SGDSB Holds Organizational Meeting
The Superior-Greenstone District School Board held its 2024 Annual Organizational and Regular Board Meeting on Monday, November 20, 2023. Trustee Pinky McRae was acclaimed as the 2024 Board Chair for the 14th consecutive year and Trustee Allison Jarvis was acclaimed as the Board Vice-Chair for a 3rd term.
Upon assuming the role of Chair, McRae thanked the Board for their support and expressed her gratitude for the role. She complemented the Board on their strong ability to work well together as a team and commitment to good governance. She stated that “we continue to build strong relationships as we collectively strive to achieve our strategic goals and make a difference for our students.”
School board Trustees are the oldest form of elected representation in Ontario. Our local, democratically elected school board plays a key leadership role in ensuring that schools operate within the standards established by the province, and that programs and services remain responsive to the diverse communities they serve. Their many responsibilities are focused on the central goals of improving student achievement and well-being, ensuring safe and inclusive learning environments, along with strategic planning, community engagement and budget setting.
The Superior-Greenstone District School Board has 11 Trustees consisting of; Trustee Pinky McRae (Marathon Ward), Trustee Megen Brunskill (Marathon Ward), Trustee Jason Nesbitt (Schreiber/Terrace Bay Ward), Trustee Patrick Liscomb (Greenstone Ward), Trustee Allison Jarvis (Greenstone Ward), Trustee Dan Fairservice (Manitouwadge Ward), Trustee Julie Michano (Nipigon Ward), Trustee Kal Pristanski (Red Rock/Dorion/Hurkett Ward), First Nations Trustee Paul Cormier and Student Trustees Emeraude Hunter and Zoey Krause.
Once the election matters were concluded, Board Chair Pinky McRae moved forward with the organizational portion of the meeting and the task of appointing Trustees to the various statutory and standing committees of the Board. The Committees include Parent Engagement Committee, Board Audit Committee, Special Education Advisory Committee, Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Board Policy Review Committee, and Indigenous Education Advisory Committee.
As First Nations Trustee, Paul Cormier has been appointed as the Chair of the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee. Additionally, the Board annually appoints two Trustees to the Committee and for 2024, Trustee Megen Brunskill and Trustee Julie Michano have been appointed. The Superior-Greenstone District School Board values the importance of strengthening the relationships between its Indigenous partners and the Board. They work collaboratively to ensure culturally relevant and supportive education for the approximately 41% of their student population that self-identifies as Indigenous. As such, the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee group was formed many years ago to facilitate this significant co-operation and communication.
Trustee Jason Nesbitt was appointed for a second consecutive term as the Board of Director and Voting Delegate for the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association. The Association represents English public district school boards across Ontario and advocates on behalf of the best interest and needs of the public school system. OPSBA represents the voice of public education in Ontario and routinely provides input and advise on legislation and the impact of government policy direction to the provincial government.
The public education system is founded on the principle of equality of educational opportunity. Public school boards provide high standards in their programs and ensure there supports and resources available to help all students reach those standards. Trustees help ensure that Ontario’s education system continues to adapt and transform to meet the ever-changing needs and shifting challenges of our world. Together, the Trustees work with Superior-Greenstone DSB Senior Administration to set the conditions that will provide high-quality education for every student to reach their full potential in school and in life.
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