KPDSB Chair and Vice-Chair Acclaimed, Trustee Appointments Announced

Media Release - December 13, 2017

Trustees of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board met at Dryden High School on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, for the inaugural board meeting.

The Board of Trustees acclaimed Trustee Dave Penney as Chair and Trustee Cecile Marcino as Vice-Chair.

The following Trustee appointments were made:

• Trustee Barb Gauthier was appointed to the Executive Committee for the period of December 12, 2017 to April 13, 2018, and Trustee Dave Wilkinson was appointed to the Executive Committee for the period of April 23, 2018 to November 30, 2018. 

• Trustees Barb Gauthier, Roger Griffiths and George Seaton were appointed to the Audit and Finance Committees for a one year term. 

• Trustees Jennifer Kitowski and Gerald Kleist were appointed to the Indigenous Education Advisory Council (IEAC) for a one year term.  

• Trustees Lesley Barnes and Dave Wilkinson were appointed to the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for a one year term.  

• Trustees Cecile Marcino and Barb Gauthier were appointed to the Early Years Advisory Committee (EYAC) for a one year term. 

• Trustees Lesley Barnes and Michelle Guitard were appointed to the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) for a one year term. 

• Trustee Michelle Guitard was appointed to the Transportation Policy Committee for a one year term. 

• Trustee Jennifer Kitowski was appointed to the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) Board of Directors.

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Board of Trustees Appropriate $4 Million Dollars for Valleyview Public School Capital Project

Media Release - February 13, 2018

At the regular February Board Meeting of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, Trustees took the proactive step of approving the appropriation of $4 million dollars towards the Valleyview Public School Capital Project.  The Board recognizes that the next step in this critical work is with the Ministry of Education.

The rebuilding and replacement of Valleyview Public School in Kenora is the number one major capital project for the KPDSB, and in recent years, has gained increasing attention and urgency as enrolment at the school continues to grow.  Enrolment at Valleyview Public School has doubled in the last five years (2013-2018), with increases both in English and French Immersion programming.  The school is home to the largest primary cohort of students across the entire KPDSB.

The funds have now been appropriated for the Valleyview Public School Capital Project and are an indication of the Board’s commitment to both the Ministry of Education and the Valleyview Public School Community.

Estimated costs for the replacement of Valleyview Public School is $16 million. 

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, stated “Valleyview Public School is the number one, and officially the only, major capital project that remains for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.  By allocating the largest investment in our history, from reserves, for the purposes of a new elementary school, the Board has demonstrated an investment to the Valleyview Public School Community.  The parents, staff, and especially the students of Valleyview deserve nothing but the best; and that is exactly what we are determined to give them.”

Dave Penney, Chair of the Board, added “We are confident that our Ministry of Education partners will continue to support and demonstrate their belief in the Valleyview Public School Community by enhancing the commitment that the KPDSB Trustees have responsibly made here tonight.”

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KPDSB Welcomes New Trustee to Represent the Interests of Indigenous Students, Highlights Kindergarten Programming

Media Release - February 20, 2018

Trustees met at Dryden High School on Tuesday, February 13, for a regular board meeting. 

The February Kids Come First presentation titled ‘Kindergarten Program Report’ was received by Trustees.  Dawn-Marie Terry, Kindergarten Teacher, and Melissa Bradley, Early Childhood Educator (ECE), are one of the Kindergarten Teams at Open Roads Public School and they brought some of their former students to talk to the Trustees about their experiences in Kindergarten.  Trustees were pleased to hear the students talk about their inquiry based learning, including how their teachers encouraged them to explore and take their learning outside, and the importance of relationships in the Kindergarten programs.  For more information on our Kindergarten programs, please visit www.buddysystem.ca.  Kindergarten Registration Week for the KPDSB is February 26 to March 2 and all of our public schools are currently accepting registrations, both online at Buddy System, and in person at any of our schools.

Eric Bortlis was sworn in as Trustee to Represent the Interests of Indigenous Students.  Bortlis was sworn in by Director of Education, Sean Monteith, for a term ending on November 30, 2019.  Bortlis has served as Director of Professional Development for Teach for Canada and is currently Education Director for Lac Seul First Nation which represents the biggest education services agreement partner of all community partners and tribal councils with the KPDSB.  The Board of Trustees welcomed Bortlis and expressed their eagerness to working closely with him during his term.

Monteith stated “We welcome Eric to the Board and are excited to have a person with his experience and leadership working actively in multiple education settings in First Nation schools. We are very pleased to have such an active and competent leader in Indigenous Education on the Board.”

Caryl Hron, Superintendent of Education, and Sarah Stevenson, Director of Integrated Social Services for the Kenora District Services Board (KDSB) presented the Early Learning Partnership Report.  As the Ontario Ministry of Education works to create 100,000 more child care spaces, a focus on expanding child care and EarlyON programs into schools to provide better access to services for children and families has allowed the KPDSB and KDSB to continue to grow their partnership as both organizations work to support area families. 

Following successful renovations during the first round of funding, which included new child care spaces at both King George VI and Evergreen Public Schools in Kenora, as well as playground renovations at New Prospect Public School in Dryden and Sioux Mountain Public School in Sioux Lookout, the second round of funding to retrofit schools to accommodate both child care and EarlyON will be completed in three phases:

• Phase One – Dryden Area - During the first phase, child care programs from The Dryden Children’s Resource Centre were relocated to New Prospect and Open Roads Public Schools.  Open Roads Public School also had space renovated to create a new kitchen space to support the programming, while New Prospect will receive a new outdoor playground space (to be completed in the spring). 

• Phase Two – Sioux Lookout Area - During the second phase, child care programs from Norah Love Children’s Centre in Sioux Lookout will be relocated to Sioux Mountain Public School.  Renovations of classrooms at Sioux Mountain will be required to accommodate the additional programming, as well as renovations to the school’s existing kitchen, and the creation of a new outdoor playground space for the programs.

• Phase Three – Kenora Area - During the third phase, child care programs from Cameron Bay Children’s Centre in Kenora will be relocated to Evergreen Public School (Toddler Program) and Keewatin Public School (Preschool Program). 

Richard Hodgkinson, Principal of Dryden High School (DHS), introduced a group of teachers who recently participated in the first Teacher’s Tour in the region, put on by the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) through a partnership with Domtar.  The professional development opportunity was offered to teachers in late October.  The tour provided teachers with an opportunity to participate in classroom sessions as well as tour active harvest operations while participating in hands on activities.  Participants were then provided with teaching kits, activities and other materials that fit into the Ontario curriculum.  All of the teachers spoke positively of the experience, and saw connections for their students in the Forestry industry, from careers in trades, to science and technology.

Trustees approved the 2018-2019 School Year Calendar.  Following two rounds of community consultation, including a survey of families across the region, the calendar has a school start date of September 5, 2018 (historically school has started before Labour Day in the region).  The calendar will now be sent to the Ministry of Education for final approval.  To view the 2018-2019 School Year Calendar, and results of the survey, please click here.

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EQAO Executive Team completes visit to KPDSB Schools

Media Release - April 9, 2018

We were pleased to welcome members of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) to our schools last week.

Dr. Steven Reid, Chief Assessment Officer for EQAO, and members of the EQAO Executive Team visited KPDSB schools in Kenora, Dryden, Ignace, Red Lake, Ear Falls, and Sioux Lookout.  They were also welcomed to Lac Seul First Nation to tour schools and meet with leadership in the community.

Staff and students from all areas of the Board were given the opportunity to meet with the EQAO Executive Team to share their experiences in education in Northwestern Ontario and specifically, with the provincial standardized tests.  All students in Ontario are required to write the provincial assessments in Grade 3 and 6 (Reading, Writing and Math), Grade 9 (Math) and Grade 10 (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, a requirement for students to attain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma).

Reid had the following to say about his team’s visit, “In light of our commitment to modernizing EQAO assessments, our team was eager to learn more about realities and experiences in Northern Ontario. Director of Education, Sean Monteith, and his team were gracious hosts, taking us all across the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board to connect with students, staff and community members. We were honoured that so many people took the time to share their understandings, as well as their thoughts and hopes for the future.

“It is important to offer all students across Ontario equitable opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and EQAO gained valuable insights in speaking with KPDSB students, staff and community members. EQAO’s commitment to the future will reflect learnings from our visit, and we will continue to listen to perspectives from across the province as we develop assessments that are more student-focused, easily accessible and engaging. Our team has left with a great gift of knowledge. Miigwech KPDSB!”

Sean Monteith, Director of Education for the KPDSB added “For two full days, members of the EQAO Executive Team traveled throughout the entire district and met with staff, administration, parents, and most importantly our students, to look at how the realities and experiences unique to Northwestern Ontario might be reflected in the types of questions they are assessed on. Our kids are just as gifted and capable as any in all of Ontario. They should be able to share their experiences with the value they deserve; the fact EQAO and their leadership recognized this and came to see firsthand validates this. We are grateful for their time with us in the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.”

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KPDSB launches 2017-2020 Learning Technologies Strategic Plan in recognition of Education Week

Media Release - May 10, 2018

Trustees met at the Kenora Board Office on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 for a regular Board meeting.

Superintendent of Education Tania Sterling, presented the newly created Keewatin-Patricia District School Board’s (KPDSB) Learning Technologies Strategic Plan to Trustees. The plan was officially launched in recognition of Education Week (May 7-11, 2018).

Creation of the Learning Technologies Strategic Plan started with a 21C gap analysis and needs assessment across the entire KPDSB.  The assessment was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 and included creating a survey for all staff and students on a variety of 21C tools and practices, collecting feedback from different stakeholders groups through meetings and conversations, as well as sending a delegation of staff to the BIT2017 conference in Southern Ontario to network with school boards across the province and research effective models for integrating digital tools into teaching, learning and leading.

Priorities in the plan include:

• Creating a shared vision with input from stakeholders
• Continuing to gather student and stakeholder voice
• Building capacity in future leaders
• Ensuring all KPDSB students are aware of appropriate use of digital learning tools and online networks to ensure safety (Digital Citizenship)
• Making virtual learning environments across all curriculum areas available for students
• Making makerspaces available for all students
• Offering Kindergarten to Grade 12 robotics and coding programs in all schools
• Making augmented/virtual reality available for students in grades 4-12

Sterling stated “Gathering student and teacher voice to help shape where our plan can go next helps us ensure we are preparing our students for an ever-changing world while keeping local needs and interests in mind.  We are proud of the exciting opportunities many of our educators are already creating for our students and this formal plan and renewed commitment from our Board of Trustees is going to help us scale up that innovation and provide access to dynamic opportunities across our entire system. We really do feel that technology, when used responsibly and creatively, has the potential to truly make teaching and learning boundless.”

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