Board Meeting Highlights - September 16, 2025

Posted on 09/16/2025

Chair Jane Thomson began the meeting by thanking students, staff, families, and others within our school communities for their collective efforts in ensuring a successful back-to-school start-up. Best wishes were extended for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Declaration of Student Trustees and Senators
Following the swearing in and introductions of the 2025-2026 Student Senate, the two elected student trustees assumed their seats at the board table.

Excellence in Education – Summer Institute 2025
Learning Services Administrator Sara Morrow shared about the success of a voluntary professional learning workshop series offered to over 170 educators at the end of August. Topics were designed to support classroom excellence, including early years and oral language, French language, literacy and writing, numeracy, technology, and innovation.   

Governance Standing Committee Update
The report from the meeting held on September 2, 2025 included updates on this year’s Summer School programs, special education and mental health transition supports for students during the summer, the Special Education Advisory Committee, and the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee.

Business and Facilities Standing Committee Update
The report from the meeting held on September 2, 2025 included Trustee Jan Johnstone’s acclamation as Chair of the Business and Facilities Standing Committee, a transportation update, and school renewal work that occurred over the summer.

Special Education Advisory Committee Representative Appointment
Daniella Smits was appointed to the Special Education Advisory Committee for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term, as nominated by the Special Education Advisory Committee.

Student Senate Report
Student Trustees Esha Gill and Jack Farmus presented their first report on behalf of the 2025-2026 Student Senate highlighting back-to-school transitions and Grade 9 welcome events. At their first meeting, the student senators were pleased to welcome a special guest from Bruce County Library to share about an upcoming cultural symposium, which will include senate representatives on behalf of the student voice. It was also determined that ‘student engagement’ is a goal for this year’s senate. 

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Dominion Securities Banking Resolutions
Director of Education AJ Keene, Superintendent of Business and Treasurer Andrew Low, Chair Thomson, and Vice-Chair Johnstone were appointed as signing officers and directors for RBC Dominion Securities, effective August 18, 2025. The approval of signing authorities is in accordance with RBC Dominion Securities By-Laws, where the board has scholarships in trust outside of regular banking operations.

Diplôme d’Études de Langue Française (DELF) 2025
Martha McCleary, System Lead Teacher – Multilingual Learners/French as a Second Language, provided an overview of the internationally recognized DELF exam offered by the French Ministry of National Education. This past spring in Bluewater District School Board, there were 76 Grade 12 students who were successful in achieving DELF certification. The DELF has been offered in BWDSB for the past 10 years and has seen a healthy growth in participation.


View the meeting agenda and reports.

View the video recording of the meeting.

Next Governance Standing Committee Meeting – Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Next Regular Meeting of the Board – Tuesday, October 21, 2025