Committees

Durham District School Board (DDSB) committees include:

Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)

PIC is comprised of parent representatives, trustees, school and Board staff throughout the DDSB.

For more details and resources or to learn more about the PIC, please follow the PIC link.

School Community Councils & Regional SCC Meetings 

School Community Councils (SCC's) have always been a vital part of our school communities, providing strong links between home and school to create a positive learning environment for students.

Join your local School Community Council by contacting your local school.

Regional SCC meetings are conducted throug​hout the year to provide SCC members an opportunity to attend workshops and exchange ideas.

Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

SEAC helps the Board protect the rights of students with special learning needs. It provides advice, support and information to parents and guardians of students who require extra support. It is comprised of representatives from local parent associations that make recommendations to the Board on the development of special education programs and services.

View the SEAC brochure, the SEAC handbook, SEAC Association Connections or contact your SEAC for help or information.

Did you know?

Serving on SEAC is a great opportunity to support and contribute to DDSB school communities and build valuable personal and professional skills and experiences.  Contact the Special Education Advisory Committee to discuss available opportunities to serve on this committee or complete an Association/Member Nomination form provided below.

 

Association Membership

Opportunity for Association Membership

Durham District School Board's (DDSB) Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is comprised of individuals from across Durham Region committed to the learning and well-being of students. SEAC advises the District on programming and services for students with special education strengths and needs. SEAC also supports parents/guardians with information about community connections.

SEAC is able to have up to 12 association members and is looking to expand. We are seeking a diversity of experience within SEAC to provide meaningful feedback to the District.

The current voting members of the Committee are comprised of association representatives, two members at large and representatives from the Board of Trustees.

Current Associations:
  • Association for Bright Children
  • Autism Ontario – Durham Chapter
  • Durham Down Syndrome Association of Durham Region
  • Learning Disabilities Association of Durham Region
  • Ontario Parents of Visually Impaired Children
  • Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support 
Requirements to be an Association Member:
  • As per Regulation 464/97 of the Ontario Education Act:
  • Associations must have provincial context and operate locally within Durham Region supporting families.
  • Nominated representatives, and an alternate member, for the Association on SEAC, must:
  • Be a member of the association
  • Be over 18 years old
  • Reside in Durham Region and be a public school elector (eligible to vote for school board Trustees)
  • Not be an employee of the Durham District School Board.

As per the DDSB SEAC by-laws, associations must be no fee for services. For profit or fee-based organizations are not eligible to have membership.

SEAC meets no less than ten times per school year. Members must attend meetings for quorum purposes.

If your association would like to nominate a local representative and alternate to the DDSB SEAC, please complete the SEAC Association/Member Nomination online form(s) and submit it to the DDSB, attention Lisa Wry, Administrative Assistant for Inclusive Student Services, or lisa.wry@ddsb.ca

Association/Member Nomination Form

SEAC membership is subject to the approval of the DDSB Board of Trustees.

For further information please contact:

Eva Kyriakides, SEAC Chair bill.eva.k@rogers.com

Tara Culley, SEAC Vice-Chair SEAC@ddsa.ca

Andrea McAuley, Superintendent of Equitable Education 905-666-6371

Meetings

All parents and interested members of the public can register to attend SEAC meetings. We meet at the DDSB Education Centre, 400 Taunton Rd. E., Whitby at 6:30 p.m., the 3rd Thursday of the month.

SEAC meetings follow this formal format:

  • Review of minutes
  • Presentations
  • Current issues and initiatives in Special Education
  • Committee reports by members (Board reports, trustees, staff)
  • Correspondence and questions 
  • SEAC Calendar - Agendas and Minutes
  • SEAC meeting are made available to the Public through livestreaming and recorded link.
New for the 2023-2024 school year: 

Members of the public who wish to attend SEAC meetings in person are required to pre-register as space is limited. To pre-register, visit the SEAC Calendar - Agendas and Minutes and select the meeting date you wish to attend and complete the short registration form available in the event details. Once pre-registration capacity has been reached, the form will be closed, and public observation will be available through the livestream only.

Following a review of all safety measures in place regarding public attendance at meetings, the DDSB recently resumed in person attendance at meetings for members of the public and community. The DDSB is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all meetings and has developed a Code of Conduct for Public Meetings that all participants are required to follow. 

Committee members
  • Eva Kyriakides, SEAC Chair – Association for Bright Children (ABC), email
  • Morgann Cameron, Member at Large, email
  • Donna Edwards, Trustee, email
  • Kelly Miller, Trustee 905-706-3817
  • Deb Oldfield, Trustee 905-391-0764
  • sensaRAneb Burrell, Autism Ontario, email
  • Tara Culley, Durham Down Syndrome Association, email
  • Rowin Jarvis, Learning Disabilities Association of Durham Region, email
  • Elizabeth Daniel, Member at Large, email
  • Jenny McLaughlin, Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support, email

 

Audit Committee Terms of Reference

The terms of reference for the Audit Committee of the Durham District School Board are set out in Ontario Regulation 361/10

The term of office for members of the committee who are Board members is two years, and for members of the committee who are not Board members is three years.

Members of the committee are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for travel to meetings and attendance at training sessions at Board-approved rates.

Approved December 6, 2021