Boardroom Briefs: September 17, 2025

Trustee Lloyd: During private session at the Audit Meeting on September 15, 2025:
Superintendent Young and Associate Superintendent Hedderson provided property of the board updates.
There was no other business conducted, or motions passed in Private Session.

Earlier this evening during Private Session:
The private session minutes were approved from the following: August 20, 2025, Regular Board Meeting
Trustees discussed a Personnel Update and Legal Update
There was no other business conducted, or motions passed in Private Session.

Chair McGregor provided the following report:

"As we move into the third week of the school year, it has been truly heartening to see our schools come to life once again. Classrooms are buzzing with learning, hallways echo with laughter and conversation, and extracurricular activities are beginning to take shape—bringing students and staff together in meaningful and joyful ways.

There is something special about this time of year. The early days of September are filled with renewed energy, fresh routines, and the excitement of new beginnings.

Across Limestone, we are already seeing the positive impact of strong relationships, thoughtful planning, and a shared commitment to student well-being and success. 

We are grateful to our staff for the care and dedication they bring to their work each day, and to families for their continued partnership and support. Together, we are creating welcoming, inclusive environments where every student can thrive—both in and beyond the classroom. 

On behalf of the Board, thank you for all you do to make our schools vibrant, supportive places to learn and grow. We look forward to the many opportunities this year will bring. 

This concludes my report." 

Director Burra provided the following report:

"Good evening, Trustees and the viewing public. Overall, and all things considered, I am very pleased to report that Limestone has had a positive start to the 2025-2026 school year. While there is always room for improvement, it is amazing to see everything come together with over 20,500 students and almost 3,000 staff starting the school year in all Limestone sites and the virtual school.

Preliminary enrolment numbers are close to projections for both elementary and secondary students. Today was Day 11 of the 2025-2026 school year for students, and it has been wonderful to have students back in schools and to see various activities like sports, clubs, field trips, and great learning already underway helping to support the overall Limestone student experience.

We must all recognize and have gratitude for the time and efforts of staff and community members to make all of these extracurricular activities a reality for students. Fall sports, clubs, and activities have started across the district, parent councils are kicking off their school years, and students are involved in a range of activities like the several hundred LDSB students that attended the Fall Fair last week in Kingston or the range of Terry Fox fundraising activities that will come in the next couple of weeks. I have already started my visits to schools, and I greatly look forward to seeing, hearing, and feeling the energy and excitement of learning and fun in Limestone schools. 

As we start this school year it is important that we all are conscious of our legal responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code. As a school board, we cannot accept any hate in schools, we must be conscious of the feelings of alienation and lack of faith in public institutions that exists for some people in the communities we serve.  Like in so many other areas in education and society at large, as members of the community, we must continue to emphasize the importance of respecting differences in perspective and being open to dialogue to the maximum extent possible. We must be united in respecting differences given all people share many more similarities than differences. Respect and civility need to be at the forefront. And we must continue to be unequivocally clear that Limestone stands in support of all protected grounds of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Ontario Human Rights Code is not a checklist where some grounds outweigh others. We need to stand with all students, staff, and families, in protecting all grounds under the Code. It is important to remember that the Code is the law in Ontario, and we have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that it is upheld. Furthermore, our own data based on human rights complaints reinforces our continuing need to be committed to upholding the Code. Additionally, we will be administering Limestone’s second student census later this year which will provide further insight regarding students in the district, and needs in the system.

Trustees may have noticed the Orange 'Survivors’ Flag' flying on the second flagpole at the Education Centre. Schools with a second flagpole are doing the same, and in schools without a second flagpole, the Orange flag is prominently on display in the school. Looking ahead to next two weeks, a wide range of activities will be taking place in schools and the community to honour Orange Shirt Day, and the fifth annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday, September 30. This is a critical date to recognize the harm and trauma of the Residential Schools system, to honour the survivors and their families, and continue our collective learning and journey of reconciliation. Schools continue to have a critical role in supporting this journey and ensuring the truth is known about Residential Schools and their legacy in Canada.

In the next couple of weeks, we will be kicking off the annual United Way of KFL&A campaign in Limestone. I invite all Trustees to join this effort. As you will hear, Limestone’s Student Trustees and their peers on the Interschool Council will also be engaging in raising funds this year to support the United Way. No amount is too little, and every dollar matters in supporting some of the most vulnerable children, youth, and families in the communities we serve.

I would also like to bring to Trustees’ attention to the professional learning focus we continue to pursue in Limestone for the 2025-2026 school year. We must continue to hone our craft to best serve students. While this work will not be completed this year, I think it is critical to highlight its importance in ensuring schools are making a difference for all students today, and into their futures. We need all Limestone students to find purpose in school, to find value in school, and to find hope in school. We know this is not the case for all students. While we do have to track, monitor, and report on the 11 indicators in the provincial Student Achievement Plan, we must continue to centre those students who are currently underserved, and not currently finding success.

As a result, our system focus this year for professional learning, continues to centre our attention on students, and continuing the work we started three years ago focused on three inquiry questions: First, for whom is the current education system not working and why? Second, how do I/we know? And third, what can I/we try to do differently to make a difference? It is only through improving outcomes at the individual student level that we will see macro-level improvement on the province’s three core priorities and Student Achievement Plan, and the Limestone Strategic Plan. I should note that 2024-2025 EQAO results should become public in the next couple of weeks. As educators and as a system, we have a critical responsibility in supporting children and youth in the communities we serve. Our overall purpose is well placed by emphasizing our intention to make a positive difference in the lives of every student, in every classroom, in every school; and to make sure everyone sees themselves in Limestone.

All educators want to make a difference in the lives and destinies of children and youth. Our continued journey of inquiry and our united, stated intention will focus our collective efforts. I look forward to more discussion and updates regarding our progress in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.

Thank you, Chair McGregor. That concludes my report."

Chair McGregor provided an OPSBA report.

Student Trustee Comeau provided the Student Trustees' Report:

"Representatives from all schools came to the first meeting. Student Trustees introduced themselves and discussed the purpose of the Interschool Council (ISC). Then the council focused on goals for the upcoming school year and steps to put those goals into action. Across all goals there was a focus on improving student involvement in schools.

Mr. Burra and a United Way presenter then joined the meeting to introduce United Way and discuss raising money for it in schools. ISC members then worked together to come up with ideas to implement funding for United Way so that they can be successful in their individual schools. 

Finally, the description and applications for the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee student positions were sent out in the meeting minutes via e-mail." 

The purpose of this report is to provide Trustees with an update on Virtual School, and goals for the 2025/2026 school year.

As of September 10, 2025, a total of 103 students were enrolled in elementary virtual school: 55 LDSB students and 48 Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) students. This is an increase over the 2024-2025 school year in which 86 students were registered in virtual school.

The school organization currently is comprised of 5 classes which includes:

To date, LDSB has registered 28 students from other districts which include Durham DSB, Renfrew County DSB, Trillium Lakelands DSB, Chippewas of Rama First Nation/Simcoe Muskoka Catholic DSB, Waterloo Catholic DSB, Greater Essex County DSB and Simcoe DSB.

Next steps include:

• Staff professional learning focused on building strong math and language programs that close gaps for those students in risk using short cycles of learning and ongoing progress monitoring.
  Learning will include:
  o implementing Knowledgehook (an online Math program) with students and offering family information sessions
  o using math diagnostic data to identify and provide targeted fluency activities as part of the daily math program.
  o participating in short math cycles to improve math pedagogy
  o using early reading screeners and diagnostic data to identify literacy learning gaps and then provide targeted instruction
• Implementing a targeted approach to address students with higher academic needs. This support is accomplished through Student Support Teacher (SST) meetings, small group instruction with classroom teachers and the support of St. Lawrence College (SLC) placement students
• Building a positive attendance plan by building relationships with students and families
• Reinforcing the importance of daily attendance in the online learning platform through regular communication with students and families
  
  For more information, please view the Board Meeting Agenda.

The purpose of this report is to provide Trustees with an update on summer programming that was offered to Limestone DSB students and staff during July and August 2025. The LDSB continues to offer a wide variety of summer programming options for K12 students.

The Program Leadership Team provided updates on the following programs:

• Summer Literacy Program (Read-A-Lot)
• Focus on Youth Program - YMCA of Eastern Ontario
• Summer Credit Programs (Secondary)
• Back to School Transitions
• Literacy Camp Support
• Adolescent Care Worker for Summer School and Read-A-Lot Summer Literacy Program
• Learning Program Support for Summer School
• Sundance Youth Facility
• Social Work Support
• Psychiatry Pilot
• Intensive Skills Y-Training
• Behaviour Management Systems Training
• Violence Threat Risk Assessment Level 1 Training
• MH Lit - Mental Health in Action
• Gould Lake Outdoor Education
• Nature Camp for Students in Grades 1 to 4
• Outdoor Escape for Students in Grades 5 to 6
• Quest for Students in Grades 7 to 8
• Girls Adventure Program for Students in Grades 7 to 8
• Outreach for Students in Grades 9 to 10
• Outdoor Pursuits for Students in Grades 10 to 11
• Outdoor Skills for Students in Grades 10 to 11
• Wilderness Instructor Course for Students in Grades 11 to 12
• Kayak Instructor Course for Students in Grades 11 to 12

For more information, please view the Board Meeting Agenda.