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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05b Board 2 Mar 2006 Minutes Public0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 2 March 2006 A special meeting of the Ottawa - Carleton District School Board was held this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa (Nepean), Ontario, commencing at 7:46 pm with Trustee Lynn Graham in the Chair, and the following in attendance: Trustees Riley Brockington, Bronwyn Funiciello, Alex Getty, Margaret Lange, Greg Laws, Jim Libbey, David Moen, Lynn Scott, and Joan Spice. Student Trustee: Kate Genest Staff. Director of Education and Secretary of the Board, Lorne Rachlis; Superintendent of Curri- culum, Laura McAlister, Executive Officer (Administration), Michele Giroux, Coordinator of Communi- cations, Sharlene Hunter, Senior Board Coordinator, Maureen Strittmatter; A/V Technician, James Wright, and Committee Coordinator, Brenda Cooper. 132. Call to Order - Chair of the Board The Chair called the public session to order at 7:46 pm and welcomed Monica Ceschia, the new Manager of Board Services who was in the audience. Chair Graham noted that this meeting was called in order to complete the agenda from the 27 February 2006 Board meeting. 133. Approval of Agenda Trustee Spice, seconded by Trustee Funiciello, moved THAT the agenda be approved. Trustee Laws, seconded by Trustee Spice, moved in amendment THAT the Secondary School Program Review mandate be considered before the item from the Chairs' Committee, i.e., the Electoral Zone Boundary Review. The amendment was carried. The agenda, as amended was carried. 134. Secondary School Program Review Mandate The Board had before it for consideration staff report No. 06 -047 recommending a mandate for a second phase Secondary School Program Review Ad Hoc Committee. On the basis of the staff report, Trustee Laws, seconded by Trustee Scott, moved as follows: A. THAT the mandate of the Secondary School Program Review Ad Hoc Committee be: (a) To develop a vision for access to programs for all secondary students, in keeping with the Board's Guiding Principles, - 83 - 0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 (b) To make recommendations by October 2006 for any short term program issues for implementation by September 2007, and (c) To report back on any issues that would extend beyond this timeframe. B. THAT the membership of the Program Review Committee be comprised of- 1 representative from OCASC up to 5 Trustees 4 members of staff to be selected from amongst senior staff, secondary principals, and guidance staff. Superintendent McAlister noted that the ad hoc committee will be reviewing policies on designated schools and program review. There is some urgency to moving forward with this as quickly as possible. She advised that it was best to keep the core committee small, bringing in experts as required from the Special Education Advisory Committee, from rural schools, and from other groups. Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Funiciello, moved that the recommendation be deferred to the next meeting of the Education Committee. In support of the proposed deferral Trustee Moen stated that he was concerned because the committee would have only one member of the public. Trustee Funiciello felt that a report explaining the rationale behind the composition of the ad hoc committee is required, and stated that more opportunities are needed for public input. Trustees speaking against deferral noted that this would delay the process considerably, and that this issue had been thoroughly discussed at the Education Committee. Among the issues which need to be considered are a 7 -12 grade configuration. It was felt that it would be best to work with a core group and call in other stakeholders as required. The motion to defer was defeated, and the main motion was carried. On a motion by Trustee Brockington, seconded by Trustee Libbey, Trustees Alex Getty, Margaret Lange, Greg Laws, David Moen and Joan Spice were confirmed as members of the Secondary School Program Review Committee. 135. Electoral Zone Boundary Review The Chair noted that the following recommendation from report No. 3, Chairs' Committee, dated 22 February 2006 was placed on the floor by Trustee Brockington, and seconded by Trustee Scott, but the meeting adjourned before it could be dealt with. It was not a consent item, viz: 0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (Motion by Trustee Brockington, seconded by Trustee Scott) MINUTES 2 March 2006 A. THAT the electoral zone boundary models be considered at the 29 March 2006 Chairs' Committee meeting, B. THAT models S2 and S3, model M5, model SQ, and model M6, be considered for a decision,* C. THAT trustees and interested stakeholders submit any additional models for consideration at that meeting to staff by 12 March 2006, and D. THAT a special Board meeting for the purpose of finalizing the trustee determination process be scheduled following Chairs' Committee on 29 March 2006. *incorporates a friendly amendment by Trustee Spice, to re -name the models S2, [S3], M5, SQ, and M6. Trustee Scott noted that there had been an excellent presentation by staff, and a very good discussion of this issue at Chairs' Committee. Trustee Brockington, Seconded by Trustee Getty, moved in amendment as follows: (i) THAT Part A of the motion be amended to read "That the SQ electoral zone boundary which incorporates the new City wards 22 and 23, be approved as the new revised electoral school zone boundaries for the OCDSB, (ii) THAT parts B, C and of the motion be deleted, and (iii) That part D of the motion be amended to read "THAT staff be directed to complete the trustee distribution and determination process for the SQ model in accordance with the requirements of Ontario Regulation 412/00." Trustee Moen requested that the amendment be ruled out of order as contrary to the motion on the floor, i.e., the Committee's recommendation is to consult the public before choosing a model Trustee Scott stated that it would be out of order if it was a direct negative, but the amendment provides an alternative to part of the substantive motion. The Chair concurred, and ruled the motion in order. Trustee Moen challenged the Chair on the basis that a list is being replaced with one item. The Chair was upheld on a tie vote. - 85 - 0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 Trustee Moen stated that the motion was out of order for a different reason, i.e., it contravenes Education Regulation 412/00, section 4, sub - section 4, clause 4, regarding not deviating from representation by population. * * * * The Board recessed for five minutes to consider the matter * * * * The Chair advised that there was consensus that the amendment was in order. Speaking to the amendment, Trustee Brockington noted that he was concerned that there would be only two weeks to consult on such an important issue. Staff only received the data two days before reporting to the Chairs' Committee, and various boundaries were considered. None of the choices appear to be based on communities of interest and growth. Trustee Brockington noted that the City took a full year to devise its boundaries, and that the OCDSB should approve the SQ model now and consult with stakeholders later, making changes in time for the 2009 election. A lengthy debate ensued, and some trustees had mixed feelings about Trustee Brockington's proposal. They shared his concern with the short consultation time and the need to consider communities of interest. It was felt, however, that change could not be delayed for three years, and that it would be inappropriate to have no consultation at all before approving the boundaries for the 2006 municipal election. Some trustees felt that the SQ model was the least proportional among the models suggested. Trustees who favoured the amendment questioned concerns about proportional representation, pointing out that these anomalies have existed for many years without any problems. It was felt that effective representation is more important than the population size of the trustee zones, and that a more detailed review should be done when the new Board is in place. Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Getty, moved in sub - amendment as follows: (i) THAT the word approved be changed to identified, and the word new changed to preferred, (ii) THAT a new section B to the original motion be added, THAT the public be invited to make written submissions on the model, and (iii) THAT the wording of the amendment be changed as follows: THAT direction be given to staff at the Board meeting o f 27 March 2006 to complete the trustee distribution and determination process for the SQ model in accordance with the requirements of Ontario Regulation 412/00 after consideration of the submissions. Trustee Scott noted that because the regulation specifies that due consideration must be given to submissions, consultation is required. 0 LT'_ OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 In response to comments that there should be more than one model for the public to respond to, Trustee Scott stated that more models would result in fewer submissions, and that one model for consultation would be a better spur to developing alternative ideas. At the request of Trustee Scott, a recorded vote was held on the sub - amendment, which lost on a tie vote on the following division: FOR: Trustees Brockington, Getty, Lange, Scott, and Spice 5 AGAINST: Trustees Funiciello, Graham, Laws, Libbey, and Moen 5 ABSTENTIONS: Nil * * * * Trustee Scott assumed the Chair * * * * Trustee Graham stated that she was strongly opposed to the amendment, and noted inequity inherent in large population discrepancies. For example, under the amendment, Bay Zone would have a population of about 30,000 while Knoxdale would have a population of about 60,000. She expressed hope that the amendment would be defeated, and a reduced number of models approved for public consultation. * * * * Trustee Graham resumed the Chair * * * * At the request of Trustee Laws, a recorded vote was held and the motion failed on the following division: FOR: Trustees Brockington, Getty, Lange, and Scott 4 AGAINST: Trustees Funiciello, Graham, Laws, Libbey, Moen, and Spice 6 ABSTENTIONS: Nil Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Laws, moved in amendment THAT model S3 be removed from the list of options. He advised that the amendment is partly based on Trustee Primeau's analysis of the models which found that models S2 and S3 were rated the highest from a representation by population and schools per zone perspective. Trustee Moen felt, therefore, that there is no need for model S3. At the request of Trustee Moen, a recorded vote was held, and the motion was carried on the following division: FOR: Trustees Brockington, Funiciello, Getty, Graham, Laws 9 Libbey, Moen, Scott, and Spice AGAINST: Trustee Lange 1 ABSTENTIONS: Nil - 87 - 0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Funiciello, moved THAT model S2 be amended by restoring zones 6 and 9 to their current configuration, with zone 6 being comprised of wards 13 and 18, and zone 9 of wards 12 and 17. The amendment was accepted as friendly. Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Funiciello, moved in amendment THAT the SQ model be removed from the list of options. In support of the amendment, Trustee Moen pointed out that this option was the least favourable to representation by population. Those opposed to the amendment argued that the SQ model should be there as a basis for compari- son in the decision making process and that this may appear to be making a decision about the future configuration of the electoral boundaries before consultation had taken place. It was also noted that this would be the least disruptive to the current representation and that this may be a factor during consultation. At the request of Trustee Brockington, a recorded vote was held, and the amendment was defeated on the following division: FOR: Trustees Funiciello, Graham, Laws, and Moen 4 AGAINST: Trustees Brockington, Getty, Lange, Libbey, Scott, and Spice 6 ABSTENTIONS: Nil In response to a queries, Michele Giroux referred to the draft consultation schedule in the agenda, and noted that the consultation process would start the next day with a news release to community and daily papers, an e -mail to school councils and other stakeholders, and a special section on the Board's website. The website will include the schedule, descriptors and maps for each model. Open houses are planned for the next week, and before the next meeting of the Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC). She confirmed that school councils are actively using the Board's e -mail system. Large maps will be available at the open houses, and more detailed maps will be provided on the website. In response to a request from Trustee Libbey, the Director noted that staff will do their best to obtain the e -mail addresses of local community associations and advise them of the opportunity for input into the Board's electoral boundary process. 0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Getty, moved in amendment THAT part A be combined with part B, with the following insertion: THAT the following electoral zone boundary models be considered for a decision at the 29 March Chairs' Committee meeting: S2, M5, SQ, and M6. The amendment was carried. Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Moen, moved in amendment that (old) part C be deleted. The amendment was carried. Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Spice, moved in amendment that a new part B be added, viz: THAT the public be invited to provide written input on the models in accordance with the draft electoral zone boundary review consultation schedule dated 2 March 2006. Noting that there will also be input via the open houses and phone calls, Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Laws, moved in sub - amendment THAT the word written be removed. The sub - amendment was carried. The amendment, as sub - amended, was also carried. Trustee Laws moved in amendment THAT model S2 be deleted. The amendment failed for lack of a seconder. Trustee Lange, seconded by Trustee Spice, moved in amendment THAT model M5 be deleted. Trustee Lange noted that she had concerns with this model regarding communities of interest and some of the population anomalies. She also noted that it will be easier for the public to deal with three models than four. Trustee Moen stated that the reasons for keeping model SQ are similar to those for keeping M5, i.e., these models are closest to representation by population. M5 is mathematically the most balanced with only one significant problem regarding communities of interest. At the request of Trustee Lange, a recorded vote was held, and the motion was defeated on the following division: FOR: Trustee Lange AGAINST: Trustees Brockington, Funiciello, Getty, Graham, Laws, Libbey, Moen, and Scott ABSTENTION: Trustee Spice A motion by Trustee Getty to call the question failed to achieve the required two - thirds majority. 0 LT,- OTTAWA CARLETO N DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES 2 March 2006 It was clarified that part C of the motion means "establishing the electoral zones to determine the trustee process." Trustee Brockington reiterated his strong support for an option which keeps communities together, and noted that the Board is doing four to six months work in three weeks. He expressed confidence that the best effort is underway for the consultation process. The main motion, as amended, was carried, viz: A. THAT the following electoral zone boundary models be considered for a decision at the 29 March 2006 meeting of the Chairs' Committee: (a) S2;* (b) M5; (c) SQ, and (d) M6. B. THAT the public be invited to provide input on the models in accordance with the electoral zone boundary review consultation schedule dated 2 March 2006, and C. THAT a special Board meeting for the purpose of finalizing the trustee determination process be scheduled following the Chairs' Committee on 29 March 2006. *Part A(a) includes the following amendment to Model S2: Zone 6 would contain wards 13 and 18, and Zone 9 would contain wards 12 and 17. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm. Lorne Rachlis, Director of Education/ Secretary of the Board BLC:cb Board_060302.doc - 90 - Lynn Graham Chair of the Board