Fast Report: September 21, 2012 | Vol. 24, No. 29

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Early Bird Registration Deadline extended for Summit on Children and Youth Mental Health — September 28, 2012

Pre-Summit Session regarding Concussion (Acquired Brain Injury) still has space available! Experts in the field and celebrities with lived experience will share their current understanding and focus on materials and resources to promote safe return to play and return to learn. Excellent session for coaches, health care workers, educational assistants, principals, trustees, parents and youth. Do not miss this session.

Main Summit features: Clara Hughes is the keynote speaker on the evening of Thursday, October 25. Friday, October 26 has plenary and break-out sessions all focused on evidence based practices and programs. Two sessions are dedicated francophone sessions.

There are over 30 exhibitors and an amazing student art exhibit.

Register now

Program Outline

For more information: Judith Nyman, Director, Program Policy, ext.125; Susan Weinberg, Policy & Professional Development Coordinator, ext.128; or webmaster

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On September 13, the Ministry of Education issued Ministry Memorandum 2012:B14. The Putting Students First Act, 2012, (PSFA) received Royal Assent on September 11 and was proclaimed in force on September 12. The PSFA uses, as a template for collective agreements, the memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between the Government and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) and other partners. The Lieutenant Governor in Council has now made the required amendments to the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) regulations for 2012- 13 to support the PSFA.

The due date for submission of boards' Revised Estimates continues to be December 14, 2012. Given the scope of the changes from Estimates, Revised Estimates must be approved by a motion of the board before submission to the Ministry. If a board anticipates it might be in a deficit situation that would require a deficit management plan, the board should communicate this immediately to its Ministry Financial Officer.

The memorandum also details the amendments that have been made to the 2012-13 GSN and the 2013-14 GSN as a result of the PSFA.

2012: B14, Implementation of the Putting Students First Act and amendments to education funding regulations

Complete list of 2012 B Memoranda

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

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Feedback deadline: September 24, 2012

On June 27, 2012, the government announced its plans to "modernize child care in Ontario" and released "Modernizing Child Care in Ontario: Sharing Conversations, Strengthening Partnerships, Working Together", a discussion paper which will form the basis of consultation on child care.

OPSBA will be providing feedback to the discussion paper. Jennifer McIntyre, OPSBA Policy & Communications Associate, continues to be involved in Ministry policy advisory meetings on Early Learning and Child Care.

To provide feedback on the discussion paper (http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry)

Or by regular to mail:

Child Care Modernization
c/o Early Learning Division
Ministry of Education
Mowat Block, 24th Floor
900 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2

See
Ministry of Education Letter, June 27

Ministry of Education News Release, June 27, 2012

Ministry of Education Backgrounder, June 27, 2012

Modernizing Child Care in Ontario - Discussion Paper, June 2012

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OPSBA Summaries
2012 B Memoranda (funding policy, financial matters)

2012 SB Memoranda (administrative information, clarification on financial matters)

2011 B Memoranda

2011 SB Memoranda

Ministry of Education Memoranda
B and SB Memoranda

Memoranda Summary

For more information: Wayne McNally, Director, Finance, x104, or webmaster

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Numbers tell the story
Lori Lukinuk, Vice-President OPSBA, Letter to the editor, Mississauga News, September 13, 2012
Dear Editor:
Re: School board pays $250K for lobbyists, mississauga.com, Sept. 10.
Numbers tell the story.
The Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) is both a service and an advocacy organization that makes sure the Peel District School Board sees its needs reflected in education funding, makes sure it gets value-added services, and makes sure that students in Peel benefit from every dollar we can save.
Complete story

For more information: Jeff Sprang, Director, Communications & Media Relations, x.111; or webmaster

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Upper Canada DSB, 2012 Small School Summit, October 25—26

York Region DSB, Quest Conference, November 14—16, 2012

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October 10, 2012 has been designated as Heartspeak's Give your School a Hug Day^TM and your school community is invited to participate. Give Your School a Hug engages the whole school - students and staff - to identify solutions that support well-being, inclusion and achievement at local school and school board levels by engaging in meaningful discussion on topics such as bullying/cyber-bullying, mental health, learning and communication challenges, addictions, and more. This approach builds on and strengthens the Safe Schools, Equity and Inclusive Education strategies and provides a key element for moving forward with Bill 13 (the Accepting Schools Act).

For more information: www.heartspeak.ca

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Hicks Morley LLP FTR Now, Government Announces New Compensation Restraints, September 20, 2012

BC School Trustees e-digest, September 20

Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA)
     Upcoming training sessions
     2012 Fall Symposium

CEA, The Ken Spencer Award
     Application deadline: November 4, 2012 at 5:00 pm

Curriculum Services Canada (CSC) Webcasts for Educators

Kids Help Phone Youth Awareness Materials