HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 Human Resources Report 4, 18 May 2000/I
OTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
REPORT NO. 4 HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEF
TO: Board of Education DATE: 18 May 2000
A meeting of the Human Resources Committee was held this evening in the Trustees'
Committee Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, commencing at 7:30 pm with Trustee Alex Getty
in the Chair and the following in attendance:
MEMBERS: Trustees Lynn Graham, Andrew Lam, and Sheryl MacDonald
ALSO PRESENT: Trustee Lynn Scott (by phone)
STAFF: Bonnie Viney, Superintendent of Human Resources & Business &
Learning Technologies
Michael Clarke, Superintendent of Finance
Ross Donaldson and Judith Hoye, Superintendents of Schools
Barrie Hammond, Mike Neill, and Sandy Richardson, Principals
Tracey Armstrong, Vice - Principal, South Carleton High School
Kathy Duffy, Human Resources Officer
Janet Beer and Keith Egli, Labour Relations Officers
Brenda Cooper, Committee Coordinator
REPRESENTATIVE: Tom Schultz, Ottawa Carleton Secondary School Administrators'
Network
�r 1. Approval of Age
On a motion by Trustee Lam, the agenda was approved, subject to the addition under
new business of a report from Tracey Armstrong on the development of a policy regarding
employee recognition.
Public Question Period
There were no questions from the public.
Your Committee had before it, Report No. 00 -089 providing an overview of employee
wellness initiatives throughout the Board.
Kathy Duffy briefly reviewed the report, pointing out that as a result of staff
reductions over the past few years, the remaining staff have been placed under additional
stress. It has been necessary, therefore, to place an increased emphasis on wellness programs to
ensure staff are healthy and well, and to reduce absenteeism.
To this end, staff researched the various wellness programs offered by Ottawa -
Carleton employers, and surveyed principals and managers about any programs being offered
which would contribute to employee wellness.
Human Resources Committee -1- 18 May 2000
Ms Duffy remarked that following a meeting with MDS Nordion, in which Director
Grieve, Superintendent Viney, Carol Nixon of the Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School
Councils, and Ms Duffy participated, it was found that the OCDSB's offerings are comparable
to the wellness programs offered at MDS Nordion, Mitel and Nortel.
There are three categories under the wellness umbrella: health and fitness, a balance
between work and family, and professional development programs. Ms Duffy noted that the
report summarized many of these initiatives. quite a few of these programs are staff -
initiated /staff -led, particularly in health and fitness activities . Staff expertise is also used
in the area of staff development.
The Employee Assistance Program provides workshops as a part of the provider's
contract with the Board.
In response to queries, staff advised that the short term child care program provides an
emergency service to employees whose day care has fallen through or who have a sick child.
There is also a significant savings for the Board because the cost is lower than the cost of an
occasional teacher. The service is provided by the Andrew Fleck Child Care Centre through a
consortium of employers in the region.
With respect to the report, Trustee Graham remarked that it was good to see the tie-in
with the Futures Group.
The Chair expressed appreciation for the update on an impressive program.
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(a) OPSBA Eastern Regional Council
Trustee Lam congratulated Janet Beer on her excellent contribution at the recent
meeting of the Eastern Regional Council of the Ontario Public School Boards'
Association. Ms Beer participated in a panel on negotiations with a director of
education and other senior personnel.
• • • •��•t • y
Superintendent Viney introduced Tracey Armstrong, noting that she had been
asked by Superintendent Turriff to provide assistance to Ms Armstrong apropos
her practicum for supervisory officer training. Ms Armstrong has been develop-
ing a policy and procedure on employee recognition. The policy will be
submitted to trustees for approval later.
Ms Armstrong reported that following a review of the literature, and contact
with other boards and private sector employers, she developed a plan, and
sought input from the union presidents, non - affiliated staff, and the leadership
of the principal and vice - principal groups.
There was an overwhelming response to a survey on employee recognition
which was posted to the superintendency sites.
Human Resources Committee -2- 18 May 2000
Still to be established are the objectives of employee recognition, who is to be
recognized, the criteria, and celebrations.
Still to be surveyed, are trustees and the Futures Group. Trustees agreed with
Ms Armstrong's suggestion that they be surveyed by e-mail.
The meeting went into the in camera session at 8:05 pm and later adjourned at 9:25 pm.
Alex Getty, Chair
Human Resources Committee
BLC /cb
HR- 000518
Human Resources Committee -3- 18 May 2000