School renamed in board chair's honour- Lyndwood School Cover-up - Mississauga News

She's usually the one announcing schools that have been named in honour of a prominent figure. Now, it's Janet McDougald's turn.

Last night, at a Peel District School Board meeting, McDougald was not only elected chair of the board for the 14th consecutive year, but was also surprised with the announcement that Hartsdale Avenue Public School has been renamed in her honour.

Trustees made the unanimous decision to name the school at 498 Hartsdale Ave. Janet McDougald Public School in a secret meeting that took place while she was on vacation.

Brampton Ward 7 and 8 trustee Beryl Ford interrupted the routine meeting to share the news and invite McDougald's husband Ivan, her daughters Erin Brown and Laurie Sharpe and their respective husbands to join them in the HJA Brown Education Centre's board room as they recognized McDougald for not only the role she's played as chair for the past 14 years, or her 23 years as a trustee, but the quality of the years she's contributed to making a difference in children's lives.

Ford shared with the crowd how McDougald, Mississauga trustee of Wards 1 and 7, is the longest-serving chair in the board's history, the longest-serving current chair in the GTA and perhaps also the longest-serving chair in the GTA period.

"Having served as chair I can tell you it is not an easy role — Janet only makes it look easy," said Ford. "Balancing the needs of the public, the members of the board, the role of the administration — all hard work. And Janet does it so very well. She is recognized without a doubt as a true education leader in this province — and deservedly so."

Ford said McDougald has a work ethic second to none, and a deep commitment to what is very best for children in Peel.
"She is a passionate and even some would say relentless advocate for our students at the local, provincial and national level," said Ford. "And she has led this board extraordinarily well throughout some very challenging times."

McDougald was visibly touched and genuinely surprised by the gesture from the board.
She said it was exciting enough being acclaimed chair, but having a school renamed after her was "truly an honour."
"I don't particularly like surprises, but this one is wonderful," she said. "I have to tell you this is probably the best Christmas present that I could ever have for sure."

She thanked her family and the board for supporting her throughout the years and reflected on her role as chair.
McDougald said she has always appreciated the cooperation everyone has shown her and to each other.

"As a board, our ability to disagree civilly, work together well, reach consensus and always treat each other with respect makes us not only highly effective, but I believe a model for other boards," she said. "Why? Because underlying how we treat each other, how we work together, how we support each other is the key belief that what we do is not what is politically expedient, or what might make headlines, or even what is popular, but rather what we absolutely know to be best for the students of Peel."

She added that the board's greatest strength was their unwavering commitment to the needs of children that has guided them to make "the right decisions for the right reasons."

The meeting also saw Brampton Ward 2 and 6 trustee Suzanne Nurse acclaimed as vice-chair of the board. Tony Pontes, the director of education, also shared some major achievements and stories of the past year in his annual report to the board.

Comments by others - 8 - to this web-page at time of posting;

hio Dec 12, 2011 5:48 PM

Facebook link

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Janet-McDougald-STOP/202634003156255?sk=info#!/pages/Janet-McDougald-STOP/202634003156255?sk=wall
Is is true that teachers cannot comment or vote on online polls about this because it violates their contract?

Agree 1

hio Dec 5, 2011 5:25 PM

petition

http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/stop-hartsdale-avenue-public-school-from-being-renamed/607

Agree 1

hio Dec 5, 2011 5:20 PM

Hartsdale Community Meeting - 1500 Ogden, Tues Dec 6 @ 7pm

Hartsdale Avenue P.S. - Community Meeting - 1500 Ogden Ave, Tuesday Dec 6 @ 7pm. Janet will be there - voice your opinion there!

Agree 1

hio Dec 5, 2011 5:18 PM

....contiued due to word limit

Would all the trustees be willing to appear in person, in front of all the students of the school, and explain this decision to the students – face to face? At a school council meeting it was discussed the option of changing the school name to honour Lydia Renahan, Neil C. Matheson's principal who had suddenly passed away. She was a stellar leader and dedicated to the children. You told us that this was not possible because the PSB no longer named schools after people. We were told that their protocol had changed and now they were naming the schools after their street location. Has this rule again changed? ** A stellar leader should indeed be recognized – I don’t think anyone would disagree. But in this case it would be appropriate to name a yet unnamed school, building, room or library after Janet – rather then renaming a school for the second time. If Janet’s heart and soul is really with the kids, she will do the right thing - decline this offer and wait for a more appropriate selection – for the kids’ sake.

Agree 1

hio Dec 5, 2011 5:18 PM

continued from below due to word limit...

The ONLY thing these students had to count on for the past two years – was a school name. Are the trustees aware of how much thought and hard work the students put into creating a new mascot and choosing school colours? The ‘heart’ has been ripped from the kids and their Hartsdale Husky. To change the school name in the middle of the school year is also inappropriate. The school has been stressing ‘inclusion’ (ensuring that people in organizations feel they belong) with the students – does this really demonstrate this to them – when it is the students’ school? From the PSB website: “Trustees have an individual responsibility to represent the constituents of their respective ward(s) to the best of their ability.” Is the trustees’ decision representing the students or themselves?

Agree 1

hio Dec 5, 2011 5:17 PM

Hartsdale Community Meeting - 1500 Ogden, Tues Dec 6 @ 7pm

People keep stressing the point that they wish to focus on the children. When the trustees made their decision, were (and ARE) the trustees made aware of what the STUDENTS have been through over the past three years? Ongoing uncertainty and delays. Are they aware of how upset the students are?First not knowing WHERE they would be going to school. They all had a school name and a school taken away from them – as well as principals and teachers. Then the loss of one principal (Lydia Renahan) , getting used to a much larger school environment, continued delays of school opening, another principal being taken away (Mary Kielo)- and now yet another opening delay.

Agree 1

zdotb Dec 2, 2011 10:39 AM

Congratulations to Janet

She definitely deserves this.

Disagree 4

Fartleberry Dec 2, 2011 9:37 AM

Looks like Carolyn Parrish High School is next

... that's a joke you morons.

Agree 1

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