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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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 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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2018-2019 School Year Calendar Survey

Every year we offer families an opportunity to provide feedback regarding the creation of the upcoming school year calendar. Please take a minute to fill out our survey for the 2018-2019 School Year Calendar by clicking on either of the links below.  

 Click here to take the survey in English                        Click here to take the survey in French

The feedback provided by our families will be taken back to the Regional School Year Calendar Committee (comprised of five area school Boards including the KPDSB) as they work to create the regional school year calendar for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. 

The survey will be open until the end of the day on Friday, December 1.

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KPSDB Continues to See Enrolment Increases

Media Release - November 15, 2017

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is pleased to report increased student enrolment for the 2017-2018 school year. The KPDSB for the first time in its history, will no longer be eligible for the “Declining Enrolment Grant” in 2017-2018. 

The Board credits several factors for the increase in enrolment including its expansion of innovative student-based programs that increase student engagement and the efforts of front-line school staff to put the needs of students first. Additional acknowledgement must be given to ongoing and exhaustive efforts of administration to work closely with and sign formal agreements with Indigenous partners such as Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO), Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI), and Lac Seul First Nation (LSFN).

Budgeted enrolment for the 2017-2018 school year was 4,842 students.  Current enrolment for the KPDSB is 4,868, 26 students above the projected or budgeted enrolment.

Notable enrolment increases include:

• All Kenora elementary schools: Valleyview, Evergreen, Keewatin, and King George VI Public Schools are above projected and actual 2016-17 enrolments;
• Beaver Brae Grades 7/8 increased enrolment by 17 students;
• Golden Learning Centre in Balmertown is 17 students over budget;
• Sioux Narrows Public School enrolment at historic high; enrolment of 31 students;
• Lillian Berg Public School in Vermilion Bay, increase of 22 students over 2016-17;
• Queen Elizabeth DHS in Sioux Lookout is an additional 20 students higher than historic 2016-17 numbers with a total of 508; up from 396 students in 2013-14;
• Enrolment in Senior Kindergarten was 12 higher than projected at 296 students.

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, said “There are always compelling indicators that clearly and indisputably demonstrate the direction an organization is headed in.  The enrolment growth in many of our schools and the enrolment picture across the Board is strong.  The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board continues to strengthen and with that so does our responsibility to Northern Ontario children.”

The KPDSB is currently seeking applicants for employment in all positions and will hold Recruitment Fairs in communities across the board area following a successful event in Sioux Lookout on November 8. Upcoming events include:

• Dryden/Ignace/Vermilion Bay areas – December 11, 2017 at Dryden High School from 3:00pm to 8:00pm
• Red Lake/Ear Falls areas – January 10, 2018 at Red Lake District High School from 3:00pm to 8:00pm
• Kenora/Sioux Narrows areas – January 30, 2018 at Manidoo Baawaatig from 3:00pm to 8:00pm

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