Expanded Opportunities

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) has&nbsp;achieved&nbsp;its strongest&nbsp;Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)&nbsp;performance&nbsp;in&nbsp;four years, with gains in&nbsp;</strong></b><u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-underline" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">every testing category</strong></b></u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for the 2024-2025 school year.&nbsp;LDSB’s EQAO results&nbsp;align with provincial outcomes in many areas, while showing notable improvements in others and among specific student groups.&nbsp;Limestone’s 2024-2025 results are at, or above, the provincial average in&nbsp;almost all&nbsp;measures.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results show an upward trend&nbsp;and momentum&nbsp;across all eight areas of assessment for students in Grades 3, 6, 9, and 10, including those with special education needs, underscoring&nbsp;the&nbsp;Board’s intention&nbsp;of&nbsp;making a positive difference in the lives of&nbsp;every student, in every classroom, in every school.&nbsp;</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"These results reflect the daily dedication of Limestone educators, educational assistants, program teams, and school leaders,” says Krishna Burra,&nbsp;LDSB&nbsp;Director of Education.&nbsp;“I want to acknowledge&nbsp;the efforts of those who have&nbsp;focused on implementing evidence-informed practices, providing targeted supports, and collaborating across schools to ensure student achievement and success.”&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The elementary school report provides assessments of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics written by&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Grades 3 and 6. The secondary school report provides similar information relating to the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test&nbsp;(OSSLT).&nbsp;</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results&nbsp;at a Glance&nbsp;</span></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3 Improvements:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;LDSB students showed a 5% to 8% increase in Reading, Writing, and Math, with 75% meeting the provincial standard in Reading, 65% in Writing, and 65% in Math, outperforming provincial averages. Students with special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs improved by 8% to&nbsp;9% in these subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6 Gains:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;Achievement rose in all areas, with 88% meeting Reading standards, 87% in Writing, and 51% in Math, matching or exceeding provincial rates.&nbsp;Students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education needs&nbsp;made significant advances, especially in Writing with a 22% increase.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades&nbsp;9 and 10 Results:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> LDSB’s Grade 9 Math scores were slightly below provincial levels but increased by 5% from the previous year, with&nbsp;students with special education needs&nbsp;performing better than&nbsp;students with similar needs in other&nbsp;jurisdictions.&nbsp;The Grade 10 OSSLT saw 95% participation and 84% success, a 3% rise, with continued improvement among&nbsp;students with special education needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3 EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3&nbsp;student&nbsp;achievement saw a&nbsp;5% to&nbsp;8% increase in all subject areas in Limestone, compared to the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment results, with&nbsp;75% meeting the provincial standard in&nbsp;Reading, 65% in&nbsp;Writing, and&nbsp;65% in&nbsp;Math.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results for&nbsp;the province&nbsp;showed a slight&nbsp;increase&nbsp;from the previous year&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;Grade 3&nbsp;subjects&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;slightly lower&nbsp;than Limestone&nbsp;across Grade 3 assessment&nbsp;subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This new data shows improvement in all subjects, with&nbsp;Math achievement showing the most significant difference for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Grade 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Of significant note&nbsp;are&nbsp;the gains in achievement in Grade&nbsp;3&nbsp;Reading,&nbsp;Writing, and&nbsp;Mathematics made by Limestone&nbsp;students with special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;– up&nbsp;9%,&nbsp;8%, and&nbsp;9% respectively,&nbsp;compared to the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment results.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6 EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6&nbsp;student achievement&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;also&nbsp;continues to&nbsp;build momentum with&nbsp;improvements in&nbsp;all subject areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In&nbsp;Reading, 88% of students&nbsp;met&nbsp;provincial standard&nbsp;in 2024/25&nbsp;– an increase of&nbsp;9% from the 2023/24 assessment&nbsp;and a higher rate than the province for&nbsp;2024/25.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results in&nbsp;Writing&nbsp;showed an increase of 14% over the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;assessment year, with&nbsp;87% of&nbsp;students&nbsp;meeting provincial standard,&nbsp;at a higher rate than the province.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In&nbsp;Math,&nbsp;results were equal to&nbsp;the&nbsp;province,&nbsp;with&nbsp;51%&nbsp;of&nbsp;students&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;the provincial standard, an increase of 11% for Limestone compared to the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;assessment year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Like&nbsp;the&nbsp;Grade 3 assessment results, achievement&nbsp;in&nbsp;all subject areas&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in&nbsp;Grade 6 with special education needs&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;has increased, with significant gains in&nbsp;Reading and&nbsp;Writing&nbsp;by&nbsp;12% and&nbsp;22%, respectively,&nbsp;since the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment. This increase in achievement&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in&nbsp;Grade 6&nbsp;with special education needs&nbsp;is higher than the province&nbsp;by 3% to 10%&nbsp;across all&nbsp;subject areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Limestone&nbsp;students&nbsp;and staff have worked hard to achieve these gains across Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, including the strong improvements for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education needs,” says Burra.&nbsp;“The momentum we are seeing is the result of consistent, evidence‑informed practice—targeted instruction, early interventions, collaborative professional learning, and a sharp focus on what happens in classrooms every day.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“We are proud of this progress, and we are committed to sustaining it by continuing the practices that work and adjusting where they do not,” he adds.&nbsp;“Our goal remains steady improvement over time, not one‑year spikes, for every&nbsp;student,&nbsp;in every classroom,&nbsp;in every school.”&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Primary Assessment (administered in Grade 3):&nbsp;</span></h3><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Area of Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">75%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">74%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mathematics&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">64%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Junior Assessment (administered in Grade 6):&nbsp;</span></h3><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Area of Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">88%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">86%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">87%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">85%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mathematics&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">51%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">51%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades&nbsp;9&nbsp;and 10&nbsp;EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment:&nbsp;</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results&nbsp;for&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;are slightly lower&nbsp;compared&nbsp;to the provincial results. For all participating&nbsp;students&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math assessment,&nbsp;55% achieved the provincial standard in Limestone,&nbsp;and 58%&nbsp;achieved the provincial standard provincially.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone’s&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math results&nbsp;increased&nbsp;by&nbsp;5% as compared to last year.&nbsp;Results for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;achieving the provincial standard&nbsp;are&nbsp;higher than&nbsp;the province at&nbsp;34%&nbsp;for Limestone,&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;32% for the province.&nbsp;</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9&nbsp;Math&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">55%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">58%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Grade 9 Mathematics continues to be a priority area,” says Steve&nbsp;Hedderson, LDSB Associate Superintendent of Human Resources&nbsp;and&nbsp;Curriculum&nbsp;and Program Services: Math and FSL.&nbsp;“Limestone’s&nbsp;five‑point improvement year‑over‑year shows the work is taking hold. We&nbsp;are deepening supports in Grade 9&nbsp;Math—explicit instruction, daily practice, and&nbsp;timely&nbsp;interventions—and aligning professional learning so teachers have the tools they need. We&nbsp;are focused on building&nbsp;Math confidence and competency for every&nbsp;student.”&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test&nbsp;- Administered in Grade 10:&nbsp;</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, 95% of first-time eligible&nbsp;students&nbsp;wrote the test&nbsp;in Limestone, compared to 94%&nbsp;of&nbsp;students&nbsp;in the province. With&nbsp;this&nbsp;high&nbsp;participation&nbsp;rate,&nbsp;84% of all&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;were successful, an increase of&nbsp;3%&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;the 2023/24&nbsp;school year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OSSLT&nbsp;results&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;show&nbsp;an&nbsp;improvement&nbsp;for the&nbsp;2024/25&nbsp;year,&nbsp;with&nbsp;65% of&nbsp;Limestone&nbsp;students&nbsp;being successful&nbsp;on the assessment.&nbsp;</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 282px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 10 OSSLT&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 97px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 117px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 282px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Participation&nbsp;Rate&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 97px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">95%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 117px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">94%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 282px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Success&nbsp;Rate&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 97px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">84%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 117px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">85%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Strong Grade 10 Literacy outcomes begin with strong participation,” says Stephanie Sartor, LDSB Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Program Services: Literacy Focus. “With 95% writing and 84% successful, up three points from last year, we are encouraged by the trajectory, including the continued improvement for students with special education needs. Literacy is a shared responsibility across subjects, and we will keep pairing explicit instruction with targeted supports so every learner can&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;success.”&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students in all publicly&nbsp;funded schools in Ontario&nbsp;are required to&nbsp;write provincial assessments, administered by EQAO, a provincial body that tests students’ skills in&nbsp;Literacy in Grades 3, 6,&nbsp;and 10 and&nbsp;Math skills in Grades 3, 6,&nbsp;and 9 in relation to Ontario&nbsp;curriculum expectations.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Successful completion of the&nbsp;Literacy requirement is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.&nbsp;The EQAO assessments have undergone significant&nbsp;updates, with the newer&nbsp;digital assessments offered entirely online through a digital platform for students over the past&nbsp;four&nbsp;years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“The dedication of Limestone educators,&nbsp;educational assistants,&nbsp;program team members, and school leaders will remain foundational to&nbsp;continued efforts moving forward,” says Burra.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The following message by the Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario Minister of Education, is for parents and guardians regarding EQAO results and the appointment of a Student Achievement Advisory Body.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please select the following link to read (PDF): </span><a href="/documents/2a916cd2-b224-4a93-a4b3-b0a57ae98e62/Letter-to-Parents-EQAO-Dec-3-2025.pdf" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Letter to Parents and Guardians</span></a></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. The following are highlights of the November 19, 2025 Annual Board Meeting, and November 24, 2025 Nominations Committee Meeting. Agendas can be found on the website under </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/board_meetings-1719463739654" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Board Meetings</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Annual General Meeting - November 19, 2025</span></h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Land Acknowledgement </span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All meetings begin with a Land Acknowledgement: </span><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit, and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We honour their cultures and celebrate their commitment to this land."</em></i></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Call to Order</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director of Education Krishna Burra: "In accordance with Section 208 of The Education Act, and LDSB By-Laws Article II and IV, and under the authority invested in me as the Secretary of the Board, I welcome everyone to the Annual Meeting of the Limestone District School Board for the term ending November 19, 2026. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This evening Trustees will elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair to serve as Executive for the next year. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I shall be the presiding officer of this Annual Meeting, pending the election of the Chair of the Board, and therefore call this meeting to order." </span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Performance</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To open the Annual Board Meeting, Grades 7 and 8 students from the Calvin Park Public School Challenge program, led by teacher Catherine Tang, performed "Viva La Vida," by Coldplay on </span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/79826ca8-da0b-4e0b-827c-eaa603baad69" alt="Calvin Park PS Students Performing in LDSB Boardroom for 2026 Annual Board Meeting" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Annual Declaration of Involvement</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director Burra: "Trustees of the Limestone District School Board are committed to accountability and transparency. The Trustee Code of Conduct states,&nbsp;'Trustees shall declare any conflict of interest or involvement, financial or otherwise, between their personal life and/or business interests and their position on the Board.' In support of this, Trustees annually declare their ongoing involvement with agencies, boards, and committees in organizations outside of the Limestone District School Board and declare verbally at the Annual Meeting of the Board for inclusion in the minutes."</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Election of the Chair</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Karen McGregor was re-elected as Chair. Chair McGregor, who has been Chair since June 2025, represents LDSB schools in the Townships of Central Frontenac, Addington Highlands, and North Frontenac. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Trustees play a critical role as a bridge between the communities we serve and the Board, ensuring that families have a direct channel to raise local concerns, seek guidance and influence decisions that affect their children's education,” says Chair McGregor. “I am honoured to be re-elected as Chair for the coming year, to work with a Board of Trustees determined to make a positive difference in the lives of every student in our district.” </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/3b73f535-6db0-57a4-bb4f-a5bb6232f53e" alt="Karen McGregor Portrait" width="277" height="359" style="width:277px;height:359px;display:inline-block"><br><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Chair Karen McGregor</em></i></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Election of the Vice-Chair</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tiffany Lloyd was elected as Vice-Chair. Vice-Chair Lloyd represents LDSB schools in the Town of Greater Napanee. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"I’m honoured to serve as Vice-Chair, and I’m grateful for my colleagues’ confidence,” says Vice-Chair Lloyd. “I look forward to working together as we support our schools, listen to our communities, and make decisions that truly benefit the students and families we serve." </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/02ea62dd-f2f2-5bdf-8bf4-95704c83d5d1" alt="Tiffany Lloyd Portrait" width="274" height="355" style="width:274px;height:355px;display:inline-block"><br><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Vice-Chair Tiffany Lloyd</em></i></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Nominations Committee Meeting - November 24, 2025</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustees gathered on November 24, 2025 to select which committees they wish to serve on. There are seven Statutory Committees, and four Special Committees. The following Trustees will serve on each committee:</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Statutory Committees</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(a)</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Audit Committee&nbsp;(serving year 4 of 4-year term):&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Elliott&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Lloyd&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(3)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Ruttan&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(b)</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Awards Committee:&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)&nbsp;</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Elliott&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)&nbsp;</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;McGregor&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(3)&nbsp;</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Neill&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(4)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Ruttan&nbsp;(Alternate)&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(c)</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Education Advisory Committee&nbsp;(serving year 4 of 4-year term):&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Lloyd&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee McGregor&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(3)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Neill (Alternate)&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(d)</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Morning </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Scott </span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(e)</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Parent Involvement Committee:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Godkin&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Hutcheon&nbsp;(Alternate)&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(f)&nbsp;</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Indigenous Education Committee:&nbsp;</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Maracle&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Hutcheon&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(3)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Neill&nbsp;(Alternate)&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(g)</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director’s Review Committee (June to June term):&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee McGregor&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Lloyd&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(3)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Elliott&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(4)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee Scott&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Committees</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(a)&nbsp;</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Supervised Alternative Learning:&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1)</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Morning&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2)&nbsp;</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustee&nbsp;Neill&nbsp;(Alternate)&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(b)&nbsp;</strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Expulsion Hearing Committee/Disciplinary Hearing Committee Pool&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The following&nbsp;Trustees&nbsp;indicated&nbsp;that they would like to be placed in the Expulsion Hearing Committee/Disciplinary Hearing Committee Pool:&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) Trustee&nbsp;Elliott</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) Trustee&nbsp;Hutcheon&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(3) Trustee McGregor&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(4) Trustee Ruttan&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(5) Trustee&nbsp;Scott&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(c) OPSBA (Term from June to June):&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Selection&nbsp;of the OPSBA Representative has been deferred to the January 14,&nbsp;2026&nbsp;Board meeting. Trustee&nbsp;McGregor will continue in her role until that time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(d) Food Sharing Project:&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(1) Trustee&nbsp;Neill&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(2) Trustee&nbsp;Scott&nbsp;(Alternate)</span></p>