Bluewater District School Board

Bluewater's Board Meeting Highlights - May 21, 2024 page

Board Meeting Highlights - May 21, 2024

Board Meeting Highlights - May 21, 2024
Posted on 05/22/2024
Board Meeting Highlights graphic depicting BWDSB logo and Education CentreBoard Meeting Highlights graphic depicting BWDSB logo and Education Centre

Excellence in Education – Georgian College Partnership

Special guest, Dave Shorey, Executive Director at Georgian College’s Owen Sound Campus, provided an overview of the strong partnership between the college and Bluewater District School Board. Our students continue to benefit from opportunities, including the FLEX program, Specialist High Skills Major Innovative, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE) training days, dual credits, skills competitions, Level 1 Carpentry and Culinary programs, after-grad programming, certifications, and Grizzly Cub days.

Delegation
A delegation from Town of The Blue Mountains, The Blue Mountains Police Services Board, and The Blue Mountains Police Services focused on student and youth engagement, and the importance of partnerships between schools and police.

Field Trip Update
The following field trips were approved:
  • Georgian Bay Community School Outdoor Education Program: ‘PAD2O- Lake Eugenia’, September 20, 2024; ‘PAD2O- Claybanks’, September 24, 2024; and ‘PAD2O- Killarney’ October 7 to 11, 2024
  • Grey Highlands Secondary School ‘The Italy Experience’, May 15 to May 24, 2026, contingent that it aligns with all travel advisories at the time of the trip
  • Saugeen District Senior School ‘VE 80: Netherlands and France’, May 2 to May 11, 2025, contingent that it aligns with all travel advisories at the time of the trip
Board Meeting Date Change
A motion was passed to change the Regular Meeting of the Board from the third Tuesday to the fourth Tuesday in January 2025.

Business Committee Update
The report from the meeting held on May 7, 2024 included the following:
  • summary of the Ministry of Education’s Core Education Funding and Responsive Education Programs and changes that will be used in the development of the 2024-2025 budget
  • details from the Community Planning and Partnerships meeting held on April 9, 2024
  • report and photographic presentation on the status of the new Beavercrest Community School
Committee Appointments
A motion was passed to appoint three trustees to the Director’s Performance Appraisal Committee, in accordance with the requirements of Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 83/24 “Director of Education Performance Appraisal” for the 2024-2025 performance appraisal process. Trustees Jane Thomson, Jan Johnstone, and Tracy Lynn Atkinson were appointed to the committee.

Student Senate Report
Student Trustee Macy Robinson presented an update on Mental Health Week activities at schools, a partnership between the Equity Council and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) group at Grey Highlands Secondary School to host a ‘sunshine dance’ for students, and the school’s participation in a provincial rural summit on hate. Many schools recently recognized the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia on May 17 and Red Dress Day on May 5 in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Track and field has been occurring with many students advancing to CWOSSA, several secondary students attended the Science Olympics, facilitated by the Nuclear Innovation Institute, and Core/French Immersion students participated in the DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) assessment. Other noteworthy recent activities have included a multicultural fair at Saugeen District Senior School and drama themed field trips to Stratford.

Student forums happening this month include the Indigenous Student Forum on May 27 at the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre and Rainbow Student Conference on May 30.

2023-2024 Student Trustees and Senators Recognition
Members of the Student Senate were acknowledged for their support, commitment, and contributions to students in Bluewater District School Board over the past year. Each student was personally thanked and presented with a letter and token of appreciation by Chair Jane Thomson and Director of Education Lori Wilder.

2024-2025 Student Trustees and Senators
The following student senators have been elected or acclaimed to represent the student voice at board meetings and committees of the board during the 2024-2025 school year:

Bruce Peninsula District School Bronwyn Stanton
Georgian Bay Community School Mya Kearns
Grey Highlands Secondary School Amy-Lee Whyte
John Diefenbaker Senior School Evie Kingston
Kincardine District Senior School Ishpreet Gill
Owen Sound District Secondary School Hayden Powell
Peninsula Shores District School Hannah Holt
Peninsula Shores District School* Madeline Carson
Saugeen District Senior School Marwan Bayoumi
Saugeen District Senior School* Baret Wesley
Walkerton District Community School Hazel Karn

* Indigenous

The two student trustees for 2024-2025 are Amy-Lee Whyte and Hayden Powell.

Multi-Year Strategic Plan Development
A report was presented outlining the legislated requirement of every Ontario school board in developing a multi-year strategic plan to set the board’s direction. Trustees approved initiating the development of the board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan and conducting an online survey to solicit public feedback as part of the process.



View the meeting agenda and attached reports.

View the video recording of the meeting.

Next Committee of the Whole Board Meeting – June 4, 2024
Next Regular Meeting of the Board – June 18, 2024
Bluewater District School Board is located on the traditional land of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, which is represented by the communities of Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
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