Vidyia Maharaj

The board meeting included a land acknowledgement, the Canadian national anthem, and approval of the agenda. Reports from various committees, including the Director of Education Performance Review Committee, Finance and Property Standing Committee, Audit Committee, and Governance and Board Organization Committee, were received and approved. The meeting featured several recognition segments, celebrating a long-serving crosswalk attendant for her community contributions, a group of students for winning first place in a national environmental leadership competition, a secondary school group for their work in entrepreneurship education, and a student team for developing a mobile app to assist newcomers with navigating the healthcare system.

The committee reviewed policy 237 regarding the appointment of community members to board committees and policy 610 concerning the reporting of children and youth in need of protection. Discussions centered on ensuring transparency in committee appointments, alignment with the education act, and the roles and responsibilities of staff in identifying and reporting protective concerns for students of all ages, including those over 18 and adult learners. The meeting also addressed the draft policy review schedule for the upcoming year.

The committee meeting featured a presentation on the partnership between the York Region Children's Aid Society and the York Region District School Board, focusing on child welfare, shared responsibility, and efforts to address disproportionality and anti-black racism. The discussion included strategies for early identification and support for diverse communities and an overview of the African Canadian Child Welfare USHARI collaborative. The meeting concluded with an introduction to a budget review update.

The committee meeting focused on the mathematics achievement action plan progress update. Discussions included the three priority areas of the Ministry of Education, the use of digital tools like MathUP to support student learning, and professional learning opportunities for staff and administrators. The committee reviewed the progress made in the current school year and discussed plans to continue the initiative into the next school year with stable funding, maintaining the focus on priority schools and curriculum implementation.

The committee meeting covered a report on construction projects, including new additions to Unionville High School and Dr. GW Williams Secondary School. The primary agenda item was the presentation and adoption of the 2026-2027 draft operating budget. Key budget discussion points included enrollment trends and projections, core education funding, revenue pressures, staffing investments, and renewal and capital allocations. The committee also reviewed results from the budget public consultation process, highlighting priorities such as safe learning environments and support for students with special education needs.