Good News
We’re in Canada’s Top Ten!
Avon Maitland has been voted one of Canada’s Top Ten School Districts on Social Media by Box Clever Education*.
From the announcement on their website:
The Avon Maitland District School Board is doing it all, and doing it well.
Not only are they active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, they also produce their own podcast with short, easily digestible episodes (we recommend the Head Lice episode!).
Avon Maitland District Schools engages with their followers by embracing different themes throughout the year, such as posting photos of their staff and students wearing pink for anti-bullying awareness on Pink Shirt Day.
They also share fun snippets with their active community of a combined 9000+ followers.
“We know how much time and effort goes into curating your social media presence,” states Box Clever in their post recognizing Avon Maitland. “To have a great social media profile you need to be consistent, genuinely engage your community, and provide truly valuable information to your followers. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Some school districts in Canada are doing a fantastic job of engaging online, and we want to recognize them for that!”
*Box Clever Education is based in Edmonton, Alberta and has been building a reputation as the gold-standard in the design of websites for schools and school divisions since 2005.
Avon Maitland Strikes Gold at Skills Ontario
Our elementary and secondary students had a strong showing at Provincial Skilled Trades competition.
The Avon Maitland District School Board sent the largest group of Skills Ontario competitors in recent history to the Toronto Congress Centre from May 1-3, 2017. Fourteen grade 7&8 students and 15 secondary students from Stratford Northwestern along with 12 grade 7&8 students from Mitchell District High School hammered, cut, designed and demonstrated not only their technical skills but also their passion for learning, creating and problem-solving. These dedicated technological education students competed for gold, silver, and bronze medals, as well as monetary awards and job offers for select contests.
Please see the full story.
North Easthope’s 50th
Trustee Julie Moore brought news of North Easthope Public Schools’ 50th Anniversary celebration.
When: Sunday, June 4, 2017
Open House: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Short Celebratory Program: 2:30 p.m.
Where: North Easthope Public School, Road 108 #4672
For more information: Contact Jo Anne at 519-625-8398
Next Steps on Research on the Board’s Inclusion Model
The Avon Maitland District School Board voted to engage Dr. Sheila Bennett from Brock University to do further research, based on the Board’s motion to the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) on February 14, 2017, on the Board’s inclusion model with additional stakeholders of parents, students, adult service providers, educational assistants who continue to work in elementary panel, and a representation of teachers and administrators as an addendum to the previous research.
For more of a background on this, please refer to Board Meeting highlights from April 25, 2017.
Election of the Board’s Delegate to the Ontario Public School Board’s Association
Trustee Robert Hunking was acclaimed as the Board’s delegate to OPSBA and Trustee Judy Cairncross was acclaimed as the alternate.
Approval of Tender: Civil at Elma Township Public School
The project at Elma Township PS is the removal and replacement of the original 1967 asphalt in the parking lot and playground, which is in very poor condition. Work also includes the installation of new storm sewers and new electrical conduit to be installed along the driveway to the County road for future lighting purposes.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from Steed and Evans Limited for civil and asphalt work at Elma Township Public School in the tender amount of $577,000.00.
Please Tender report for asphalt work at Elma Township Public School.
Approval of Tender: Masonry, Windows and Door Replacement at Mitchell District High School
The project at Mitchell District High School includes repointing of all masonry in the courtyard and south classroom elevation of the school as well as window replacements to the courtyard and south elevation classrooms. Work also includes door system replacements to the west side exterior doors to the parking lot which includes card reader access and to the south-east student parking lot double door system.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from Belliveau Construction, for masonry, windows and doors at Mitchell District High School in the tender amount of $296,267.92.
Masonry, Windows and Door Replacement at Mitchell District High School.
Approval of Tender: Mechanical and Electrical Upgrades at Mitchell District High School
As part of the ongoing infrastructure improvements to be funded through Ministry facility grants, mechanical and electrical work was identified as being required in the science classrooms and adjacent classrooms in the south-east area of the school, plus the library at Mitchell District High School. The work includes replacing the 1992 mechanical units with 2 rooftop units to serve the science rooms and unit ventilators to serve each of the regular classrooms. The new systems will be more efficient, provide improved indoor air quality to meet current standards, and replace components that are beyond their useful life. Lighting in the science and regular classroom areas will be replaced with LED fixtures with occupancy and dimming controls and daylight sensors to reduce energy consumption. As well the fire alarm signaling with be upgraded throughout the school.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from Brad Baker Plumbing, Heating & Electrical Inc. for mechanical and lighting upgrades at Mitchell District High School in the amount of $551,553.00
Report on accepted tender for for masonry, windows and doors at Mitchell District High School.
15 Year Enrolment Projections
Enrolment projections inform planning and decision making activities in all departments. They form the basis of the annual preliminary accommodation report to the Board and various Ministry reporting requirements.
New projections are produced in years when new census data is published. Otherwise, generally, updates to the projections are performed every 2 to 3 years, between census years, and may be based on significant accommodation adjustments and changes. The most recent census occurred in 2016.
Total elementary projected enrolments decline slightly over the next 5 to 6 years. Beyond the 6-year period, district elementary projections indicate a slight increase but do not recover to current levels until 10 years out. Total elementary enrolment between 2015/16 and the projected 2025/26 year shows a resulting increase of 5 students. Reviewing individual planning areas reveals similar trends; however, South Huron indicates a slight decline beyond the 10-year period.
Total secondary enrolment continues to decline with a moderate increase during the last three years of the projection. Total secondary enrolment between 2015/16 and 2020/21 declines by 387 students. Looking out to 2025/26 a cumulative decline of 550 students is projected. Reviewing the secondary planning areas individually, similar trends are derived in the long term with some variation between planning areas in the short term. The most significant decline is noted for the Central Huron planning area. Significant decline is also noted for the Stratford Northwestern SS planning area.
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Tuesday, May 23, 2017 – 6:45 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Open Session, 7:30 p.m. Student Advisory Committee, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
- June 13, 2017 – 5:00 p.m. Finance Committee, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
- June 27, 2017 – 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Open Session, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Ad Hoc Policy Committee: Tuesday, May 9, 2017 immediately following Committee of the Whole, Closed Session
- Student Senators Symposium: Friday, May 12, 2017 (more details to follow)
- PIC: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 – 5:30 p.m.
- Finance Committee: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 – 5:00 p.m.
- AMDSB Recognition Reception: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 – 5:30 p.m.
- Audit Committee: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 – 5:00 p.m.