April 7, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 12

WHAT'S INSIDE?

OPSBA Calls for Nominations for Elected OPSBA Positions
Don't Miss Your Chance to Submit Nominations for the OPSBA Awards Program
20^th AGM & PROGRAM 2008
OPSBA in the Media
Ministry of Education UPDATE
Healthy Schools Recognition Program
Calendar of Events

OPSBA Calls for Nominations for Elected OPSBA Positions

The OPSBA 2008 elections will be held as part of the Annual General Meeting which takes place from June 12 to 15 at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel in Niagara Falls. The school boards in Central West Region are hosting OPSBA’s 20th Anniversary Annual General Meeting and Program. DSB of Niagara, as the school board in the host city, has made special efforts to welcome delegates to the Niagara region and to enrich the conference program.

Executive Positions for Nomination and Election

Positions to be decided through the election process at the Annual General Meeting, and at the accompanying regional meetings include:

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

Please note the following important timelines if you are running for an elected OPSBA position.

Nominations for President, Vice Presidents, and Regional Vice Presidents

• The deadline for nominations is 30 days prior to the AGM where elections are held. This means nominations for President, Vice President and Regional Vice President must be received at the OPSBA office by May 14, 2008.
• If any candidate is interested in standing for more than one of the positions noted above, the candidate must declare his or her interest in each respective position by the deadline (May 14). This is very important, as there will not be an opportunity for "dropping down" (being considered for a different position if unsuccessful for the first) on the day that elections are held at the AGM.
• Nominations are only accepted from the floor of the AGM in situations where the number of advance nominations received is fewer than the number of positions to be filled.
• As well, nominations for Regional Vice President for each of the five regions must be submitted by the deadline date (May 14, 2008). Nominations will ONLY be accepted from the floor of each Regional Council election meeting where no nominations for that Region’s Vice President’s position have been received in advance.

Nominations for Regional Vice Chairs and Core Issue Work Groups

• The nomination and election process for the position of regional vice chair (Alternate to the Regional Vice President) or for representatives to the Work Teams (Education Program and Policy Development) permits nominations from the floor of the meeting. However, advance nominations that are received by May 14, 2008 will be included in the election handbook/materials distributed to voting delegates.
• 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 Board of Directors.  

Nominations, Nomination Forms and Biographies

• Nominations can be made by a trustee from a member board in good standing once they have confirmed the nominee is willing to stand for the elected position.

The 2008 Election Nomination Form, as well as the OPSBA Guide to Roles and Responsibilities are available online.

• Trustees running for election are asked to have the nomination forms, along with a brief biography to the OPSBA office no later than end of day Wednesday, May 14, 2008.
• It is suggested as a guideline that a biography be up to one page in length and include a photograph.
• This information will be printed in the AGM Handbook, which is distributed to member boards so they can review the slate of candidates and provide guidance to their voting delegates. 
• Information on the candidates running for election will also be posted on the OPSBA website after the May 14 deadline.

Confirmation of Appointments to Board of Directors and Elections to Core Issue Work Groups

Also, during the Annual General Meeting and Conference:

• Member boards confirm appointments (and alternates) to OPSBA's Board of Directors for the 2008-2009 term.
• School authorities elect two representatives to the Board of Directors.
• Confirmation is received regarding the treatment/school authorities' representative.
• The First Nations Caucus meets to elect a representative.
• During the Regional Meetings, each region holds elections to choose their members and alternate members to the Education Program and Policy Development Core Issues Work Groups for 2008-2009.

See
2008 Election Nomination Form
OPSBA Guide to Roles and Responsibilities

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

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Don't Miss Your Chance to Submit Nominations for the OPSBA Awards Program

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association's Awards Program strives to recognize some of the outstanding contributions made to the public education system by individuals across Ontario. 

It’s not too late to nominate a student, teacher or trustee you would like to recognize for making a difference.

Complete information about the awards, including the nomination form and terms of reference, is available online. Please take a few moments to review this online information. The OPSBA Awards are:

The Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit — recognizes the achievements of an outstanding student for a sound academic record and outstanding community service and leadership.

The Fred L. Bartlett Memorial Award — presented to an active or retired member of the teaching profession for an outstanding contribution to education throughout Ontario, including activities such as constructive participation in education affairs over a number of years or recent participation in a specific project that has had a significant impact.

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

Achievement Award and Award of Excellence — recognizes the outstanding contributions of non-teaching staff, parents, volunteers and community partners from Member Boards. This award provides an opportunity to raise awareness and to promote the importance of celebrating excellence. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the contributions of all members of the education community.

The Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award — awarded for dedication, commitment and an outstanding contribution to education with special recognition for Northern Ontario service. The deadline for nominations for this particular award is September 12, 2008

All nominations, except for the Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award, must be received at the OPSBA office no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2008.

For the Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award, the nomination deadline is September 12, 2008.

See
OPSBA Awards

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

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20^th AGM & PROGRAM 2008
Thursday, 12 — Sunday, 15 June, 2008

Sheraton on the Falls Hotel and Conference Centre
5875 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario

HOSTED BY OPSBA’S CENTRAL WEST REGION

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Dr. MICHAEL THOMPSON — Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys
Psychologist, school consultant, an internationally renowned speaker and author or co-author of seven books.

DAVID WARLICK — Our Students • Our Worlds
This presentation, by 30+ year educator, author, and technologist, will explore some of the changes and challenges in education and arrange them as a set of converging conditions that will provide direction for retooling our classrooms for the 21st century.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ONTARIO, HONOURABLE DAVID ONLEY

WORKSHOPS

• Safe Schools
• Energy
• Update on Current Legal Issues
• Suicide Intervention Program
• Research Gender Project
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities – What Schools Need to Know
• Videostreaming
• Visit to Niagara College – PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED (maximum 150 delegates)

FRIDAY NIGHT:  Dinner at Queenston Heights Restaurant (extra cost)
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED (see Registration Form for details)

GOLF:
For those delegates interested in playing golf, please contact Dennis Randall at drandall@niagaraparks.com.  Dennis is CPGA Professional-Golf Sales Manager at Legends on the Niagara & Whirlpool Golf Course, Niagara Parks Commission.  We thank Dennis for generously offering to act as liaison in arranging golf.

NETWORK whilst celebrating our 20th Anniversary!

At the AGM we will determine our priorities and directions for the coming year, elect our officers and plan for the future. This event also includes a comprehensive professional development program of stimulating, challenging, and inspiring speakers and in-depth workshops, as well as abundant networking opportunities for trustees.

Make plans now to attend!

Welcome reception:  Thursday, 12 June 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Conference ends:  Sunday, 15 June 2008 at 11:30 a.m.

Watch OPSBA’s Fast Reports for regular updates and future announcements.

The Registration Form and the Preliminary Program are available online.

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

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OPSBA in the Media

Native school talks move ahead; YouTube campaign forced the government back to table with Attawapiskat leaders, NDP MP says
As reported by Richard Brennan, Toronto Star, April 7 2008

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl says the government is making some progress on improving the school situation in Attawapiskat, which has become the subject of a YouTube campaign.

The elementary school in the isolated northern Ontario community was contaminated by a large diesel spill in 1979 but continued to house students until 2000 when parents pulled their children out because of growing health problems.

Since then, students have been housed in makeshift portable classrooms. There are 400 students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8.

Chief Theresa Hall met with Strahl's senior ministerial staff and departmental officials last week and agreed to create a working group to look into improving conditions at the school, Strahl said.

NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) started a YouTube campaign to pressure the Conservative government to fund the school.

"It's clear that the YouTube campaign forced the government back to the table," Angus said.

"If the government is simply trying to turn the political heat down they are mistaken. The campaign will continue until the government agrees to build a school."

Angus said that Strahl cancelled plans last December to build a replacement school in the community 1,300 kilometres north of Toronto on James Bay.

Strahl said the working group includes members of the native community, departmental and ministerial officials from Indian and Northern Affairs, and the school board.

"It's really the first time that everybody has been in one room together talking about the same issue, including both short term and long term," the minister said.

"The chief and council seemed very pleased with the progress and Mr. Angus did as well," he said.

Late last year, Strahl announced that an unexpected school fire in another native community meant having to replace it at a cost of $13 million, putting the Attawapiskat school further down the pecking list.

Ontario's public school boards have encouraged their 2.1 million students to write letters to Strahl's department to urge funding for a new school.

Waterloo trustee Catherine Fife, vice-president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association said her organization wanted students in Attawapiskat to know other students in Ontario care about them.

Several schools plan to lead a student awareness campaign for Attawapiskat, including Toronto's Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary School and The Student School, a public alternative school.

For more information: Jeff Sprang, Director of Communications, ext.111

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Ministry of Education UPDATE

News Releases
Giving French-Language TV Its Own Voice, April 8
Summer Program Returns for Toronto Kids, April 4

Memo Summary: March 2008

See
http://cal2.edu.gov.on.ca/mar08.html

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Healthy Schools Recognition Program

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health Promotion have developed the Healthy Schools Recognition Program to promote and celebrate healthy behaviours and practices in Ontario's publicly funded schools. Healthy schools can have a positive impact on student health and learning.

All elementary and secondary schools in Ontario are encouraged to participate in the Healthy Schools Recognition Program. By participating in this program, a school declares its commitment to work towards developing a healthier learning environment.

The Recognition Program Acceptance Form is available online.

The government is working in partnership with students, teachers, principals, parents and others to help Ontario's students do their best in school and to make schools healthier places for students to learn and grow.

Information on Healthy Schools for teachers and principals, parents and students is also available online.

See
Recognition Program Acceptance Form
Information on Healthy Schools

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

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Calendar of EVENTS