I am so pleased to welcome all of our new and returning families to another school year. As your school board trustee, it is my role to advocate for quality public education in York Region, and to ensure that our students remain at the centre of all of our decision making. The Board of Trustees makes policy and budget decisions, and communicates with the public, among other responsibilities.

We are also responsible for setting direction for the school board, through our Multi-Year Strategic Plan. This plan sets out four priorities: Foster Well-Being and Mental Health, Build Collaborative Relationships, Champion Equity and Inclusivity, and Empower Ethical Leadership.

As we start the new school year, I want to highlight the importance of relationships. We want to build and maintain relationships with our families that are built on trust, respect and responsive communication. To support that, I will continue to keep you informed of our work and priorities, and I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can also find the message from the Chair of the Board on the Board’s website.

In addition, I invite you to share your feedback on our Board policies. Policies govern everything from field trips, school volunteers, equity and inclusive education, student discipline and much more, and we greatly value input from families on these important matters. We regularly post on our website the policies that are under review and available for comment as well as information about how to share your feedback. I hope you will take a look.

I know school staff are excited to welcome back students, and I look forward to meeting more of our families throughout the upcoming school year. I encourage you to build a relationship with the staff members and community at your school. There are so many different ways to get involved and support your child’s education. I hope you have a great start to the school year and wish you a happy, safe and successful year ahead.