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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06b Constitutional/Policy Ammendments for OPSBA Annual General Meeting• • LIZ SANDAL Coll (ru ...... President 7-C�n'e ASg ....................... ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS' Qq- GAIL ANDERSON Executive Director ASSOCIATION 439 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 18th FLOOR, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5G 1Y8 TELEPHONE: (416) 340 -2540 a FAX: (416) 340 -7571 WEBSITE: http: /twww.opsba.org MEMORANDUM Md`!20'no� To: Member Board Chairs and Directors _ .^.HIGIDNI TO h C From: Gail Anderson, Executive Director REt M -7 5L'- _ Date: May 17, 1999 - - RE: POLICY AND OTHER RESOLUTIONS FOR 1999 AGM (W In preparation for the June 11, 1999 Annual General Meeting, we are providing you with copies of the policy resolutions submitted for discussion by member boards, and an additional resolution for the establishment of an Ad Hoc Membership Fee Structure Review Committee, proposed by OPSBA's Executive Council. The resolutions have been sent to you for the preparation of delegates to the AGM. All of the policy resolutions (see below) have been endorsed by Executive Council and will be printed in the AGM handbook: 1. Ottawa Carleton DSB re: Education Funding Model 2. Ottawa Carleton DSB re: Standards for Special Education 3. Ottawa Carleton DSB re: Funding for ESL 4. Rainbow DSB re: Principal/Vice Principal Certification Programs Copies of the handbook will be provided later this month to member boards and delegates. Boards are reminded to return their delegate confirmation and appointment of Directors forms to the OPSBA office as soon as possible. Additional policy resolutions - or "late resolutions" can be submitted from the floor of the AGM provided that 213rds of the voting delegates (weighted vote) agree and sufficient copies of the resolutions are provided for the delegates at the meeting. Please call Maggie McFadzen, Executive Coordinator if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting and Program, June 10-13 at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville (Muskoka). Mm%gm991resmemo.mbs 01� RESOLUTIONS FROM MEMBER BOARDS 24 1999 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING RESOLUTIONS FROM MEMBER BOARDS Resolution #1 Origin: Ottawa- Carleton District School Board Subject: Education Funding Model BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSBA a) request the Minister of Education and Training to act on the recommendations of the joint OPSBA / OASBO report - Education Funding in the Province of Ontario, A Review of the Issues - to modify the funding model; and b) request the Minister of Education and Training to establish a process for annual review of the funding model jointly with OASBO and representatives of the provincial trustee and supervisory officer organizations. F] RESOLUTIONS FROM MEMBER BOARDS 1999 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 25 Resolution #2 Origin: Ottawa- Carleton District School Board Subject: Standards for Special Education WHEREAS the present funding for special education in Ontario appears to be based not on sound, rational standards, but on the availability of funds and average spending by boards; WHEREAS special education funding in boards such as the Ottawa - Carleton District School Board had been based on satisfying the needs of students prior to Bill 160, and has suffered serious erosion from the present provincial funding formula; and WHEREAS the lack of rational standards for funding has rendered impossible the meaningful measurement of how the needs of the students are satisfied in any board; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSBA: a) request the Minister of Education and Training to determine clear and complete statements of educational goals, principles and policies reflecting the needs of a sound, special education system which would be consistent with the educational directions prescribed by the Ministry of Education (wording adopted from the OPSBA publication: "Education Funding in the Province of Ontario ". b) request the Minister of Education and Training to use these stated goals, principles and policies to identify a range of special education program models and to develop a funding model to meet the needs of these program models; and c) request the Minister of Education of Training to fund such a study to be undertaken by OPSBA jointly with other partners determined by the Ministry of Education, should the Ministry be unable to conduct the study itself. RESOLUTIONS FROM MEMBER BOARDS 1999 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 26 Resolution #3 Origin: Ottawa- Carleton District School Board Subject: Funding for ESL WHEREAS the present provincial funding for ESL is based on an assumption that students who have lived in Canada for three years or longer would presumably not require any help in improving their linguistic ability for equitable learning in the classroom; WHEREAS the provincial funding approach appears to have only the objective of reducing the cost of ESL education in the schools; WHEREAS this arbitrary funding approach has completely ignored the genuine needs of many students e.g. those born in Canada but brought up in a non - English speaking environment, students born or brought up in a French - speaking environment in Quebec, etc.; WHEREAS the lack of linguistic competence for whatever reasons will deprive a student of the equitable access to quality education, and will cause classroom difficulties for other students; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSBA request the Minister of Education and Training to base its funding for ESL on the linguistic needs of the students, instead of any arbitrary limitation on the length of time of stay in Canada, and that it consult with OPSBA to agree on guiding principles to enable boards to determine the linguistic needs. RESOLUTIONS FROM MEMBER BOARDS 1999 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 27 Resolution #4 Origin: Rainbow District School Board Subject: Principal/Vice Principal Certification Programs BE IT RESOLVED THAT OPSBA petition the Ministry of Education to ensure that institutions offering courses leading to the certification of principals and vice - principals update these programs to reflect the additional management responsibilities of principals and vice - principals as they perform their duties in today's school environment (e.g. implementation of collective agreements). Comments: This resolution is endorsed by Executive Council d✓` AD HOC COMMITTEE ON MEMBERSHIP FEE STRUCTURE Origin: Resolution of the Annual General Meeting (referred by Executive Council) Terms of Reference: 1. To undertake a review of the issues related to the OPSBA membership fee structure, including, but not restricted to: ► the principles of an FTE -based membership fee ► member boards' ability to pay (FTE) ► benefits derived by member boards on a "per student" basis ► fairness to all member boards, and an equitable distribution of fees amongst all member boards ► effects of fee structure on boards with declining enrollment and significant enrolment growth ► the value of the collective membership of all public district school boards /school authorities to: the association, individual member boards, the broader Ontario education community, and the provincial government 2. To make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Executive Council/Board of Directors for consideration during the budget process in the year 2000 (March, 2000) 3. Other considerations: providing an annual operating budget for OPSBA that will ensure a viable, meaningful and effective organization, and the provision of high quality services to and on behalf of the membership in consideration of. sources of revenue (membership fees, other sources); the effects of the decreasing OPSBA ` operating budget of the past six years; adequate recognition of the contribution Iva) of OPSBA presidents to the work of the organization, and the effects of downsizing in OPSBA's staff establishment (since 1996) and the limitations on compensation for staff Membership: One trustee from each of the five OPSBA Regions, selected to meet the following criteria, as possible: ► declining enrolment board(s) ► significant enrolment growth board(s) ► small, mid, and large size boards (based on FTE) ► up to two additional trustees appointed by Executive Council as deemed necessary Two (optional) non - voting senior board officials (eg: director of education, finance superintendent) One member of the 1999 -2000 Executive Council to act as Chair OPSBA staff support (non voting),as assigned Quorum: Simple majority ' Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors through Executive Council Number of meetings: As required Sunset: On completion of mandate (for March, 2000 budget review) or June, 2000 mm\exec\may991feereso1.agm 4 �r.=if 70: LIZ SANDALS Ali �� �•••.......• GAIL ANDERSON President �'1e'""' "' "' "' Executive Director ....... ............................... F 3 0 . A ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS' ASSOCIATION 439 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, 18th FLOOR, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5G 1Y8 TELEPHONE: (416) 340 -2540 • FAX: (416) 340 -7571 WEBSITE: www.opsba.org __ ____ ': • : f+ N MEMORANDUM I To: Member Board Chairs, Directors of Education cc: all Member Board Trustees V. S From: Gail Anderson, Executive Director Date: April 28, 1999 - -- -- _ RE: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE OPSBA CONSTITUTION AND BY -LAWS The OPSBA constitution, section 19.01 states that: The Board of Directors may amend the constitution and any other by -laws of the Association. The amendments will be effective when confirmed by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a General Meeting of members. Each year, OPSBA seeks proposals for such amendments from its member boards and directors of the association for consideration and approval by the board and referral to the AGM for confirmation. No proposals for amendments were received from the membership by the deadline of April 9, 1999, however, two amendments were proposed by Executive Council. At its meeting on April 23-24, the board approved Executive Council's amendment proposals which will be submitted to the AGM in June, 1999 for confirmation. Draft proposals for the constitutional language are attached. Please note that the language is subject to final review by OPSBA's legal counsel. The amendments deal with the following: 1. A "housekeeping amendment" which will eliminate the stub year dates from the fiscal year section of the constitution (section 6.01). 2. An amendment to establish a new class of vice president based on a member board's full time equivalent enrolment. a( This process and rational for the second amendment is outlined here for the information of your board, and for preparation of your voting delegate /altemate delegate at the AGM. Executive Council (acting as directors of OPSBA) requested that an amendment be proposed that would permit any member board in good standing with a pupil enrolment of 150,000 or more pupils (FTE) to appoint a trustee of that member board, who is already appointed as an OPSBA director (a member of OPSBA Board of Directors), to the Executive Council as a Vice President of the association. Provisions for ensuring that there is an "alternate" to that vice president, who would also be a director (similar to criteria regarding Regional Vice Chairs) were also requested. The rationale for this proposal included recognizing the value of having a representative(s) of significantly large district school boards on the association's management team. Staff worked with OPSBA's constitutional lawyer to develop appropriate language for amendment. The amendments establish a new "class" of "vice president" without increasing the total number of members on the board of directors or the number of directors any specific board is entitled to appoint to the board in any given year. The current structure in which the table officers are elected at large from the entire membership, and Regional Vice Presidents are elected at large from within the Regions is maintained, and the number of Regions does not change. Using FTE as the criteria for the appointment of these additional vice presidents is consistent with the OPSBA policy regarding the allocation of membership fees. If you have any questions about the constitutional amendments themselves, or the process, please contact Maggie McFadzen, Executive Coordinator, ext 108, exec @opsba.org mmlagm9Mconamds.mbr PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS TO ENACT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES AT THE 321, ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, JULY 11, 1999 BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Constitution of the Association, being by -law #5, be amended as follows: 1. Section 6.01 shall be amended by deleting the words `for 1999 shall be the stub year period from January 1, 1998 to September 1, 1998, thereafter, the fiscal year of the Association" so that the section reads: The fiscal year of the association shall be from September 1 to August 31. 2(a). Section 8.01 shall be amended by inserting the words "including those directors appointed Vice Presidents in accordance with section 10.03" in the first sentence, so the sentence reads: The affairs of the Association shall be managed and supervised by a Board of Directors composed of the President, the First Vice President, the Second Vice President, the Past President, the five Regional Vice- Presidents and the number of Directors appointed or elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 (including those directors appointed Vice Presidents in accordance with Section 10.03). 2(b) Section 8.01 shall be further amended by inserting in the forth sentence the words "and the five Regional Vice Presidents, Directors shall be appointed and/or elected by the Member Boards of the Association" and deleting the words "the directors shall be selected by the Regional Councils" so that the sentence reads: Save for the President, the First Vice President, the Second Vice President, the Past President, and the five Regional Vice Presidents, Directors shall be appointed and/or elected by the Member Boards of the Association. 3(a). Section 10.01 shall be amended by inserting the words `the Vice Presidents appointed under section 10.03" so the section reads, The Officers of the Association shall consist of the Past President, the President, the First Vice - President, the Second Vice - President, the five Regional Vice Presidents, the Vice Presidents appointed under section 10.03, and the Secretary, who shall be the Executive Director. 3(b) A new Section 10.03 shall be added to read: Each Member Board of the Association with a pupil enrolment of 150,000 or more shall be entitled to appoint one of its directors as a "pupil enrolment" Vice- C of the Association and a second of its directors as an Alternate to that t , Vice President For the purposes of such calculation, "pupil enrolment" shall have the same definition and provisions as in section 9.01. The Executive Director of the Association shall certify, not later than one month - prior to the Annual General Meeting, those members entitled to appoint a Vice President and Alternate to a Vice President Contemporaneously with the Annual Meeting of the Association, each Member Board entitled to appoint a Vice President and Alternate shall notify the President of the Association, in writing, of the names of the Vice - President and Alternate to the Vice President In the case of a vacancy in the position of a Vice President or an Alternate to a Vice President appointed by a Member Board, a replacement shall be appointed by that Member Board. If at any time during the term of a Vice President or Alternate Vice President appointed by a member board that Vice President or Alternate Vice President ceases to be a Trustee, or if the Member Board which that Vice President or Alternate represents ceases to be a member of the Association, the Vice President and /or the Alternate Vice President, as the case may be, shall forthwith cease to be a Vice President or Alternate Vice President of the Association. 4(c). Section 10.03 shall be renumbered as Section as 10.04. 4(d). Section 10.04 shall be deleted and replaced by the following new Section 10.05 The elected Officers shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected. They shall be eligible for re- election. 5(a). Section 13.01 shall be amended by adding the words "and the Vice Presidents appointed in accordance with section 10.03" at the end of the first sentence. The second sentence shall be deleted and replaced with the following: "Quorum for Executive Council shall consist of a simple majority plus one of the members of Executive Council' so the section reads: The Executive Council shall consist of the Past President, the President, the First Vice - President, the Second Vice- President, the five Regional Vice Presidents and the Vice Presidents appointed in accordance with section 10.03. The First Vice President shall chair the Executive Council. Quorum for Executive Council shall consist of a simple majority plus one of the members of Executive Council. 5(b). Section 13.05 shall be amended by the addition of a second sentence which reads: In the event that a Vice President appointed by a Member Board cannot attend a meeting of the Executive Council, the Alternate to the Vice President of that Member Board may attend and vote in that Vice President's place. CONSTITU/AGM99/finals