June
22, 2018 (Brockville, ON) – Grade 6 students from Linklater Public School visited the Upper
Canada District School Board’s Brockville Board office Monday to learn more
about the Board’s CREW Strategic Plan and how the Board
works.
Principal
Kim Melvin-Long said the school was invited by Director Stephen Sliwa for a
discussion to learn about the role of trustees, the Director, and how the CREW
Strategic Plan sets a direction for the Board and keeps its work focused.
Connecting schools, Board departments, and communities to CREW is a key goal of
the Director’s Work Plan to increase
understanding of the Board’s strategic direction.
CREW
is a long-term strategic plan that will guide the Board to improve the
education and well-being of students and staff by implementing projects in four
specific areas: Collaboration, Resources, Educational
programs, and Wellness. It is the foundation on which every system
leader can build the capacity in his or her school or department to meet the
needs of students, staff, parents, communities, and other stakeholders.
The
students began with the chance to ask Sliwa, Chair Jeff McMillan, and Trustee
John McAllister a variety of questions in the board room. They inquired about
what Trustees do, how they are elected, what is the most difficult part of
being a Trustee and Director, how a Director is selected, and the role
anti-bullying programs will play in the Board.
When
asked about the role of CREW in the system, Sliwa likened it to a playbook a
quarterback uses to guide his team on the field.
“When
he is out on the field, a quarterback can read the plays off his sleeve and
direct his team,” said Sliwa. “With CREW, we have a playbook for our Board so
we all know what we have to do to succeed.”
One
student asked about the toughest things a trustee must do. Chair Jeff McMillan
said it was having to make decisions for the benefit of the whole board, or a
school community, and realizing that while the majority will be pleased, there
will always be some in the community who are disappointed.
Students
said the experience was valuable.
“It
helped me to understand how the school system works and why programs are the
way they are,” said Linklater student Kaia McGuire.
The
students finished the exercise by decorating a CREW wall at the office with art
and writing, displaying how the school is meeting the objectives of the
strategic plan.
For
more information, please contact:
Stephen
Sliwa
Director of Education
Upper Canada District School Board
(613) 342-0371
ext. 1234