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12/13/2011 - Regular Board MeetingTHAMES VALLEY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD INAUGURAL MEETING 2011 DECEMBER 13, 7:00 P.M. BOARD ROOM, EDUCATION CENTRE AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER - Joyce Bennett, Chair of the Board 2. 0 CANADA London All City Choir 3. INVOCATION - The Reverend Wendy Mencel 4. FIRST NATIONS PRAYER - Barbara Antone, Oneida Nation of the Thames 5. MUSICAL INTERLUDE London All City Choir 6. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF TRUSTEES - Graham Hart, Vice -Chair of the Board 7. SPECIAL GREETINGS - Ruth Tisdale, Chair, Information Committee of the Whole ? 8. PRESENTATION TO 2011 CHAIR - ' - Joyce Bennett, Chair of the Board 9. MUSICAL INTERLUDE - East Elgin Secondary School Band 10. PRESENTATION OF GAVEL - Mitchell Bennett, Strathroy District Collegiate Institute 11. MUSICAL INTERLUDE - East Elgin Secondary School Band 12. INAUGURAL AD_ DRESS - Joyce Bennett, Chair of the Board 13. SPECIAL MUSICAL PRESENTATION Austin Gagnier, Parkside Collegiate Institute 14. BENEDICTION - The Reverend Wendy Mencel 15. MUSICAL INTERLUDE - East Elgin Secondary School Band 16. CLOSING REMARKS - Bill Tucker, Director of Education 17. ADJOURNMENT THAMES VALLEY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD INAUGURAL MEETING, PUBLIC SESSION 2011 DECEMBER 13 The Board met in session for its annual Inaugural meeting on 2011 December 13 in the Board Room at the Education Centre, meeting in public session at 7:04 p.m to 8:05 p.m. The following were in attendance: TRUSTEES ADMINISTRATION AND J. Bennett (Chair) P. Jaffe OTHERS V. Nielsen S. Amri S. Polhill B. Tucker M.E. Smith R. Campbell T. Roberts K. Dalton B. Sonier J. Coghlin P. Sattler L. Elliott P. Tufts T. Grant R. Tisdale M. Sereda K. Wilkinson G. Hart J. Todd C. Bourbonnias-MacDonald K. Bushell W. Huff K. Edgar J. Pratt L. Griffith -Jones S. Young Regrets: B. McKinnon S. Hughes S. Christie W. J. Tai K. Meeson K. Young M. Moynihan K. Aitken 1. CALL TO ORDER.- Board Chairperson Joyce Bennett called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. O CANADA AND MUSICAL PRESENTATION Students of East Elgin Secondary School Band played accompanied the London All City Choir in singing 0 Canada led by conductors Dave Dykeman and Michelle. Rees respectively. 3. INVOCATION - The Reverend Wendy Mencel delivered the invocation. 4. FIRST NATIONS PRAYER - Barbara Antone, Oneida Nation of the Thames, delivered an opening prayer. 5. MUSICAL INTERLUDE The London All City Choir performed three musical selections under the direction of Conductor Michelle Rees. Trustee Polhill thanked them for sharing their talents at this special meeting. 6. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Graham Hart, Vice Chair of the Board, on behalf of the Trustees and the Senior Administration welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the 2012 Board. He introduced the trustees noting their area of representation and introduced former trustees of the Board attending the meeting. 7. SPECIAL GREETINGS Ruth Tisdale, Chair of the Information Committee of the Whole, read a list of community groups and organizations represented at the meeting. She welcomed and introduced the following guests who brought greetings on behalf of their affiliates: Joe Fontana, Mayor, City of London; Philip Squire, Chair, London District Catholic School Board; Cindy McCutcheon, Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee; Sheena Davis, Area President, Thames Valley Council of Home and School Associations. 8. PRESENTATION TO 2011 CHAIR Chair Bennett presented Past Chair Tracy Grant with a commemorative gift in appreciation of her commitment and dedication in serving as the 2011 Chair. 2011 December 13...2 MUSICAL INTERLUDE The East Elgin Secondary School Band performed a holiday musical selection. 10. PRESENTATION OF GAVEL On behalf of the students, trustees, staff and community of the Thames Valley District School Board, the gavel of office was presented to Chair Bennett by her grandson, Mitchell Bennett, a student at Parkside Collegiate Institute. 11. MUSICAL INTERLUDE The East Elgin Secondary School Band performed an additional musical number. 12. INAUGURAL ADDRESS Chair Bennett presented the following Inaugural Address: "I would like to begin my remarks this evening with a heartfelt thank you for demonstrating your trust in my leadership by electing me Chair of the Board for the coming year. There are also several supporters in the audience who are sharing this evening with us. My family, son Kevin and his wife Mary Ann, my friends, past trustees Bill Brock, Jean Wright, Phil Schyler, Linda Stevenson, Jan Hunter and former Director John Thorpe. As 1 prepared to put my thoughts to paper in preparation for this evening, I reflected on Thames Valley's journey and how far our system has evolved, in part because of the Board's leadership and that of our system's leaders. Our first Chair Heather Wice emphasized that as we formed our new Board, we were better together. 1999 Chair Pat Smith charged us to not only have roots, but wings. Past -Chair Tracy Grant encouraged us to build on our strengths. As trustees, we have the responsibility not only to lead the system to success, but also to act with knowledge, wisdom and a deep regard for the common good. If we are to make a difference, I believe that we need a vision of trustee leadership that goes far beyond administrative and fiduciary success to embodying caring, effective governance. To accomplish this, we are embarking on an extensive strategic planning process. We want to engage parents, students, staff and community partners in a meaningful way to develop a vision of excellence for students in Thames Valley. As a Board, we have talked about the enormous promise of our system and we have much to be proud of. Our focus on Safe Schools and anti -bullying led most recently to the huge success of The Pledge. We have celebrated the opening of new schools and beautifully refurbished schools in several communities. The Ministry of Education has been very supportive of our extensive capital projects. We have Letters of Agreement to talk in a collaborative proactive way about accommodation planning with our municipal partners. We have agreements with Elgin, Oxford and Middlesex counties and have taken a significant first step with the City of London. Work continues toward improving student achievement with a focus on the Learning Agenda, District School Reviews and the development of more comprehensive School Improvement Plans. Together, we have achieved much, but there us still more to be done. There are several challenges to be met in the coming year. Declining enrolment and diminished dollars, accommodation issues and upcoming negotiations. These matters will demand a great deal of the time and deliberation of this Board. Finding our way takes patient preparation and an ability to listen to the many audiences who need and demand to be heard. 2011 December 13... 3 12. INAUGURAL ADDRESS - cont'd Meeting these challenges will be the mark of our character as a Board and our students, our most cherished resource, will be the ultimate benefactors. The question then becomes, how do we focus on the main thing? What is the main thing? There is no question in my mind what the answer is. Let me share a story with you. The Starfish Story There was a woman who lived by the ocean and each morning it was her habit to rise early and enjoy the cool morning air. One morning, she noticed a lone figure some distance down the beach. The figure was picking up objects and throwing them, one by one, into the pounding surf. The woman was curious and she wondered to herself: who is that person, and what are they doing out there all alone? The next morning the woman looked out toward the beach and, sure enough, the lone figure was back. After a few mornings like this, the woman's curiosity got the better of her and she left her balcony and walked down to the beach. As she approached the mysterious figure, she saw that it was a young woman. As she had been each morning that week, she was picking objects up off the beach and throwing them into the ocean waves. By now the woman had almost reached the stranger and to her surprise saw that the objects of her attention were starfish —starfish that had been carried onto the beach by the action of the waves and, as the tide went out, had become stranded. "How unusual", thought the woman, "I must ask her why she is doing that". "Good morning," she said. "Good morning," came the reply. "I hope you don't mind, but I've been watching you all week and I just had to come down and ask you what you're doing." "These starfish are stranded and I'm throwing them back so that they don't dry out and die, " the younger woman answered. "But there are dozens of starfish out here," the woman protested. "And this beach is miles long. You can't possibly make a difference to them." The youngerwoman said nothing but simply stooped and picked up a large starfish thatwas lying right next to the older woman's feet. She then ran toward the hissing waves and, with all her might, threw the stranded starfish back into the sea. Returning to the spot where the older woman stood, she looked into her eyes and said: "Well, I just made a difference to that starfish didn't 17" Then she smiled and ran off to where another starfish lay waiting in the early morning sun. The understanding that we hold in our hands the power to change a life, a mind or a circumstance today, right now is a powerful insight and motivator. Together, we can act to make a positive difference for our students. No child should be stranded on the beach because we haven't taken enough time and care to put supports in place which lead to success. Ladies and gentleman of the audience, I ask you to do your part in your corner of the Valley to help a student feel good about attending school every day and as a team, we'll do our part to support him or her to be successful. How will we do that? We look at what we are doing now and if it isn't working, we'll do our best to change it. Why? Because, its the right thing to do. No child should be left behind. Every student deserves to be given every opportunity to experience success. To my trustee colleagues, I challenge you to stand beside me to hold our Director accountable. No child deserves to be left behind. Thank you." 2011 December 13... 4 12. INAUGURAL ADDRESS - cont'd Chair Bennett received a standing ovation following her Inaugural Address. The following motion was moved by T. Roberts, seconded by T. Grant and carried: Thatthe Chairperson's Inaugural Address be spread upon the minutes and posted to the Board's website. 13. SPECIAL MUSICAL PRESENTATION At the special request of Chair Bennett, Austin Gagnier, a student at Parkside Collegiate Institute performed a powerful rendition of Change the World. 14. BENEDICTION The Reverend Wendy Mencel delivered the benediction. 1S. MUSICAL INTERLUDE The East Elgin Secondary School Band performed their final musical number. Student Trustee Amri thanked the students and Conductor Dykeman for their participation in the meeting and commended them for their exceptional musical talent. 16. CLOSING REMARKS Director of Education Bill Tucker concluded the meeting by noting that the senior team shares the Chair's enthusiasm and looks forward to the new term with all the rewards and compliments it promises. He indicated that he is looking forward to working with Chair Bennett, Vice -Chair Hart, past Chair Grant, Information Committee of the Whole Chair Tisdale and Vice -Chair Todd. Individuals who bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the role of trustee. He expressed his appreciation the collaborative spiritwhich those individuals have worked with senior staff to address significant provincial and local issues and looks forward to their input and guidance over the next year. He noted that from the inception of Thames Valley, the administration has been impressed with the focus that the trustees have by putting students first as they have addressed complex issues. He is confident that the decisions that the Board will make in the coming year will continue to be premised on this belief. Director Tucker also noted that he continues to be impressed by the dedication of the administrators, the staff, trustees, school council, home and school representatives and school community partners, as they work to provide students with every opportunity for success. "Each student, every day." He believes that the system offers, not only information, but opportunities. Opportunities to open the minds of students to expand their perspectives, to exchange ideas and come to new understandings and appreciations. He explained that the performers of the evening have demonstrated what can be achieved when the opportunities are realized. Director Tucker advised that the Board can be proud of what has been achieved over the past 13 years within Thames Valley by improving student learning and looks forward to what the next yearwill offer. He thanked all guests for attending and helping to make the evening it a success. 17. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m., on motion of R. Tisdale, seconded by G. Hart. CONFIRME a, �~ irperson 2011 December 13... 5 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 2011 DECEMBER 13 BOARD MEETING - That the Chairperson's Inaugural Address be spread upon the minutes and posted to the Board's website.