March 30, 2006 Public Board Minutes
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YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION MARCH 30, 2006 The Board Meeting - Public Session of the York Region District School Board was held in the Board Room of the Education Centre, Aurora at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2006 with Chair B. Crothers presiding and the following members present; Trustees M. Aldridge, L. Carruthers, A. DeBartolo, N. Elgie, D. Giangrande, J. Hertz, S. Korolnek, S. Plamondon, G. Unitas and M. Van Beek. Also in attendance: Student Trustees A. Lakha and H. Panju Regrets: Trustee T. Benn-Ireland WELCOME TO SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS The Board Chair welcomed school council members Saeed Zolfagari, Co-Chair, Bayview Secondary School, and school council members from H.G. Bernard Public School Rashni Barath, Co-Chair, Kelly Rutherford, Secretary, Rosmin Kassam, Executive Member and School Principal Zera Hameed and Vice-Principal Matthew Biemiller. He acknowledged the important role that school councils play in support of student learning. On behalf of the Board, the Chair thanked school councils for the outstanding work that they do in schools and for taking the time to join trustees at this evening’s meeting. MOMENT OF REFLECTION Trustee A. DeBartolo delivered the moment of reflection. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (*)1. Moved by J. Hertz, seconded by D. Giangrande: That the agenda be approved with the changes announced by the Board Chair. That recommendation #4 on page 66 of the March 7, 2006 Board Standing Committee minutes be amended to show MacLeod’s Landing Public School for the unnamed elementary school located on Silver Maple Road in Richmond Hill. That recommendation #11 on page 69 of the March 7, 2006 Board Standing Committee minutes regarding field permitting be removed from routine. - Carried - BOARD MEETING MINUTES – PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 2 MARCH 30, 2006 RISE AND REPORT – MARCH 30, 2006 BOARD MEETING – PRIVATE SESSION (*)2. Moved by S. Plamondon, seconded by A. DeBartolo: 1) That the Board approve the recommendations in the Employee Services staff reports regarding teacher resignations, resignations for retirement purposes and deferred salary leaves. 2) That the Board receive the Suspension Totals Report for February 1, 2006 to February 28, 2006. 3) That the Board receive the Expulsion Report for February 2006. - Carried - APPLAUSE! The Director of Education made the following comments. Work Experience Program Community Partners “Would Stewart Abram from Markham Total Auto Centre please come forward. The Board’s Work Experience Program is a training program that enables students with developmental disabilities to learn more about themselves and the world of work. It is designed to promote career awareness by providing an opportunity for students to practice work-related skills in the classroom and community, before making the transition from home and school to the world beyond education. This program fosters success and we have been very fortunate that many businesses realize this and have supported the program and valued our students. One business, in particular, that has been extremely supportive of this program is Markham Total Auto Centre. Markham Total Auto Centre, which has participated in the program for three years, has more than exceeded the expectations of the Work Experience Program staff. Owner Stewart Abram, and his workers, are extremely dedicated to this program and have spent many hours working one on one with the students. One particular student, who had struggled with his three previous placements, thrived once arriving at Markham Total Auto Centre. Under Stewart’s guidance, the student not only learned how to be a successful mechanic, but also how to be a successful employee and ultimately, a successful individual. The student is now able to perform oil changes and oil coolant flushes. He is in the process of learning how to do brakes. The most encouraging thing is that the student now demonstrates an enthusiasm towards learning. To see him work, one would never be aware of his past struggles. After his first year on the job, the student was offered a part-time job where he continues to work two years later. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 3 MARCH 30, 2006 The staff have also developed personal ties to the student. Stewart drives the student to and from work on weekends and in the summer. For the student’s birthday, all of the employees pitched in to purchase the student his own tool cart. Without the support and dedication from the staff, this student would not have experienced success in his work experience. We are thrilled with the contribution by Markham Total Auto Centre to the growth and development of Special Education students. On behalf of all of the students who participate in this program, thank you very much for your support. Unfortunately, representatives from Raywal Kitchens nor Canadian Tire – Newmarket could not be here tonight. We will have them back at a later date. Regional Course Directory Cover Design David Ballantyne, please step forward. October 2005 marked the kick-off of a Board contest for a new design of the Regional Course Directory cover for 2006-2007. Over 85 students from secondary schools across the Board submitted designs focusing on the contest theme - “Pathways.” David Ballantyne, a Grade 11 student at Sir William Mulock Secondary School is the winner of this contest. David developed his Pathways design as part of an assignment in his Communications Technology course. In David’s creation, he placed a student walking down a pathway. He merged a school- hall setting, with lockers, into an outdoor, natural scene. His design represents the fusion of school life with the outside world. This unique visual effect highlights the theme of students’ choices on their pathway through life. In December, David was presented with a gift certificate to honour his success. The cover design has been framed and we have a copy for David to take home with him tonight. This is a fantastic piece of work David. We wish you all the best in your future design endeavours. Young Adult Short Story Contest I would like to welcome the winners of the Richmond Hill Library’s short story contest to the front of the room. Seven of the 15 winners of the Richmond Hill Public Library’s Young Adult Short Story Contest are York Region District School Board students. The contest, which was open to young people who live, work or attend school in the town of Richmond Hill, were judged in three categories: Grades 7 & 8, Grades 9 & 10, and Grades 11+. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 4 MARCH 30, 2006 Our seven winners, and the titles of their compositions are as follows. In the Grades 7 & 8 category: “Searches” by Campbell Drohan, a Grade 7 student at Beverley Acres Public School; “Mr. Big Fish” by Gemma Regan, a Grade 7 student at Adrienne Clarkson Public School, who was not able to attend tonight; and “Faulty Material” by Martin Focseneanu, a Grade 8 student at Crosby Heights Public School. Grades 9 & 10 “Safe Haven” by Arielle Friedman, a Grade 10 student at Alexander Mackenzie High School, who also could not be here tonight; “The Beetles in the Bathroom” by Maysum Panju, in Grade 10 at Richmond Hill High School; and “Slither” by Rabiya Adhia, a Grade 10 student at Richmond Hill High School. In the Grade 11 and over category: “This Used to be My Playground” by Bianca Vong, a Grade 12 student at Richmond Hill High School. It was an extremely well-qualified judging panel who picked these stories as the winners. The panel consisted of the CEO of the Library and two authors, one of whom is a Governor General award recipient. Each winning submission, which was limited to 1,500 words, will be published in an anthology entitled “First Impressions” as well as on the Richmond Hill Library’s website. How exciting for our young writers to have their works published, not to mention to be recognized by this panel of judges. Congratulations to you all. Ontario Spirit Awards Would the staff and students from Willowbrook and Wismer Public Schools please come forward. On February 28, the Ontario government rewarded 24 recipients with an Ontario Spirit Award. This award recognized recipients for their “outstanding efforts in raising awareness and funds for victims of the December 2004 tsunami disaster.” Two of the award recipients were York Region District School Board schools – Willowbrook and Wismer Public Schools. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 5 MARCH 30, 2006 Willowbrook Public School added a special tsunami section to the school newsletter and made heartfelt presentations to students to solicit donations. The community response was overwhelming with almost $3,000 being raised in a very short amount of time. The school’s effort was led by a group of Grade eight and Grade four students. Attending on behalf of Willowbrook are: teacher Nyka Carter; students Lamia Aganagic; Pallavi Pati; and Sarah Nezon; Jesse Weiss and Jesse Silverman are now in high school and could not be here tonight. Excellent work team. Wismer Public School’s initiatives included the “Helping Hands” Campaign (which raised $4,000), and a food drive of non-perishable items that were donated to the Red Cross. Wismer students also initiated the C.A.R.E. Campaign (Children Are Responding with Empathy). One hundred and twenty-five C.A.R.E. boxes - filled with items such as band-aids, soap, combs, and bottled water - were assembled and sent to the affected areas. Wismer students included personalized letters and handwritten cards of hope and encouragement. Wismer Public School also marked the tsunami’s first anniversary on December 15th by inviting nine-year old Bilaal Rajan, UNICEF Youth Ambassador, to be present to speak about his firsthand experiences of the tsunami-affected areas.