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January 14, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 02WHAT'S INSIDE?Public Education Symposium 2008 At OPSBAPublic Education Symposium 2008DON’T MISS THIS EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FREE SAFE SCHOOLS PRE-SYMPOSIUM – Bill 212
THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO FOR THE PRE-SYMPOSIUM PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE. We regret we will not be able to accept on-site registration. Invitations have been extended to all provincial trustee associations.
Bill Belsey’s presentation is included in the main Symposium registration fee. Register on-line – see links below. Registration forms are also available at your board office. MAIN SYMPOSIUM OPSBA in partnership with ACÉPO SPEAKERS
Workshop Sessions:
All trustees, directors of education, supervisory officers and other board members are encouraged to attend this annual OPSBA/ACÉPO event.
The Pre-Conference program and Pre-Conference registration form; as well as the Main Conference program and Main Conference registration form are available on-line. For more information: OPSBA calls for Representation on a Proposed Ad Hoc Governance Committee on Communications and Information Technology in our SchoolsOPSBA’s Education Program Work Team will submit to the next meeting of Executive Council and Board of Directors a proposal for the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to respond to OPSBA’s approved priority related to the use of technology in learning and teaching. Since Board of Directors will not meet until February 28-29, 2008, the Work Team is taking tentative steps to lay the groundwork for this Ad Hoc Committee in anticipation that the Board will approve such a Committee as the vehicle for carrying out this specific priority. These tentative steps are:
Proposed Mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Information Technology in Our Schools
The issues to be considered by the committee would include, but would not be limited to: e-learning and remote course delivery, teacher readiness and training, curriculum development to utilize the potential of these technologies, standardization of software and hardware between boards, digital literacy standards, multi-board technology purchasing/consortia, supporting these technologies in existing and new school buildings, and current technology being used by boards. The proposed objective of this committee is to develop recommendations on how to use these technologies to increase student achievement, promote equity of access across the province, replicate successful models, increase system reliability, and reduce costs in the face of rapidly changing technology. Proposed Structure of the Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Information Technology in Our Schools It is emphasized that this proposal cannot be acted on prior to approval by the Board of Directors CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Criteria for recommended appointment to the Ad Hoc Committee:
(This communication has also been sent out to trustees of all OPSBA’s member boards). For more information: Florenda Tingle, Executive Coordinator, ext.108 In Labour RELATIONSProvincial Discussions Set to BeginOPSBA received four letters from the Ministry (ADM Dominic Giroux) on January 10, 2008 regarding the four Discussion Tables at which OPSBA will be representing the Public Boards and Authorities. The Discussion Tables have been convened by the parties to begin discussions during the week of January 29. Once the specific dates for the discussions have been confirmed by all parties, we will communicate them to you. Bob Williams, OPSBA’s Director of Labour Relations and Assistant Deputy Minister Dominic Giroux briefed the Chairs and Directors and HR Officials in a webcast on Friday, January 11, 2008. See (use the password “education”) As described in the webcast, there will be weekly meetings for half days before the March Break and meetings for full days every two weeks following the March Break through May with each group. The letters from the Ministry were essentially identical, with slight variations in suggested meeting dates. The letters are paraphrased as follows: "Over the past several weeks the Minister has met with all trustee associations, teacher federations, CUPE, principals’ associations and the Council of Directors of Education to explore how to build on our educational achievements and to garner advice on moving forward in realizing the government’s three key goals: improving student achievement, closing gaps in student outcomes, and enhancing confidence in publicly funded education. Teacher, occasional teacher and a vast majority of support workers’ collective agreements will expire on August 31, 2008. The government is pleased with the interest in provincial dialogue and wishes to facilitate discussions that will help in resolving common issues and that will, ultimately, serve to facilitate local bargaining. Discussion tables for provincial dialogues will be facilitated by: Moe Jacobs, Senior Labour Relations Advisor to the Minister and the Ministry; Tom Teahen, Chief of Staff to the Minister; and Dominic Giroux, Assistant Deputy Minister, French-Language Education and Educational Operations Division. The Minister will not take part in these meetings. Moe Jacobs and Dominic Giroux will serve as the main facilitators. Logistics for the meetings have been tentatively arranged as follows:
Parties are invited to come to the first meeting having identified issues that can best be explored at provincial discussion tables and will facilitate successful local bargaining. Parties are encouraged to initiate an early start to local bargaining to allow adequate time for the successful negotiation of collective agreements." OPSBA PROVINCIAL DISCUSSION TEAMS
The Discussion Teams for Support Staff (CUPE and OSSTF) will be determined after consultation among the 4 Trustee/Board Associations. OPSBA will have two representatives. When the teams have been determined, we will communicate this information. BACK ROOMS The Back Room (Caucus) Teams will include the expertise needed to address the topics under discussion as they become known. Executive Council Member Cathy Abraham (Kawartha Pine Ridge) will be the alternative representative on the OSSTF Team and Howard Goodman (Toronto) will be the alternative representative on the ETFO Team. President Colleen Schenk will be OPSBA’s Spokesperson for the Provincial Discussions and will be an ex officio member of all Provincial Discussion Teams, available as necessary during the process. Brenda Hunter (Director, Limestone DSB) will be the alternative CODE representative on the OSSTF Team and Janet Wilkinson (Director, Keewatin Patricia DSB) will be the alternative CODE representative on the ETFO Team. The Ontario Principals’ Council will be part of our Back Room Team. The next communication will be scheduled following the initial meetings at the 4 Provincial Discussion Tables. See (use the password “education”) For more information: Bob Williams, Director of Labour Relations, ext.118 In Education PROGRAMMinistry of Education to Launch Urban Aboriginal Education InitiativeOne of the Ministry of Education’s commitments in the First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework calls for the development of innovative approaches to meet the needs of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students living in large urban centres. The initiative is to be undertaken in collaboration with school boards, First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and organizations. The Aboriginal Education Office is launching a pilot project that will encompass the development of three urban Aboriginal education models for First Nation, Métis and Inuit student/family/community engagement that could be applied in different urban settings based on varying geographical and demographic circumstances. These models would be developed as a result of in-depth inter-jurisdictional research and pilot projects carried out in three urban boards in OPSBA has been invited to participate on the steering committee as a key partner in developing this initiative. Urban school boards were invited to submit proposals by December 20, 2007 to participate in the development of the Urban Aboriginal Education Models. Nine school boards expressed interest and three will be selected: one from the north, one central, and one south. The selection criteria include commitment to supporting Aboriginal student achievement (e.g., targeting programming), partnerships with urban Aboriginal communities and organizations, capacity to commit to the full term of the initiative, including a commitment to provide services in kind, such as human resources. Boards are also expected to have developed or be in the process of developing a policy for voluntary, confidential Aboriginal student self-identification. Based on research on effective models in other jurisdictions that are supportive of Aboriginal student achievement, pilot projects will be developed and implemented in each of the three selected boards in the 2008/2009 school year. Projects will be focused on the unique circumstances of each board, taking into account the geographical and demographic differences in urban settings from different parts of the province. It is intended that successful pilot projects will lead to the development of urban models and effective practices that can be adapted and implemented in other urban settings in time for the 2009/2010 school year. OPSBA will provide regular updates on the progress of the initiative at its Fast Reports site. For more information: Susan Cook, Policy & Communications Associate, ext.103 Pilot of Orientation Program for Newcomer Youth (NOW) – A Resounding Success
An innovative orientation program to help prepare newcomer youth for the experience of high school in Ontario was piloted in eight schools* in August 2007. The pilot project was developed by the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program in conjunction with school board staff and funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. A strong component of the project is the role played by peer leaders. About 90 students from A full independent evaluation of the pilot project was conducted and found that the program was highly effective. In accordance with the recommendations made by the evaluators, the pilot will be approved for expansion. It will be rolled out to approximately 30 schools across The program had many positive outcomes and the evaluation report indicates: “It prepares newcomer youth for smooth entry to school, reduces their stress and anxiety about the transition and prepares them for earlier participation in the life of their new school. Not only does NOW prepare newcomer youth for entry to school, it also unleashes and enhances the leadership skills of the Peer Leaders….There are many examples of Peer Leaders taking continuing leadership roles both with newcomer youth and beyond, beginning to alter the ways that school life is perceived/conducted.”
[*Participating Schools: Barton S.S. (HWDSB), Lincoln Alexander S.S. (Peel DSB) and A.Y. Jackson S.S., Central Technical School, Marc Garneau C.I., Newtownbrook S.S., North Albion C.I., Winston Churchill C.I. (TDSB)] See For the full evaluation, see For more information: Susan Cook, Policy & Communications Associate, ext.103 Ministry of Education UPDATEMemo Summary: December 2007
See News Release, January 9 — Smaller Class Sizes Across CANADABCSTA e-Digest, January 10
Calendar of EVENTSEXECUTIVE COUNCIL PUBLIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM 2008 POLICY DEVELOPMENT WORK TEAM EDUCATION PROGRAM WORK TEAM EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS NORTHERN REGION DIRECTORS LABOUR RELATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES 2008 If you have any comments about Fast Reports,
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