H. Bailey (Chairperson) D. Taves J. Burgess L. Gretzky S ...

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF THE GREATER ESSEX COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD HELD ON TUESDAY, 2012-06-20 IN THE BOARD ROOM, 451 PARK STREET WEST, WINDSOR, ONTARIO.

PRESENT: TRUSTEES: H. Bailey (Chairperson) D. Taves J. Burgess L. Gretzky S. Harding-Smith T. Kilpatrick C. Lovell K McKinley G. Simko-Hatfield REGRETS: C. Howe-Buckler J. Houston C. Adams ADMINISTRATION: W. Kennedy (Director of Education) P. Antaya C. Howitt J. Howitt T. Lyons D. Petryshyn S. Pyke RECORDER: M. LeBoeuf A. CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Bailey called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

B. ATTENDANCE Chairperson Bailey noted that Trustee Howe-Buckler had sent regrets. C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA C.1 Approval of Agenda Moved by Trustee Harding-Smith Seconded by Trustee Lovell THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. The vote was called and it CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. D. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST There were no declarations of conflict of interest.

E. PRESENTATIONS E.1 Forster PARC Committee Recommendations (see attached presentation) Lisa Cunningham and Robin Fletcher spoke to the attached report. Questions and Discussion:

Clarification was requested with respect to 5 year renewal. G. Hinchliffe noted that renewal needs include the needs today and the next five years.

It was questioned what the cost would be to update the facilities at Century. Superintendent Lyons noted that if the decision was made to move Forster to Century there would be a need to convert some of the unused shop areas into classroom space.

Clarification was provided that if there was a new K-12 dual track school built that it would offer French Immersion through to grade 12.

It was questioned what the French Immersion community thought about the recommendations. Superintendent Lyons noted that input was received at the 3

rd and 4

th

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community meeting. The committee reviewed all of the input but it did not have an impact on their recommendations.

It was questioned if the French Immersion community made any other recommendations. Superintendent Lyons noted that they would prefer a single track school but the committee did not feel that would be a viable solution.

It was questioned if Forster is beyond repair. G. Hinchliffe noted that from a facilities point of view Forster is one of the most problematic facilities we have. It is not handicap accessible.

Concern was expressed with respect to transporting the AB students to Western. Some of the parents in the city do not have personal transportation and there is no public transportation that runs out to Western. Superintendent Lyons noted that we currently have programs in place at Western for parents who do not have access to transportation.

E.2 Herman PARC Committee Recommendations

Kelly Schwab – presented the attached report. Questions and Discussion:

With McCallum students moving into Herman would it be considered a dual track school? Superintendent Lyons noted that it would be dual track at the secondary level only.

F. DELEGATIONS FORSTER Kevin Johnson – Giles FI Campus Parent (see attached presentation)

It was questioned why Giles FI Campus parents were only notified on May 4th.

Superintendent Lyons noted that as a result of the South Windsor PARC Trustees will remember that there was an amendment to the recommendation whereby administration was to identify a permanent French Immersion site for transitioned Bellewood students. That was the mandate as part of the process. Through the accommodation report they would have received this information. As we do with all communities they received a copy of the letter with the committee’s recommendations.

Do the Giles Campus parents have any other suggestions as to where the new FI site should be located? Mr. Johnson noted that he did not sit on the PARC committee, therefore he would not be able to determine an appropriate site however the French Immersion population, if over 600, is large enough to have their own building.

Mario Spagnuolo, Vice-President, ETFO (see attached presentation)

Mr. Spagnuolo noted that he had an opportunity to speak to his counterparts in Bluewater regarding their K-12 school. They were only able to provide anecdotal data with respect to the K-12 model however, there were staffing issues. The elementary teachers compared their working conditions to the secondary teachers. Mr. Spagnuolo offered boundary adjustments or closing off unused space as a solution to the board accommodation issues.

Clarification was requested regarding the comment made that there would be a deterioration of special education programs. Mr. Spagnuolo explained that the concern is with special education being offered in a French Immersion school. There is no SERR program at Lakeshore Discovery. These specialized programs do not seem to exist in French Immersion schools.

HERMAN Patrick Roberts, Gordon McGregor (see attached presentation) Mario Spagnuolo (see attached presentation)

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Stephen Lynn, Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal (see attached presentation)

Mr. Lynn was questioned if he could offer any other alternative solutions that would address the board’s overall concerns. Mr. Lynn noted that he had not had a chance to review any alternative solutions. The focus has been on the impact of the local community.

Rebeca Plahcinski (see attached presentation) Christine Reed Did not attend G. SPEAKER’S LIST FORSTER PARC Renee Horne (see attached report) Kyle Parent, Conrad Piche and Daniel Wright, former Century students

Mr. Parent noted that he is 25 years old and a former Century student. The three speakers noted how Century changed their lives. Mr. Parent noted that he had moved around to several elementary schools and when he arrived at Century, with the help of the teachers, he was able to achieve the impossible. We are asking the board to keep Century viable for all students. Mr. Piche noted that Century is full of excellent teachers. They help out with homework and help move students along.

In conclusion the speakers thanked the board and would like to see the blue proposal move forward.

HERMAN PARC Heather Taylor

Ms. Taylor noted that she has a daughter in JK at McCallum and a one year old son. She supported all of the comments made by Rebeca Plahcinski. The PARC has done a lot of work but with small children she is not comfortable with the idea of moving them into the high school. She noted that she would like to see more data to support that this is a good approach. McCallum is a good school. Keeping an elementary school is in the student’s best interest.

Idella Lazar (see attached presentation) Kerry Ippolito (see attached presentation)

Clarification was requested regarding the makeup of the committee with respect to community members. Superintendent Lyons noted that the regulation allows for up to three general members from the community to serve on the PARC committee.

H. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, Chairperson Bailey adjourned the meeting at 8:02

p.m. H. BAILEY CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD W. KENNEDY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION