GUELPH, Ontario – The August meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on August 30, 2022. The following provides highlights from the meeting.
Multi-Year Plan Update
Director of Education Peter Sovran provided an update on the board’s Multi-Year Plan (MYP) process. A school board’s MYP establishes the key directions that guide the organization’s actions for the students and communities that it serves. The MYP articulates priorities that are future oriented, inclusive, and measurable.
The next step in making the plan deliverable involves the development of a system-wide action plan (Board Action Plan). The Board Action Plan should include overarching goals, objectives, and measures to frame outcomes and trajectory at the system-level.
Similar to the MYP process, the key components in the development of the Board Action Plan will include logistics, working sessions, engagement and consultation, and regular updates to Board of Trustees and system.
Revised Secondary School Year Calendar 2022-23
Trustees approved a revised School Year Calendar 2022-23 for secondary schools. The calendar will now be submitted to the Ministry of Education for final approval.
The original Modified School Year Calendars 2022-23 for both elementary and secondary schools were approved by the Board of Trustees on February 22, 2022, and subsequently approved by the Ministry of Education on April 19, 2022. Any changes to a school year calendar must be approved by the Board as well as resubmitted to the Ministry of Education.
The UGDSB’s existing approved secondary school year calendar for 2022-23 had 96 instructional days in Semester 1 and 98 days in Semester 2. It was determined that this imbalance could result in potential pay inequities for part-time employees who may work 1 semester and not the other. Furthermore, historically, secondary calendars have typically had a balanced number of 97 instructional days in both semesters. Shifting the existing Professional Activity Day at the end of Semester 1 from February 1st to February 2nd as well as moving exam days one day forward will correct this issue with minimal change to the existing calendar.
School Operations Updates
Staff provided an update on school operations and health and safety protocols ahead of the 2022-23 school year. The presentation provided an overview of in-person and remote learning opportunities, highlights from school day operations updates and a more regular return to school, measures for promoting healthy, safe learning and working environments, and key updates from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and the Ministry of Education on our continued monitoring of COVID-19 in the school system and the response to illnesses in general. The presentation also outlined resources and supports that will be available in the areas of mental health and well-being. Mental health remains a top priority to the board, and work will be guided in part by Mental Health Ontario. Supports and resources for all schools to begin the school year will include the return of Wellness Works. Additionally, all UGDSB schools will be implementing the First 10 Days and Beyond materials to support this vital focus. Resources, materials and information continue to be available to students on the Student Mental Health website, and to families/caregivers/guardians on the UGDSB Website for Children and Youth Mental Health.