The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board received a mid-year update on the new 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.
Superintendent of Education and Curriculum Services Tina Elliott made a presentation to the board of trustees on Monday, with wins, challenges, and the focus moving forward.
PLAN VISION: Inspiring and innovating for a bright future.
PLAN MISSION: Educate and empower students with skills for success.
There are four pillars laid out in the plan.
- Strengthening Foundational and Real-world Skills
- Advancing Indigenous Education and Reconciliation
- Fostering Critical Thinking, Adaptability and Innovation
- Promoting Citizenship, Well-being and Safe Environment
Director of Education, CEO and Secretary of the Board for the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board, Katherine MacIver.
Chair of the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board, Dr. Kari Kramp.
Quinte News spoke with Board Chair Dr Kari Kramp and Director of Education Katherine MacIver.
Kramp says the update is the “North Star” to help trustees guide sound policy and planning.
“One of the items that trustees were also looking for was feedback on measurable items wherever possible.”
Chair Kramp says there was extensive consultation in creating the plan.
“We heard from students the importance of the real-world skills, and examples would be budgeting and financial literacy as one.”
MacIver says critical thinking skills are not just a focus for the classroom, but the whole person.
“It starts out of the womb. Kids are making choices and evaluating wants and needs and preferences. Starting in kindergarten, we start to talk about, ‘Why do you think that way? What do you think’s going to happen next?’ But it becomes more and more complex, as does the curriculum, as students continue their journey right through grade 12.”
MacIver says artificial intelligence is pushing critical thinking to the front burner.
“With the girth of information that is available through the internet, it’s more and more important that our students are able to think critically and discern and use the tools that are available to them for specific purposes in specific ways.”
With technology rapidly changing day by day and long term projections becoming more difficult, Kramp says they wanted to create a strong foundation with the strat plan, to be able to pivot and revisit.
“When you look at the big picture, the four priorities of our strategic plan, I believe this has provided an excellent foundation for the next five years. But every plan needs reflection. And when it’s turned over to the director and her team and staff, students, teachers, it will require reflection. And so this is when it comes back, because things change rapidly. It’s going to be really important to revisit how we’re getting there.”
There are programs and changes in curriculum, along with new expectations in the education.
Details on Words Matter can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Details on Have You Heard (Soundfields) can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Financial literacy, mental health models, a focus on skilled trades, and life skills were all prioritized in the strategic plan.
Details on the Strategic Plan can be found by CLICKING HERE.
