GUELPH, Ontario – The December meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on December 15, 2020. The following provides highlights from the meeting.
Equity Plan Update
Staff gave a presentation on the board’s multi-year Equity Plan (2019-2022), including highlights of progress made and next steps. The Equity Plan consists of four main tenets, each with specific actions, strategies and progress reports. The tenets are:
Identify and name bias, oppression and racism through reflection, evidence, voice/feedback and data
Build collaborative relationships to foster community and align
Address and educate with accountable policies and practices
Eliminate bias, oppression and racism through disruption and action
Highlights of the progress made in various areas of focus include:
Collecting feedback about harmful resources and practices in order to shift resources and practices
The creation of staff affinity advisory groups comprised of staff from various roles focused on Black Brilliance and Disrupting Anti-Black Racism, Anti- Racism, 2SLGBTQI+, and Homelessness and Poverty
Centering student feedback and voice provided from Black Chapter/Black Student Unions and other student and staff affinity groups
System-wide mandatory ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression learning development and training
Hiring of two new staff: Workplace Diversity Manager and Assistant Workplace Equity and Diversity Program Coordinator
Period Equity Program
More Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy text resources
And much more
To view the updated Equity Plan, please visit here.
Ad Hoc Trustee Climate Change Committee
Trustees approved the Terms of References for the Trustee Climate Change Committee, which was established in November 2019. The committee will report to the Business Operations standing committee and will complete its work by December 2022. Part of this work may include developing a plan and recommendations that would identify how to raise individual Trustee awareness of climate change, identify ways for Trustees to reduce their carbon foot print, examine how climate impact should be included in the Trustee decision-making process, and more.
Public Appointment Policy
Trustees approved a motion that a Public Appointment Policy be developed by the Board’s Policy Management Committee. The intent is that the draft policy would be developed by PMC and would come back to the Board of Trustees for approval and would include public consultation.
Elementary Principal and Vice-Principal Transfers and Appointments
The following Elementary Principal and Vice-Principal transfers and appointments are effective January 1, 2021.
Principal Transfers:
Dianna Secord from Spencer Avenue ES to Credit Meadows ES
Kimberly Dempsey-Jones from Primrose ES to Spencer Avenue ES
Principal Appointment:
Marianne Millsap from VP at Centennial Hylands ES to Acting Principal at Primrose ES
Vice-Principal Appointment:
Jaime Wouters from EITC Tech Coach to temporary VP at Centennial Hylands ES
The next regular monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday Jan. 26, 2021. Meeting details will be posted online at here.
About the Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board serves more than 35,000 students through 65 elementary schools and 11 secondary schools in the City of Guelph, County of Wellington and County of Dufferin. The UGDSB covers the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territories. Student success is the goal of over 4,000 dedicated teaching and support staff who are aided by the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners.
Learn, Lead, Inspire…Together
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Media contact:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
Email Heather Loney
Megan Sicoli, Administrative Officer, Communications
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.764
Email Megan Sicoli