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12/8/2015 - Regular Board MeetingTHAMES VALLEY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD INAUGURAL MEETING, PUBLIC SESSION 2015 DECEMBER 8 The Board met in session for its annual Inaugural meeting on 2015 December 8 in the Board Room at the Education Centre, meeting in public session at 7:00 p.m. The following were in attendance: TRUSTEES R. McKinnon (Chair) A. Morell J. Bennett S. Polhill R. Campbell M. Reid H. Goddeeris P. Schuyler C. Goodall J. Skinner G. Hart S. Suvajac R. Tisdale Regrets: P. Jaffe J. Todd ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS L. Elliott V. Nielsen J. Pratt C. Beal S. Builder R. Culhane M. Deman K. Edgar L. Griffith -Jones 1. CALL TO ORDER Board Chair B. McKinnon called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. D. Macpherson P. McKenzie M. Moynihan S. Powell B. Sonier K. Wilkinson K. Bushell B. Williams R. Hoffman L. Abell 2. O CANADA Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School Chamber Choir led in the singing of O Canada. 3. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF TRUSTEES Arlene Morell, Chair, Programs and School Services Advisory Committee, on behalf of the Trustees and the Senior Administration welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the 2016 Board. She introduced the trustees noting their area of representation, committee work, and community involvement. 4. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Trustee G. Hart introduced Thamesford Public School Vocaleeze Choir to perform their first of three musical selections. 5. TRADITIONAL OPENING Monty McGahey, Chippewa of the Thames First Nation provided a traditional opening. 6. REFLECTION Jacob Rowe delivered the reflection. 7. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School Chamber Choir performed a selection of their choice. 8. SPECIAL GREETINGS Graham Hart, Chair, Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee read a list of organizations represented at the meeting. He welcomed and introduced the following guests including those who brought greetings on behalf of their affiliates: • Michael McDonald, Ministry of Education Regional Office • Bill Hall, Chair, London District Catholic School Board • Sharon Gowdey and Dana Parsons, Co -Chairs, Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee 2015 December 8 ... 2 Trustee Hart read letters bringing greetings to trustees for 2016 and congratulating incoming Chair Bill McKinnon from Jeff Yurek, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Elgin -Middlesex -London and Sheena Davis, President of the Thames Valley Council of Home and School Associations. 9. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Thamesford Public School Vocaleeze Choir performed their second selection. 10. RECOGNITION OF 2015 CHAIR Trustee J. Bennett presented Past Chair R. Tisdale with a commemorative gift in appreciation of her commitment and dedication in serving as the 2015 Chair. 11. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School Chamber Choir performed their next selection. 12. PRESENTATION OF THE 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 McKinnon by Student Trustees, H. Goddeeris and S. Suvajac. 13. INAUGURAL ADDRESS Chair McKinnon presented the following Inaugural Address: "Good morning, and to anyone who knows me, it is morning. Education is the key to success. Everyone can learn under the right circumstances, whether it is by visual, oral, physical, logical or social learning styles. It is a great honour and personal pleasure to welcome all of our guests on the occasion of the annual Inaugural meeting of the Thames Valley District School Board. Your presence here is not only to enjoy a celebration of the occasion but it is an expression of your interest in public education. I would like to thank the Trustees of the Thames Valley District School Board for selecting myself as the Chair for the 2016 year. Tonight the Trustees sitting around the horseshoe will be making a commitment to serve our students, staff and communities. We all recognize that it is a great privilege that we have been granted and we all take this responsibility very seriously. We do this by working with our staff, students, communities and our community partners; engaging them in our decisions. As a Board we must continue to work collaboratively, respecting that we all bring different strengths, passions, values and perspectives. Although we are not always going to agree, a healthy debate and different perspectives will always contribute to the best decisions and the right ones for our students. As I went through our website before sitting down to write this speech, we really do a lot here at the Thames Valley District School. Board, not only to support our students but to promote education and awareness. I give credit to every staff member from Custodian to Administrative Assistant, Teachers and Carpenters who do a great job in our system. I also cannot forget our community partners and there are too many to mention. Without them and our parents we have a very big hole to fill. Some of the initiatives going on now at the Thames Valley District School Board are first and foremost our Pledge to end bullying, International students, First Nations education, safe schools, environmental programs, innovation and special education. We really do Build Each Student's Tomorrow, Every Day. Tonight I was inspired by choosing learning styles as my theme. I have to thank our Student Trustees and Superintendent McKenzie. Hailey and Stefan led a Student Advisory Council group in a workshop in October. The student leaders in all of our schools expressed that they would like to see a different way of teaching to line up with their way of learning. It was fantastic to see the 2015 December 8 ... 3 future leaders of our world debating this issue. I remember that if I suggested something like this many years ago, I would be in detention for a week. I learned some styles from all of you. Each and every one of you has a different style and I try to take every little piece of that and work. it together. want to touch on former Trustee, Terry Roberts, who was my mentor when I first started as a Trustee. I remember asking Trustee Roberts what I was supposed to wear and the look on his face told me that it was a suit and tie with a collar. That was just at one meeting. Trustee Goodall is sitting where Trustee Roberts sat and I sat where Trustee Hart is. I learned what physical learning styles are. He said to me, Now Bill, if Trustee Todd is going to speak, you hit me so that am awake when the camera pans on us. He also taught me about logical learning when I asked about a certain committee meeting we were attending together. His advice was, logically, just listen; I took that very much to heart. I do a lot of things behind the scenes, but I listen at every meeting. Trustee Roberts taught me a lot. Next I would like to touch on EQAO. When International groups come to our school system they are not interested in seeing the top rated score. They are interested in seeing what our schools are doing and that is physical learning. Localized courses cannot be measured in standardized testing. Running a lathe, coding, robotics, catering and hairdressing can't be measured with standardized tests. We do a great job and the people around the horseshoe are part of that job. Our mission to build each student's tomorrow, every day, maybe, so they can work tomorrow should be added at the end. I would' like to thank our friends from the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB). Chair Bill Hall has been the Chair of the LDCSB for 12 years. I was truly inspired by your speech last night. Thank you very much for being here. To the government of Ontario and the Ministry of Education, Mr. McDonald, thank you for supplying the funding for our initiatives in education. It is very much appreciated. I can't say enough about what the members of Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee and Home and School do for our students and parents. I have had the opportunity to work with you and I thank you for all that you do. It is appreciated. When I walk into a school, usually an elementary school, I try to find a staff picture. It is always nice to recognize a face when walking down the hall. The hundreds of people behind the scenes involved in your education is not shown in that picture. Whether it is Learning Support staff, Psychologists, Research and Assessment Team, Supply staff and Parent Volunteers, we all make the building tick. As Trustees we work hard behind the scenes and on a night like this we get to celebrate our work in education. Today I am reminded of all those that have nurtured and supported me. The Trustees and Senior Administration can be very pleased with the direction we are heading. We are living in a world that not only tests our students but our staff as well. We must stay rooted in our principles and forward in our mission. In closing, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I thank you all for being here. Enjoy the evening and I hope you ate all of that pizza. Thank you". The following motion was moved by R. Tisdale, seconded by J. Todd and carried: That the Chairperson's Inaugural Address be spread upon the minutes. 14. MUSICAL INTERLUDE Thamesford Public School Vocaleeze Choir performed their next selection. Vice -chair, M. Reid thanked the schools for their performances. 2015 December 8 ... 4 15. CLOSING REMARKS Director L. Elliott brought closing remarks to the Inaugural meeting of the Thames Valley Board of Trustees noting the Inaugural meeting is held to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. Trustee Bill McKinnon was welcomed as Chairperson and Trustee Matt Reid as Vice Chairperson. On behalf of the Senior Administrative team, Director Elliott expressed the ongoing commitment of working together to create an innovative and positive learning culture for all students and staff. The student performers were thanked for their special performances and sharing their talents. Families, friends, staff, partners in education and special guests were thanked for attending. Director Elliott invited guests to attend the reception in the Atrium to celebrate the new Board and extend personal congratulations to Chairperson Bill McKinnon and Vice Chairperson Matt Reid. 16. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. on motion of R. Tisdale, seconded by A. Morell. Confirmed: Chairperson SUMMARY OF APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS OF 2015 DECEMBER 8 That the Chairperson's Inaugural Address be spread upon the minutes and posted to the Board's website.