GUELPH, Ontario – The May meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on May 24, 2022. The following provides highlights from the meeting.
Multi-Year Plan Update
As the next phase in the Upper Grand District School Board’s Multi-Year Plan (MYP) Process, the board is asking students, staff, parents/guardians, and its partners in education to complete a short survey. The MYP will help set the school board’s priorities for the next few years and this survey will help determine the priorities of the new MYP. These priorities should be future oriented, inclusive and measurable.
The board is asking people and groups throughout the system to complete a short, anonymous survey. These voices are crucial to the work the UGDSB does. The purpose of this survey is to consult the individuals who will be most affected by the MYP and most connected to student learning and well-being, and to collect perspectives on what focus areas the Board should prioritize for the next few years. This survey should take around 5-10 minutes to complete. The deadline to complete the survey is June 6 at 12pm noon.
SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3GKNX7Y
For updates on the Multi-Year Plan Process, visit www.ugdsb.ca/myp.
Mental Health and Education Week
Staff provided information about the UGDSB’s Mental Health and Education Week, held from May 2-6, 2022. This year’s theme was, “Moving Forward Together: learning, wellness and connection.” From May 2-6, each day focused on a different theme. Schools were provided with resources and support for announcements, school-wide activities, classroom activities and lessons, collaboration with the Staff Wellness Department and Terry James Resource Centre, as well as alignment with relevant calendar events across multiple cultures and communities, and equity content. Parents/guardians were also encouraged to explore these themes with their children at home.
The week’s themes were:
Monday = Learning
Tuesday = Gratitude
Wednesday = Wellness
Thursday = Connection
Friday = Moving Forward
De-streaming in Ontario and UGDSB
Staff provided information on de-streaming in the province and Upper Grand DSB. The purpose of de-streaming is to dismantle systemic discrimination associated with “streaming students,” which has contributed to marginalization for some students, including Black, Indigenous and racialized students, students from low-income households, and students with disabilities as well as other students with special education needs. De-streaming is also intended to remove assumptions about students abilities and barriers, and increase student agency in education and support more students to graduate from secondary school and pursue their pathways of choice. Staff provided an update to de-streaming efforts in Ontario and in the school board.
Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Annual Review Report
Staff presented the 2022 Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Annual Review Report. The LTAP is a comprehensive planning document outlining the strategic review of the Upper Grand District School Board’s facilities, population projections, and enrolment forecasts. The LTAP is an important step in ensuring alignment of school facilities with the needs of the Board and the communities it serves.
The 2018 LTAP Final Report included a schedule of short and long-term priorities. The purpose of the LTAP Annual Review Report is to ensure that the short-term work plan priorities and timing outlined in the LTAP remain appropriate. The LTAP Annual Review Report also includes information related to French Immersion (FI) trends, and facility partnerships and co-build opportunities. The 2022 Annual Review Report is the last annual review of the 2018 LTAP Final Report. During the 2022-2023 school year, Upper Grand District School Board will be conducting a new comprehensive Long Term Accommodation Plan.
The Annual Review Report can be viewed on the UGDSB website.
Policy Updates
Trustees approved the following board policy:
Policy 100 – Policy Management
Trustees also passed a motion to send Policy 205 – School Volunteers back to the Policy Management Committee for further consideration.