Trillium Lakelands Archives — Lindsay Advocate

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

Young girl holding books in school hallway

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

Trustees opt for ‘fresh face and new ideas’ with incoming director of education

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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Octoblocks: Trustees hear pros, cons of 22 days of only one class

Published on October 30, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

Octoblocks: Trustees hear pros and cons of 22 days of only one class

Trillium Lakelands District School Board staff and trustees spent much of their recent board meeting looking at statistical and anecdotal evidence about the first high school octoblock that ended Oct. 16.

For readers unfamiliar with an octoblock, the board decided as a public health measure to limit student contacts to one class and have students take one subject only for five hours a day for 22 straight days.

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Board says parents may need to take their kids to school as bus driver shortage intensifies

Published on October 2, 2020 in Education by Kirk Winter

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board has posted to social media that due to the ongoing bus driver shortage parents should be prepared to handle their own transportation needs to and from school if needed.

“Due to our current shortage of qualified school bus drivers,” the board’s social media message began, “any day we (TLDSB) could be without a driver for your child’s route. It is important to make alternative transportation arrangements to get your child to and from school in the event of a cancellation.”

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