English Montreal School Board

The board discussed several key topics including a land acknowledgement, various student and volunteer recognitions, and the adoption of a revised budget for the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, the board approved drafts of new by-laws regarding meeting schedules and locations for the board and its executive committee. Staffing changes for the 2026-2027 school year, including the termination and placement of teachers on availability due to surplus, were also addressed. The board further declared an ethics commissioner's report invalid due to procedural non-compliance. Finally, various committee and commissioner reports were presented covering special education, transportation, governance, and recent school events and initiatives.

The board meeting included a land acknowledgement, the nomination of a student of the month, and presentations of annual reports for the school board and the student ombudsperson. Key business items addressed included the approval of the budget building process for the 2026-2027 school year, the adoption of teacher calendars for various sectors, and an increase in real estate rental rates for board facilities. The board also amended its by-laws regarding meeting scheduling, established an Ad Hoc Committee on Environmental Sustainability, and formally recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Furthermore, the board deliberated on non-compliance issues concerning ethics complaints, declaring two specific decisions invalid due to procedural failures, while still depositing them for transparency. Several committee and commissioner reports were presented before adjournment.

Key discussions included a Land Acknowledgement recognizing unceded territory and a commitment to reconciliation. The Board recognized the December Student of the Month recipients for their community support. The Question Period addressed concerns regarding anti-Zionist hostility, equipping educators with knowledge on historical issues, aligning responses with the Education Act and ABAV policies, vetting organizations for genocide education, budgetary matters including surplus fund usage and commissioner defense spending limits, and parental review processes for partner organization funding. The Board approved the agenda, moving one item to in-camera session. During the in-camera session, resolutions were adopted concerning the choice of limit per claim for the CNESST Retrospective Plan for 2026 and the immediate dismissal of an employee due to misconduct. The Board approved the assignment of space at Lester B. Pearson High School to Adult Education and Vocational Studies (AEVS) for future use, and approved draft calendars for consultation. Resolutions were passed to authorize cadastral amendments to correct Land Registry errors concerning Lester B. Pearson School and Jules-Verne School, and to correct the property designation notice for Our Lady of Pompei School. The 2024-2025 Annual Report was approved for submission to the Ministry of Education by December 31, 2025, with a formal presentation set for February 2026. The remuneration for Commissioners for 2025-2026 was approved, retroactive to July 1, 2025. A legal challenge against the governance structure of the Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal (CGTSIM) was mandated due to infringement on minority language rights. February 2026 was designated as Black History Month. Information reports were presented on workforce management and Director General reporting. Committee reports detailed activities including budget cut impacts, the Bill 94 implications, and drafting guidelines for extreme weather.

The English Montreal School Board's 2024-2025 Annual Report details its mission and outlines the Commitment-to-Success Plan. This plan focuses on academic objectives, including maintaining high graduation rates and improving vocational education completion rates, along with enhancing success in core subjects like math, science, history, and languages. It also addresses equity through gender parity and support for students with special needs, fosters a positive school climate by monitoring bullying, safety, and anxiety, and aims to increase student participation in specialized educational projects (PPPs). Additionally, the report covers objectives for preschool education and advancing digital competency among staff.

This event honored Arianne Asly Verdon, an incredible music teacher at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Elementary School, who received the Prime Minister's Award of Excellence Certificate. Discussions highlighted the essential role of music in life, noting its benefits for bringing people together, boosting endorphins, and developing fine and gross motor skills in young children. Student and parent testimonials emphasized the positive impact of music education on creativity, understanding, and overall learning progression. The principal noted the teacher's contagious enthusiasm and dedication to incorporating music into all school activities.