Presentations
Director’s update
Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) director of education, Wes Hahn, shared gratitude for all the efforts that took place system-wide during and after the ice storm that devastated the majority of areas across the Board earlier this month. Hahn also highlighted two Technology Service initiatives that are taking place; the work being done in regards to a system-wide approach to generative artificial intelligence (AI), and the device changes that will take place next school year starting in Grade 8.
Hahn introduced each of the superintendent to present a portfolio update:
Superintendent of learning, Jay MacJanet, responsible for Kindergarten to Grade 8 Curriculum Services highlighted:
- Instructions led by the Curriculum Services Team.
- 100 percent of students in Grade 12 French Immersion, and a large number of Core French students, participated in the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF), which translates to Diploma of French Language Studies Assessment. DELF is an international recognition that assesses a student’s proficiency in French language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- The effects inclement weather days have had on professional development and how the system has pivoted.
Superintendent of learning, Jennifer Johnson, responsible for Indigenous Education and Equity and Inclusion Education highlighted:
- Anti-bias and anti-oppression training that school administrators and senior managers have received over the years, which will continue with another session in May.
- Hello Hope Canada workshops taking place across the Board for students, staff, and parents/guardians to help create safer spaces for learning.
- The partnership with Harmony Movement on a Word Matter Campaign, designed to address the areas of bullying, racism, discrimination, and peer pressure with classroom lessons and materials for administrators.
- The work in schools Indigenous education coaches are doing to support educators and students. This also includes welcoming new Indigenous partners.
- The addition of a Indigenous mental health counsellor that was added this year to help with culturally responsive support.
- The Indigenous Education Advisory Committee hosted a Student Leadership Forum for Indigenous students, which included 15 students from all seven high schools.
- The 20th year of the Trillium Lakelands Arts Camp (TLAC) with 336 Grade 7 to 12 campers enrolled to attend.
Superintendent of learning, Nikki Train, responsible for Special Education highlighted:
- A new Individual Education Plan (IEP) writing tool that was developed in partnership with the Curriculum Services Department.
- Professional development for all the Special Education teachers that took place this school year.
- The increase in the number of Special Education students being able to read in relation to the instruction educators have received.
- Participation in the After School Skills Development Program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Across Grades 4 to 12, 127 students participated in three individual clubs, each with a specific social skills focus and target age group.
Superintendent of learning, Kim Williams, responsible for Grade 9-12 Curriculum Services and Technology Services highlighted:
- The Curriculum Services Team developed a three-part series in partnership with mathematics leads to deliver math sessions for teachers and administrators.
- Professional development taking place for secondary school educators led by educational consultants, which have included one-on-one support and lunch-and-learns on various subjects.
- Battle of the Books events currently taking place at secondary schools across the Board.
- System-wide cyber security awareness and training for all staff and students.
Associate superintendent of learning, Tanya Fraser, responsible for Mental Health Services and Safe Schools highlighted:
- New mental health lessons in Grade 10 careers and Grade 7 and 8 physical education classes.
- Social and emotional training in classes through the TRAILS to Wellness curriculum.
- Year two of the mental health champions initiative, where one educator from each school develops mental health knowledge and competence to take back to their school.
- Recent guest speaker, Katherine Martinko, who spoke with the Board’s mental health champions about strategies to get students off screens and use them as tools.
- The recent partnership with Pine River Institute on the Positive Parenting Webinar Series – a three-part series geared towards elementary and secondary parents/guardians and staff on mental health and emotional development, cell phones and vaping, and school avoidance. In total, about 480 individuals attended over the three webinars.
- This school year, the Board has seen 1,100 student referrals for students to engage with the mental health counselors.
Superintendent of Human Resources Services, Traci Hubbert, highlighted:
- Regular meetings with labour management partners.
- The completion of seven of 10 health and safety reviews at schools. Note – there is a five-year cycle for all the schools in the system.
- The 2025-2026 staffing process is currently taking place.
- The completion of a review of the performance appraisal process.
- The recent updates to the Board’s Multi-year Accessibility Plan.
Superintendent of Business Services, Tim Ellis, responsible for Facilities, Transportation and Business Services highlighted:
- The unseen work completed during the recent ice storm – from custodial to Payroll Services staff, to transportation operators, there was a lot going on behind the scenes to ensure continuity of business and safety.
- The work being done for the 2025-2026 budget.
- A buy local approach currently in effect in response to the tariffs, and noted that an Ontario purchasing initiative has been in place for a while now.
- Changes at Central Senior School for the upcoming grade changes taking effect in September 2025 as a result of the boundary and program review.
- The upcoming Summer Renewal Program with many contractors lined up.
- 2025-2026 transportation route preparation taking place with one new operator to start next school year.
2025 Board meeting schedule
Board meetings are open to the public to attend at the host location in-person. For viewing, the meetings are live-streamed and the link is made available on the tldsb.ca website on the day of the meeting.
| Meeting | Date | Time | Location |
| Public Board Meeting | May 27, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Archie Stouffer Elementary School |
| Public Board Meeting | June 10, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Muskoka Education Centre (MEC) |
| Public Board Meeting | August 26, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Lindsay Education Centre (LEC) |
| Public Board Meeting | September 23, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Muskoka Education Centre (MEC) |
| Public Board Meeting | October 28, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Archie Stouffer Elementary School |
| Public Board Meeting | November 25, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Lindsay Education Centre (LEC) |
| Organizational Meeting of the Board | December 2, 2025 | 6 p.m. | Muskoka Education Centre (MEC) |
