HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 Report on OPSBA Public Education Symposium, Trustee Scott
Report on Ontario Public School Boards Association Public Education
Symposium and Board Member Certification Program
Toronto, ON, 27-29 January 2011
Lynn Scott, Trustee
The annual Public Education Symposium of the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA)
brings together public school board members from across Ontario for informative sessions on current
issues in Ontario education. This year, a newly developed Board Member Certification Program was also
offered during the day of 27 January prior to the opening of the main conference, and repeated on 28
January for those unable to attend the first session.
The Board Member Certification Program was developed specifically for Ontario school boards, and
addresses the roles and responsibilities of school boards and school board members in the context of good
governance and recent changes to the Education Act. An overview of the legal background was provided
by Michael Hines of Hicks Morley LLP, followed by a presentation on concepts of governance by
Patricia Bradshaw, Schulich School of Business, York University. Groups of trustees from different
boards worked together through role-playing scenarios and discussed the impact of concepts on
governance practices with expert facilitators. Trustees from each board were given time together as a
group, to reflect on what had been learned and how it applied to their particular board. The 27 January
session was attended by Trustees Blackburn, Campbell, Curry, Funiciello, Holtzhauer, McKenzie, Scott
and Shea, all of whom stayed for the full conference. Other OCDSB trustees (Trustees Fisher,
FitzGerald, Kavanagh and Seward) attended part or all of the certification program sessions on 28 January
and/or conference sessions. All participants were provided with introductory materials and the first seven
modules of the Trustee Professional Development Program for Good Governance for School Boards.
The Public Education Symposium opened on the evening of 27 January with a series of student
Minister of Education Leona Dombrowsky
performances, followed by a brief address by , who quickly
summarized initiatives of the current government but did not take any questions. Her appearance was
Student Mental Health Issues
followed by a presentation on by Dr. Bruce Ferguson (Hospital for Sick
Children) and Dr. Kathy Short (Hamilton-Wentworth DSB). The presentation provided an overview of
needs, emerging partnerships, and characteristics of effective mental health promotion programs. From a
scan of what supports are currently in place in Ontario school districts, it is clear that school boards have
an important role to play in developing policies and partnerships and balancing local needs with available
resources to implement strategies to serve the 20% of students with mental health needs requiring
interventions.
Kevin Costante, Deputy Minister of
The keynote speaker on the morning of 28 January was
Education
, who highlighted seven areas of interest, as follow:
A. Student Achievement Gains
Specific reference made to Summer Learning Camps and to 12-by-12 re-engagement strategy
for drop-outs
st
B. 21 Century Learning and Technology in the Classroom
Research by Jennifer Jenson (York University) on website
Need a vision for Ontario – best practices, how to disseminate them
Need policy on cyber-bullying, digital citizenship, etc.
Need curriculum review and changes to teacher training
C. Early Learning
Curriculum document and other supports are out there
Report on OPSBA Public Education Symposium, 27-29 January 2011
by Lynn Scott, 7 February 2011
rd
Legislation expected to be passed by late February or early March regarding the use of 3
party providers for extended day programs
Early Learning has potential implications for future curricular changes in Grade 1 and up, as
kids are better prepared
D. Provincial Budget
Provincial budget expected by about the end of March
Education still a priority, but “not expecting a lot of new money”
Asking for a multi-year capital program for new schools, additions and major school renewal
E. Governance
Working through transitions post-Bill 177
F. Aboriginal Education
Province has a strategy for provincial schools, but trying now to work with First Nations
and with Ottawa re improvements for on-reserve schools
G. International Students
Considering looking at International Visa students – possibility of new regulations and
policies
While some trustees left for the repeat of the Board Member Certification Program, the conference
continued with presentations on Issues in Education:
Education Finance
– Gabriel Sekaly, Assistant Deputy Minister
Overview of Grants for Student Needs (GSNs)
Emphasized that GSNs were designed to operate in a fair and non-discriminatory manner
between Catholic and public boards
Stated that transportation funding was based on different needs in different boards!!!
Full Day Kindergarten will continue to be funded, for now, as Education Programs
(Other) and not rolled into the GSNs
Conflict of Interest and Code of Conduct
– Sheila MacKinnon (Shibley Righton LLP)
Reviewed Municipal Conflict of Interest legislation and commented on recent cases from the
Toronto Catholic School District
It was noted that trustees are in a conflict of interest if there is any possible link between the
matter being considered and the pecuniary interest of the trustee, and suggested that trustees
should exercise extreme caution voting on budget matters if there is any potential link
between any part of the budget and a possible pecuniary interest – it is very risky for a trustee
who has a pecuniary interest in the budget to vote on one part of it but not the other
Trustees who have declared a conflict in a public meeting may be wiser to leave the meeting
even though not required to depart from the room
No regulation to date regarding Code of Conduct for board members, but one is still expected
Broad parameters already in place regarding process for dealing with alleged breach of code
of conduct, but no details
Labour Relations
– Geoff Williams (OPSBA)
Overview of provincial processes and of services provided by OPSBA to member boards
Audit Committees and Internal Audits
– Doreen Lamarche (Ministry of Education)
Overview of new provincial regulation re audit committees
Overview of new provincial funding model for internal audits, regional structure, etc.
Report on OPSBA Public Education Symposium, 27-29 January 2011
by Lynn Scott, 7 February 2011
Early Learning
– Jill Vienneau and Jill Worthy (Ministry of Education)
Overview of provincial plans for the continuing phase-in of full-day kindergarten and
extended day programs
Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy
– Susan Finkelstein and Lucy Valleau (York Region
Community and Health Services)
Overview of new provincial policy to be implemented as of September 2011
Clarification of scope and content of nutrition rules in PPM 150
Provided examples of implementation strategies from various boards (Peel, Trillium
Lakelands, Waterloo Region and others)
Emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders
Energy to Learn – The Nutrition Connection
– Wendy Gibson and David Farnell
Ontario Curriculum and Infusing First Nation, Metis and Inuit Perspectives
– Karen Gill
(Ministry of Education)
Following OPSBA Regional Meetings on 29 January, attendees reconvened for overviews of
emerging issues in education, presented by OPSBA staff, with the following highlights:
A provincial French-as-a-Second-Language Working Table is to be formed
A coalition is working on Mental Health Issues and will be looking for every school board to
sign on
On 2 June 2011 – Summit on Children and Mental Health
Report of the Working Table on Financial Literacy is now accessible on the Ministry of
Education website – this initiative will be phased in, beginning September 2011
OPSBA has had no word from the Ministry of Education regarding the crowded elementary
curriculum, regarding school health support services (transitions, cross-Ministry issues),
regarding physical and health education – unknown whether documents are being reviewed,
in translation, or simply being withheld
No date yet for seeing the Code of Conduct regulation
In light of fall election, unlikely that much work can be done in or with the legislature after 2
June
There is no framework as yet for the next round of provincial bargaining – the timing of the
provincial election is potentially problematic, especially given that the provincial government
does not appear to be in a hurry to get started
In bargaining, OPSBA wants commitment to full funding sustained over the life of any deal,
deals bargained in the interest of students, safe and secure learning environments, and
flexibility to adapt to change over the life of a contract
Boards are advised to check out PPM 152 re terms and conditions for principals and vice-
principals – implementation deadline is end of March 2011
Labour Relations Board has indicated that in some cases it doesn’t need to be bound by
arbitration decisions
There are some on-going issues regarding PLCs and prep time arising from arbitrations, as
well as other issues regarding class size language in collective agreements in some boards.
The conference closed following a brief overview of the professional development program for
school board members.
Report on OPSBA Public Education Symposium, 27-29 January 2011
by Lynn Scott, 7 February 2011