HomeMy WebLinkAboutP 008 GOV - Advisory Committee on Equity
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POLICY P.008.GOV
TITLE: ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON EQUITY
Date issued: 30 January 1998
Revised: 24 April 2018
Authorization: Board 19 January 1998
1.0 OBJECTIVE
1.1 To establish an Advisory Committee on Equity (ACE) to advise the Board of Trustees in
fulfilling its commitment to provide an equitable and inclusive educational and work
environment which supports student achievement and well-being.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
2.1 Board means Board of Trustees.
2.2 Community Agencies or organizations mean entities focused on serving youth and
families with a diversity, equity, low income or inclusion lens.
2.3 Community groups or associations mean groups representative of communities that
experience systemic barriers and marginalization.
2.4 Creed means a religious or non-religious belief system that influences a person’s
identity, worldview and way of life. A creed:
(a) is sincerely, freely and deeply held;
(b) integrally linked to a person’s identity, self-definition and fulfillment;
(c) is a particular and comprehensive, overarching system of belief that governs
one’s conduct and practices;
(d) addresses ultimate questions of human existence, including ideas about life,
purpose, death, and the existence or non-existence of a Creator and/or a higher
or different order of existence; and
(e) has some “nexus” or connection to an organization that professes a shared
system of belief.
According to the Human Rights Code, creed includes the spiritual beliefs and practices
of indigenous cultures.
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2.5 Diversity refers to the presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within
a group, organization or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited
to, ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and
intellectual ability, race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.
2.6 District means the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB).
2.7 Equity goes beyond treating people the same and takes into account their individual
needs and differences.
2.8 Inclusive Education refers to education that is based on the principles of acceptance
and inclusion of all students. Students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, their
physical surroundings, and the broader environment in which diversity is honoured and
all individuals are respected.
2.9 LGBTQ2S+ means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning, Two -
Spirit, and additional sexual and gender identities.
2.10 School Community refers to students, parents/guardians, trustees, staff, contractors
and service providers, volunteers and community members.
2.11 Systemic barriers are policies, practices or procedures that result in some people or
groups of people receiving unequal access and/or outcomes or being excluded.
3.0 POLICY
Terms of Reference
3.1 The Advisory Committee on Equity shall:
(a) provide strategic policy and program advice and/or recommendations on matters
of diversity which support equitable education access and outcomes, student
learning and well-being, and the development of citizenship;
(b) advise the Board of Trustees on the review, development, implementation, and
monitoring of all policies and its equity strategy and programs;
(c) advise the Board of Trustees on the identification and elimination of systemic
barriers to providing bias-aware education, including power dynamics,
discrimination and marginalization that may impact the lived experience of
members of the school community;
(d) liaise with community stakeholders by actively engaging parents and community
partners to help create and sustain a safe and inclusive learning environment;
and
(e) advise the Board on potential budget implications that may help or hinder its
commitment to foster equitable and inclusive education.
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4.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
Composition
4.1 The Committee shall be comprised of up to 19 members, including eleven (11) voting
members and up to eight (8) non-voting members.
4.2 The eleven (11) voting members shall include:
(a) four (4) individual members; and
(b) seven (7) community members representative of community organizations,
agencies, groups and/or associations.
4.3 The non-voting members shall include:
(a) up to two (2) Trustees as appointed by the Board of Trustees;
(b) one (1) Superintendent of Instruction or designate;
(c) one (1) Diversity & Equity Coordinator;
and may include:
(d) one (1) representative appointed by the Student Senate;
(e) one (1) representative appointed by Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Teachers’
Federation;
(f) one (1) representative appointed by Ontario Secondary School Teachers’
Federation; and
(g) one (1) representative of a local post-secondary institution.
4.4 Additional employees of the District may be invited to attend, participate, and act as a
resource to the Committee in a non-voting and non-membership capacity, as
determined on an as needed basis.
Membership Criteria
4.5 All applicants to the Committee shall have a strong interest in and commitment to
student achievement and well-being and have:
(a) knowledge and understanding of the link between equity and inclusive education;
(b) the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with representatives from various
communities who may have diverse opinions and perspectives;
(c) tact, diplomacy and a respect for others;
(d) an enthusiastic approach and ability to motivate and support others; and
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(e) the ability and willingness to attend meetings during the school year.
4.6 Every effort shall be made to ensure that the four (4) individual members are:
(a) parents/guardians with children enrolled in the OCDSB who represent the
diverse demographic composition of the District; and/or
(b) members of the following identities:
(i) Creed-based;
(ii) Disability (e.g., physical, mental, and learning disabilities);
(iii) First Nations, Métis or Inuit;
(iv) Immigrants and newcomers to Canada;
(v) LGBTQ2S+ ; and/or
(vi) Racialized Groups.
4.7 Community organizations, agencies, groups and/or associations seeking membership
on ACE shall be representative of communities experiencing systemic barriers and
marginalization, and have diversity, equity and inclusion-centered mandate. These may
include, but are not limited to the following:
(a) Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN);
(b) Children’s Aid Society;
(c) Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centers of Ottawa;
(d) Family Services Ottawa;
(e) Lebanese and Arab Social Services Agency;
(f) Ottawa Chinese Community Service Center;
(g) Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO);
(h) Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP);
(i) Ottawa Police Service;
(j) Pathways to Education;
(k) Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel;
(l) Somali Center For Family Services;
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(m) Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health ; and/or
(n) Youth Services Bureau.
This list may be changed or expanded to reflect the District’s demographic composition
and its equity and inclusive education priorities.
Term of Office
4.8 The term of office for a voting member of the Committee shall be two (2) years
beginning December 1.
4.9 Individual members may serve for no more than two (2) consecutive terms of office.
4.10 Community organizations or agencies may serve multiple consecutive terms but an
individual representative of the organization or agency may serve for no more than two
(2) consecutive terms of office.
4.11 Non-voting members are determined annually.
Appointment of Members
4.12 The Committee shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from amongst its eleven (11) voting
members.
4.13 ACE shall review its membership needs and as required create a Membership Sub-
Committee that includes the Chair and Vice-Chair, plus up to three (3) members, as
nominated by the Committee.
4.14 The Membership Sub-Committee shall ensure that the voting members are selected
using a fair and equitable process.
4.15 The Membership Sub-Committee shall,
(a) post a notice inviting applications for appointment of individual members;
(b) identify community agencies, organizations, groups or associations that meet the
criteria stipulated in section 4.7 of this policy and best meet the needs of the
Committee;
(c) invite identified community agencies, organizations, groups or associations to put
forward the names of a representative and an alternate; and
(d) submit a recommendation to the Committee for the appointment of new
members.
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Vacancies
4.16 A vacancy in the membership of the Committee does not prevent the Committee
from delivering on its mandate.
4.17 A member shall lose their seat if absent from three consecutive regular meetings of the
Committee without notice.
4.18 In the event that a voting member vacates their position during the appointed term, the
Committee may fill the position for the remainder of the term.
4.19 To replace a non-voting member, the Board, Student Senate or the District shall appoint
another individual to the position. Where the non-voting member is a Trustee, the Board
of Trustees shall make the appointment.
Roles and Responsibilities of Members
4.20 All members of the Committee shall:
(a) demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusive education in the
work of the Committee and the District;
(b) attend and productively participate in Committee meetings;
(c) review all relevant material prior to the Committee meetings;
(d) participate in Committee and sub-committees work (as required);
(e) provide equity-focused input/feedback when they represent ACE at special
meetings of the Board, Ad-Hoc or Advisory Committees; and
(f) bring to the attention of the Committee any issues related to its mission a s
stipulated in provision 3.1 of this policy.
4.21 In addition to the above, community agencies, organizations, groups and/or
associations, and the student senator shall act as a liaison between ACE and their
respective community groups or organizations.
4.22 Community agencies, organizations, groups and/or associations with membership on
the Committee shall appoint a representative and an alternate to replace the named
representative if the representative is unable to attend a meeting. Temporary
substitution of a representative by a duly authorized alternate during the course of a
meeting shall be allowed.
4.23 The Chair shall:
(a) plan the agenda in consultation with the Superintendent;
(b) preside over the Committee meetings;
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(c) act as a spokesperson and representative for the Committee in communicating
with the Director of Education, Board of Trustees and the public;
(d) review the minutes before they are circulated to members; and
(e) share information and reports received from various stakeholders with the
District, e.g., community organizations, individuals representing affected groups,
etc.
4.24 The Vice Chair shall assume the roles and responsibilities of the Chair in the event of
their absence.
4.25 The Secretary shall:
(a) keep and maintain all records and property of the Committee including but not
limited to records of minutes and reports of the Committee;
(b) distribute Agendas and Minutes of all meetings to Board Services and committee
members at least five (5) business days prior to the next meeting; and
(c) ensure the minutes are provided to Board Services for distribution to the Board of
Trustees and for posting on the District website.
Meetings
4.26 The Committee shall meet at least six (6) times in each school year.
4.27 All meetings of the Committee will be open to the public and be held at a location that is
accessible to the public.
4.28 The Committee shall welcome and encourage the participation of the public at the
discretion of the Chair.
4.29 The rules of order for the conduct of meetings shall be consistent with the OCDSB By-
Laws and Standing Rules.
4.30 A notice of each regular meeting shall be provided to all members of the Committee at
least five (5) days before the meeting.
4.31 A member who participates in a meeting by electronic means is considered to be
present at the meeting and will be recorded in the attendance for the meeting.
Quorum
4.32 A meeting of the Committee achieves quorum when a majority of voting members are
present. Majority is defined as fifty (50) percent plus one (1).
Voting
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4.33 Each voting member is entitled to one (1) vote.
4.34 Non-voting members of the Committee shall have all the rights and obligations of voting
members except for moving, seconding and voting on a motion, and counting for
quorum.
Sub-committees
4.35 The Committee may establish sub-committees as it deems appropriate to the
achievement of its mandate. Sub-committees may include voting and non-voting
members and non-members.
Reporting
4.36 The Committee shall provide an annual report to the Board of Trustees which
summarizes its activities and achievements during the past year and its plans for the
upcoming year.
4.37 The Director of Education shall have the authority to establish procedures that are
consistent with this policy.
5.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The Education Act, 1998, section 8.1 (29.1)
Ontario Human Rights Commission Policy on Preventing Discrimination Based on Creed, 2015
Ontario’s Equity Action Plan , 2017
Policy/Program Memorandum No. 119, “Developing and Implementing Equity and Inclusive
Education Policies in Ontario Schools”, June 24, 2009
Realizing the Promise of Diversity: Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009
OCDSB By-Laws and Standing Rules
Board Policy: P.001.GOV: Policy Development and Management
Board Policy P.010.GOV: Community Involvement on Board Standing Committees
Board Policy P.018.GOV: Electronic Meetings of the Board and Committees
Board Policy P.048.GOV: Board Guiding Principles
Board Policy P.065: Advisory Committees to the Board
Board Policy P.086.CUR Religious Accommodation
Board Policy P.098.CUR: Equity and Inclusive Education