it will be posted on the NNDSB website.

Festival of the Sound to receive Trustee Initiative funds

Festival of the Sound successfully applied for $20,000 from the NNDSB Trustee Initiative Fund, which supports organizations and projects that include students from across the board.

Festival of the Sound is a world-renowned chamber and classical music festival in Parry Sound. It takes place over three weeks with dozens of concerts. Last fall, elementary students in Parry Sound collaborated with artists in an experience that inspired creativity through music. This year, the Festival of the Sound would like to grow its partnership with the board by offering performances of Sounding Thunder: The Song of Francis Pegahmagabow to intermediate and senior division students in all regions of NNDSB.

The funding application notes that more than 1,000 students from across the district will be attending the production, which enriches students’ understanding of Indigenous history, culture, perspectives and worldviews.

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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.

The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 28, 2023.

For more information, please contact:
Deb Bartlett (she/her)
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170 ext. 5010
Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023

Police resolve possible threat to Chippewa Secondary School overnight

The safety and well-being of Near North District Board (NNDSB) staff and students is our top priority. Overnight, North Bay Police Services investigated a possible threat to Chippewa Secondary School and were able to quickly determine that there was no threat to staff or students.

The NNDSB would like to thank those who brought this to the attention of the police and administration, allowing for a quick resolution and confirming the safety of staff and students to attend the school. We appreciate the actions and communication of the North Bay Police Services throughout the investigation.

Chippewa Secondary School will be open as usual on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023

Staff outline proactive plans that support student literacy

Trustees received a report at last night’s Board meeting that outlined Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) response to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) Right to Read Report.

Every month at the Board meeting, achievement in an area of the multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) is highlighted; last night Excellence in Teaching and Learning was highlighted, with an emphasis on literacy.

Trustees heard that prior to the OHRC’s report release, a central team of NNDSB program and special education staff worked to identify key priorities, actions and performance measures that have informed the plan to support improved literacy outcomes for all students. Key objectives include engaging staff in professional learning, initiating strategic investments in literacy resources, providing evidence-based assessment tools and implementing timely and effective literacy intervention programs.

Board Chair Erika Lougheed was excited to hear about all the initiatives that are benefitting NNDSB students. “It’s reassuring to know that staff are proactively seeking out resources designed to help educators help students,” she said. “The fact that staff are working ahead of Ministry of Education deadlines shows the commitment of this team to student achievement.”

Professional learning activities focus on instruction in five key components of reading instruction including phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. NNDSB educators attended webinars that have since been viewed more than 1,500 times. NNDSB also hosted a two-day summer learning literacy institute before the start of the current school year. Four full-time school-based literacy facilitators have been hired to facilitate professional learning related to evidence-based literacy instruction and intervention.

NNDSB has invested in pilot projects to explore and evaluate reading assessments. As a result, Acadience K-6 Reading was purchased to support evidence-based assessments in all schools and classrooms. During the fall of the 2022-2023 school year, 2,364 assessments were administered; this is in preparation for the Ministry of Education’s expectation that all students in year 2 of Kindergarten through Grade 2 will be screened for reading twice a year, beginning in 2023-2024.

The board has also made significant investments in instructional tools and resources that align with Ministry of Education priorities and OHRC recommendations. Among the resources purchased was the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum for each classroom in K-2. The resource focuses on eight phonemic awareness skills and additional activities to develop letter and sound recognition and language awareness. Primary classrooms have access to Flyleaf Publishing resources, including research-based instructional materials and books for beginning and struggling readers. There is also a phonics program available in all schools to be used for core instruction in the primary grades or for intervention with struggling students in any grade.

Research suggests that children who may be at risk for reading failure can learn to read if identified early and provided with systematic, explicit, and intensive instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension strategies. In addition to the resources mentioned, NNDSB has purchased technology-enabled literacy tools to support students in Grades 6-12.

Emerging readers in Grades 9 and 10 have been provided virtual tutoring support through one-on-one sessions with reading intervention coaches, and 63 teacher tutors have been hired to support before and after-school literacy and math programs. During Term 1 of this school year, more than 1,000 literacy-focused sessions were delivered to students across the board.

Board Vice-Chair Howard Wesley was complimentary of the program and special education teams’ efforts to equip staff with evidence-based tools that support the Ministry’s Plan to Catch Up. “I’m grateful to the team for its forward-thinking approaches that identify and support students who might need a little more help in the area of literacy. This report outlines to our families the work that goes on in classrooms every day to support our students,” said Vice-Chair Wesley.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023

Board invites community to help name newest North Bay elementary school

A school naming committee has been formed by Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Board of Trustees to support a process that invites suggested names for the new elementary school in North Bay. The committee is seeking input from members of the Near North community, including students, school councils, staff, community partners and local organizations.

Slated to open in September 2023, the new elementary school will be located at 790 Norman Ave. in North Bay and will accommodate Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 students. It will be home to the Grade 5/6 Extended French Program. As a result of the consolidation of three schools, students from E.W. Norman and E.T. Carmichael will attend the new build at the former W.J. Fricker school site.

Based on feedback received from all stakeholders, the committee will bring a recommendation of up to three names forward to the Board for consideration. NNDSB trustees, as elected representatives of their communities, shall approve the official name of the new school.

This is the first step in the process to engage the Near North community. Once submissions have been received by the deadline of Feb. 27, the committee will reconvene to shortlist the submissions using predetermined criteria as outlined in the administrative guideline School Openings, Closures & Consolidations. Further community consultation will follow.

Individuals or groups are invited to help name the new school in accordance with the following guidelines:

• the street on which the facility is located;
• the area which the facility serves;
• a geographical feature specific to Near North District School Board;
• wording that is supportive of the Board’s mission, vision and Multi-Year Strategic Plan, meets the best interests of the school’s students and is culturally responsive to the community.

Submissions should include reasoning for the name, background or history of the suggested name, and the submitter’s name, address, and email address. Please use this link to enter your submission. Submissions can also be dropped off in writing by 4 p.m. Feb. 27, 2023 to the attention of The New North Bay Public School Naming Committee, Near North District School Board Office, 963 Airport Rd., North Bay, ON.

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For more information contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

 

Monday, Feb. 6, 2023

Committee outlines details about new Parry Sound school

Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Parry Sound Build Committee outlined details of the new school being built in Parry Sound. At its meeting this afternoon, the board’s capital projects manager, Marianne Speirs, provided details of the JK-12 school

Committee members approved an update to the community feedback report and that the site and floor plans of the new build are posted on the board’s website. Once prepared, these items will be found on the Parry Sound build page of the board’s website.

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For more information, please contact: 

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023

NNDSB launches custodial training certificate program

Once again, Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is leading the way in meeting community needs and addressing the multi-year strategic plan priorities of excellence in relationships and excellence in innovation.

NNDSB is pleased to announce the creation of a custodial training services certificate program. Virtual information sessions are taking place Feb. 7 and 9, with an in-person session scheduled Feb. 15. The program is expected to begin in March. It is being offered as part of the board’s continuing adult education program and is open to adults aged 18 and older who either have or are working towards a secondary school diploma (OSSD).

The course is split into two nine-week sessions. There will be nine weeks of in-class theory instruction combined with hands-on learning (8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and nine weeks of coop placement. Upon successful completion of the course, students can earn up to five secondary school credits towards their diploma.

Students will receive work-related certifications like first aid/CPR, fall arrest, power hand tool safety, worker safety awareness, infection prevention and control, workplace violence and harassment prevention, and clean sweep. Upon successful completion, students will receive an OSSD and custodial training services certificate.

In addition to graduating as a trained custodial worker, each graduate will be interviewed for a custodial position with NNDSB.

For details about the virtual and in-person sessions, see this program poster.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett

Communications Officer

Near North District School Board

1. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
2. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Friday, Jan. 13, 2023

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.

Trustees provided with on-going PD opportunities

The elected and student trustees are regularly offered on-going professional development (PD) to help them understand their roles. PD is a standing item on the Board agenda.

This month, several opportunities were presented to trustees, including the annual Public Education Symposium (PES) presented by Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA). Read more about trustee professional development in this media release.

Director’s Annual Report

As required by the Education Act, the Director of Education must report annually on the activities within the system. The 2021-2022 report was provided to trustees in November (the inaugural meeting) and was submitted to the ministry in December. It is now available online.

Capital projects approved

Trustees approved 2022-2023 capital projects estimated at approximately $9,210,442.

Several of the projects are for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades that have been funded through COVID-19 resilience infrastructure stream (CVRIS) initiatives, but that require additional capital funding.

Other capital projects include bus loops, security camera upgrades, architectural studies and accessible washrooms.

MYSP Committee presents semi-annual report

The Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) Committee meets four times a year and provides reports to the Board and stakeholders in January and June.

The report notes that it will take time for the MYSP to be embedded into the board’s culture and that 2022-2023 will be critical for implementing changes that align board actions toward meeting priorities of the plan.

This school year will focus on re-engagement, learning recovery and improving student outcomes, as guided by the Ministry of Education’s Learning Recovery Action Plan.

Committee Chair Bill Steer said across the system, staff are working together to achieve the goals set for board, school and student achievement. “The six-week cycles of plan, act, observe and reflect are helping staff monitor school effectiveness, which supports student achievement, equity and well-being for all students,” he said.

The MYSP report can be found here.

Student trustees report on

Both student trustees provided reports the Board, outlining events and activities at schools across the district.

Indigenous Student Trustee Allen Lewis Trodd reported that the Indigenous Youth Circle had met earlier that day to share ideas and talk about the concerns of Indigenous students. He also reported that a group called Oshkishkode was organized at Parry Sound High School. The group meets to share drumming and will be organizing the powwow at the school. Indigenous Student Trustee Trodd explained that the group name meant new fire, and represents the spark of the youth at the school.

Student Trustee Cecilia Darling reported that activities have resumed at the district’s secondary schools since the winter break. She reported on the social, athletic and other activities that are running at the schools, and noted that students are preparing for exams which will mark the end of semester one.

Committee membership completed

Trustees were appointed to committees at the inaugural Board meeting in November 2022, although there were a few committees that still required trustee appointments.

At Tuesday’s Board meeting, Trustees Shane Hall (primary east-west), Jeanie Fuscaldo (secondary east-west) and Julie Bertram (north) were appointed to the Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) Committee, a legislated committee. In the past, regional trustees were involved on an as-needed basis. NNDSB believes that consistent membership will be more beneficial for training and consistency.

The ad hoc committees to rename Chippewa and the new build on the Fricker site each require two trustees. Trustees Julie Bertram and Louise Sargent were appointed to the Chippewa Renaming Committee, and Trustees Shane Hall and Bill Steer were appointed to the W.J. Fricker Renaming Committee, with Louise Sargent as an alternate.

Board alters meeting schedule

Trustee Louise Sargent brought forward a motion to the Committee of the Whole meeting regarding the scheduling of Board and Committee of the Whole meetings.

Trustee Sargent’s notice of motion wanted Committee of the Whole meetings to be held on the second Tuesday of the month and Board meetings to be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Trustee Sargent felt that by having two weeks between meetings, trustees would have time for fruitful discussion and to hear public input about issues in order to make informed decisions at Board meetings.

The change will be effective for the February 2023 meetings. Watch the website for meeting dates and agendas.

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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.

For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett (she/her)
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170 ext. 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023

Board encourages professional development for trustees

Trustees and student trustees of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) are provided with several professional development (PD) opportunities throughout the year, in alignment with the board’s goal of ensuring trustees are supported as part of the strategic commitment to Excellence in Teaching and Learning. At the Jan. 10 Board meeting, several opportunities were brought forward for consideration.

The two student trustees, Allen Lewis Trodd and Cecilia Darling, were approved to attend the 2023 Ontario Student Trustee Association Board Council Conference taking place in Ottawa. This conference is held annually in February and includes sessions to help student trustees better understand their role. The breakout sessions allow student trustees to work with their designated board councils.

Trustee representation at the 2023 Public Education Symposium (PES), presented by Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) was discussed. NNDSB is limited in the number of trustees able to attend due to registration availability and cost. This is the first time the event’s been held in person since 2020.

The Board determined NNDSB would be represented by Erika Lougheed and Howard Wesley as the Chair and Vice-Chair. The PES takes place Jan. 26-28 in Toronto and is the premier professional development event for trustees. Other NNDSB trustees who want to attend are being waitlisted.

PES keynote speakers include Roda Muse, secretary general of the Canadian Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Chief Cadmus Delorme of Cowessess First Nation, and Nicholas A. Christakis of Yale University. Among the workshops trustees may select are rules of order and parliamentary procedure, resetting the curriculum through the prism of the Right to Read report, teachings from the land, online verification skills, equity, diversity and inclusion and solutions to address recruitment and retention of French teachers. There are also sessions about school board governance, a communications workshop for trustees and the role of OPSBA.

At the Board meeting, Chair Lougheed shared that trustees can look forward to a session being developed by the board’s Indigenous Education team. “It’s important that trustees understand the breadth and scope of Indigenous Education at NNDSB,” said Chair Lougheed. “The session will demonstrate how it connects with departments and the Board’s role in supporting Indigenous Education.”

As part of the on-boarding process for NNDSB trustees following the municipal election, Rusty Hick, the former executive director of OPSBA, provided trustees with effective school board governance training. He led the new Board through a session outlining the roles and responsibilities of trustees of Boards of Education and Directors of Education. Hick also covered the powers and duties found in the Education Act, including that Boards are explicitly required to promote student achievement, ensure effective stewardship of resources, and develop and maintain and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of policies and structures.

Following the October election, trustees were also provided with an orientation binder that provided additional resources to deepen their understanding of NNDSB including documents such as the 2021-2026 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, NNDSB Governance Manual, trustee committee information and the Director’s Annual Report.

At the monthly Board meetings, professional development is a standing agenda item, indicating the importance the board puts on trustees’ on-going learning.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca