NNDSB April Meeting Highlights
The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
International Baccalaureate program reviewed
Trustees received a report providing a five-year review of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered at Chippewa Secondary School.
NNDSB was authorized in 2014 to begin the IB program. The program started the next year, and in 2017 the first cohort of students graduated.
This is the second five-year review of the program. Of note is that 14 senior students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) were accommodated for exams. IB provides accommodations for students who have an IEP and related psychoeducational or medical documentation.
Languages spoken by students in the program include Afrikaans, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Urdu. Countries represented by attendance in the program include Brazil, China, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain and Ukraine.
As a result of destreaming, the pre-IB program at Chippewa is now open to any student who considers themselves a good fit with the mission and vision of the IB, which has included an equity and inclusion focus.
There are four students being bused out of zone to attend the IB program, and 41 students who have previously attended an out of board school before attending Chippewa. There is also significant uptake in the program from new families from out of the country. There are more than 20 students in the program who are new to Canada.
Among the initiatives undertaken by Chippewa’s IB students for their service projects are a necessities collection for Ukraine, talent show fundraisers, mental health initiatives, mentoring younger students academically and musically, creating and displaying equity and inclusion murals and a female hygiene product collection.
Surplus properties sold to Canadore College
In June 2023 the Board of Trustees approved a motion declaring the former E.W. Norman Public School and E.T. Carmichael Public School as surplus and that the properties be sold.
On Feb. 13, 2024, the Board approved two motions accepting offers from Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology for the purchases of both properties. The sale was completed on March 28, 2024.
The E.W. Norman site was purchased for $825,000 plus HST, and the E.T. Carmichael site was purchased for $650,000 plus HST.
Director’s report shines a spotlight on well-being
Director of Education Craig Myles submitted a written report to the Board. Included in his report were a number of events that spotlight student well-being. He made note of the students of Chippewa and West Ferris and their feeder schools who attended the second annual Jack Lyons Memorial Exhibition in a day of hockey that supported One Kids Place summer autism camp. This was a great day of hockey, fundraising and exhibiting school spirit for incoming Grade 7 students.
The report also highlighted the staffing crisis facing education, which is also affecting NNDSB. Demands on staff include Ministry of Education objectives that NNDSB is mandated to fulfil, closing COVID-19 gaps in learning, regenerating engagement, promoting consistent attendance, managing newly manifested student behavioural difficulties, keeping schools safe and clean and managing countless student reports and attendance.
Student Trustee Chen reports to Board
Student Trustee Dora Chen told trustees about accomplishments and activities of students across the district in her report.
Soccer and track and field have begun, and the tennis teams are preparing for NDA competitions. Secondary schools’ music programs are participating in the Kiwanis Music Festival this month. Secondary schools also celebrated World Theatre Days to celebrate their theatre and drama programs.
The Student Senators from each secondary school have been elected, and will be meeting on April 15 with incoming, transitioning and outgoing Student Senators.
Student Senate is working with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit on the Icelandic Youth Model for Prevention of Drug Use and Violence, and is creating posters and recording videos at the April 15 meeting.
In her work on the public cabinet in the Ontario Student Trustees Association (OSTA), Student Trustee Chen has been developing a new resource for the OSTA website called My Student Trustees for incoming student trustees. It will include templates for motions, advice and tips , presentation templates, senate constitution examples and more. The project’s goal is to ensure that student trustees feel well-prepared for their roles.
Indigenous Student Trustee Benson reports to Board
Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson submitted a report on the activities of the Indigenous Youth Circle to the Board.
At Chippewa, students are having bi-weekly moccasin making workshops, and welcomed Woodland Public School students to make drumsticks. Students are also planning powwow dancing workshops in advance of the May powwow. Students are also learning drumming.
At Northern Secondary School, students are holding drumming lessons, beading workshops, ribbon skirt/shirt making workshops and wampum bracelet making sessions. These students are also preparing for their upcoming powwow and round dance, received teachings about the four medicines, and are planning the setting up of their new tipi.
F.J. McElligott students are planning activities for National Indigenous People’s Day and have had teachers speak about appreciation versus appropriation to students. Students are also brainstorming ideas for the next necessities drive.
At Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, students are planning for National Indigenous People’s Day, and are preparing for the moosehide campaign and to go to a few museums.
West Ferris students were able to see the Witness Blanket, and spoke about including Grades 7 and 8 students in their weekly meetings to give them an idea of what IYC is. Students are also planning upcoming events like sweat lodge teachings, the end of the year collaboration with the Friendship Centre and the moosehide campaign.
All IYC members who are interested in the Indigenous Student Trustee position for 2024-2025 were to put their names forward in advance of the group’s April 15 meeting, when an election will be held.
Trustees will be addressing dire HR crisis
After heart-felt discussions with union leaders in the committee of the whole meeting, Trustees approved a motion to send a letter to the Minister of Education and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) to support staff and advocate for relief measures to alleviate critical staffing shortages.
In the absence of the Director of Education, Superintendent Gay Smylie read Myles’ comments on the issue, which is affecting school boards across the province. In the report, Myles noted, “Across the province, staffing shortages are occurring all employee groups of the education sector including but not limited to, bus drivers, office and operational staff, custodial staff, educational assistants, early childhood educators, and educational assistants, teachers, administrators, varied support staff, mental health and special education experts. This issue impacts student safety, day-to-day operations, quality of education, access to education, implementation of ministry initiatives and overall well-being of students, parents, families, and staff across the system. The burden has far-reaching implications as all staff attempt to mitigate circumstances amongst increased public scrutiny and demands for data from a growing variety of sources.”
The report also noted staff are making heroic efforts to ensure the quality of care and engagement in learning that students deserve, despite situations that threaten burnout and an increase in emerging student behaviours. They support their peers and students with “grit and grace”.
In response to a question, Smylie told the Board that support must come from the Ministry of Education, and that as occasional teachers run out of the number of days they are allowed to work, the situation will become critical.
Addressing the issue on behalf of staff were union presidents Rob Hammond,
Parker Robinson, Troy Simkins and Margaret Soroye, and Chair of NNDSB’s Principals’ Council Sean Ruddy.
