Fast Report: March 1, 2010 | Vol. 22, No. 8

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Thursday, June 3 — Sunday, June 6, 2010

Caesars Hotel and Conference Centre
377 Riverside Drive East
Windsor

HOSTED BY OPSBA'S WESTERN REGION

Book early to avoid disappointment
Space is at a premium.

Don't miss this event!

Welcome reception: Thursday, 3 June 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Conference ends: Sunday, 6 June 2010 at 12 noon

Keynotes:

• JUST ADDED: 
  "What Did You Do In School Today" - enhancing the learning experiences of adolescents in classrooms and schools.   Canadian Education Association (CEA)  .
• Dr. Pamela Toulouse - "Aboriginal Student Self-Esteem and Engaging School Environments"

MORE to follow. 

Closing Keynote:  to be confirmed

Sessions:

• Tour of "Theme Schools" in Windsor
  (Limited space.  Advance registration will be required.)
• Bill 177 - What it Means for School Boards
• Board / Schools Enterprise Portal
• Legal Update
• Aboriginal Literacy Practices and Inclusive Classroom Environments
• History of Treaties (invited)
• Executive Officers and Regional Council ELECTIONS
• MORE to follow

New information - Friday night, 4 June 

• Earth, Wind and Fire are on live at the Colosseum on June 4.  Tickets go on sale Friday, March 19 and may be booked through Ticketmaster.  The show starts at 9:00 p.m.
  PLEASE NOTE:  The Colosseum is only open to patrons over 19 years of age.
• A selection of suggested restaurants in the area for dinner is provided.  You may wish to make reservations for parties of more than 4 people. Restaurants could be busy because of the Red Bull Air Races that are on in the city,

Check OPSBA's Fast Reports for regular updates and future announcements.

Activities in Windsor:

Art in the Park is the area's premier juried art show, held in beautiful Willistead Park, a heritage manor owned by Hiram Walker's family.

The Red Bull Air Races World Championship will be held in Windsor 5 - 6 June.  15 of the world's best race pilots will race at the 4th stop in a 9-race championship.

The Conference Registration Form and Preliminary Program will be on the OPSBA website in March.

For more information: Gail Anderson, Executive Director, ext.109; Ernesta Graham, Events Coordinator, ext.115; Susan Weinberg, Policy and Professional Development Coordinator, ext.128; or Webmaster

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On March 4th, Bill 242 concluded Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. OPSBA has begun preparing a submission regarding this Bill and it will be based on consultation with our work group members and Executive Council, feedback from our recent Board of Directors, analysis including legal opinion of the proposed legislation, and additional comments from member boards.

Also on March 4th, ADM Jim Grieve sent an EL3 Memo to all Directors of Education. This memo provides detail regarding the planning for Year 2.

The memorandum includes information related to:

• Planning timelines
• Planning parameters
• School site selection
• Identification of capital needs
• Support and information resources

To assist school boards in preparing preliminary plans for the ELP in 2011-12, a planning template has been developed to assist with Year 2 site selection and identification of capital needs. Boards are encouraged to submit their completed templates as soon as possible but no later than April 16, 2010.

The memorandum also includes some additional information regarding the extended day and extended year programming.

Key Dates:

April 16, 2010 -- Deadline for boards to submit completed templates to Ministry of Education (approved by Chair and Director of Education);

May 21, 2010 -- Ministry of Education announcement of final approved Year 2 Site Selections.

See
All other OPSBA information re early learning
Bill 242

For more information: Jennifer McIntyre, Policy & Communications Associate, ext.103; Wayne McNally, Director, Finance, ext.104; or Webmaster

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The Ministry of Education filed the Provincial Interest Regulation (PIR) on February 26 and it is now in effect. A memo was also sent to education partners. The PIR is specifically covered in Section 11.1 of the Education Act and was originally introduced under Bill 78 which received Royal Assent in June, 2006. OPSBA will continue to share information about the upcoming regulations and implementation steps that flow from Bill 177.

Since the early outline of a Provincial Interest Regulation was first shared with education partners last summer, OPSBA has been a strong voice in seeking substantive change to its content. This was reinforced last October when we presented our comprehensive submission regarding Bill 177 The School Achievement and School Board Governance Act. It is encouraging that the attached Regulation in its final form is highly responsive to the positions advanced by the Association. For example, we questioned the inclusion of such measures as suspensions rates, serious incidents of bullying, specialized programs (high school majors, co-op programs) and relations with staff groups. The approach taken places a high emphasis on a collegial and collaborative relationship between the Ministry and school boards and provides options for the board's role in the process.

OPSBA will continue to share information about the upcoming regulations and implementation steps that flow from Bill 177.

For more information: Jennifer McIntyre, Policy & Communications Associate, ext.103; or Webmaster

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Election Day is October 25, 2010. Please consider the following ideas or suggestions to encourage candidates to run for the office of Trustee:

• At a local board sponsored "information" night, distribute copies of Contemplating Trusteeship;
• Encourage retiring trustees to talk to prospective candidates personally;
• Work with your local newspaper in an attempt to get an article printed, encouraging community members with an interest in education to run for the office of trustee;
• Get local board to actively promote and build awareness of the position of trustee;
• Encourage sponsors of local "all candidates meetings" to include school trustee candidates in their meetings.

The key dates for the next Municipal Election 2010 are on OPSBA website.

For more information: Susan Weinberg, Policy & Professional Development Coordinator, ext.128; or Webmaster

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On March 4, 2010 the Ministry of Education issued Ministry Memorandum 2010:B2 advising school boards of financial accounting and reporting changes that were introduced through Bill 218 for implementation effective September 1, 2010. These changes will bring school boards in compliance with Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) standards. These changes include:

• There is now a restriction on the use of operating reserves of 1% of operating revenue; any amount in excess of this amount will require the Minister's approval.
• Boards that fall into deficit will now be required to complete financial recovery plans.
• School boards will now depreciate and expense their capital assets rather than expense the financing costs of those capital assets.
• The New Pupil Place funding model will be wrapped-up and replaced by a debt support grant model.

For more detailed information, see memorandum 2010:SB10.

See
Complete list of B Memorandum

For more information: Wayne McNally, Director, Finance, ext.104, or Webmaster

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It is time once again. Nominations for the OPSBA Awards Program are now being accepted.

The Ontario Public School Boards' Association's Awards Program strives to recognize the outstanding contributions to the public education system made by individuals across Ontario. It is not too late to nominate a student, teacher or trustee you would like to recognize for having made a difference.

Complete information about the awards, including the nomination form, is available online. Please take a few moments review the Terms of Award and criteria. The OPSBA awards include:

The Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit honours an elementary or secondary school student attending an Ontario public school who has earned a sound academic record and has shown outstanding service and leadership in his or her community.

The Fred L. Bartlett Memorial Award is presented annually to an active or retired member of the teaching profession. The successful candidate is selected on the basis of outstanding contribution to education throughout Ontario, such as constructive participation in education affairs over a number of years or strong dedication to some recent and specific project that has had provincial impact.

The Dr. Harry Paikin Award of Merit is awarded to an active or retired public school trustee for outstanding service.

The OPSBA Achievement Award/ Award of Excellence was created by OPSBA to recognize the outstanding contributions of member board non-teaching staff, parents, volunteers and community partners involved in education. This award provides an opportunity to raise awareness and promote the importance of celebrating excellence and the necessity of recognizing the work of all members of the education community.

All nominations must be received at OPSBA no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 16, 2010.

For more information: Mary Adams-Cuffy, Awards Coordinator, ext.101, or Webmaster

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The OPSBA 2010 elections will be held as part of the Annual General Meeting which takes place from June 3 to 6 at Caesar's Hotel and Conference Centre in Windsor. The deadline for nominations for Executive positions is May 6. The Executive positions for nomination and election include:

• President;
• Two Vice-Presidents;
• Vice-President / Vice-Chair of each of the five regions (Central East, Central West, Eastern, Western and Northern).

Trustees running for election are asked to submit nomination forms, including a brief biography, in electronic format to the OPSBA office no later than end of day Thursday, May 6. Biographies should be up to one page in length and include the candidate's photograph.

Please note that if any candidate is interested in standing for more than one of the Executive Council positions, the candidate must declare his or her interest in each respective position by the May 6 deadline. This is very important, as there will not be an opportunity for "dropping down" (i.e., being considered for another of these positions if unsuccessful for the first) on the day that elections are held at the AGM.

At regional meetings held during the AGM and Conference, each region holds elections for members and alternate members to the Education Program and Policy Development Core Issues Work Groups for 2010-2011. Regional Vice-Chairs (alternates to the Regional Vice-Presidents) are elected. Please note that there is a requirement that candidates for the position of Regional Vice-Chair (alternate to the Regional Vice-President) must be a confirmed member of the incoming Board of Directors.

As well, member boards confirm appointments (and alternates) to the OPSBA Board of Directors for the 2010-2011 term and confirmation is received regarding representative(s) for the treatment centres (school authorities). The First Nations Caucus meets to elect a representative on Board of Directors and District school area boards (school authorities) elect a representative to the Board of Directors.

For more detailed information, please refer to the February 8 issue of Fast Reports.

See
2010 Election Nomination Form (56K PDF)
OPSBA Guide to Roles and Responsibilities (176K PDF)

For more information: Florenda Tingle, Executive Coordinator, ext.108; or Webmaster

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Every year, member boards are invited to submit policy resolutions to be considered by the general membership at the 2010 Annual General Meeting. This year, the deadline for the submission of Policy Resolutions is Friday, March 26. Please note that policy resolutions submitted must reflect the corporate position of a member school board and address issues that have provincial implications. As well, proposals for action by OPSBA should be clearly described as part of the backgrounder or within the resolution itself.

Member boards also have an opportunity each year to submit proposals for constitutional amendments. The deadline for submission this year is Friday, March 19. This deadline is necessary in order to allow time for staff and legal counsel to review the proposals and to prepare language before the proposals are submitted for the consideration of the Board of Directors at their April 23-24 meeting. Constitutional amendments must first be approved by the Board of Directors before being voted on at the OPSBA Annual General Meeting in June. Changes to the OPSBA Constitution take effect once confirmed by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at the Annual General Meeting.

Submissions, including a clear rationale/background and the proposed Constitutional change should be sent to OPSBA by mail, fax or e-mail to the attention of Florenda Tingle, Executive Coordinator.

See
The Key Work of OPSBA (880K PDF)
Policy Resolutions Guideline, including sample submission form (36K PDF)
The OPSBA Constitution and By-Laws (461K PDF)

For a more complete description of the process for submitting policy resolutions and constitutional amendments, please refer to the February 8 issue of Fast Reports.

For more information: Florenda Tingle, Executive Coordinator, ext.108; or Webmaster

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The OPSBA Executive Council and Board of Directors held meetings on Friday and Saturday, February 26-27, 2010. Member Board representatives had the opportunity to receive updates, consider and make decisions on a range of current education issues.

Labour Relations
A verbal update was provided on Labour Relations/Human Resources matters that included information about implementation of Bill 168, labour relations implications for the Early Learning Program, terms and conditions for principals, and consideration of bargaining in 2012.

Finance
A report was provided on the January consultation session with the Ministry with regard to 2010-11 Grants for Student Needs. It is expected that the grants will be released in late March. A summary of enhancements made to the funding formula over the last several years was provided in chart form. There was discussion about OPSBA's ongoing advocacy for the funding model review. There was agreement on the need to advocate to reverse cuts to administration funding. A briefing note, Funding Issues for Special Education, that was created by the GTA boards was also discussed.

Full Day Learning
An information report was provided on continuing developments on the implementation of the Early Learning Program (ELP). Bill 242, which deals with legislative changes necessary to implement the program, is going through the legislature and is at Second Reading. OPSBA is preparing a submission. The Ministry's ELP Implementation Advisory Group has struck a sub-group to deal with the issue of special education needs in the Early Learning Program. There was a brief discussion on the impact on the child care sector. A description of the program will be released by the Program and Assessment Branch in April.

Legislative Updates
An update was provided on the status of various pieces of legislation as well as Regulations flowing from Bills 78 and 177. It is anticipated that Regulations will start to be released as early as the week of March 1st, starting with Provincial Interest regulations. Other regulations related to Parent Involvement Committees and Code of Conduct will follow. Consultation with the education sector on Code of Conduct is expected. Staff will put together a checklist for boards re requirements flowing from Bill 177. Concern was expressed that Ministry communications with Parent Involvement Committees are bypassing Chairs and Directors of Education.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
The Standards Development Committee dealing with Built Environment has reconvened to consider input received during the Public Review process held late last year. The Committee plans to complete a revised Draft Standard by the end of May, 2010. OPSBA will monitor this work and provide information to Boards about the directions the Standard will take and potential implications for Boards when this becomes available. OPSBA is well represented on the Standards Development committee by a former school board Plant Operations Controller.

School Health Support Services Review
This report arose from work done by the Education Program Work Team. The three ministries of Education, Health, and Community and Social Services have commissioned this review. OPSBA has been successful in ensuring there will be a survey to get input from all school boards in the province. It was reported that the intended scope of the Review may be too narrow. It is anticipated that school boards will get involved in providing feedback that deals with the scope and the issues for school boards in not having access through local health authorities to funding for services that are specifically for children. The report calls for bringing this to the attention of board Special Education staff and SEACs.

Student Success/Learning to 18 Working Table
A report was provided on the School Support Initiative which allocates additional resources to improve graduation rates in specifically identified schools and on ongoing work to bring consistency to the definition of graduation rates.

OPSBA Ad Hoc Information Technology Committee
An update was provided on OPSBA's advocacy work in this area. OPSBA has been advocating for a provincial strategy for learning technologies in schools. The Deputy Minister of Education announced at PES that the Ministry intends to begin work on this. It is now anticipated that there will be a Working Table on this and that OPSBA will be a participant. In the interim, the Ministry is gathering evidence-based research on this subject and is involved in a Global Education Leaders Program (GELP). OPSBA's ICT Ad Hoc Committee members are meeting with Directors of Education who have also been involved in GELP, as well as with other influential partners in the information and communications technology field, such as TVO.

Policy Development and Education Program Work Teams
The minutes from the Work Teams were provided in the Board agenda and there was a brief verbal update from the Chairs of the Work Teams. Updates referred to the collaboration between OPSBA and Children's Mental Health Ontario related to OPSBA's priority for the Whole Child and to the submission made to the Ministry by OPSBA on the subject of province-wide guidelines for school board policies related to fundraising, corporate partnerships and fees for learning materials and activities.

Ad Hoc OPSBA Elections Procedures Committee
The Board considered the report of this ad hoc committee which met to discuss and make recommendations about specific procedural matters related to OPSBA elections. A number of amendments were made to the report and the decisions will be incorporated in the procedures which will guide future OPSBA elections.

Violence in the Media Coalition
The report from this committee covered a number of activities the Coalition is pursuing, including a fall provincial professional development event. A motion from the Coalition was drafted for the consideration of member organizations of the Coalition, including OPSBA. The motion which relates to a Canadian summit to discuss player safety and violence in hockey was approved by the Board.

OPSBA Review of Programs and Services - Implementation Advisory Committee
Reports were received from each of the Sub-Groups that have been working on implementation of recommendations flowing from the OPSBA Review of Programs and Services. A full written report on OPSBA's Priority-setting Process which has been on the agenda of two rounds of Regional meetings was considered by the Board and adopted. This will guide OPSBA's upcoming priority-setting for 2010-2011.

Joint Professional Development Project
OPSBA is partnering with the Ministry of Education and with the other trustee Associations on a comprehensive professional development program for trustees. One of the early pieces of work is an election guide for trustee candidates and communities. A revision of the Trustee Handbook will also be undertaken. Funding for this project has been provided by the Ministry.

OESC Update
With funding support from the Ministry of Education, policy and procedures templates are being developed to assist boards with implementation of the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy. There are plans as well to produce video resources and offer training, that will include trustee representation, in June, 2010.

For more information: Florenda Tingle, Executive Coordinator, ext.108; or Webmaster

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Summary of 2010 SB Memoranda (administrative information, clarification on financial matters)

For more information: Wayne McNally, Director, Finance, ext.104, or Webmaster

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BCSTA e-digest, March 4

EQAO Symposium and Conference Webcasts

OASBO Finance Committee Workshop, March 4—5

Ontario Health & Safety Conference & Trade Show, May 4 — 5

67th Annual OASBO Conference, May 5 — 7, Deerhurst Inn, Huntsville
NOTE: The Deerhurst Resort is completely booked. Alternate accommodation has been arranged at the Hidden Valley Resort. Please refer to details on conference registration form

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