The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board may be almost halfway through their school year, but the start of 2019 feels like a fresh new page in a blank notebook.
Director of Education Mandy Savery-Whiteway took some time to talk to Quinte News about what is ahead for the board this year.
She says one thing they are looking forward to is rethinking their priorities as their strategic plan is coming to an end.
She says they are also heading into the final year of their three year financial plan and are looking forward to exiting that.
Savery-Whiteway is also excited to work with the new board of trustees and says it is wonderful to work with people who are passionate about their community and public education.
Hastings Prince Edward District School Board Director of Education Mandy Savery-Whiteway. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
She says the opportunities within the community through partnerships was good in 2018, but she is hoping to really forge ahead with things like child care within schools and working with their Indigenous communities and looking at all possibilities there.
Another thing they are looking at is continuing their participation in an international research project that identifies 10 competencies they want their graduates to have.
There will be some challenges as well and Savery-Whiteway says they have aging infrastructure and have had declining enrolment and those are two things they will be keeping an eye on.
Another issue is the accommodation review processes and to understand the government’s intentions.
She says they still have work to do when it comes to EQAO results but they are encouraged by the improvements they’ve seen.
Savery-Whiteway says their focus on literacy has paid off, they’ve held their own in numeracy but they need to continue to focus on mathematics.
She says focusing on student achievement is a core business for them and having their graduation rate continue to increase is a priority.
