HomeMy WebLinkAboutChairs' Committee Partial Report 2 25 Jan 2006 Minutes PublicOTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
TO: The Board
PARTIAL REPORT NO. 2, CHAIRS' COMMITTEE
DATE: 25 January 2006
A meeting of the Chairs' Committee was held this evening commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the
Trustees' Committee Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, with Trustee Lynn Graham in the Chair, and
the following also in attendance:
TRUSTEE MEMBERS: Riley Brockington, Alex Getty, Greg Laws and Lynn Scott
OTHER TRUSTEES: Bronwyn Funiciello, Margaret Lange, Jim Libbey, David Moen and Joan
Spice
STAFF: Laura McAlister, Superintendent of Curriculum (Acting Director)
Isabel Millington, Executive Officer (Instruction)
Michele Giroux, Executive Officer (Administration)
Maggie Melenhorst, Manager, Communications and Information Services
Sharlene Hunter, Communications Coordinator
Bruce Fraser, Committee Coordinator
STUDENT TRUSTEES: Kate Genest and Ian Kasper
LEGAL COUNSEL: Roger Mills
NON - VOTING
REPRESENTATIVES: Frank Cserepy, Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC)
Hal Grossner, Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAL)
David Steele, Student Trustee Advisory Committee (STAG)
1. Call to Order
Chair Graham called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda
On a motion by Trustee Spice the agenda was approved as circulated.
3. Public Question Period
There were no public questions.
4. Preliminary Strategy for Implementation of Trustee Priorities
Your Committee had before it staff report No. 06 -019 to assist trustees to develop a preliminary
strategy for implementation of trustee priorities.
Chairs' Committee 1 25 January 2006
On a motion by Trustee Scott your Committee recommends:
THAT THE OTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SEND THE STANDING
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS A SHORT WRITTEN
SUBMISSION, INCLUDING A TABLE OF MAJOR GAP NUMBERS AND SOME
MEASURE OF REALISTIC DOLLAR SUGGESTIONS TO RECOMMEND HOW THE
PROVINCIAL BUDGET SHOULD BE SHAPED.
Student Trustee Participation at Board Meetings
Your Committee had before it a number of information items for discussion regarding the issue of
student trustee participation at committee and Board meetings.
On a motion by Trustee Spice, your Committee recommends:
A. THAT THE OTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD CONFIRM ITS
COMMITMENT TO ENSURING AN EFFECTIVE ROLE FOR STUDENT
TRUSTEES, ENHANCING THE VOICE OF STUDENTS AND CONSIDERING
PROPOSALS FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES AND THE STUDENT TRUSTEE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE (STAG) TO FURTHER THESE OBJECTIVES, AND
B. THAT THE CHAIR WRITE TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION TO INDICATE:
I) THE BOARD'S OPPOSITION TO THE ADOPTION OF A BINDING STUDENT
TRUSTEE VOTE, AND
II) TO ADVISE HIM OF THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE IN THE OTTAWA -
CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD TO SUPPORT AN EFFECTIVE
ROLE FOR STUDENT TRUSTEES.
The motion incorporates an amendment by Trustee Scott, sub - amended by Trustee Moen, to add:
ii) to advise him of the mechanisms in place in the Ottawa - Carleton District School Board to
support an effective role for student trustees.
6. Bill 123, Transparency in Public Matters Act, 2005
Your Committee had before it staff report No. 06 -008 recommending that the Board express
opposition to Bill 123, Transparencyy in Public Matters Act.
On a motion by Trustee Getty, your Committee recommends:
THAT THE OTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SEND A LETTER TO
THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION EXPRESSING OUR CONCERNS WITH BILL 123,
INDICATING OUR VIEW THAT ANY INTENDED CHANGES SHOULD BE ENACTED BY
CHANGES TO THE EDUCATION ACT AND /OR THE MUNICIPAL ACT AND
REQUESTING HIS ASSISTANCE IN SEEKING A WITHDRAWAL OF THE BILL AND
THAT SUCH LETTER BE COPIED TO THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO, MS. CAROLINE
DI COCCO, MEMBER OF PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT FOR SARNIA- LAMBTON AND
Chairs' Committee 2 25 January 2006
PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANT TO THE PREMIER, ALL OTHER MPPS, ONTARIO
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS' ASSOCIATION AND LOCAL AREA SCHOOL BOARDS.
Note: The recommendation incorporates the following amendment by Trustee Moen:
"...indicating our view that any intended changes should be enacted by changes to the
Education Act and /or the Municipal Act..."
7. 2006 - 2007 School Year Calendar
Your Committee had before it staff report No. 06 -014 seeking Board approval of the proposed
2006 -2007 School Year Calendar.
On a motion by Trustee Getty, your Committee recommends:
THAT THE SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR AS OUTLINED IN APPENDIX B OF STAFF
REPORT NO. 06 -014 BE SUBMITTED TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION FOR
APPROVAL AS THE OFFICIAL 2006 -2007 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR FOR OTTAWA -
CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Trustees requested that the calendar be posted on the OCDSB website as early as possible.
Rescheduling of 12 June 2006 Board Meeting
Your Committee had before it staff report No. 06 -013 requesting that the 12 June 2006 Board
meeting be rescheduled to 13 June 2006 to accommodate a "Cappies" (Critics' Awards Program) Gala to
be held 12 June 2006 at the National Arts Centre.
On a motion by Trustee Laws, your Committee recommends:
THAT THE OTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD'S JUNE 12, 2006
BOARD MEETING BE RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 13, 2006 IN ORDER TO PERMIT
TRUSTEES AND SENIOR STAFF TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE
INAUGURAL CANADIAN CAPPIES GALA ON JUNE 12, 2006 AT THE NATIONAL
ARTS CENTRE.
A motion to continue the meeting past 10:30 p.m. did not receive a two - thirds majority vote. The
meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Lynn Graham
Chair
Chairs' Committee
BAF/
Chairs' Committee 3 25 January 2006