Board Committees

To effectively guide the operation of the Thames Valley District School Board, several Standing, Ad Hoc and Administrative Committees have been established in addition to four statutory committees. The Chair of the Board is an ex officio member of all Standing, Ad hoc and Statutory Committees.

Meetings are typically held at the Education Centre, 1250 Dundas Street, London, with a virtual option available and are open to the public. 

Statutory Committees are established as requested per the Education Act or other legislation/regulation.

Standing Committees are established to address ongoing issues specific to their Individual mandates.

Ad Hoc Committees are established to respond to specific issues. They have a defined task and time line for completion. 

Administrative Committees are established by the Board's Senior Administration to address operational/system needs or initiatives.

 

Committees of the Board and Community Representation

Administrative Committees
In addition to the Board's Statutory, Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, Trustees also serve as a resource on several committees co-ordinated by the Administration to pursue system initiatives. Currently, the Board has six Administrative Committees in place. 

Accessibility Working Group

This committee meets to share ideas, resources and programs related to providing supports to ensure accessibility of facilities and programs for individuals with disabilities. Members of the committee have the opportunity to provide input into the TVDSB Accessibility Plan and related board policies.  

Trustee representation: VACANT

Award of Distinction

The Award of Distinction Committee considers nominations received for the Board's annual Award of Distinction.

Trustee representation: Sheri Moore and Arlene Morell

Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee

The Committee is intended to bring diverse voices together to support the development of initiatives to promote equity, and to identify specific equity challenges that require a collaborative response from both TVDSB and community partners. The Committee will be a place to enhance connection and engagement between and among TVDSB staff and community to ensure effective monitoring and measuring of outcomes related to student achievement and wellbeing.

Trustee representation: Gina MaGahey and Sheri Moore

Environmental Education and Management

The mandate of the Environmental Education and Management Committee is to annually review legislative requirements pertaining to the environment and make recommendations to Senior Administration with respect to Environmental Education and Management programs and practices in TVDSB.

Trustee representation: Bruce Smith

Audit Committee
Mandate

Ontario Education Act Section 253.1 (1) – Every district school board shall establish an audit committee. The Audit Committee plays a vital role in the corporate governance of the board to ensure compliance to financial reporting and controls, risk management and the internal and external auditing functions. 

 Members

Chair: Leeanne Hopkins, Trustee

Arlene Morell,  Trustee

Bruce Smith, Trustee

Ken Cannon, Community Member

Alex Matos, Community Member

Go to meeting calendar

Board Governance and Bylaw Review Committee
Mandate

The mandate of the Board Governance and Bylaw Review Committee is to provide oversight to the governance support plan, to support good governance practises, and to review Board Bylaws and the Code of Conduct.

 

 Members

Leeanne Hopkins, Trustee

Beth Mai, Trustee

Arlene Morell, Trustee

Leroy Osbourne, Trustee

Christian Sachs, Trustee

Chair's Committee
 Mandate

To support the Chair in monitoring the effectiveness of the Board, determining action for correspondence received by the Board, and supporting the Chair in fulfilling their obligations under the Education Act and as assigned by the Board.

Members

Chair: Beth Mai

Vice-Chair: David Cripps

Past Chair: Lori-Ann Pizzolato 

Go to meeting calendar

Director of Education Performance Appraisal Committee

 

Mandate

The authority for the committee is found in Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 83/24 which mandates the establishment, term and parameters governing the establishment and operation of the committee. 

 Members

Marianne Larsen, Trustee

Beth Mai, Trustee

Arlene Morell, Trustee

Bruce Smith, Trustee

 

First Nations Advisory Committee
Mandate

The mandate of the First Nation Advisory Committee is to review, consider and recommend to the Board, where appropriate, on matters impacting First Nation pupils of the Board covered under this tuition agreement and matters arising out of the Tuition Agreements with the First Nations. 

 

Administrative Resources to the Committee

Karen Wilkinson, Interim Associate Director

Kevin Auckland, Superintendent of Student Achievement

Lorissa Westlake, Indigenous Student Trustee

Gwen Doxtator, System Principal

Starr McGahey-Albert, FNMI Education Advisor

Katheryn Lambert, Manager of Professional Services

Michael Keyes, Learning Coordinator for Indigenous Education

Sarah Folino, Research and Assessment Associate

Sydney Gingras, Communications

Kathleen Doxtator, Learning Coordinator Indigenous Education 

Kathryn Banman, Human Rights Policy Advisor

Renee Shave, Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education Programs 

Christina Breen, Elementary Principal

Jamie Hicks, Elementary Principal

Bruce Nielson, Secondary Principal

Mary Saunders, Secondary Principal

Todd Woollings, Secondary Principal

Members

Chair: Gina McGahey, Trustee

C. Kechego, Chippewa of the Thames First Nation

S. Styers, Chippewa of the Thames First Nation

O. Correia, Munsee-Delaware Nation

B. Summers, Oneida Nation of the Thames

A. George-Antone, Oneida Nation of the Thames

J. Kennedy, Oneida Nation of the Thames

Lori-Ann Pizzolato, Trustee

Marianne Larsen, Trustee

Go to meeting calendar

Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee

Mandate

The committee is established to receive and provide information and collaborative advice and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to Finance, Facility Services and Capital Planning, Student Transportation, Human Resources, and current and pressing issues in alignment with the Education Act and other applicable legislation, relevant Thames Valley District School Board policies and procedures, and Multi-Year Strategic Plan. 

 Members

David Cripps, Trustee

Leeanne Hopkins, Trustee

Marianne Larsen, Trustee

Beth Mai, Trustee

Gina McGahey, Trustee

Sherri Moore, Trustee

Arlene Morell, Trustee

Leroy Osbourne, Trustee

Lori-Ann Pizzolato, Trustee

Sheri Polhill, Trustee

Megan Ruddock, Trustee

Christian Sachs, Trustee

Bruce Smith, Trustee

 

Go to meeting calendar

Policy Working Committee
Mandate

The Policy Working committee initiates and reviews policies related to the Multi-Year Strategic Plan and the Board’s operations and makes recommendations for approval to the Board.  It receives procedures for discussion and ensures procedures are in alignment with policy and may offer suggestions for consideration by the originating department, with subsequent referral to the Board for information. 

 Members

Chair: Dave Cripps, Trustee

Lori-Ann Pizzolato, Trustee

Marianne Larsen, Trustee

Christian Sachs, Trustee

Leroy Osbourne, Trustee

 

Go to meeting calendar

Program and School Services Advisory Committee

 

Mandate

The Program and School Services Advisory Committee is established to receive and provide information and collaborative advice and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to program and school services and overall student achievement and well-being in alignment with the Education Act and other applicable legislation, relevant Thames Valley District School Board policies and procedures, and the Multi-Year Strategic Plan.

 

 Members

David Cripps, Trustee

Leeanne Hopkins, Trustee

Marianne Larsen, Trustee

Beth Mai, Trustee

Gina McGahey, Trustee

Sherri Moore, Trustee

Arlene Morell, Trustee

Leroy Osbourne, Trustee

Lori-Ann Pizzolato, Trustee

Sheri Polhill, Trustee

Megan Ruddock, Trustee

Christian Sachs, Trustee

Bruce Smith, Trustee

 

Go to meeting calendar

Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

 

Mandate

O. Reg 464/97 states:

 

11.    (1) A special education advisory committee of a board may make recommendations to the board in respect of any matter affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional pupils of the board.

 

(2) Before making a decision on a recommendation of the committee, the board shall provide an opportunity for the committee to be heard before the board and before any other committee of the board to which the recommendation is referred.

 

O. Reg. 464/97: Special Education Advisory Committee, outlines specific requirements for SEAC. This regulation must be consulted for specific details on membership requirements, meetings and the scope of the SEAC’s advisory capacity.

 

Under Ontario’s Education Act, every exceptional pupil is entitled to special education programs and services which meet their needs. In the Thames Valley District School Board, the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) plays a vital role in ensuring that exceptional pupils receive appropriate educational services and programs by carrying out its mandate to:

 

1)    make recommendations to the Board in respect of any matter affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional pupils of the Board;

2)    participate in the Board’s annual review of its special education plan; and,

3)    participate in the Board’s annual budget process under section 231 of the Education Act, as that process relates to special education.[1]



[1] O. Reg 464/97 s. 11 & 12

 

Administrative/Resources to the Committee

Karen Wilkinson, Interim Associate Director

Jeff Bruce, Superintendent of Student Achievement

Matthew Chevalier, System Principal

Sydney Gingras, Communication Specialist

Marek Miszkiewicz, Elementary Principal

Holly Powell, Elementary Principal

Nancy Howe, Secondary Vice Principal

Renee Shave, Secondary Principal

Members

Special Education Advisory Committee - Community Organizations Overview

Chair: 

Vice Chair: 

Trustees: S. Moore, B. Mai, L. Pizzolato

 

Member Organizations:

C. Read, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Network

T. Leckie, Association for Bright Children

C. Pecican, Autism Ontario London

Vacant, Children's Aid Society of London & Middlesex

C. Fortnum, Children's Hospital at LHSC

J. Wright, Community Services Coordination Network

A. Morse, Easter Seals

P. Cook, Inclusion Action Ontario

D. Shore Reid, Learning Disabilities Association of London Region

S. Young, London Autism and Disabilities Group 

K. Robinson, Vanier Children's Services

M. Barbeau, VOICE for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

R. Askew, London Down Syndrome Association 

K. Vandersluis, Additional Member

Go to meeting calendar

Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee (TVPIC)

The Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee (TVPIC) supports, encourages and enhances parent engagement at the Board level in order to improve student achievement and well-being.

The committee consists of parent members, community representatives and staff who meet on a monthly basis during the school year to increase parent engagement, support school councils, and organize district-wide events.

Go to the TVPIC website

For further information, contact:

Supervisor, Board Services
Thames Valley District School Board
London, Ontario N5W 5P2

Telephone 519-452-2000 ext. 20218
Email: Board Services

Ontario Education Act Section 253.1 (1) – Every district school board shall establish an audit committee.

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