Trillium Lakelands Archives — Lindsay Advocate

TLDSB hopes to know what next school year will be like in late May

Published on May 1, 2021 in Education by Kirk Winter

Director of Education for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Wes Hahn, told trustees that he expects to have much more information about what the 2021-2022 school year is going to look like in late May once next year’s funding model is decided upon by the Ministry of Education.

“Planning for 2021 is tough right now,” Hahn said, “We would like to be discussing budget and staffing but we have not received our GSNs (grant for student needs that specify how much money the board will get per pupil) from the ministry and we really can’t do one without the other.”

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School board trustee wonders why teachers are not a priority for COVID vaccines

Published on March 27, 2021 in Education/Health by Kirk Winter

School board trustee wonders why teachers are not priority for vaccines

As far as trustee Gary Brohman is concerned, staff working in Trillium Lakelands District School Board schools are essential workers and he cannot understand why the province has not made the vaccination of teachers, administrators and support staff a priority.

At the recent school board meeting, Brohman advocated forcefully for staff vaccines to be safe against the threat of COVID-19.

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TLDSB wants parent feedback on future planning, says octomesters working well

Published on January 28, 2021 in Education by Kirk Winter

At a recent Trillium Lakelands District School Board meeting, Director of Education Wes Hahn said the board will soon be looking for feedback to determine its next five-year plan.

This is the last year of their 2015-2020 strategic plan, which has focused on student success and achievement. The next five year plan is already being developed and the director wants as many different shareholder groups involved in its planning as possible.

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School board reports show education stressors are piling up

Published on January 19, 2021 in Education by Kirk Winter

Reports made by multiple Trillium Lakelands District School Board officials indicate a system that, while working hard to provide the best available education, is straining under the almost constant change being thrown at it by pandemic-related developments.

These stressors are impacting administrators, front-line staff, parents, and students.

Director of Education Wes Hahn spent the better part of a half hour detailing how the board was coping with the changes that have occurred just since Jan. 1.

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TLDSB caught in middle of school closure rumours

Published on December 18, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

Many Kawartha Lakes parents were greeted today by their children arriving home from school for the Christmas holidays with all the school supplies and technology they will need to transition to distance learning effective Jan. 4.

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce informed directors of education via memo on Tuesday that while a final decision on school closures hasn’t been finalized, the province wants all students to have the tools on hand at home to make the transition to distance learning if necessary.

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First learn-at-home snow day discussed by board

Published on December 9, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

Trillium Lakelands District School Board dissected their first snow day at the recent board meeting, given that snow days are now learn-from-home days.

Haliburton trustee Gary Brohman wanted insights into how the board’s first snow day went, and whether the new protocols for instruction on snow days were successful.

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School board notes: A $3 million deficit, students’ resilience, and a 100 day report from director

Published on November 25, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

Education director says PD has helped staff whether breakneck changes during COVID

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board recently met, covering their recent audit, staff reporting on some of the upsides seen during the pandemic, and the director of education’s 100-day report.

2019-2020 board financial audit reports $3 million deficit

Superintendent of Finance Tim Ellis presented the auditors report to trustees.

Ellis pointed out that some numbers will look different this year because of pandemic affected accounting. For example, with property taxes deferred until later in 2020 by Kawartha Lakes, the province had to step in with TLDSB and front the board the money that would have normally been transferred by the municipality.

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Worries about octoblocks grow as students, teachers deal with relentless pace

Published on November 12, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

Despite the mostly positive reports coming from senior Trillium Lakelands District School Board staff regarding octoblocks, a different narrative is emerging powered by student and teacher experiences.

Octoblocks, according to a school trustee, a union representative, and three teachers are affecting students and staff in a number of negative ways.

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Parents push for school photos; more money coming for tech, infrastructure

Published on November 11, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

Bobcaygeon area trustee John Byrne told fellow trustees at the recent Trillium Lakelands District School Board meeting that parents are pushing schools to carry on with school photos this year.

Outsiders, like photographers, have been restricted from school property to help contain the COVID virus.

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Remember good old snow days? Say hello to online learning instead

Published on November 11, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

On snow days bused students generally stay home when the harshest winter days mean bus cancellations, something that seems to be a common, positive memory for rural kids.

Town kids are often expected to trudge on into class or get dropped off to school by parents.

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