YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION May 31, 2007 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, May 31, 2007 with Chair B. Crothers presiding and the following members present; Trustees A. DeBartolo, N. Elgie, S. Geller, D. Giangrande, J. Hertz, G. Kerr, N. Shan and M. Van Beek. Regrets: Trustees L. Carruthers, E. Richardson, C. Sheppard and Student Trustees K. Hart and J. Ferguson. WELCOME TO SCHOOL COUNCIL MEMBERS The Board Chair welcomed School Council Co-Chairs G. Beros and F. Prater, Chair of the Communication Committee C. Fraser and B. Trivedi, Member from the Oak Ridges School Council. T. Copin, Chair and Rajinder Bains, Community Representative for Markham Gateway School Council were also introduced. N. Stratton and G. Asante, School Council Members from Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School, were unable to the meeting. MOMENT OF REFLECTION Trustee J. Hertz delivered the moment of reflection. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (*)1. Moved by J. Hertz, seconded by G. Kerr; That the agenda be approved with the addition announced by the Chair. - Carried - RISE AND REPORT – MAY 31, 2007 BOARD MEETING – PRIVATE SESSION (*)2. Moved by D. Giangrande, seconded by N. Elgie: 1) That the Board approve the recommendations in the Employee Services staff reports regarding teacher resignations and resignations for retirement purposes. 2) That the Board receive the Suspension Totals Reports for April 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007. 3) That the Board receive the Student Discipline Report for April 2007. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 2 MAY 31, 2007 4) That the York Region District School Board approve the adjustments to the Director’s salary as outlined. 5) That the York Region District School Board approve the School Administrator Appointment and Transfers as outlined in the staff report. - Carried - LITERACY VIGNETTE At this time, Coordinating Superintendent of Education K. Thurston introduced the eighth of 12 literacy vignettes entitled “In-school Grade Team Meetings”. He outlined that reference is being made to ‘grade, subject and program’ because in secondary schools this approach is used effectively among members of the same department or within a program area. The video outlines a team of two grade five teachers at Jersey Public School who are meeting with their principal and special education resource teacher to discuss individual student achievement results. Teachers and administrators consider student data generated from common assessment tools and exemplars used in the school. The dialogue promotes a common understanding of the expected standards of the grade or course as well as providing a basis for planning next steps in instructional interventions and programming. Trustees and audience members viewed the eighth video clip in the literacy series entitled “In-school Grade Team Meetings”. Every effort is made to provide opportunities for teachers to meet in such team settings and to guide them in the most effective use of this common time. Among the strategies used by principals and staff to coordinate such opportunities are release time generated through C1 days, scheduled preparation times and time generated through special assemblies and events. Effective dialogue during such sessions is structured, student focused and intended to inform subsequent instructional interventions and supports for the students. While the focus is on individual student data, patterns of achievement are noted and planned for. This school’s focus is on writing as part of its literacy initiative. They have developed a consistent and deep understanding of the expectations and the relevant Ministry exemplars. As patterns of student achievement emerge, this in turn affects school planning for subsequent years. In summary, classroom teachers supported by principals and special education resource teachers collaborate, share perspectives and expertise and develop consistent understanding. Two, three or four great minds are inevitably better than one person going it alone. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 3 MAY 31, 2007 Board Chair B. Crothers thanked Coordinating Superintendent Thurston for the informative presentation. APPLAUSE! The Director of Education made the following comments. “Courageous Caretaker Would Stephen Ayres please come forward, as well as Trustee Nancy Elgie. Mr. Chair, we talk a lot about character in the Board. We try to nurture it in our students as much as possible. Stephen has shown a degree of character that goes well above and beyond the call of duty. On April 3, while Stephen was working in front of Fairwood Public School, a toddler was struck by a car. Stephen, not thinking twice, took immediate action to prevent a tragedy from unfolding. Stephen rushed to the assistance of the child without any concern for his own personal safety. Finding the toddler pinned beneath the car, Stephen attempted to lift the car off of the child. In his effort to free the child, Stephen injured his own back and required medical treatment. He was transported to hospital in an ambulance. However, due to Stephen’s prompt and courageous actions, the child escaped with only minor injuries. Stephen, you are a true hero. Principal Brian Donnelly and Vice-Principal Brenda Manning are also here this evening. Leonardo Da Vinci Awards Would the staff and students from Baythorn Public School please come to the front of the room with Trustee Susan Geller. Baythorn Public School is the winner of a Leonardo da Vinci Award. The Leonardo da Vinci Awards recognize and celebrate new, useful and positive inventions, or improvements in several different fields, including education. The mandate of the Leonardo da Vinci Awards is to raise awareness that creativity, applied imagination and creative problem solving skills are important for the health and vibrancy of our economy and our people. Leonardo Da Vinci was the inspiration for Baythorn Public School’s Journey Beyond da Frame, a school play devoted to the seven da Vincian Principles for creative thinking. While the play itself was a success, it was Arts@Baythorn’s emphasis on the BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 4 MAY 31, 2007 importance of creativity in mastering academic subjects, and the performers themselves, that made this initiative a finalist. Teachers, parents and students created a climate for learning that encouraged all students to conceive, write, design, choreograph and produce a piece of living art. As the 185 Grade 6, 7 and 8 students engaged the sold-out crowd in the principles of creative thinking, the audience witnessed the development of future leaders; leaders ready to create positive change and possibilities in the world. Bravo to Baythorn! Representing the school tonight, we have: • Students Michelle Bali, and; • Garrick Zaterman; and • Brian Stone, Principal of Baythorn Public School. Prince Charles Kitchen Would the group from Prince Charles Public School please come forward with Trustee Martin Van Beek. Principal Steve Baber, teacher Janice Sadler and community coordinators Joy Dow and Myssie Nunn were instrumental in coordinating the addition of a new kitchen to Prince Charles Public School. The project began as a wish from the community coordinators. They wanted to have a place where they could offer a breakfast program for students. Janice mentioned the breakfast program idea to a community member, who generously offered to cover the cost of the renovation through a charitable foundation. There was one stipulation, the donor insisted on remaining anonymous. With that, the project began to move forward. A number of departments, including Plant, Finance, and Purchasing, worked with Community Education Centre North to develop the plans and cost estimates. In the fall of 2006, the first installment of funds arrived from the donor. While Steve and Janice consulted with Plant Services staff and the architect, Myssie and Joy helped coordinate the ordering of appliances and kitchen equipment through the Purchasing department. A “Name the Kitchen Contest” led to the new kitchen being named “The Panther Pantry.” In March 2007, the “Panther Pantry” began serving breakfast. The official opening involved media coverage and a renewed sense of school community spirit. BOARD MEETING MINUTES - PUBLIC SESSION PAGE 5 MAY 31, 2007 Needless to say, the Prince Charles school community has been overwhelmed by the generous donation to fund this project. This is the first time that a project of this type has been funded by an anonymous donor. May North Star Would Jennifer Nutting please come forward. Jennifer teaches at Mackenzie Glen Public School and she is this month’s North Star. She was nominated by Janice Miles. Janice’s nomination was supported by 29 staff members. Here is what Janice told us about Jennifer: “Jennifer is all about helping colleagues do their job well, and helping them know they are supported. When long-term occasionals or teacher candidates come into the school, she introduces them to staff with suggestions of what posters or books we might be able to share. As Literacy Lead, Ms. Nutting gives her fellow teachers professional development in fun ways, never afraid to let us laugh but always creating new learning opportunities for us. She directs us to and encourages us to take courses she’s heard about, shares what she learns at events she attends, and makes us laugh, thereby embedding information. Jennifer helps us continue to put one foot in front of the other and see the joy of sharing in others’ lives. She is like the Canada goose who both leads and supports.” Congratulations Jennifer! Mackenzie Glen interim Vice-Principal Tania Sterling, is also here this evening. Principal Peter Sovran could not be here this evening, but this is what he told me about Jennifer in an email: “I am just thrilled that our Literacy Lead Teacher, Jennifer Nutting, is the recipient of a North Star Award.