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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Board 20 June 2011 Minutes Public MINUTES 20 June 2011 A special meeting of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board was held this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, Ontario, commencing at 6:03 p.m. with Trustee Jennifer McKenzie in the chair and the following also in attendance: Trustees Donna Blackburn, Rob Campbell (electronic communication), Cathy Curry (electronic communication), Pam FitzGerald, Bronwyn Funiciello, Katie Holtzhauer, Theresa Kavanagh, Lynn Scott, Shirley Seward and John Shea. STAFF: Director of Education and Secretary of the Board, Barrie Hammond; Executive Superintendent, Jennifer Adams; Chief Financial Officer, Michael Clarke; Superintendent of Learning Support Services, Dawn Paxton; Executive Officer, Corporate Services, Michèle Giroux; Manager of Board Services, Monica Ceschia; Communications Coordinator, Sharlene Hunter; Central Audio-visual Technician, John MacKinnon; and Board/Committee Coordinator, Laurie Cameron. 220. Call to Order Chair McKenzie called the public meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. 221. Approval of Agenda Moved by Trustee Blackburn, seconded by Trustee FitzGerald, THAT the agenda be approved. - Carried – 222. Unfinished Business, Time Sensitive from 14 June 2011 Board Meeting a. Flexibility in Allocating the 4 Additional Junior LD and 1 Specialized DD Classes Moved by Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Shea, THAT staff be authorized to use the funds allocated for the additional 4 specialized Junior LD classes in the 2011-2012 budget and the funds allocated for the one specialized DD class with no students in a flexible way to create such specialized classes or programs as may be most beneficial to meet current needs for service to students who cannot be appropriately accommodated in existing programs, whether for Learning Disabled, Developmentally Disabled, Autistic or other high-needs students in elementary schools. In introducing the motion, Trustee Scott expressed the opinion that Individual Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) meetings are still ongoing until the end of June, and while there has been an expressed need for four additional Junior Learning Disability (LD) and one Developmentally Disabled (DD) classes to address waitlist issues, staff has voiced a concern regarding their ability to fill all the classes if the placements offered are not accepted. Trustee Scott noted that the motion would provide staff with the flexibility to create other specialized classes or programs, including LD, DD and Autism programs, to meet the current needs of students with exceptionalities in elementary schools. _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 196 - MINUTES 20 June 2011 Trustee Scott reported that the waitlist had changed since she wrote the initial motion. In response to a query from Trustee Scott, Superintendent Paxton reported that there were 110 students awaiting placement for specialized education classes as of June 10, 2011. She noted this was the lowest number of students on the waitlist in ten years, and that it was anticipated that the numbers would decrease over the summer. Superintendent Paxton provided a breakdown of the students on the waitlist by program as follows:  Asperger’s Syndrome Program (ASP) 9  Autism Program (AUT) 16  Behaviour Intervention Program (BIP) - elementary 4, secondary 7  Dual Support Program (DSP) 1  General Learning Program (GLP) 2  Gifted Program 2  Language Learning Disability Program (LLD) - primary 3, junior 9  Learning Disability Program (LDP) - elementary 39  Primary Special Needs Program (PSN) 18  No waitlist for Dual Support Program, General Learning Program (secondary), Physical Support Program (elementary or secondary), Developmental Disabilities (elementary or secondary), and no students awaiting placement for Clifford Bowey Public School, Crystal Bay Centre for Specialized Education or the Learning Foundations class. Trustee Scott thanked Superintendent Paxton for her report. She noted that staff were unsure whether the mix of classes to be established would meet the needs of the students on the waitlist as student placements offered between now and September may or may not be accepted. Therefore, Trustee Scott recommended that staff be provided with the flexibility to use the resources approved in March, as well as the four special education classes approved as part of the 2011 to 2012 budget, to ensure the classes established best suit the needs of the special education students awaiting placement. In response to trustees’ queries, the following information was provided by staff:  The specialized classes recommended by staff, based upon the wait list and allocated funding, would be three junior/intermediate Learning Disability Program (LD) classes, one intermediate Autism class, and one Primary Special Needs (PSN) class;  The demand for Learning Disability Program (LDP) classes is decreasing;  Speech and language support is offered to the junior and intermediate LDP classes on consultation;  Staff spent a great deal of time the previous week identifying the location of the students awaiting placement for special education programs and which schools they would be referred to, as well as reviewing the students currently enrolled in specialized classes, to be prepared to support whatever decision the Board made;  Not all students on the wait list will be placed by September, but staff will do their best to open the required classes as soon as possible; and An estimate of the transportation costs related to the proposed specialized  education classes would not be available until all students were placed. _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 197 - MINUTES 20 June 2011 Trustee Curry expressed the opinion that, based upon staff’s feedback, the determination of the specialized classes to be offered by the OCDSB could wait until this time next year. Trustee FitzGerald queried whether parents had turned down placements for the junior LD program due to the distance children had to travel to get to their specialized class. Superintendent Paxton noted that the issue with the junior LD classes could be related to their locations at Cambridge Street Community Public School and Hilson Avenue Public School, which are only six kilometres apart. She confirmed that staff have reviewed the classes in each superintendency to ensure they were located in proximity to the majority of the students attending. Trustee FitzGerald noted that the children on the LD list are at least three years behind if they are awaiting junior LD placement. She drew attention to a letter from the Executive Director of the Learning Disability Association of Ottawa-Carleton (LDAOC) expressing the opinion that not much is being done for junior LD students placed in the regular classroom, and that the LDAOC welcomed the creation of junior LD classes because it is such a large exceptionality with so few resources currently being available. Chair McKenzie expressed the opinion that it should be staff that decide what specialized classes are offered, and where they should be located. She expressed concern with the process in reviewing the decisions made during the budget process, and noted that she was not hearing what would have happened without the motion in place. In wrap-up, Trustee Scott noted the importance of remembering that staff was trying to deploy a limited quantity of resources for specialized education. In deciding which placement will be best for a student, the OCDSB relies upon the IPRC process. She noted that the waitlist for specialized programs was constantly changing, and if staff reported that they did not require four junior LD classes, that trustees should listen. In summary, in order for the Board to be responsible and accountable, it must utilize the expertise of its staff to determine the use of its resources to provide for the needs of the District’s students. Moved by Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Shea, THAT staff be authorized to use the funds allocated for the additional 4 specialized Junior LD classes in the 2011-2012 budget and the funds allocated for the one specialized DD class with no students in a flexible way to create such specialized classes or programs as may be most beneficial to meet current needs for service to students who cannot be appropriately accommodated in existing programs, whether for Learning Disabled, Developmentally Disabled, Autistic or other high-needs students in elementary schools. - Defeated – A recorded vote was held and the motion was defeated on the following division: FOR: Trustees Curry, Holtzhauer, Scott and Shea (4) AGAINST: Trustees Blackburn, Campbell, FitzGerald, Funiciello, Kavanagh, (6) and Seward ABSTENSION: Trustees McKenzie (1) _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 198 - MINUTES 20 June 2011 b. Motion to Amend Previously Adopted Motion to Change the Nature of Specialized Class at Cedarview Middle School Moved by Trustee Blackburn, seconded by Trustee Holtzhauer, THAT the Board amend the motion adopted on 22 February 2011 to insert “except for a change in designation of the Developmentally Delayed class at Cedarview Middle School to an Autism class” into paragraph C as follows: C. THAT no planned specialized class closures/relocations proceed for the 2011-2012 school year, except for a change in designation of the Developmentally Delayed class at Cedarview Middle School to an Autism class and staff recommendations for specialized class location changes for 2012-2013 must follow Board receipt of the final report of the Ad-hoc Committee. Trustee Blackburn thanked staff for their assistance in working with her on the motion, which she noted was self-explanatory. In response to a request for a comment from staff by Trustee Shea, Director Hammond noted that the District found itself in the position of having a DD class with no students in it because staff was bound by a board motion that prevented changing the class. This motion, if approved, would allow staff to provide an Autism class in place of the DD class, with the appropriate resources. Director Hammond advised that the motion was brought forward through a trustee, rather than by a staff recommendation, as staff were bound to the provision of a DD class through a previous motion made by the Board, and therefore they could not make the change unless the motion was amended. Trustee Shea requested, if staff found themselves in a similar situation in the future, that they bring forward a recommendation. Executive Officer Giroux reported that when staff recognized they had a class that was not going to have any students in it, the Board motion was reviewed along with the options to address the change. The feasible option was to amend the previously adopted motion. Therefore, the zone trustee, Trustee Blackburn, was contacted and she was amenable to putting the motion forward. Several trustees expressed concern with the approach taken. Director Hammond reported that staff’s understanding from the Board motion was that there should be no changes to programs, and that changing the program from a DD program to an Autism program fell under this recommendation. Trustee Seward suggested that staff and trustees should learn to celebrate their successes. She noted that staff had worked with Trustee Blackburn to come to a practical and reasonable solution. She expressed the opinion that trustees should applaud the work done and approve the motion so that staff may proceed as recommended. _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 199 - MINUTES 20 June 2011 Moved by Trustee Blackburn, seconded by Trustee Holtzhauer, THAT the Board amend the motion adopted on 22 February 2011 to insert “ except for a change in designation of the Developmentally Delayed class at into paragraph C as follows: Cedarview Middle School to an Autism class” C. no planned specialized class closures/relocations proceed THAT for the 2011-2012 school year, except for a change in designation of the Developmentally Delayed class at Cedarview Middle School and staff recommendations for specialized to an Autism class class location changes for 2012-2013 must follow Board receipt of the final report of the Ad-hoc Committee. - Carried – A recorded vote was held and the motion was carried on the following division: FOR: Trustees Blackburn, Curry, FitzGerald, Funiciello, Holtzhauer, (9) Kavanagh, McKenzie, Scott and Shea AGAINST: Trustee Campbell (1) ABSTENSION: Nil (0) c. Ottawa Student Transportation Authority Moved by Trustee Shea, seconded by Trustee FitzGerald, THAT, the Chair of the Board write a letter to the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority and request that any in camera information submitted to the OSTA Board of Directors be released to the OCDSB at the same time. Trustee Shea noted that he was a Director on the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) Board and that it had come to his attention that much of the information to be considered by the OSTA Board is presented in camera first. Based upon the discussions held in camera, it is then shared with both member boards. Trustee Shea noted that a comprehensive plan was on the OSTA agenda for the following week and, in his opinion, it would be beneficial if he, as an OSTA Director, could review and discuss the in camera agenda items with the respective OCDSB zone trustees prior to the OSTA meeting. Trustee Shea reported that he was asking for a interim solution by asking that the Director write a letter to OSTA allowing circulation of OSTA’s in camera materials to OCDSB trustees. Trustee Shea noted that he brought this issue directly to the Board instead of to the Strategic Planning and Priorities Committee (SPPC) as the Board meeting for OSTA was being held the following week. He noted that his intent was to make OSTA more open, transparent and accountable to both member boards. _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 200 - MINUTES 20 June 2011 In response to a query from Trustee Scott, Trustee Shea clarified that the motion, as it stands, refers to the releasing of information to the OCDSB, and not both member boards since the OCDSB is only accountable for itself. Trustee Scott noted that some of the in camera materials related to Human Resources issues, and therefore she could not support the motion. Trustee Seward expressed support for the motion. In response to a query from Trustee Seward regarding OCDSB’s relationship with OSTA and how this would be perceived as a request, Director Hammond reported that OSTA was an independent board, and a consortium constructed at the direction of the Ministry of Education to combine the transportation departments of the OCDSB and the Ottawa Catholic School Board under one fully integrated transportation organization. The issue of how the request would be perceived by the OSTA board would be difficult to determine; however, there were some issues that would need to be addressed legally as to what can and cannot be done as it applies to the OCDSB and OCSB. Several trustees expressed support for the motion and expressed the opinion that they required more information from OSTA given the amount of money that the OCDSB spends on transportation. Trustee Kavanagh noted that, if the motion was passed, it would assist trustees in making decisions related to transportation in their zones. Trustee Funiciello assumed the Chair. Trustee McKenzie proposed two amendments to the motion, the first to address Trustee Scott’s concerns regarding human resource issues, and the second related to governance, as follows: An amendment by Trustee McKenzie, seconded by Trustee Kavanagh, THAT the words “non human resources” be added between “any” and “in camera”. - Carried, friendly – An amendment by Trustee McKenzie, seconded by Trustee Shea, THAT the words “and that OSTA adopt the same in camera rules as school boards” be added at the end of the motion. - Carried, friendly – Trustee McKenzie resumed the Chair. Trustee Kavanagh expressed support for the recommendation and hoped that the additional information from OSTA would enable her to answer questions related to OSTA from her constituency. In summary, Trustee Shea reported that he did not wish it to make it appear as though OSTA was not functioning as well as anticipated. He thanked Trustee Scott for providing leadership as the chair of the OSTA Board. Trustee Shea expressed the opinion that the motion would allow him, in his role as an OSTA Director, to have discussions with trustees when transportation issues are coming forward in their respective zones. _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 201 - MINUTES 20 June 2011 Moved by Trustee Shea, seconded by Trustee FitzGerald, THAT, the Chair of the Board write a letter to the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority and request that any non human resources in camera information submitted to the OSTA Board of Directors be released to the OCDSB at the same time, and that OSTA adopt the same in camera rules as school boards. - Carried - A recorded vote was held and the motion was carried as amended on the following division: FOR: Trustees Blackburn, Campbell, FitzGerald, Funiciello, Holtzhauer, (9) Kavanagh, McKenzie, Seward and Shea AGAINST: Trustee Scott (1) ABSTENSION: Nil (0) 223. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Barrie Hammond Jennifer McKenzie Director of Education and Chair of the Board Secretary of the Board _____________________________________________________________________________________ - 202 -