HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard 18 Apr 2000 Minutes Public(6w •
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OTTAWA CARLETON
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
MINUTES
18 April 2000
The Board meeting which began on 10 April 2000 continued this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank
Road, Nepean, Ontario, commencing at 7:20 p.m. with Trustee Jim Libbey in the chair and the following in attendance:
Trustees Cynthia Bled, Albert Chambers, Alex Getty, Lynn Graham, Patty Ann Hill, Russ Jackson (by phone), Andrew
Lam, Sheryl MacDonald, Pam Morse and Lynn Scott.
STAFF: Director of Education and Secretary of the Board James Grieve; Superintendents, Rose -Marie Batley
and Barbara Stollery, Principal of Special Education, Laura McAlister; Assistant Secretary of the Board, Joan
Melancon; Policy and Planning Advisor, Janice Sargent; Communications Coordinator, Paul Chislett; AN Technician
Robert Giekes and Committee Coordinator Bruce Fraser.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE: Janel Yu.
151. Call to Order/Review of Agenda
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m. and noted that this was a continuation of the 10 April 2000
Board meeting.
The agenda was reviewed and the Confirmation of Minutes of the 28/29 March 2000 meeting was added
following item 3, Receipt of Minutes, Committee of the Whole (Budget) and an OPSBA Report was added following
item 8, Revised Board Summer Meeting Calendar.
152. Area Review /School Closure Study- Families of Schools
The Board had before it Report No 00 -088, seeking approval of a definition to be used in determining families
of schools and the organization of elementary schools within the Greenbelt for program delivery. Superintendent
Batley explained that the Planning Department has started on the review and planning for eight elementary families of
schools inside the Greenbelt. The Planning Department requested comments from the elementary school principals as
well as the community and that feedback is being reviewed. She noted that the proposed families of schools are a
starting point for the development of options and that the proposed boundaries are flexible and will continue to
develop.
Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Morse moved as follows:
A. THAT Board approve the following definition of elementary "family of schools ":
A "family of schools" is an arrangement of schools in a defined area that allows all students in an
area to access those programs accepted as standard offerings for elementary schools, where
enrolments in the area support the program. Such an arrangement presupposes that current
transportation entitlements remain in place.
Special Education program locations would continue to be determined following central
administrative decisions pertaining to program need, program access and the availability of surplus
elementary school space.
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B. That staff be directed to treat provisional families of schools, identified in Appendix D of Staff
Report No. 00 -088, as interim constructs only, with a view to identifying families of schools in the
options presented at the end of May.
In speaking to the motion, Trustee Scott commented that the proposed definition is reasonable although it may
require some refinement in future. She noted that the development of the families of schools concept must include the
consideration of program location and delivery, potential school closures and the relationships between schools.
Trustee Bled moved in amendment THAT a family of schools be considered as the entire body of schools
within the Greenbelt.
The Chair ruled that the amendment was not in order as it was hostile (negated the intent) to the main motion .
Trustees speaking in support of the motion expressed the opinion that the staff proposals regarding the
families of schools concept are a starting point for discussion. It was noted that the Board had previously approved the
families of schools concept and that the process is required to ensure effective program availability and delivery. It
was suggested that it would be too difficult to deal with the entire system as one large group or even two smaller
groups divided by the Greenbelt.
In response to queries, staff noted that school closures and high growth areas could result in the realignment of
the boundaries for some families of schools.
Trustees speaking against the motion expressed concern regarding the increased complexity involved with the
families of schools process. It was suggested that increasing the number of school groupings will restrict the natural
movement of students within the system. Several trustees expressed the viewpoint that the board should be divided
into two families using the Greenbelt as the boundary.
In response to a query, Superintendent Batley explained that staff support would be provided to the pubic once
the options are approved, but that support will be less than was available during the quadrant reviews.
In wrap up Trustee Scott noted that the Board is looking at program delivery using the families of schools
concept not just the school closure issue. These definitions and boundaries must be considered as temporary and
subject to change.
Trustee Bled requested a recorded vote and the motion carried on the following division:
FOR: Trustees Getty, Jackson, Lam, Libbey, Morse and Scott (6)
AGAINST: Trustees Bled, Chambers, Graham, Hill and Sheryl MacDonald (5)
ABSTENTIONS: Nil (0)
153. Receipt of Minutes, Committee of the Whole (Budget)
On a motion by Trustee Morse, seconded by Trustee Getty, the minutes of Committee of the Whole (Budget)
were received as follows:
• 29 February 2000
• 6 March 2000
• 20 March 2000
• 22 March 2000
• 23 March 2000
• 27 March 2000
• 28 March 2000
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There was no business arising from the minutes.
154. Confirmation of Minutes, 28 March 2000 and 29 March (continuation)
On a motion by Trustee Lam, seconded by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, the minutes of the Board meetings of
28/29 March 2000 were confirmed as written.
155. Business Arising from the Minutes 28 March and 29 March (continuation)
In response to a query, staff noted that the recently released staffing models will be included in the Friday
package and information regarding Special Education program delivery should be available shortly.
156. Receipt of Reports No. 4 5 and 6, Special Education Advisory Committee
On a motion by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, seconded by Trustee Scott, Reports No 4, dated 1 March 2000,
No. 5, dated 2 March 2000 and No. 6, dated 9 March 2000 of the Special Education Advisory Committee were
received.
Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, seconded by Trustee Chambers, moved the following recommendation from the
reports, viz:
WHEREAS the OCDSB web site is recognized as a major communications tool with our community;
WHEREAS central staff availability as a primary source of Special Education information is becoming more
and more limited;
WHEREAS SEAC believes our system should be transparent;
WHEREAS SEAC believes good information is crucial to sound decision - making;
WHEREAS the proposed OCDSB 2000 -2001 budget provides adequately for technological efficiencies;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
THAT the OCDSB web site be developed to include under Special Education, information or links to detailed
information about the Special Education Advisory Committee, Intensive Support Amounts, the Identification,
Placement and Review Committee, Individual Education Plans, program options, the Parent Guide to Special
Education and Student Services, and any other information that will assist the community in understanding
Special Education in the OCDSB.
It was noted that improved search capabilities have been developed by staff in an effort to assist users.
The recommendation was adopted by the Board.
157. Vacancy on Nepean Public Library Board
The Board had before it Report No. 00 -087 seeking direction regarding a recent vacancy on the Nepean
Library Board.
In response to a query by Trustee Lam, Joan Melancon noted that other institutions are delaying filling
vacancies on voluntary boards pending the outcome of municipal restructuring. She suggested that the vacancy should
be filled by a member of the public, rather than a trustee, and noted that advertising in the two local Nepean papers
would cost approximately $400.00.
Trustee Lam, seconded by Trustee Scott, moved as follows:
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THAT the vacancy on the Nepean Public Library Board not be filled for the remainder of the term.
In response to a query, staff explained that there is no waiting list of potential candidates as only two
applications were received following the last election and both candidates were appointed by Nepean Council to the
Library Board.
Trustees speaking in support of the motion noted that a merger of the library boards is likely and that the
existing board is capable of functioning with one vacancy. The person selected would only be involved in two
meetings before the next election.
The motion was carried.
158. Appointments to Special Education Advisory Committee
The Board had before it for consideration, Report No. 00 -094 seeking approval of the appointment of a
member and an alternate member representing the Down Syndrome Association on the Special Education Advisory
Committee.
Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, seconded by Trustee Graham, moved as follows:
THAT the Board confirm the following appointments to the Special Education Advisory Committee for the
term ending 30 November 2000:
Bruce Ernhofer as the regular member and Lorraine Paquin as the alternate member representing the Down
Syndrome Association, National Capital Region.
The motion was carried.
159. Memorandum of Agreement for the Education of Pupils with Developmental Disabilities
The Board had before it for consideration, Report No. 00 -061 seeking approval of the Memorandum of
Agreement for the Education of Pupils with Developmental Disabilities.
Laura McAlister explained that the agreement has been in place for many years and is reviewed on an annual
basis. She highlighted the proposed changes to the agreement including:
• the deletion of references to the purchase of service agreement;
• change to the description of the student supported by a dependently handicapped program;
• a reference to the need for staff development;
• deletion of redundant information;
• enhancement of the information contained in the Comprehensive Plan of a Board;
• an amendment to reflect current timelines;
• deletion of "The pupil should be able to communicate with a minimum of additional support. ";
• changes to program locations.
On the basis of the staff report, Trustee Getty, seconded by Trustee Scott, moved as follows:
THAT the revised Memorandum of Agreement for the Education of Pupils with Developmental Disabilities
be approved.
In response to concerns expressed by trustees, staff confirmed that the subject of summer school programs for
special needs students will be discussed with the Ministry.
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(W In response to a query, staff explained that the removal of the statement "The pupil should be able to
communicate with a minimum of additional support" will allow for the provision of support to students who are unable
to meet that requirement.
It was noted that paragraph six of the report should not have included the reference to $140,000 for the
Summer Program in July 2002.
The motion carried.
160. Revised Board Summer Meeting Calendar
The Board had before it for consideration, Report No. 00 -077 proposing a revision to the Board summer
meeting calendar. Director Grieve noted that the proposed changes to the meeting schedule allow for the continuation
of necessary Board business and for staff to take time with their families over the summer months.
Trustee Chambers, seconded by Trustee Scott, moved to defer consideration of the recommendation to the 25
April 2000 Board meeting pending receipt of the timelines for the Board's strategic plan.
The motion to defer was carried.
161. OPSBA Report
Trustee Lam provided a summary report on the recent OPSBA Executive Council and Board of Directors
meetings. He highlighted the Ministry data regarding the allocation of Intensive Support Amount (ISA) funding for
2000 -2001. The data demonstrates the importance of the OCDSB increasing its current validation rate of 73 percent as
well as ensuring the accurate completion of the required documentation to avoid a shortfall of funding.
(W Trustee Lam commented on the funding formula for English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and
pointed out that, in some Northern Ontario schools, 75 percent of the students requiring ESL when they enter school
are not immigrants. This clearly demonstrates that the using the requirement, that students have lived in Canada for
less than three years as a basis for funding, is not appropriate.
Trustee Lam noted that the OPSBA President will be contacting the Chair to obtain clarification regarding the
OCDSB policy resolution concerning "trustees and senior staff in camera sessions." It appears that many boards in the
province are already having such sessions.
Trustee Morse will provide summary information regarding funding levels to all provincial boards.
162. New Business
In response to queries by Trustee Graham, a reference map will be posted on the west wall of the Boardroom
and information regarding secondary school class sizes will be placed in the Trustees' Lounge.
Trustees congratulated the Director and staff on the recent Leadership Symposium as well as the recent
Education Improvement Commission (EIC) Report which acknowledged the OCDSB for best practices in a number of
areas. Director Grieve agreed that it would be worthwhile to discuss the report further in committee.
163. Resolve into Committee of theWhole
On a motion by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, seconded by Trustee Morse, the Board resolved into Committee
of the Whole to consider the items on the in camera agenda. Trustee Graham assumed the chair in Committee and the
Committee rose and reported at 10:30 p.m.
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164. Report No. 7, Committee of the Whole (in cameral (continuation)
Trustee Graham advised that there was no report from the in camera session.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Jim Libbey
Chair of the Board
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James. P. Grieve, Director of Education/
Secretary of the Board