NNDSBBoard Allocates Fundsfor 3:2 Consolidation

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Գܲ29, 2020–The(NNDSB)Trusteeshave approved the allocation ofapproximately $1.4milliontocommencenecessaryrenovations to Chippewa and West Ferris facilities to continue offering existing and expanded programming.

Funds will be used toprioritizerenovationsand building upgradesthat willassist inimprovingstudent success andachievement,whileensuringequitable access to NNDSBprograms and facilities.

The NNDSB is working to provide students with a sense of security and comfort during the transition.Senior Administration and school staff continue to work on the implementation of the 3:2SchoolConsolidation through the ongoing review of budgets and workplans.

“The Board of Trusteesiselated to see this project moving forward.Having the facilities in place to offerhigh quality, equitable and inclusiveeducationto all studentshas been a priority for our boardsince taking office.We are committed to making decisions that are in the best interests of our students and communities.” Jay Aspin, Chair.

For more information, please contact:

MairghreadKnought
Information/Communications Officer

Tel: 705-472-8170 ext. 5010
Email:Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

2018-2019 UPDATES TO SCHOOL DRINKING WATER DATA

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December 20, 2019 – Today the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will refresh the Data Catalogue to include 2018-2019 drinking water data for facilities regulated under Ontario Regulation 243/07: , Private and Child Care Centres.

Data included in this release of information identifies the following schools within the as having a flushed lead test result that had exceeded Ontario’s drinking water quality standard for lead (10 micrograms per litre) “at one point in time” during the period of April 2018-March 2019:
· Alliance
· Chippewa; and
· Parry Sound High School

When any exceedances are identified, facilities must take immediate action to correct. Given immediate corrective action is always taken by staff, we are pleased to report that the is 100% in compliance with legislation and does not have any schools and facilities exceeding any limits at this point in time.

With the new legislation that was introduced July 1, 2017- Boards are required to test every drinking water fixture that provides water to children in school and childcares over a three-year period for elementary schools and a four-year period to secondary schools. All such drinking water fixtures for elementary have been 100% tested. Given secondary schools have a four-year time frame for such testing there only remains three faucets to be tested at the secondary panel.

Please see the attached as additional information:
Drinking Water and Lead Fact Sheet – English
Drinking Water and Lead Fact Sheet – French
FAQ – English
FAQ – French

NNDSB Appoints Craig Myles as Director of Education

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December 17, 2019 – The is pleased to announce that Craig Myles has been appointed the Director of Education, effective January 6, 2020.

“The board is pleased to have chosen an internal candidate for our Director. We are confident that his skills and extensive experience with the board will be a key component in moving the Near North forward to embrace the challenges ahead. Craig’s strong background in secondary programming, familiarity with local educational opportunities and emphasis on board governance will allow him to hit the ground running. ”(Jay Aspin, Chair).

Craig Myles is in his 6th year as Superintendent of Student Success with the . With more than15 years of experience as an educational leader, his portfolios have included school effectiveness, special education, safe schools, student success, alternative education, international education and secondary/elementary school supervision. Myles is known for his commitment to students and his focus on improving student achievement through the development and implementation of responsive teaching and learning practices. Under his leadership, the NNDSB has seen an increase in the graduation rate of 5.2% and an elevation of secondary school credit accumulation by 12%.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me to focus my years of experience in collaborating with trustees, administrators, teachers, support staff and parents to improve student learning and student success at the NNDSB. We are fortunate to have such innovative, caring and qualified educators and leaders in our schools and I look forward to my continued work with them to deliver equitable and inclusive high-quality education to all our students” (Craig Myles, Director of Education).

For more information, please contact:

Mairghread Knought

Information/Communications Officer

Tel: 705-472-8170 ext. 5010
Email: Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

NNDSB MOVING AHEAD WITH 3:2 CONSOLIDATION AND NEW PROGRAMMING

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December5, 2019–(NNDSB)Trusteeswere provided with an update on the North Secondary School 3:2 Consolidation ata Special Committee of the Whole Meeting on December3, 2019.Senior Administration and school staff continue to work ontheimplementationofthe 3:2 school consolidation through theongoing reviewof budgetsand workplans.

Trustees discussed options for programming at West FerrisSecondarySchool and Chippewa Secondary School for the 2020/2021school year. In addition to existing programs the NNDSB will be offering a newNear North Sports Program at West Ferris Secondary School.SeniorAdministrationconfirmedtheir ongoing commitment to ensuringthat allspecializedprogramsareequitable and available to all students.

“The Board of Trustees is committed to making decisions that are in the bestinterests of our students and communities.While the decision to close a school is a difficult one,moving forward we will be able tocontinue providingqualityprogramsand supports for our students.” Jay Aspin, Chair

For more information, please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communications Officer

Tel: 705-472-8170 ext. 5010
Email:Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

NNDSB Re-Elect Chair and Vice-Chair

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December 4, 2019–Last evening at theAnnual Organizational Meetingof the (NNDSB),Trustee Jay Aspinwasre-electedas Chairand Trustee John Cochrane wasacclaimedas Vice-Chair.

Chair Aspin expressed his gratitude to fellow Trusteesfor thesignificant timeand effort that has been spentworking together over the past year to move forward a number of Board initiatives.In addition to the decision to proceed with the closure ofWiddifield, the Board of Trustees havebegun moving forward with a new Multi-Year Plan,areview oftheorganizational structure, andrecruitmentof a new Director of Education.

Vice-Chair John Cochraneis confident in the commitment of his fellow Trustees andishopeful thatthe Board will be successful in moving the Parry Sound project forward.

“We have turned the corner – We are entering our 2nd year of significant reformation towards regaining the public trust and reputation of the.While, there is a significant amount of work to becompleted, this Board of Trustees have proven their abilityto move forward and makeinformeddecisions based on the bestinterests of our students and communities.”Jay Aspin, Chair

For more information, please contact:

MairghreadKnought
Information/Communication Officer

(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

Ministry of Education Special Advisors Holding Public Meetings

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NORTH BAY MEETING RESCHEDULED

The Ministry Advisor North Bay Public Meeting has been rescheduled as follows:

North Bay:

Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Time: 7 pm- 9 pm

Location: Chippewa Secondary School Auditorium, 539 Chippewa St., North Bay, ON.

The is committed to enhancing its service to students, parents and stakeholders within its jurisdiction. That commitment led the Board to request special support from the Minister of Education. The Ministry of Education has agreed to the request and assigned two Special Advisors to work with the .

The Special Advisors’ mandate is to provide the Minister of Education with advice and recommendations about how the can improve its governance, human resources practices and financial accountability role to support and improve public confidence in the board and in Ontario’s publicly funded education system.

A Parent/Community Survey was completed during Mid-October and the results have been collated. The Special Advisors would like to share the results of the survey with the broader public. They would also like to solicit your best thinking with respect to potential solutions/recommendations for consideration.

With that in mind there will be public meetings as follows:

Parry Sound:

Date: Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Time: 7 pm- 9 pm

Location: Parry Sound High School Cafeteria, 111 Isabella Street, Parry Sound, ON.

For additional information please contact the Information/Communication Officer Mairghread Knought at: (705) 472-8170 ext. 5010 or Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

 

Board Seeking Feedback on Final Staff Report Before Re-Vote on Consolidation

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The has begun implementing the recommendations contained in the Ombudsman’s Final Report. In addition toa number ofrecommendations for improved process and governance, the following recommendation was identified with respect to the Secondary School Consolidation:

“The should prepare a new final staff report that explains the additional information received in the summer of 2017 and that was discussed in private in September 2017. It should present the report to trustees as part of a public meeting, afford community members an opportunity to comment on it, and then take a new vote on the secondary school consolidation.”

The new final staff report and attached documentation was presented to the Board of Trustees at a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. The report along with the Initial and Final Staff Report regarding the Secondary School Consolidation can be accessed below:

Updated Final Staff Report – August 13, 2019
Initial Staff Report North Bay Planning Area Accommodation Review – December 13, 2016
Final Staff Report North Bay Planning Area Accommodation Review – May 23, 2017

Members of the public are invited to submit comments to info@nearnorthschools.ca. Any received comments will be compiled and presented to the Board of Trustees at the September 10, 2019 Committee of the Whole beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Parties who wish to speak to the secondary school consolidation will need to register with the Board Office by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2019.

The Board of Trustees will re-vote on thesecondaryschoolconsolidation at the September 24, 2019 Regular Board Meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact:  

Mairghread Knought 
Information/Communication Officer 
 
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010 
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca 

Remember to Verify Bussing Before School Starts

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Over the past several months, NPSSTS staff have been planning student transportation for the 2019-2020 school year on behalf of over 11,000 eligible students in the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts. The NPSSTS is planning to release route information tentatively on August 12th 2019 through our website. Parents and students will then be able to access the transportation details including pick up and drop off times and locations.

To best ensure the safety and security of students, it is mandatory that they appear on the Route Manifest. Those who do not appear on the manifest will not be permitted onto the bus.

It is imperative that parents verify their child’s bussing details to ensure that they are included on the route manifest on that very special day; the first day of school.

Parents are reminded to go to beginning August 12th 2019 to ensure that their child’s transportation details are accurate and contact their respective School Board Office or the NPSSTS should there be any issues.

NNDSB to Hold Public Meeting and Re-Vote on Secondary School Consolidation

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August 14, 2019– The has begun implementing the recommendations contained in the Ombudsman’s Final Report.In addition toa number ofrecommendations for improved process and governance, the following recommendation was identified with respect to the Secondary School Consolidation:

“The should prepare a new final staff report that explains the additional information received in the summer of 2017 and that was discussed in private in September 2017. It should present the report to trustees as part of a public meeting, afford community members an opportunity to comment on it, and then take a new vote on the secondary school consolidation.”

The new final staff report and attached documentation will be presented to the Board of Trustees at a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Following this meeting the report and attached documentation will be posted to the NNDSB website in order to provide the public with an opportunity to review and provide comments. Any received comments will be compiled and presented to the Board of Trustees at the September 10, 2019 Committee of the Whole beginning at 6:00 p.m. Parties who wish to speak to the secondaryschoolconsolidation will need to register with the Board Office by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, 2019.

The Board of Trustees will re-vote on thesecondaryschoolconsolidation at the September 24, 2019 Regular Board Meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact: 

Mairghread Knought 
Information/Communication Officer 
 
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010 
 Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca 

Northern Secondary School New Logo

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June 24, 2019 – The Northern Secondary School NNDSB ‘Logo’ committee is pleased to share the new school logo of “The Stars”. “The Stars,” which appears in the middle of our logo represents the idea that we can all be stars, all be shining lights in the night, that we can reach for the stars to achieve our maximum potential. We are stars who will light the paths of others and fuel the imaginations of those who seek inspiration.

Both staff and students are extremely grateful to the members of the committee for their hard work and dedication to this project. The process of choosing a new name and logo took place over two y

ears, with a consultation process that has included students, staff, and community and alumni partners. Brandon Harvey, a graduating student, designed what we now call “The Stars” which consists of our school colours of red and silver and the spirit of our new name and school.

Stars are always a welcome sight in the sky, shining bright. That is how we all see our future here at Northern Secondary,bright, inspirational, and welcoming! It’s our time to shine, GO STARS!

For more information, please contact:

Laurent Paquette
Principal
Northern Secondary School
(705)-472-5322
Laurent.Paquette@nearnorthschools.ca

Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

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