HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 Report on School Board Management ConferenceSchool Board Management Conference
Education, Labour and Employment Law Issues
Toronto Airport Holiday Inn Select
Friday, September 30, 2005
Summary presented to Chairs Committee
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
By: Riley Brockington, Trustee
Conference hosted by:
Hicks- Morley(Barristers & Solicitors)
90 Attendees
19 Public and 12 Catholic School Boards represented
OCDSB attendees:
Roger Mills, Board Legal Counsel
Anne O'Dacre, Labour Relations Officer
Riley Brockington, Trustee
A white, Hicks- Morley binder with the notes from every workshop session and my own personal
notes is available for all interested parties in the Trustee Lounge.
Whirlwind Tour of Current Issues
8 lawyers in 64 minutes. Issues covered were:
Ontario Health Premium(OHP)
Occupational Health and Safety Issues
Class Action Lawsuits
Employee Freedom of Expression outside of work
Liability of School Board caused by employees
The meaning of discrimination
Time Limits on grievance and arbitration process
Recalling Teachers
KeyNote Speaker -Kevin Kolbus
The lunchtime keynote speaker was Kevin Kolbus, Former Assistant Minister of Education and
current Director of Education at the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Current Climate
Labour peace with teachers
Relative consistency - almost provincial scale
Elementary prep time migrating to 200 minutes
Secondary workload at or moving to "HARD 6"
All teacher agreements expire August 31, 2008
ON
2
71% of teachers polled by the Ontario College of Teachers agree that multi -year agreements will
bring peace and stability to the education system.
Challenges to a Successful Renewal in 2008
The bargaining model
Model used in 2005 was provincial. Should be either
the practice or legislation before 2008.
Non - teaching agreements are not all long -term.
Instability could arise in 2006 -2007 if agreements are
not reached amicably.
Governance
OPSBA's role in the provincial talks was generally
accepted by local school boards.
There has been a centralizing shift in the role of
school boards over the past year.
By 2008, all aspects of governance, negotiations,
capital planning, programming and staffing could be
centralized out of Toronto.
Funding
71/72 Boards filed a balanced budget by August 31,2005.
In order to achieve this many Boards had to eliminate
non - essential staff, amortize costs over several years,
drastically or even eliminate reserves and
underestimate costs for supply teachers and benefits.
Revised estimates due Dec 16, 2005.
Some Boards may not balance in December.
Salary gap between provincial grid used by the Province
and actual salaries is getting wider.
Other benchmarks, ie, transportation, capital and
benefits need addressing in order to make settlements
viable in 2008.
Economic Factors
Bank of Canada estimates inflation could hit 3%
Provincial budget deficit to fall from $3B to $1.613
Oil at $65/barrel(vs $49/barrel in estimate) and a
85 cent dollar(vs 82 cent estimate), translates into a
$1.213 shortfall in provincial coffers.
The ability of the Province in 2008 to commit long -term
to the education sector may also affect the renewal
round in 2008.
The afternoon workshops consisted of the following:
L Legal Issues Concerning Retirement
2. Special Education: Avoiding the Pitfalls of the Appeal Process
3. Attendance Mgmt & Absenteeism Benefit Administration
P]
4. Clarifying the Legal Roles of Trustee, Staff & "The Board"
5. Employer Initiated Grievances
6. Update on Statutory Issues
7. Human Rights in the Schools
8. Union Representation & Freedom of Expression
I attended workshops 4 & 5.
The Hicks- Morley School Board Management Conference was a worthwhile experience.
The conference itself and presentations within it were professionally done, quick and to the point,
and geared around issues of the day.
I would recommend that Trustees and staff consider attending future Hicks- Morley conferences.
A