Good News
Always Learning Awards
Last week Avon Maitland held its annual Always Learning Awards and Recognition Night. The event recognizes staff ‘years of service’ milestones, acknowledges retirees and celebrates individuals – students, staff or community members – that go above and beyond in bettering the lives of students and the Avon Maitland District School Board as a whole.
Please see the complete line-up of 2017 recipients including video interviews and pictures.
5 Schools Receive Healthy Schools Certification
Students and staff at 5 Avon Maitland District School Board schools are celebrating after earning Healthy Schools certification from Ophea.
Ophea is a not-for-profit organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities and leads the provincial Healthy Schools initiative.
To be eligible for certification, the schools had to follow a six-step process to implement change at their school in one of the following areas: physical activity, healthy eating, personal safety and injury prevention, growth and development, mental health and substance use or addictions and related behaviours.
The following schools were successful in reaching certification:
GOLD
- Bedford Public School
- Huron Centennial Public School
- Little Falls Public School Public School
SILVER
- Mitchell District Elementary
- St. Marys DCVI – Elementary
Trustee Hunking Joins OPSBA Executive Council
It was announced that Trustee Robert Hunking has been appointed Regional Vice-President for the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA). OPSBA provides advocacy and conveys the concerns, views, and recommendations of public school boards and their students and communities.
Board Approves the 2017-2018 Budget
The Board approved the 2017-2018 Estimates Budget as recommended by the Finance Committee. The budget reflects the expected operating revenues and transfers of reserves totaling $204,985,044 and estimated expenses of the same value. As well, the Board approved the capital budget of $11,434,054 for the 2017-2018 year.
Enrolment projections for the upcoming school year reflect an overall decline from the current year of 1.3%. Elementary enrolment, which is estimated to drop by approximately 85 students, is expected to continue to stabilize in future years while declines in the Secondary enrolment figures, expected to drop by approximately 117 students, will continue to be steeper as a number of low enrolment cohorts move through the Secondary division.
The revenues for 2017-2018 include funds provided by the Ministry of Education to support collective agreement related costs and funds to support inflationary increases, such as Transportation Contracts and Utilities. While the Capital allocations are expected to decrease from the current year, as one-time enhancements received in 2016-2017 are not continued in 2017-2018, the operating revenue for the Board is expected to increase by over $4.6 M.
In addition to ensuring contractual obligations are covered, the focus of the budget is to ensure spending aligns with the Avon Maitland Strategic Plan. The goal continues to be maintaining existing funded programs and enriching some activities in support of the two Board priorities: to Maximize Outcomes for Students and to Create Positive, Inclusive Learning Environments.
The final approval of the 2017-2018 budget was as follows:
The Avon Maitland District School Board approved the Operating Revenue and Transfers of Reserves totaling $204,985,044 and Expense Estimates in the amount of $204,985,044 for the period of September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018.
The Avon Maitland District School Board also approved the Capital allocations and spending in the amount of $11,434,054 for the period September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018.
Please see the full Budget Report of the Finance Committee.
Elementary Boundary Adjustments – North Perth and Stratford Planning Areas
Staff conduct an annual review of boundaries for consideration of boundary adjustments to address student accommodation concerns across the district.
Please see the full report.
Approval of Tenders
Roofing at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School
At the May 23, 2017 Board Meeting, trustees approved a tender for mechanical and electrical work in the welding shop at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School. This same report identified that a roofing allowance was carried in this project to address re-roofing over the welding classroom, to be tendered separately, but form part of the mechanical project. Following are the results of the roofing tender.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from Smith Peat Roofing & Sheet Metal Limited for re-roofing at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School in the amount of $359,277.85.
Please see the full report.
Washroom and Fire Alarm Upgrades at Downie Central Public School
As part of the ongoing infrastructure improvements to be funded through Ministry facility grants, washroom upgrades were identified at Downie Central Public School. The work includes upgrades to the boys and girls washrooms by replacing the existing toilets, partitions, hand wash-fountains and fixtures, with new. Existing millwork will be refinished and the washrooms will be painted. The boys washroom will see new wall hung urinals. The girls washroom will be right-sized freeing up space to erect a wall and create a new barrier free washroom which will include an accessible toilet, sink, shower and the provision for a change table. A new door will exit into the South corridor. This project will also see fire alarm upgrades throughout the entire school.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from SDI Builders Ltd., for washroom and fire alarm upgrades at Downie Central Public School in the tender amount of $188,597.00.
Please see the full report.
Mechanical and Electrical Upgrades at Milverton Public 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 gym at Milverton Public School. The work involves ventilation upgrades which include deleting the existing exhaust fan on the roof, the supply fan in the gym storage area, old pneumatic control and heating coils and replacing with 2 propane fired rooftop units that will also supply cooling to the area. This will be tied into our existing building automation system. 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. Existing lighting will be replaced with LED fixtures with dimming controls.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from JMR Electric Ltd. for mechanical and lighting upgrades at Milverton Public School in the amount of $169,274.00.
Please see the full report.
Door, Windows and Siding Replacement at Upper Thames Elementary School
The project at Upper Thames Elementary School is a continuation of the project undertaken last year on the east elevation. This project includes removal and replacement of two upper-level curtain wall systems and stairwell window at the east elevation of the school as well as roofing above the east entrance vestibule. Work also includes new metal cladding and masonry repair on the east elevation. A number of door systems will be also replaced. These include: the main entrance system, 4 exterior door systems plus 1 interior door system on the east side of the East Wing, 1 exterior door system on the north-west end of the East wing, 1 barrier free exterior door system on the North side of the school leading out to the playground, and 2 exterior door systems on the east side of the West Wing.
The Avon Maitland District School Board accepted the tender from MB Construction Group Ltd. for doors, windows and siding at Upper Thames Elementary School in the tender amount of $326,005.00.
Please see the full report.
Administrative Transfers
Effective September 2017:
Elementary Principals
- Dave Bennett – St. Marys DCVI 7 & 8 → Seaforth PS
- Jeremy Brock – Upper Thames ES → Milverton PS
- Sylvia Cattrysse – Anne Hathaway PS → Elma Township PS
- Greg Haber – Elma Township PS → Anne Hathaway PS
- Ross MacSorley – Stratford Central ES → Listowel Eastdale PS
Elementary Vice Principals
- Shawn Allen – South Huron DHS 7&8 → Clinton PS
- Kerry Carlyle – Little Falls ES → Exeter ES
- Gary Coursey – Exeter ES → Huron Centennial PS
- Rob Holland – Huron Centennial → PS Little Falls ES
- Matt Robinson – Stratford Northwestern ES → Upper Thames ES
- Lori Stevens – Maitland River ES → Bedford PS
- Tracy Swart – FE Madill SS → Maitland River ES
- Jessica Vanderkaden – Bedford PS → Elma Township PS
Secondary Principals
- Emma Bannerman – Mitchell District HS → Stratford Northwestern SS
- Kim Crawford – Stratford Northwestern SS → Listowel District SS
- Petra Goetz – Listowel District SS → Mitchell District HS
- Scott Richardson – Stratford Central SS → St. Marys DCVI
- Martin Ritsma – Stratford Northwestern SS → Central Admin Position
- Chris Smith – → Central Huron SS
Secondary Vice Principals
- Scott Bannerman – VP candidate → Stratford Central SS
- Helena Finch – Central Huron SS → FE Madill SS
- Ed Havenga – VP candidate → South Huron DHS
- John Herbert – St. Marys DCVI → Stratford Northwestern SS
- Julie Hohner – Listowel District SS → Mitchell District HS
- Shannon Hughes – Elma Township PS → Stratford Northwestern ES
- Jenalyn Ignor – VP candidate → Listowel District SS
- Janice Shore – Goderich District CI → FE Madill SS
- Rob Simmons – South Huron DHS → Stratford Central SS
- Eveline Wright – FE Madill SS → Central Huron SS
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- June 27, 2017 – 3:30 p.m. Regular Board Session
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Audit Committee: Tuesday, June 20, 2017 – 5:00 p.m.