Jay Aspin, the newly elected Near North District School Board Chair, says he has a very positive feeling about the year ahead.
With controversy looming over potential school closures, Aspin says the board has already started to get to work.
“Our new board was officially inaugurated on December 4th. A short six days after inauguration, we initiated a Special Board Meeting to immediately sort out our priorities as well as undertake a solid plan to begin the process of getting the board back on a stable track,” stated Aspin in a release.
“During that Special Meeting, our board formulated four action committees to accomplish our immediate objectives of improving board culture in terms of better transparency, accountability and open communications, developing a contemporary Governance Model and Multi-Year Plan and furthering preparations for the Parry Sound Build.”
Aside the formation of the action committees, Aspin says the board has placed a timeline on important decisions such as the transition of W.J. Fricker students, receiving and responding to the Ombudsman’s Report and the comprehensive review of the 3:2 decision in the North Bay secondary panel.
“All committees have held their first organizational meetings at this early stage in the year, have terms of reference, have engaged the participation and input from all employees and have finite three-month timelines to report their recommendation to the board for action,” noted Aspin.
“It’s a good start to get the board back on a solid track for future development. Trustees are diligently working with staff to get the job done to create the best environment and educational options keeping students as their first consideration.”
Aspin adds that in the near future the board will be looking for the opportunity to receive public input about any potential changes they may want to initiate.
