HomeMy WebLinkAbout07e Notice of Motion FNMI Education, Trustees Boothby
To: Board DATE: 27 March 2018
RE: OCDSB Motion for OPSBA Annual General Meeting Consideration
Trustee Boothby has given notice that she will move the following motion at the
Board meeting of 27 March 2018 for submission to the Ontario Public School Boards’
Association (OPSBA) for consideration at the OPSBA 2018 Annual General Meeting.
Whereas, the Ontario’ Education Equity Action Plan (p. 10) of 2017 states: To
execute the action plan, the Ministry of Education has created the Education
Equity Secretariat, which will bring new resources to bear on the identification
and removal of systemic barriers in order to uphold and further the interests of
Ontario’s students, school staff and families, and to ensure their empowerment
Whereas, the Ontario Education Equity Action Plan (p. 17) of 2017 states: To
support the implementation of this step (Leadership, Governance and Human
Resource Practices), the action plan prioritizes:
• enhancing diversity in the recruitment, hiring and promotion of educators and school and system leaders; and
• Identify(ing) opportunities to promote the teaching profession and remove
barriers to entry for underrepresented communities.
Whereas, the Ontario’ Education Equity Action Plan (p. 17) of 2017 states: The
diversity of the students in Ontario schools should be reflected in the diversity of
their education workers, teachers, and school and system leaders.
Strengthening diversity in leadership and in the classroom helps not only to promote a sense of belonging among students, but also helps to bolster
innovation and creativity in the school environment
Whereas, OPSBA’s Indigenous Trustee Council noted in their meeting of Feb
2018, with respect to OPSBA Priority 6: there is a concern around staffing, and making sure that barriers to the hiring of Indigenous staff in schools at all levels
are removed. Indigenous students need Indigenous role models in schools, and
particular concern was noted about Indigenous leadership role models
(principals, superintendents, and DOE), and teachers of the languages being
fluent speakers
Whereas, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call To Action 14 - iv. States:
The preservation, revitalization, and strengthening of Aboriginal languages and
cultures are best managed by Aboriginal people and communities.
Whereas, at the June 2017 AGM, OPSBA passed the following motion with
almost unanimous support; “THAT OPSBA recommend, the Provincial Hiring
Practices (Regulation 274) Committee include as priority topics of discussion, an
exemption allowing preferential hiring of qualified FNMI teachers”. The
Regulation 274 Committee, which includes Ministry and Union members, recognized the importance of the content of the motion, but was unable to action it through the Committee.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
THAT OPSBA recommend that the Ministry of Education with the
Education Equity Secretariat, as a priority, explore and develop an action plan with the following elements:
A. An exemption, allowing preferential hiring of qualified FNMI
teachers, notwithstanding Regulation 274;
B. Allowing FNMI Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers to
deliver (as paid instructors) the content of specific FNMI courses
such as language, traditions, residential schools, treaties, culture and history, the Indian Act and immigration;
C. Recognizing life skills and expertise of FNMI Elders and Knowledge
Keepers towards post-secondary teaching credentials, much like
British Columbia and Alberta models, through their Prior Learning
Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) programs; and
D. Changing the pathways towards earning Ontario Teaching
Certificates that recognize concepts that more faithfully
reflect Indigenous traditional educational transmission processes.
Jennifer Adams Michèle Giroux
Director of Education and Executive Officer
Secretary of the Board Corporate Services
Signatures on this Notice of Motion confirm that the Notice was submitted in accordance with
Section 12.9 of the Board’s By-laws and Standing Rules.
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