January 28, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 03

WHAT'S INSIDE?

OPSBA Board of Directors to Consider Revised School Board Governance Document
OPSBA calls for Representation on a Proposed Ad Hoc Governance Committee on Communications and Information Technology in our Schools
Public Education Symposium 2008
OPSBA Executive Council Held a Meeting in January
Hamilton-Wentworth DSB to Host a Series on Poverty
Ministry of Education UPDATE
BC School Trustees Association, e-Digest - January 17; January 24
Saskatchewan School Boards Association Newsletter - January 30
Calendar of Events

At OPSBA

OPSBA Board of Directors to Consider Revised School Board Governance Document

When the OPSBA Board of Directors meets on February 29 and March 01, it will be asked to give its approval to a resource document entitled “OPSBA on Good Governance: A Resource Guide.”

This draft document, developed by the Policy Development Work Team after more than a year’s worth of work, was circulated to Board of Directors members at their meeting in November 2007. 

Additional copies of the draft document are available online.

See
OPSBA on Good Governance

For more information: Cynthia Andrew, Legislative & Policy Analyst, ext.112

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OPSBA calls for Representation on a Proposed Ad Hoc Governance Committee on Communications and Information Technology in our Schools

OPSBA’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:

1. Inviting from trustees an expression of interest in serving on the Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Information Technology in Our Schools
2. Holding an open meeting for all trustees during the 2008 Public Education Symposium to explore views on issues such a committee should address

Proposed Mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Information Technology in Our Schools
It is proposed that the committee consider a wide range of issues dealing with use of communications and information technologies by school boards in each of three distinct areas:

• classroom and pedagogy functions (e.g. curriculum delivery, student assignment submission, reference materials and textbooks)
• administration and operational support functions such as payroll, accounting, student information systems, etc.
• connectivity and system support functions including servers, email, operating systems.

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 proposed that there be a core steering committee comprised of one trustee from each region plus an Executive Council liaison member.  This group would be expanded on an as needed basis to gather a broad range of input from trustees, staff and other experts in the field, and, if required , to establish a technical subcommittee with the expertise to address the technical aspects of the Committee’s work. Wherever possible, teleconferencing and other technologies would be used to minimize meeting costs.

It is emphasized that this proposal cannot be acted on prior to approval by the Board of Directors

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Trustees who are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, or contributing to a Think Tank to support the Proposed Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Information Technology in Our Schools, are invited to complete and forward the attached form to David Walpole at dwalpole@opsba.org by February 1, 2008.

Criteria for recommended appointment to the Ad Hoc Committee:

• Experience with technology for teaching and learning
• Interest in the benefits and challenges of communication and information technology in schools
• Strong capacity to relate to the broad range of readiness represented in users of technology

This communication has also been sent out to trustees of all OPSBA’s member boards.

See
Proposed Ad Hoc Committee on Communication and Information Technology in Our Schools - Call for Expressions of Interest

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

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Public Education Symposium 2008
Hand In Hand: Successful Students, Safe Schools

OPSBA and ACÉPO partnered once again in hosting the 2008 Public Education Symposium which drew more than 300 trustees, student trustees and directors of Education to Toronto for January 24-26.  The theme of this year’s symposium –Hand-In Hand: Successful Students, Safe Schools – encompassed a combined focus on student achievement and safe, caring schools.

MPP Liz Sandals, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, opened the Pre-Symposium on January 24^th - a day dedicated to preparing for implementation of the new Safe Schools Act.  This event, funded by the Ministry of Education, was attended by trustees and directors of education from both English and French public and Catholic school systems. Panels and workshops covered legal, programming and student support aspects of strengthening school board capacity to provide safe, caring school environments. They offered insights and practical strategies related to hearings and appeals, progressive discipline, bullying prevention and programs for suspended and expelled students; the Police MKWA Opportunity Education Circle presented one such innovative program. Participant feedback highlighted the “balanced, informed perspectives” and “good, relevant advice” evident in the workshop offerings.  OPSBA thanks the Ministry for generously supporting this valuable day.

Bill Belsey, the founder of the  www.bullying.org website, was the opening keynote speaker for the Symposium and provided an intensive journey through the world of “cyberbullying.”  This was a high-speed presentation mirroring the rapid-fire growth of the Internet and other media in the lives of children. The message was not to “beware” technology but to be extremely “aware” of its importance to young people and to focus on its safe use.

The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education addressed the Symposium on January 25^th and spoke of the vital front-line role trustees have in engendering public confidence in public education.  She reinforced her vision of the neighbourhood publicly funded school as the “school of choice” for all parents. Minister Wynne talked of safe schools as a community issue requiring collaboration among schools, families, community agencies and police.  She emphasized her determination to work on integrated services among Ministries so that “children will be at the centre of our circle of concern.” In terms of additional challenges, the Minister identified the renewal of collective agreements in the interest of a further extended period of “peace and progress,” the importance of a wide-spectrum examination of solutions needed to respond to declining enrolment, and an approach to capital that deals with improvement and maintenance of existing school facilities. The dialogue generated in the ensuing question and answer period was marked by candour and direct, meaningful engagement on the issues raised.

Dr. Stuart Shankar and Dr. Jim Stieben of the Milton and Ethel Harris Research Initiative at York University gave outstanding presentations on leading-edge discoveries in the field of neuroscience that have a huge impact on understanding development from 0-21 years of age.  Dr. Shankar focused on the implications of this knowledge for effective interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder.  Dr. Stieben spoke of the teenage brain as a “work in progress,” emphasizing that, since the part of the brain that controls judgement and moderates risk-taking does not develop until much later, parents and teachers have a role as “surrogate frontal lobes”, helping young people navigate safely through the teen years.

Participants chose from a diverse offering of workshops on topics such as: Succession Planning for Leaders, Strengthening Public Confidence in Education, Progress on the Aboriginal Education Policy Framework, Impact of Media Violence on Child and Youth Development, Opportunities for School Boards in Environmental Education.  These were described by attendees as “really informative” and full of “great ideas that can be implemented.”  In response to last year’s trustee feedback , the Symposium offered Urban and Rural Caucuses to provide opportunities for board members to share common concerns and promising practices. They were well received and provided a good foundation for strengthening this model in future years.  An open meeting to share and gather ideas for future action on Technology in Schools was also held.

There were many opportunities for informal networking as well as scheduled sessions for student trustees and directors of education.  The First Nations Council and each of OPSBA’s Regions held business meetings.  At the First Nations Council, Howard Archibald, trustee from DSB Ontario North East was acclaimed as Alternate to the First Nations Director on OPSBA’s board.  At the Northern Region meeting Thunder Bay was selected as the site for the 2008 Conference of the North. 

Symposium participants enjoyed polished performances by students from the Toronto area.  Sophisticated interpretations of jazz classics by the Jazz Combo from Rosedale Heights School for the Arts were followed by piano and voice pieces by Kaili Kinnon and Madeleine Chrisite of Collège français de Toronto. All of these talented students were “standing ovation” calibre.

At Friday evening’s Symposium dinner, President Colleen Schenk spoke on the themes of the conference and expressed her vision for ongoing collaboration: PES brings us together as colleagues engaged in a common purpose and brimming with insights we can share with each other and, in this way, enrich each other’s professional life.  It is vital to our success as trustees that our sense of common purpose and the sharing of ideas is not an annual event but an enduring process.

The symposium was brought to an inspiring close by Stephen Lewis, renowned humanitarian, award-winning author of Race Against Time, and Canada’s former Ambassador to the United Nations.  Mr. Lewis spoke on Education: The World’s Greatest Force for Good and commended all those who work to make public education strong and universally accessible.  He quoted the voices of children, many of whom have experienced unimaginable cruelty and horror, and their unanimous appeal is: “I want to go to school.”

In leaving OPSBA’s PES 2008, many trustees spoke of the “totally amazing, thought-provoking” words of Stephen Lewis, the force for action that he represents, and the conviction he conveys of the power of education to change the world.

Scholarship Winners

Through an annual draw at PES, scholarships are provided to member boards to recognize their students in a manner decided upon by the board.  The individuals named below drew the scholarships on behalf of their boards.

Laidlaw Education Services: $500 - each

• Carol McAulay, Superintendent, Simcoe County DSB
• Bill Brookfield, Trustee, DSB Ontario North East
• Karen Wilson, Trustee, Lakehead DSB
• Jodi Lloyd, Trustee, Simcoe DSB

Shibley Righton, LLP $500 – each

• Anne-Marie Gélineault, Conseillère, CSP du Grand Nord de l’Ontario
• Jennifer Sarlo, Trustee, Algoma DSB
• David McDonald, Trustee, Upper Canada DSB
• Jane Angus, Trustee, Grand Erie DSB

AGM Early Bird Winners: - one free Registration to the AGM

• Anne Cool, Trustee, Trillium Lakelands DSB

Aboriginal Art Work – donated by DSB Ontario North East

• Cecile Marcino, Trustee, Keewatin-Patricia DSB

Acknowledgements

OPSBA and ACÉPO gratefully acknowledge generous sponsorships for this year’s Symposium by the legal firms of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie and Shibley Righton, and scholarship funding from Laidlaw Education Services.  Additional prizes provided by DSB Ontario North East and the Sheraton Centre are also very much appreciated.

Many thanks to the following for their informative displays:

The Wahpikay Program of DSB Ontario North East
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
Geneva Centre for Autism
Goodminds Book Store
Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute
Nelson Mandela children’s Fund (Canada)
OTG Financial Inc

See
President’s speech

For more information: Ernesta Graham, Events Coordinator, ext.115; or Susan Weinberg, Policy & Professional Development Coordinator, ext.128

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OPSBA Executive Council Held a Meeting in January

A meeting of the OPSBA Executive Council was held on January 23 in the OPSBA Boardroom. The meeting was attended by Colleen Schenk, President; Loralea Carruthers, Vice President; Catherine Fife, Vice President; Cathy Abraham, Vice President, Central East; Jennifer Waterston, Vice President, Central West; Carl Pitman, Vice President, Eastern; Julia Burgess, Vice President, Western; Lori Lukinuk, Vice President, Northern; Howard Goodman, Enrolment Vice President – Toronto DSB; Rick Johnson, Past President.

Highlights of Executive Council discussions on issues before it are set out below:

• A verbal report was received in private session providing an update on Labour Relations - Provincial Discussions.
• A verbal update was provided on copyright – a ruling on tariff is now expected in April 2008.
• Issues with regard to liability and attendance at in camera meetings as these pertain to student trustees have been raised by a number of boards; following discussion, Executive Council endorsed a draft letter to be submitted to the Minister of Education on the matter.
• An update was received regarding OPSBA website development; planned changes include a pilot to provide a ‘forum’ type area for members and cost-effective uses of technology to enhance communications among members
• The Key Work of OPSBA publication that includes the OPSBA 2007-2008 priorities was shared with Executive Council members
• An independent evaluation of the summer 2007 pilot Newcomer Youth Orientation Program, funded by Immigration Canada, has been completed and includes recommendations to expand the program to 30 school locations in Ontario in summer 2008.
• A report was provided on the Early Learning Symposium organized by the Atkinson Foundation and held at OISE on December 10, 2007.  Copies of power point presentations given at the meeting were provided to Executive Council, as well as a copy of the OPSBA letter recently sent to the Honourable Dalton McGuinty requesting OPSBA participation in the work of the Early Learning Advisor.
• Executive Council received information on the Focus Group held in December with the Education Program Work Team to provide input into the independent evaluation of the success of Learning to 18/Student Success initiatives.
• Executive Council reviewed a report recommending the establishment of an ad hoc committee on technology in our schools.  The report’s recommendations, with one amendment, were endorsed and will be before the Board of Directors for discussion and approval at the February meeting
• A letter raising concern about the Ontario College of Teachers disciplinary procedures, as well as information provided by the College, were reviewed and discussed. Staff will investigate further and seek greater clarification of the College’s processes.
• It was reported that the committees working on Standards Development as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act have been notified of a change to the committee’s membership requirements.  The committees are now required to increase the representation from the disabilities’ communities to a full 50% of the committee membership.  Further meetings have been postponed until the new structure is in place. It is anticipated this will take up to three months.
• Information on the Spirit of Mandela week (April 27) was shared and Executive Council passed a motion encouraging all member boards to support and promote the Spirit of Mandela Week through participation in events by their schools, trustees and student trustees.
• An update was provided on an initiative from the Ministry’s Aboriginal Education Office to develop leading edge Urban Aboriginal education programs. Three Ontario school boards will be selected to pilot projects planned to start in September 2008. It is intended that these pilots will provide successful models that can be replicated in other urban centres.
• OPSBA and the Violence in the Media coalition will both have an opportunity to make a presentation to the Premier’s Review of the Roots of Youth Violence in February.  The Co-Chairs of this Review are former Chief Justice and Attorney General Roy McMurtry and former Speaker of the Legislature, Alvin Curling.

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

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Hamilton-Wentworth DSB to Host a Series on Poverty

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction have partnered to host a series of events that will be taking place from February 5 - 7, 2008. Dr. Ruby Payne, Ph.D. will be at each of the three events as a keynote speaker and will discuss “A Framework for Understanding Poverty”.  These sessions will be great professional development opportunities and a valuable resource for all those working to improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable families. 

If you are interested in going to any of the sessions, please RSVP the person/organization listed on the event flyer.

See
Event Flyers - Partners in Education Reducing Poverty   (Keynote speaker Dr. Ruby Payne)

• Event for Business and Community Leaders
• Event for Professionals Working with Children and Families
• Event for Parents and the Hamilton Community

Ministry of Education UPDATE

Memo Summary: January 2008

See
http://cal2.edu.gov.on.ca/jan08.html

News Release - January 31

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Across CANADA

BC School Trustees Association, e-Digest - January 17; January 24

Saskatchewan School Boards Association Newsletter - January 30

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Calendar of EVENTS