Halton District School Board

The meeting commenced with an acknowledgment of the land and commitment to addressing colonialism. The main focus of the meeting was a presentation regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), modifications, and learning outcomes, aimed at standardizing the use of modifications across the system based on ministry guidelines. The presentation highlighted that modifications are viewed as a last resort before adjusting grade level expectations and that their use must align with a student's zone of proximal development to foster engagement and progress. Data presented showed that 26% of IEPs in Grades 1 to 8 included modifications, heavily concentrated in language and mathematics. The committee also planned to gather feedback on a draft modifications chart.

The meeting included discussions regarding National Indigenous Peoples Day, recognizing and celebrating the heritage, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in Canada, including the proper display and acknowledgement of the traditional land and territory acknowledgement developed with local knowledge keepers. Trustee Graves announced their upcoming departure, with a last day set for July 20th, leading to the addition of a report on the appointment process for a replacement trustee for the Milton Ward's one six seven eight position. The agenda was amended to include an OPSWell award presentation and to move student trustee reports up for consideration to accommodate Trustee Monsour's exam schedule. Key agenda items included presentations of the Inspire Awards to Melissa Terpstra (teacher at White Oak Secondary School) for her innovative community engagement for geography/civics students and fostering community between Montclair Public School and White Oak Secondary School, and to Laura Lee Dick (teacher at Gladys Spears Public School) for her kindness and individualized student support. Another award presentation recognized Tasha with the Jack A McDonald Award of Merit for outstanding academic record and community service. The student trustee reports highlighted significant accomplishments over the past two years, including the successful integration of student representatives on board-level committees, the creation of a drug policy working group, the overhaul of the student trustee election policy (including online voting and equal weighted votes), and advocacy efforts through attending over 30 Ministry of Education consultations, resulting in commitments for two-year student trustee terms, mandatory multiple student trustees per board, increased professional development funding for student trustees, and required student representation on school closure review committees.

This virtual session, part of the Halton District School Board's pathway planning series, explores the co-operative education program. It details the program's benefits for students, including gaining real-world experience, developing transferable skills, and making informed career decisions across various post-secondary pathways. The session outlines the program structure, such as credit options, virtual placements, safety protocols, and evaluation methods, and provides insights from student and employer testimonials. The objective is to highlight co-op as a critical component of student success and career planning.

The meeting commenced with a private session regarding property matters, negotiations, and personal information. Following the private session, the public meeting included acknowledgments and tributes for several Heritage Months, specifically Asian Heritage Month, Dutch Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, Polish Heritage Month, and South Asian Heritage Month, with trustees offering personal perspectives. The agenda was approved, and no conflicts of interest were declared. The primary agenda item involved presenting the Inspire Awards, honoring individuals and groups associated with the Halton District School Board for their exemplary support of students. Sixteen awards were presented, with four recipients present at the meeting. Student Trustees provided an update on their activities, including attending a workshop on linking initiatives to the multi-year plan and professional social media engagement, as well as presenting at the annual parent involvement committee conference. They also initiated their Secondary School Outreach report by visiting Iroquois Ridge High School and Craig Kielberger High School to discuss student events and concerns.

The meeting served as an introduction for the new co-chairs and outlined the agenda for future discussions. Key topics included a land acknowledgement, a debrief of the recent PIC conference held on November 15th, which involved over 1,500 parents/guardians, keynote speaker Parit Nagra on diversity and engagement, and various workshops covering topics such as AI in the classroom, building relationships, math learning, and mental health. The committee also discussed reviewing and potentially adapting their Terms of Reference, specifically concerning committee composition (grade level representation), selection criteria for new members, and term limits. Furthermore, the committee solicited input on holding future meetings in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) format and planning for the next PIC conference scheduled for October in the 2026-2027 year.