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 throughout 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 Obligations and Expectations, 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

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
Easter Seals Ontario
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.

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
Allyson Eamer - Easter Seals Ontario, email

Audit Committee External Member Position Available

Audit Committee – External Member

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 361/10, Durham District School Board (DDSB) is seeking one community member with financial expertise and business knowledge to serve on its Audit Committee for a three-year term, effective February 2025.

The Audit Committee is composed of three Trustees and two independent members drawn from the community at large. The primary role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in fulfilling its duties related to governance and oversight. The duties of the Audit Committee fall under the following key areas: the financial reporting process, internal control framework, risk management practices, performance and function of the Board’s internal and external auditors and the Board’s compliance with its obligations under legislation. The Committee meets at least 3 times a year, plus ad hoc meetings, as required.

Candidate Eligibility:

Applicants must have sufficient accounting, senior financial management or other relevant business experience to understand good governance, and public sector accounting and auditing standards.
Applicants must not be a current employee or officer of the Board, or of any other district school board or school authority.
Applicants must not have a parent, child or spouse currently employed by the Board.
Applicants must be a contributor to public school education funding.

Submission of Applications:

Suitably qualified candidates interested in serving on the Audit Committee are invited to submit a letter of interest and resume by 4:00 pm on January 3, 2025 via email to:

Camille Williams-Taylor

Director of Education

Durham District School Board

Email: business.services@ddsb.ca

Candidates who are short-listed may be requested to attend a private interview conducted by the audit committee’s selection committee. For information about DDSB, please visit our website at: www.ddsb.ca

DDSB is committed to equity and inclusion in the recruitment and hiring of qualified individuals who reflect the diversity of our region. We encourage submissions from candidates who represent the various dimensions of diversity. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.

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