WELLINGTON COUNTY – Parents and caregivers with children attending Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) schools in north Wellington are being invited to join a new education-focussed communications forum for the region.
In a letter to the CAOs of Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North, local trustee Robin Ross explained she has been working with UGDSB staff to create a new way for northern Wellington to collaborate with the school board through the formation of the North Wellington Hub.
“This space is designed to be an open forum for people to share ideas and solutions that are unique to our area,” Ross stated.
The trustee said the aim is to make meetings “as accessible as possible for all voices.
“Parents of students are not the only stakeholders in the education system,” said Ross.
“Community groups, minor sports, municipalities and Wellington County all have goals and resources that could work together.”
UGDSB trustee Robin Ross
The first meeting of the hub is set for 7pm on March 29 at Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest. There will be a virtual as well as an in-person option.
Ross urged municipal CAOs to share an invitation to the gathering with staff, council and local organizations.
A notice posted on school websites in north Wellington says the hub is an opportunity for parents/caregivers in north Wellington to meet on a regular basis to discuss topics related to their children’s schools and education, and to receive information from the board related to schools.
Meetings will be held three times per year, with opportunities for both in-person and virtual attendance.
Anyone planning to attend the first meeting is asked to RSVP by completing a form accessible through school websites.
At the March 15 Minto council meeting CAO Derrick Thomson said the municipality is working on ways to coordinate with hub organizers.
“We are working on establishing a liaison to talk to them,” he said.
Thomson told council he put Ross’ letter on the agenda “just so you’re aware of the work that’s going on.
“We’ll have something probably back to you in the next weeks to come,” he added.
