Staff Reporter
The Lambton Kent District School Board has released the results from the Count Me In LKDSB Staff Census, which was conducted November 18 through December 12, 2022.
The voluntary, anonymous and confidential Staff Census was conducted by a third-party consultant, Turner Consulting Group, and is intended to gather demographic information about the unique and diverse composition of LKDSB employees. The release of the Staff Census is a follow-up to the LKDSB’s Student Demographic Data Census, which provides information about the LKDSB’s student population.
Of LKDSB’s 3,377 employees, a total of 2,282 responded to the survey, with 2,219 agreeing to participate and 63 indicating that they did not wish to participate.
Turner Consulting Group issued key findings and recommendations to help inform future system planning to support the needs of LKDSB’s workforce and student population. The key findings are in the areas of response rate; persons with disabilities; Indigenous and racialized employees; employees from non-Christian religions; and 2SLGBTQ+ employees.
Visit the LKDSB website to review the Staff Census Report, which includes aggregate data of the responses by permanent full-time and part-time employees.
The Executive Summary includes key findings and recommendations by Turner Consulting Group and additional information from the LKDSB outlining key initiatives related to the recommendations to help inform future system planning to support the needs of LKDSB’s workforce and student population.
LKDSB is committed to ongoing support for equitable and inclusive hiring, promotion, advancement and accountability for equity and human rights at all levels, and to build diverse and inclusive workplaces with equitable outcomes for all. The LKDSB will review the results of Staff Census and develop plans and strategies in collaboration with its union partners to further support the recruitment, retention and advancement of a diverse workforce.
“The Staff Census provides us with a better understanding of the current demographics of our workforce,” said director John Howitt. “In collaboration with staff and union partnerships, we will work together to review the key findings and recommendations with a focus on understanding the diversity of LKDSB’s workforce, particularly the current and ongoing needs of employees who identify as members of equity-seeking groups.”
The results of the Staff Census will help LKDSB achieve the goal of increasing the diversity of its workforce to reflect the diversity of the students it serves. The data will also help foster an inclusive work environment where employees can bring their full selves to work, access opportunities to be productive, and grow as professionals.
In alignment with the LKDSB’s Strategic Priority of “Inclusive Diversity: Championing anti- oppressive education” and the Ontario Human Rights Code, the LKDSB’s Operational Plan outlines strategies to remove barriers in education and employment. Future planning will include goals and strategies that are in alignment with the hiring, retention and advancement recommendations outlined in the Staff Census report.
Additionally, the LKDSB will be working with a consultant to develop and implement an equity audit in follow-up to the Staff Census and the Demographic Data Student Census. This will provide additional information to help support future planning and decision-making.
The LKDSB plans to complete a follow-up Staff Census in the coming years.
