VIDEO: Highlights from the March 4 Upper Canada District School Board of Trustees Meeting

Brockville – Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Key items discussed in the public session are as follows.

Indigenous Education Program Engages More Students Resulting in Increased Success:

Superintendent Amanda Nieman, Principal of Indigenous Education Kelty Grant and Manager of Indigenous Education Ryan Jacobs presented Trustees with the highlights of the work the team has been doing as part of the Board Action Plan for Indigenous Education (BAPIE).

The team reported that through the continued efforts of creating opportunities for Indigenous education to be embedded in day-to-day classroom activities and providing culturally responsive programming, the UCDSB is seeing a steady increase in the graduation rate and EQAO scores for self-identified Indigenous students.
Over the past three years, the graduation rate for Indigenous students has increased almost 7 per cent, with similar jumps, and higher, being made across all EQAO categories within the same timeframe.

Get full details on programming efforts that have led to this change here.

Black History Month Celebrated Around the UCDSB:

Superintendent of Schools Kellie Weir gave an update to the Board of Trustees on the various initiatives and activities that took place at UCDSB schools throughout February to honour and celebrate Black History Month.

Each February, the UCDSB celebrates Black History Month and honours the legacy, achievements, and contributions of Black Canadians, past and present. To support this work, staff were provided with resources and professional development opportunities throughout the school year, and to enable teachers to lead meaningful classroom discussions and activities connected to Black history.
Examples include introducing educators to BlacBiblio’s ABC’s of Canadian Black History kits, the distribution of age specific books and graphic novels to all grade levels, posters placed throughout UCDSB schools, and the circulation of mental health resources to support the well-being of Black and racialized students.

Some specific examples of initiatives that took place in UCDSB schools throughout the month, include art projects, written reports, special guest speakers such as Senator Bernadette Clement, and classroom visits to Upper Canada Village’s new Black History Program (watch the video).

New Cornwall School Name Will Recognize School History:

Jeremy Hobbs, UCDSB Chief Business Officer & Treasurer, brought forward a recommendation from the new Cornwall school steering committee that the new Grade 7-12 school being built in Cornwall be named Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School.

Hobbs explained that the existing Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School is one of the oldest continually operating secondary schools in the province, and in recognition of this long history within the community it is recommended that this name be passed on to the new school.

The new school, which will be located on the north-east side of Nick Kaneb Dr. and Marleau Avenue, will consolidate students from the current Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School and St. Lawrence Secondary School under one roof. The facility will have 1,400 pupil spaces, two double gyms, a track and field facility and green space for students to enjoy. There will be bright, modern classrooms with designated spaces for technical/trades learning and Indigenous education. The school had been designed with growth and sustainability in mind. The projected opening date for the school is September 2029.

Trustees voted to accept the recommendation. Hobbs noted that the new name will be submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval.

Full details on presentations, reports, and discussions can be found in the agenda or reviewed in the recorded broadcast.