GUELPH – Martha MacNeil, the school board trustee for Wards 1 and 5 in the City of Guelph, was re-elected chair of the Upper Grand District School Board at the inaugural meeting of the board on Dec. 1.
This is MacNeil’s second consecutive term as chair.
She was first elected as a trustee in 2014. She has served as chair of the board, chair of the business operations committee and policy management committee, and has been a trustee representative on numerous committees, including the parent involvement committee, safe, equitable and inclusive schools steering committee, and negotiations steering committee.
In her address, MacNeil thanked the board and said it was an honour to serve again as chair.
She also expressed gratitude to the UGDSB’s director of education Martha Rogers and senior staff for their support over the past year.
“Our group of trustees are eager, hardworking, and not afraid to do the difficult things. They are passionate about education and our board as well as the staff, students, and families that make up our educational community,” said MacNeil.
“I am also looking forward to continuing our conversations and taking action regarding creating change to promote greater equity and inclusion both around the board table and throughout the system.”
In her inaugural address, MacNeil spoke about several areas of focus, including the continued support of the system as the board navigates and adapts through the pandemic, developing the budget, and the new director of education search.
“These items will require hard work and dedication on our part as well as strong support from us for our staff,” said MacNeil.
Additional areas of focus include honouring the board’s relationships with our local unions through the final negotiations with local bargaining units, as well as continuing to welcome feedback and input from stakeholder groups while encouraging meaningful, two-way dialogue.
Trustee Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy, who represents the Township of Centre Wellington, was acclaimed to serve as vice-chair.
The positions are for a one-year term ending Nov. 30.
At the inaugural meeting, trustees were also named to the board’s various committees.
Trustee Lynn Topping was elected program committee chair, with Lustgarten-Evoy serving as vice-chair.
Trustee Gail Campbell was elected business operations committee chair, with Lustgarten-Evoy serving as vice-chair.
Trustee Linda Busuttil will serve as a director on the Ontario Public School Board Association’s (OPSBA) board of directors.
The organization is routinely called on by the provincial government for input and advice on legislation, labour negotiations and the impact of government policy directions.
The final meeting of the 2019-20 board preceded the inaugural meeting.
Trustees expressed their appreciation to the media for coverage of education issues during the past year and for their continued co-operation and help broadcasting school bus information on inclement weather days during the school year.
They also expressed their appreciation to Rogers for her co-operation and assistance during the past year, and to all staff members for their loyalty and dedication.
