KPDSB Participates in 2025 Pre-Budget Consultations

Media Release - December 11, 2024

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) participated in the 2025 Pre-Budget Consultations with the Standing Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs during the committee’s stop in Kenora last week.

Trustee Roger Griffiths, Chair of the Board, addressed the committee. Trustee Griffiths shared statistical and demographic information about the KPDSB and detailed some of the challenges and successes of the Board.  With more than 50% of the KPDSB’s student population self-identified as First Nation, Metis or Inuit, the work in schools supporting truth and reconciliation is a pillar in the KPDSB’s new strategic plan and is embedded into all aspects of the organization. 

Trustee Griffiths shared with the committee that challenges for the board include budgeting challenges (KPDSB has experienced a reduction in per pupil funding), mental health, support for small schools in remote communities with limited resources, ability to offer necessary courses/programs due to small student populations, staff recruitment and retention (with one of the biggest barriers being limited, or in some cases, no housing available), and safety on highways and roads in the region (many KPDSB students are transported to and from school by school bus from remote locations).

Trustee Griffiths stated, “We are grateful for the opportunity to present to the committee and share some of our successes and challenges with them.  Living and working in Northwestern Ontario is a lifestyle different from other areas of the province, and as Trustees, we need to ensure government representatives from all areas of the province understand the barriers we face, which is why these opportunities are so important.”

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KPSDB Continues to See Enrolment Increases

Media Release - November 15, 2017

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is pleased to report increased student enrolment for the 2017-2018 school year. The KPDSB for the first time in its history, will no longer be eligible for the “Declining Enrolment Grant” in 2017-2018. 

The Board credits several factors for the increase in enrolment including its expansion of innovative student-based programs that increase student engagement and the efforts of front-line school staff to put the needs of students first. Additional acknowledgement must be given to ongoing and exhaustive efforts of administration to work closely with and sign formal agreements with Indigenous partners such as Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO), Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI), and Lac Seul First Nation (LSFN).

Budgeted enrolment for the 2017-2018 school year was 4,842 students.  Current enrolment for the KPDSB is 4,868, 26 students above the projected or budgeted enrolment.

Notable enrolment increases include:

• All Kenora elementary schools: Valleyview, Evergreen, Keewatin, and King George VI Public Schools are above projected and actual 2016-17 enrolments;
• Beaver Brae Grades 7/8 increased enrolment by 17 students;
• Golden Learning Centre in Balmertown is 17 students over budget;
• Sioux Narrows Public School enrolment at historic high; enrolment of 31 students;
• Lillian Berg Public School in Vermilion Bay, increase of 22 students over 2016-17;
• Queen Elizabeth DHS in Sioux Lookout is an additional 20 students higher than historic 2016-17 numbers with a total of 508; up from 396 students in 2013-14;
• Enrolment in Senior Kindergarten was 12 higher than projected at 296 students.

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, said “There are always compelling indicators that clearly and indisputably demonstrate the direction an organization is headed in.  The enrolment growth in many of our schools and the enrolment picture across the Board is strong.  The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board continues to strengthen and with that so does our responsibility to Northern Ontario children.”

The KPDSB is currently seeking applicants for employment in all positions and will hold Recruitment Fairs in communities across the board area following a successful event in Sioux Lookout on November 8. Upcoming events include:

• Dryden/Ignace/Vermilion Bay areas – December 11, 2017 at Dryden High School from 3:00pm to 8:00pm
• Red Lake/Ear Falls areas – January 10, 2018 at Red Lake District High School from 3:00pm to 8:00pm
• Kenora/Sioux Narrows areas – January 30, 2018 at Manidoo Baawaatig from 3:00pm to 8:00pm

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Jack Talks Session in Kenora - Free Community Event on May 2, 2017 at 7:00pm

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Ontario Special Needs Strategy Update for Families - Rehabilitation Services

Please click here to download a pdf version of the update and letter to families.

Dear Families,

As a family whose child may be receiving or waiting for rehabilitation services (speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy), we are writing to provide you with an update on upcoming improvements to the delivery of children’s rehabilitation services in your community.

As you may know, in 2014 the government launched the Special Needs Strategy in response to feedback received from families to improve the timeliness, effectiveness and coordination of the services that children and youth with special needs require to fully participate at home, at school, in the community and to achieve goals for adulthood.

A key initiative of the Special Needs Strategy is the integrated delivery of rehabilitation services, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, for children and youth from birth to school exit.
Over the past year, service providers – including community-based Preschool Speech and Language providers, District School Boards, Community Care Access Centres and Children’s Treatment Centres – in communities across the province have worked to develop locally integrated, family-centred ways to deliver children’s rehabilitation services to improve family service experiences and outcomes for children and youth with special needs. In doing so, service providers have engaged with families and youth in our communities to seek their input.

What is Changing?

Once the improvements are implemented, children and youth with rehabilitation service needs and their families will have:
 A seamless service experience from birth to school exit, with no gaps in service as children transition to school or between service providers;

• Child, youth and family centred service as parents and children/youth work together with service providers and educators to set goals based on their individual needs and strengths;
•  Access to a broad range of high quality interventions (classroom, parent training, educator consultation) in settings that are most appropriate to their needs, and as convenient as possible to families; and
•  Continuous and consistent services throughout the calendar year regardless of who delivers them in the community.

Following the ministries’ review of initial local proposals, service providers are now beginning to refine their proposals based on consultation with stakeholders. Based on feedback gathered, they will then begin to develop local plans for implementation of their new local models for the integrated delivery of rehabilitation services in each community.

When Will These Changes Take Place?

These changes will be phased in so that they will not disrupt any services your child may currently be receiving in the community or school. Families currently waiting for services will maintain their place on the waitlist. There will be no reduction in service capacity as a result of this change. Implementation of new service delivery models is expected to begin as early as Fall 2018.

We will continue to work together across service providers in the community to ensure that there will be no gaps in services for your child and that any changes will be seamless for you and your family.

How Can I Get More Information?

We will continue to keep you informed as the new model is developed in your community.

You can also visit the Ministry of Children & Youth Services website at www.children.gov.on.ca for more information about the special needs strategy in Ontario.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact: Sean Monteith, Keewatin Patricia DSB, 807 468 5571 ext 236

Sincerely,

Joan Kantola
Superintendent of Education
Keewatin Patricia District School Board

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KPDSB students participating in provincial Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto

Media Release - May 2, 2017

14 students from the KPDSB traveled to Thunder Bay in early April to compete in the Skills Ontario Qualifying Competitions at Confederation College in Thunder Bay.  Students from Beaver Brae, Dryden High and Queen Elizabeth represented the KPDSB and their schools by demonstrating their skills in culinary, small engines, carpentry, video production, and welding.  It was the largest group of students to date to attend a Skills Ontario qualifier from the KPDSB. 

All of our students, while up against tough competition from students across the region, placed in every area of the Skilled Trades qualifier.  They each earned themselves a bid to the provincial competition currently underway in Toronto (May 1-3, 2017), where they are facing off against top competitors from across the province. Our students’ participation in Toronto also marks the largest group of qualifying students to ever attend a provincial competition for the KPDSB.

Richard Hodgkinson, Alternative Learning Lead for the KPDSB, said “Good luck to all of our students currently competing in the Skills Ontario Provincial Competition.  Your dedication and passion has lead you to where you are today and we are very proud of your accomplishments.”

Hodgkinson continued, speaking to the importance of skilled trade opportunities for secondary students in the area “We want to prepare our secondary school’s youth for the highly-skilled economy of tomorrow. We offer multiple programs in all our secondary schools including Specialist High Skills Majors, School College Work Initiative Dual Credits, Cooperative Education, Peer Mentoring, and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship to help students engage, learn and develop their skills. These enable and empower all our youth, including females and Indigenous youth, to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies.   Through the Skills Ontario Competition, programs and our regular technology courses are just another way to help students decide their pathway when they graduate.”

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