Thursday, June 16, 2022
Measuring metrics substantiates board’s efforts to improve accountability, transparency
As it wraps up the first school year operating under its multi-year strategic plan (MYSP), Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is forging ahead with plans to make evidence-based decisions that contribute to student achievement and well-being.
NNDSB staff regularly gather evidence in a variety of initiatives to create a fulsome view of progress toward achieving excellence in the four priority areas. The board has chosen two key indicators upon which to provide regular reports for each of the four priority areas of the MYSP – Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Communication and Excellence in Relationships – and will be measuring to assess progress and alignment. The use of quantitative metrics contributes to NNDSB’s commitment to improved accountability and transparency.
Board Chair Jay Aspin says, “Our board is pleased with the implementation of these quantitative metrics for the purpose of assessing the board’s progress with its Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Coupled with the qualitative metrics we recently released, these metrics provide a full assessment of the progress of our plan. Our board has spent much time and effort developing and implementing an effective five-year plan which is regarded as our ‘road map for success’. It is commendable that we are among the top boards in the province that have actually extended the effort to develop these metrics to fully measure the progress of our strategic plan which speaks directly to accountability and performance.”
At the Board meeting Tuesday, June 14, MYSP Committee Chair Bill Steer spoke to a report that outlined the indicators that have been selected for each of the four priority areas.
“The MYSP is the key document that brings all educational matters and audiences of our Board together,” say Steer. “Now we can continue to share quantitative and qualitative measures that will make a difference and reflect upon the four pillars contained within the plan,” he says.
In the pillar of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, metrics that address supporting students’ success in literacy and numeracy were measured. In literacy, it was noted that 33 staff members have been trained to identify students at risk of reading outcomes without supports, and that 500 PowerUp literacy licenses were purchased to support the needs of students in Grades 7 and 8 who may benefit from targeted literacy learning opportunities. All math educators learned about the new de-streamed math curriculum, which includes coding and financial literacy.
The Excellence in Innovation pillar, the metrics being measured are the number of students participating in experiential learning opportunities (Special High Skills Majors and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship programs), as well as the use of a profession learning portal for staff.
New partnerships were measured in order to evaluate progress in the Excellence in Relationships pillar of the MYSP. In the 2021-2022 school year, six new partnerships were forged. Two of these resulted in the emergence of two significant programs – the personal support worker (PSW) program and the coop program with Northern Ontario Film Studios.
While looking at Excellence in Communications, the MYSP committee looked into engagement in website and social media platforms, and the number of positive news stories that were published by media outlets. Analytics shows that the number of visitors to the board’s website has increased more than 48 per cent since September with longer session durations during a visit. The board was featured in 91 positive news stories between September 2021 and May 2022, an average of 10 per month.
The setting of key indicators and measuring their affiliated metrics is further proof of NNDSB’s commitment to goal setting and achievement at school, department and board levels.
More information about quantitative data related to the MYSP can be found in the Board’s agenda package.
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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
