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Board Meeting Highlights - September 22, 2026

Good News

Welcome Back Students and Staff

Chair Michael Bannerman shared a warm message of welcome to students and staff. He has heard many stories of a successful school year start up and expressed gratitude to all those who have contributed to this success. He pointed out that it truly takes a huge team effort to ensure that buildings and classroom spaces are ready to welcome students. Welcome back AMDSB!
 
CEO Shantz welcoming students at Huron Centennial PS  CEO Shantz posing with bus driver
 
 

North Huron Schools Participate in 104th Annual Elementary School Fair

Vice Chair Patricia Smith shared that she had the pleasure of attending the annual Elementary School Fair which was hosted in Belgrave. Students from Maitland River ES, Hullett Central PS, Brookside PS and FE Madill SS attended and participated in a number of activities and competitions including crafts, baking, vegetable and fruit growing, 4-H activities and more! This event highlights the strong pride that our schools have for their rural connections!

Young children holding goats in a 4-H showcase    students standing at an educational booth   Young girl holding a fire hose pointed at a cardboard house

Students Enjoy a Visit to the International Plowing Match 

Chief Executive Officer Graham Shantz was pleased to share that he, along with Vice Chair Patricia Smith and Trustee Sheila Armstrong-Marshall attended the International Plowing Match held in Walkerton. The event, according to organizers, is "a celebration of agriculture and rural living. There are plowing competitions, a range of activities for people of all ages, numerous opportunities to learn about agriculture, near-constant live entertainment in multiple Match venues, hundreds of vendors and exhibitors (large and small equipment, lifestyle items and much more), and more!" Students from a number of schools will be visiting the event and a kudos to Trustee Armstrong-Marshall as she serves as the1st Vice President of the organizing committee (Ontario Plowman's Association). This event is running through the week of September 22 to 26 which has been designated Rural Ontario Week, which was championed by Minister of Rural Affairs and MPP for Huron-Bruce Lisa Thompson. 

Group of students posing with AMDSB staff and trustees Students posing with AMDSB staff and trustees Horses pulling a cart  

A Busy Summer

CEO Graham Shantz shared that although school buildings may be closed to students over the summer, teams across the district are busy with a number of projects and programs for students. Our custodial team cleaned over 2 million square feet of floor, our finance team was very busy with the Ministry’s Classroom Supply Initiative, our IT team initiated a number of system upgrades, our HR team conducted dozens of interviews, educators hosted in-person and online learning opportunities for elementary and secondary students (nearly 1000 secondary credits were granted), as well as English as a Second Language classes and Indigenous learning opportunities. 

September Days of Significance

Schools are celebrating important days throughout the month of September. The video below provides a sampling of these activities!
 
September DOS Wrap-Up Video - 2026 by AMDSB Communications
 

School Showcase

Communications Manager Chera Longston highlighted Brookside Public School, located just outside of Lucknow (Northwest Huron - Trustee Joseph Cohen), which serves approximately 360 students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. While it has no designated feeder school, students transition to Goderich District CI or FE Madill SS for secondary education. The current building opened in 1966 and is led by Principal Joshua McClinchey under the supervision of Superintendent Paul Langis.
 
Highlights from Brookside PS include:
  • Connection to community: the school's connection to the local community is integral to their success. A strong school council helps support events and fundraising efforts.
  • Response to growth: with ongoing enrolment growth, the school continues to see upgrades to accommodate additional students (new larger playground, upgraded technology, new portables, re-finished parking lot)
  • Their people: students and staff truly love their school and it shows! From welcoming each student in person as they arrive every day, to celebrating being a bulldog, their staff and students take great pride in their warm, welcoming environment!
 

Senior Staff Updates

Long-Term Accommodation Plan (Includes Before and After School Program Update)

Superintendent Cheri Carter provided an overview of the 2026 Long-Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP). The LTAP provides an overview of the student accommodation and capital planning needs in the district. The LTAP culminates with recommendations that will be used to guide work plan priorities and initiatives over the short, medium, and long-term horizons, and is a tool used by AMDSB to facilitate communication and collaboration in support of planning for student accommodation needs. Visit the Pupil Accommodations and Enrolment Projections page to view the full LTAP.  
 
Superintendent Jane Morris also provided an update from the Before and After School Care Task Force that was formed last year to increase the before and after school programs across the district. She reported that new programs have opened at Exeter ES and Bluewater Coast ES and was also pleased to announce that a program is projected to open in January at Brookside PS, with work underway to continue to expand programs in both counties. Details will be shared directly with impacted school families directly.

Strategic Plan (2026-2030) 

Communications Manager Chera Longston presented a poster and 1-page summary of the new AMDSB Strategic Plan for trustee approval. The full release will occur in the coming days!
 

Student Trustee Update

Student Trustees Arina Postovalova (South Huron DHS), Mollie Hannam (Stratford District SS) and Jackson King (South Huron DHS) were welcomed and they will be meeting with their fellow senators in the coming weeks. Chair Bannerman and Trustee Mishra did highlight a recent example of the senate's equity initiative. An SDSS student recently travelled to Europe as a result of the fund that the student senators created. Kudos on this successful initiative! 

Future Board Meetings

Regular Board Meetings are held in person unless otherwise noted. Links to join the Regular Board meetings online will be posted on the Board Meeting page the day before the meeting. 
  • Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 4:45 p.m. Regular Session, followed by Committee of the
    Whole, Closed Session

Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation

  • Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) – Monday, September 28, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Trustee Recognition and Service Committee – Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 3:00
    p.m.
  • Audit Committee – Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Equity Committee – Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.
  • Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) – Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 4:00
    p.m. (Teams)
  • Governance and Strategic Planning Committee – Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 4:45 p.m.
  • Transportation Steering Committee (HPSTS) – Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
  • AODA – Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (Teams)