Parent Involvement Committee
The Peel District School Board's Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) was established in the winter of 2008 in response to the Ministry of Education's Parent Involvement Policy. Learn more about the committee including its current members, meeting schedule, agendas and meeting highlights. Contact us with additional questions and comments.
Board approves PIC terms of reference and bylaws
On March 9, 2010, the board approved terms of reference for the PIC.
On Feb. 28, 2011, the Parent Involvement Committee approved its bylaws:
PIC Bylaw 1 - committee membership
PIC Bylaw 2 - filling committee vacancies
PIC Bylaw 3 - conflicts of interest
PIC Bylaw 4 - resolving disputes
PIC Bylaw 5 - Committee executive
PIC commissions parent involvement study
In 2008-09, the PIC commissioned a study to help develop an action plan that fosters effective parent involvement. The report generated a greater understanding of parents’ needs and attitudes regarding involvement in their children’s education, and a series of recommendations to bolster that involvement.
The foundation of the study was 18 focus groups held with parents, representing families with children at all grade levels, located in all areas of Peel, and from all socio-economic groups. Research questions included how Peel parents feel about their involvement, what barriers to involvement exist and how schools can encourage involvement.
To reflect the diversity of Peel, 12 focus groups were conducted in languages other than English. As the PIC also wanted the perspective of school leaders, the study included three focus groups with principals of elementary, middle and secondary schools. A third phase investigated teachers’ views is through focus groups and a survey.
About PIC
Under the Ministry of Education's Parent Involvement Policy, all boards are to create a committee comprised of a majority of parents that is directly linked to the director of education and trustees.
As mandated by the ministry, the purpose of the PIC is to:
- support, encourage, and enhance meaningful parental involvement within schools and across the district, including, outreach to parents who find involvement more challenging
- seek out the advice and ideas of school councils, and other parents and partners as they plan and implement strategies to involve more parents at the regional level
- work collaboratively with the school board
- develop strategies for enhancing parental engagement and outreach
- support student success
The committee reviews the boards' plans for parent involvement as it relates to parent, family and community engagement, and to make suggestions to schools, councils and the board regarding additional parent outreach.
Current members (effective September 2011)
Kathy Parris-McDonald, Parent Member representing Brampton and French Immersion (PIC co-chair)
Anthony Blair, Parent representing Brampton (PIC co-chair)
Stan Cameron, Trustee representing Caledon
Barbara Cyr, representing the board's Special Education Advisory Committee
Vijai Dasrat, Parent Member representing Brampton
Lucy Ding, Parent Member representing Mississauga
Velvet Dodge Matinna, Parent Member representing Caledon
Salha Jeizan, representing
MIAG Centre for Diverse Women & Families
Meredith Johnson, Trustee representing Mississauga
Harinder Malhi, Trustee representing Brampton
Tony Pontes, Director of Education
Shan Rai, Parent representing Mississauga
Lisa Skeete, Parent representing Mississauga
Dan Wilkinson, Parent representing Brampton
Resource:
Alison Farbar, Acting Communications Officer
Jay Fedosoff, Vice-principal responsible for Parent and Family Literacy Centres and We Welcome the World Centre teaching staff Varsha Naik, Community Liaison Co-ordinator
Carla Pereira, Acting Manager of Communications
Meeting schedule
The PIC meets a minimum of four times a year at the HJA Brown Education Centre. PIC meetings are open to the public.
Meeting agendas
Agendas are posted one week before the scheduled meeting date.
2011-12 school year meeting dates:
Feb. 27, 2012
April 2, 2012
May 7, 2012
2010-11 school year meeting dates:
Agendas from past meetings:
Meeting highlights
Register to receive highlights by e-mail. Send a message to parentinvolvement@peelsb.com and we will add you to the distribution list.
Contact us
Questions or comments?
Send an e-mail to parentinvolvement@peelsb.com. One of the co-chairs will respond to you.
Communications representative:
905-890-1010, ext. 2626
