KPDSB Board of Trustees Approve 2018-2019 Budget

Media Release - June 13, 2018

Trustees met at Savant Lake Public School in Savant Lake on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, for the final board meeting of the 2017-2018 school year. 

The June Kids Come First presentation titled ‘Cultural Learning – Aboriginal Hand Drum Making’ was received by Trustees.  Savant Lake Public School teacher Hope St. Hilaire and students Deja Neecan, Jaylen Fox and Hailey Belmore shared their learning process to create traditional hand drums with Trustees.  With guidance from community elders and volunteers, the students learned about the process for creating their drums, from smudging and finding the perfect stick to make their drum sticks, to securing the hide and preparing an offering.  Trustees appreciated having the cultural practices shared with them by the students and congratulated them on their completed hand drums. 

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, presented the 2018 Employee Recognition Report.  Each June, Monteith publically acknowledges all employees with 25 years of service and retirees for their achievement and contributions to education in the Northwest.  The 2017-2018 school year brought with it the retirement of 31 dedicated employees and another 11 were recognized for reaching the 25 year milestone. 

Richard Findlay, Superintendent of Business, and Kathleen O’Flaherty, Assistant Superintendent of Business, presented the 2018-2019 Budget Report.  Total budget for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board for the 2018-2019 school year is $96 million which is a slight increase (4%) from the 2017-2018 school year budget.  The 2018-2019 budget is in compliance with all Ministry of Education Guidelines and was passed unanimously by the Board of Trustees.

Monteith reflected on the 2017-2018 school year.  “The year has been an incredibly successful one, with challenges and unavoidable setbacks at certain moments. We end the year, in strong financial shape, a growing reach into the North resulting in positive impacts and outcomes for Northern children and their families, and a burgeoning sense of pride and accomplishment. The success of the Board is nothing, if not without the strength of its people, its students and its communities. I wish all families and staff a wonderful summer.”

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Job Posting - Superintendent of Indigenous Education and Reconciliation

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is looking for a strong, dynamic individual with extensive experience in educational administration and strong innovative leadership in the area of Indigenous Education. Please click here to view the job posting.

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KPDSB celebrates 16 schools receiving Ophea Healthy Schools Certification

Media Release - June 4, 2018

Through a partnership with the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU), 16 Keewatin-Patricia District School Board schools have received Ophea Healthy Schools Certification, with 11 schools achieving gold level certification. 

Ophea’s Healthy Schools Certification recognizes and celebrates school communities for promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader community. There are currently 238 schools in the province who have achieved the Healthy Schools Certification, 16 of which belong to the KPDSB. The KPDSB is also proud to note that 100% of secondary schools in the Board have achieved the certification.

Quotes:

“We are so excited to hear about all of the great work happening at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.  To have 16 schools complete the process and certify gold or silver is an amazing accomplishment. That these schools were able to work with their communities and partner with other schools from their school board, for a total reach of 18 out of a total of 20 schools is even more impressive. Ophea is very excited to continue working with KPDSB and can’t wait to see what will be accomplished next school year.” - Sarah Christie, Bilingual Projects Leader, Ophea

“The Northwestern Health Unit is a proud partner of KPDSB in the Healthy Schools Certification process. The engagement and energy that each school has shown to achieve gold or silver certifications shows a Board-wide commitment to creating schools that support student and staff well-being.  We look forward to continuing work with KPDSB and are happy to celebrate this significant achievement” - Shannon Robinson, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention, Northwestern Health Unit

“This Healthy Schools Certification for KPDSB schools is more than just about healthy active living. If people take a few minutes to look at the graphics and the data on the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board they will see what the province sees; true leadership, a focus on supporting both students and staff, and a recognition that we need healthy staff to model for healthy students. The Board recognizes the importance of our staff’s personal well-being and is grateful to the Northwestern Health for its leadership and support.” - Sean Monteith, Director of Education, Keewatin-Patricia District School Board

*Please see the accompanying Healthy Schools Certification Board Report for more information.

Ophea is a charitable organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities through quality programs and services, partnerships and advocacy, and is led by the vision that all children and youth value and enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy, active living.

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Dryden High School’s Kieran McMonagle to speak to Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

Media Release - May 31, 2018

Dryden High School’s Kieran McMonagle will testify before Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on June 6, 2018, in Ottawa as a part of an Indigenize the Senate event.  McMonagle is the First Nation, Metis and Inuit Graduation Coach of the Four Directions program at Dryden High School. 

2018 marks the third year for the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples to accept nominations to identify Indigenous youth leaders to share their experiences and thoughts with the committee during an official hearing.  McMonagle was nominated by a colleague and was chosen to address the committee from applicants across the country.  She will identify challenges and share success stories from her work with Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario. 

McMonagle stated “Being recognized as an Indigenous Youth Leader at the national level is both an honour and a privilege. I am humbled to have been recognized by a colleague at Dryden High School and hope to influence positive change for Indigenous youth within the region.”  

Richard Hodgkinson, Principal of Dryden High School, said “Kieran is a remarkable leader advocate for Indigenous youth across our region. She goes beyond listening, encouraging and helping guide students, she empowers them. The students she “coaches” know that they have someone who believes in them, who is there for them, and who deeply cares about them and their success. Kieran will be able to share the challenges and successes of our Indigenous youth and how working and learning together, we can help them succeed and develop a positive vision of their future.”

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, added “Knowing Kieran, and the way she supports her students, I am not surprised that someone of her calibre has been identified by the Senate of Canada’s Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples to share her leadership and experiences. She is not only a model employee of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, but more importantly a fierce advocate for students in her care. She represents everything that the KPDSB stands for in its approach towards Northern Children, that we put their needs first before our own. We continue to be very proud of our staff; like Kieran.”

Background

The Four Directions High School Graduation Coach approach started at Dryden High School in June of 2014.  Four Directions offers First Nation, Metis, Inuit (FNMI) students the opportunity to work with Graduation Coaches who assist with leading and implementing programs, services and other supports to meet the unique needs of First Nation, Metis & Inuit students and their families, with a focus on student success and graduation. Since its inception, the Four Directions program has expanded to Beaver Brae Secondary School in Kenora, Queen Elizabeth District High School in Sioux Lookout, and Red Lake District High School.  The program has received national attention for its success in supporting Indigenous students in reaching graduation.

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Board of Trustees approve $2 million Sioux Mountain Public School Child Care Capital Retrofit Project

Media Release - May 24, 2018

Trustees met at Lillian Berg Public School in Vermilion Bay on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, for a special board meeting.

Steve Parker, Assistant Manager of Facility Planning and Development, presented the Sioux Mountain Public School Child Care Capital Retrofit Project report.  Through funding grants from the Ministry of Education, work will be carried out at Sioux Mountain Public School in Sioux Lookout over the summer months to enhance areas of the school for the community’s youngest learners.  Work is anticipated to be complete for the fall of 2018.

Construction to be carried out at the school includes:

• Creation of a new preschool room designed for 24 students
• Creation of a new toddler room designed for 15 students
• Outdoor playground enhancements for all early years students
• Relocation of existing school staff room and renovation to existing stage area
• Enlargement of school kitchen to create shared facilities for school and child care programs
• Renovations to Best Start HUB room
• Parking lot enhancements and expansion

Trustees awarded the contract for the interior renovations to Finn Way General Contractors Inc. for the sum of $1,559,000 (plus applicable taxes).

In total, the project cost is estimated to be just under $2 million.  Funding has been provided by the Ministry of Education through the Child Care Capital Retrofit Funding ($1.2 million) and the School Condition Improvement Grant ($850,000).

Steve Poling, Principal of Sioux Mountain Public School stated “We’re honoured to have the opportunity to renovate the school to increase child care spaces and enhance access to services for families in the Sioux Lookout area.  As a school community, we are excited about the work happening and look forward to continuing to working together with our partners to improve early years services.”

Caryl Hron, Superintendent of Education, added “Over the last six years, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and the Kenora District Services Board have worked collaboratively to enhance services for families throughout the region.  By welcoming child care and EarlyON programs into our buildings, and creating state of the art spaces for those programs, we are working together to provide families with the very best start possible and a seamless transition into our schools as children grow.  Our goal is to provide families with the supports and services they need right in our buildings, starting in the early years, and continuing straight through to graduation.”

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