UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Operating any business or organization has become more complicated during the current pandemic and this is true for school boards, the Upper Canada District School Board included. You may have seen in the media that school boards are having challenges getting casual staff to address employee absences at schools. Although there has only been one case of COVID-19 in the UCDSB, the number of staff members that are away from school with COVID-19-like symptoms, awaiting test results and/or self-isolating is increasing.

Staff and students across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) are dressed in orange today, September 30, to honour the Indigenous children taken away from their families and placed in residential schools in Canada.

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 for a regularly scheduled board meeting. Trustees conducted the meeting in person at the Brockville Board Office, with the option for staff and trustees to call in, as per regular practice.

This morning administrators at Chimo Elementary School were contacted by the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit, informing them that a person at the school had tested positive for COVID-19.

The start to this school year has been like none we’ve ever had, and like anything new, is hasn’t been without some challenges along the way. I want to begin by thanking all our parents and guardians for their assistance and careful attention in helping our schools experience a successful start to the new school year.

We know this has been a school year beginning like no other. Like you, we are trying to navigate a situation that changes almost daily. In this environment, our schools are doing their very best to make sure every student receives an education, while we protect health and safety. As we do so, we want to provide you with specific notice on how the school district staff will use specific platforms to support remote synchronous learning and how we ensure privacy and security of participants.

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met virtually on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 for their first regular board meeting of the 2020-2021 school year. Trustees conducted the meeting in person at the Brockville Board Office, with the option for Trustees to call in, as is the usual practice.

We are just a week away from welcoming students back to school and we are excited for their return. There has been lots of work happening behind the scenes within our school district and with our public health units to make sure the return to school is a safe one.

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board met virtually on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 for a Special Board of Trustees meeting. The meeting was broadcasted live and recorded using Microsoft Teams. Trustees discussed several agenda items.

As we approach the beginning of September, it is important that I take this opportunity to reach out to parents and students who are preparing for a return to school in a matter of days.