April 28, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 15

WHAT'S INSIDE?

OPSBA Calls for Nominations for Elected OPSBA Positions
20^th AGM & PROGRAM 2008
OPSBA’S Executive Council and Board of Directors Hold Meetings in April
WSIB Holds Meetings Regarding Funding Framework
Violence in the Media
Presentation on Poverty – Central West Regional Meeting
OPSBA in the Media
OPSBA Supports the Building of Schools in Attawapiskat and Other First Nations Communities
Settlement Workers in Schools Seek Input on New Brochures for Students in Middle Grades
EQAO Releases PCAP 2007 Ontario Results
Re-experience the 2007 EQAO Conference via Webcast
EQAO Appoints Dr. Brian L. Desbiens Chair of the Board
Ministry of Education UPDATE
29th Annual Educational Computing Conference for Educators
National Character Education Conference, November 3 & 4, Trillium Lakelands DSB
BCSTA e-Digest, April 24, May 1
"Made in Ontario," A showcase of leading practices in child and youth mental health
OCSTA Elects New Leadership
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 5:00 p.m. on 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 (5:00 p.m. on 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 5:00 p.m. on 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 5:00 p.m. on 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

> Top

OPSBA’S Executive Council and Board of Directors Hold Meetings in April

The OPSBA Executive Council and Board of Directors held meetings on April 24-25 and April 25-26, 2008 respectively. The meetings afforded member board representatives opportunity for deliberation on a range of current education issues.

The format introduced for the Friday evening agenda to allow time for Directors to caucus within their Regions has been in place this past year and is working well. The format provides an opportunity for the Directors to receive a report from their representative on Executive Council, as well as discuss matters on the Board agenda.

The following are some of the highlights of the meetings:

Labour Relations Report
A labour relations report was provided on progress at the various provincial discussion tables related to collective bargaining for renewal of collective agreements that expire this year. Loralea Carruthers, Rick Johnson and Lori Lukinuk are participants at these tables.

Legal Matters

1. Information was provided with regard to a just-released Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of using sniffer dogs to conduct searches in schools.  In a split-decision in R. v. A.M., released April 25, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that police officers cannot use sniffer-dogs to conduct random speculative searches for drugs in schools. If the police have no grounds of reasonable suspicion, the use of sniffer-dogs to conduct random drug searches will violate students’ reasonable expectations of privacy and their constitutional rights to be free of unreasonable search and seizure under section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  The court decision can be viewed at: http://scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2008/2008scc19/2008scc19.html
   
   
2. In its recent decision in Dunsmuir v. New Brunswick, released March 7, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada simplified the proper approach to judicial review of administrative decision-makers, like tribunals and labour arbitrators. Prior to the Court’s decision, there were three different standards of review, ranging from the standard of “correctness,” where the reviewing court shows no deference to the administrative decision-maker, to “patent unreasonableness,” which is the most deferential to the decision-maker in that the court will intervene only where the decision is clearly irrational, with the standard of “reasonableness simpliciter” lying, theoretically, in the middle.
   
   In Dunsmuir, the Supreme Court held that henceforth there ought to be only two standards of review: correctness and reasonableness. When applying the correctness standard, a reviewing court will undertake its own analysis of the question and decide whether it agrees with the determination of the administrative decision-maker, showing no deference to the decision-maker’s reasoning process; if the court does not agree with the decision, the court will substitute its own view and provide the correct answer.
   
   On the other hand, reasonableness is a deferential standard that commands respect for legislative choices to leave some matters in the hands of administrative decision-makers, for decision-making processes that draw on particular expertise and experiences of some administrative decision-makers, and for the different roles of the courts and administrative bodies within the Canadian constitutional system. In deciding which standard to apply, the courts will consider previous jurisprudence and a number of different factors. For example, deference will usually be required where a decision-maker is interpreting its own statute or issues closely connected with its function, with which it will have particular expertise. On the other hand, a question of law that is of central importance to the legal system as a whole and lies outside the specialized area of expertise of the administrative decision-maker will always attract a correctness standard.

Critical Media Literacy Curriculum Resources – Violence in the Media Initiative
The OPSBA led committee/coalition is excited about the development of classroom resources on Critical Media Literacy for K to 12, and is looking forward to the official launched on May 12, 2008.  The PD component of the day will include professional development for teachers using the classroom resources. The conference is being sponsored by the Ontario Teachers Federation in cooperation with the coalition members and OPSBA. 

Speakers at the event include: 

• Dr. Jim Stieben, Director of Clinical and Social Developmental Neuroscience at the Milton and Ethel Harris Research Initiative, York University (confirmed)
• Lt. Col. David Grossman, scholar, author, and speaker who is one of the world's foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime (confirmed)
• Dr. Peter Jaffe, Professor, Faculty of Education, Academic Director, Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children, the University of Western Ontario (confirmed)
• Ray Hughes, National Education Coordinator Fourth R Project, Centre for Prevention Science, CAMH (confirmed)

Implementation of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Legislation
A report was given on activities of the Standards Development committees on Information and Communications and Built Environment. These committees have recently been reconfigured to increase representation from persons with disabilities and meetings resumed earlier in April. A draft standard related to Information and Communications is expected by the end of summer 2008 and draft standards related to Built Environment are expected early in 2009. Both sets of draft standards will undergo a period of public review.  School boards, through OPSBA are being represented on these committees and regular updates are provided thorough Fast Reports. 

Student Success/Learning to 18
A report from the Working Table on Student Success/Learning to 18 was provided. A particular highlight was the results of the Stage 1 Review of this initiative which was headed up by Dr. Charles Ungerleider. These results reveal a highly coherent, innovative and successful approach to providing students with a range of opportunities and encouraging their continued engagement in school.  (pdf document attachment).

Finance/GSNs
Carla Kisko, Chair of the OPSBA Finance Technical Advisory Committee provided an overview of current funding with commentary on increased investments and gaps as well as Ontario Infrastructure Renewal as it impacts the education sector.

Ministry’s Declining Enrolment Work Group
It was reported that the Minister has made a commitment to establishing a Declining Enrolment Work Group. This was advocated for by OPSBA in the Education Finance document submitted in December 2007. The composition of the work group has not been decided but it is expected that OPSBA will have a strong contribution to make as strategies to deal with the effects of declining enrolment are examined.

Ministry’s Vision Statement – School Board Governance
The discussion on this item included information provided at the first “town hall” meeting held about the Ministry’s new Vision Statement which includes a section on clarifying and modernizing the role of trustee. At this meeting the Minister expressed strong support for the importance of school boards and the role of trustees. OPSBA has met with the Minister’s staff and confirmed that OPSBA will be significantly involved in the review process.

First Nations Education – Motions referred from February Board
There were three matters accepted as Notices of Motion at the February Board and referred to the April meeting for consideration. The First Nations Director and staff provided background information in support of these motions, which were adopted by the Board. The motions dealt with the following matters:

1. That OPSBA’s First Nations Director take forward to Chiefs of Ontario a request that the First Nations Council, that represents all public school board First Nation trustees in Ontario, have the opportunity to be represented on the COO Education Coordination Unit.
   
   
2. That the First Nation Director discuss with OPSBA, the Ministry of Education and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada the possibility of seed funding to develop a strategic capacity-building plan to support the First Nations Council in promoting greater participation of First Nation trustees across the province.
   
   
3. That OPSBA be requested to lobby the Ministry of Education to ensure allocation of funding for additional secondary Native Alternative program/school sites for 2008-2009.

Urban Aboriginal Education Project
OPSBA is represented on the Provincial Steering Committee of this initiative of the Ministry of Education. Three school boards (Lakehead, Simcoe County and Toronto) are undertaking pilot projects aimed at developing models of programming to support urban Aboriginal students that can be replicated across Ontario. The project is currently in a phase dealing with research on successful practices across Canada.

Motion re School for Attawapiskat
Board of Directors supported a motion from Bluewater DSB recommending advocacy to support the building of a school to replace the portables occupied by First Nation students on Attawapiskat Reserve.  The children have been without a school for the last eight years.  Board of Directors unanimously supported this motion:

THAT the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and its member boards encourage the Government of Canada to fund the building of a new school in the Attawapiskat community; and

THAT the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association work with the Canadian School Boards Association in identifying on-reserve schools that are required to be built across Canada and encourage the Government of Canada to adequately fund them in a timely manner.

OPSBA Review of Programs and Services
A proposal requested by the Board of Directors for a sample survey of trustees, Board of Directors, Directors of Education and education partners to gather input was deferred to the next Board of Directors meeting in June in order to gather further information for consideration at that time.

Constitutional Amendments
Executive Council with Regional Vice Chairs reviewed the proposed Constitutional amendments at their meeting prior to the Board of Directors meeting.  The proposed Constitutional amendments include clarification of a governance matter referred to the Policy Development Work Team and items referred by individual boards.  The Proposed Constitutional Amendments approved by the Board of Directors which are being forwarded to the Annual General Meeting for the required confirmation vote deal with:

1. The requirement that nominations be received 30 day before election for elected officer positions to be placed into the OPSBA Constitution as recommended by the Policy Development Work Team.
   
   
2. Amendment to wording of Section 10.06 to clarify the one year term of office for past president, as recommended by the Parliamentarian.
   
   
3. That Section 9.07, which became redundant following the OPSBA Board of Directors restructuring due to the amalgamation of school boards, be removed from the OPSBA Constitution and By-Laws.

Member Board Policy Resolutions
Executive Council members along with three of OPSBA’s Regional Vice-Chairs who joined the meeting, reviewed the member board policy resolutions submitted by member boards for consideration at the Annual General Meeting.  The comments from Executive Council were provided to Board of Directors for their deliberations.  The policy resolutions will be provided to member boards for their review in advance of the Annual General Meeting.

Proposal for Standing Governance Committee
Durham DSB submitted a proposal for the establishment of a permanent Standing Committee on Governance.  The matter was deferred, with Durham’s consent, to the November Board of Directors meeting.

OPSBA Ad Hoc Information Technology Committee
A full report and information was provided on the teleconference meetings held to date by this committee which is clarifying and defining the focus of its work.

Reports provided from External Organizations
OPSBA’s representatives on external organizations provided verbal updates on the work of the Education Alliance for a Sustainable Ontario (Cathy Abraham), and the Canadian School Boards Association (Rick Johnson).

WSIB – update
A report was provided from Wayne Burtnyk, who attended meetings, on the WSIB’s three year funding framework review. A separate report regarding WSIB is provided in this Fast Reports.

Other Material of Interest Distributed

Resources re Ontario’s Education Leadership Framework
A guide for school and system leaders developed jointly by associations representing principals, supervisory officers and directors of education and funded by the Ministry of Education was shared. It was emphasized that this is not a performance appraisal tool but rather an instrument for self-review. Copies of the booklet and CD were provided to the Board of Directors.  For information on the booklet entitled Putting Ontario’s Leadership Framework Into Action: A Guide for School & System Leaders with accompanying CD titled Leadership Self-Review Tool, click on
www.education-leadership-ontario.ca.  Presentation slides are also available for viewing at the following link:
http://www.education-leadership-ontario.ca/files/SystemLeaders.pdf

Halton DSB Correspondence on Back-to-School and Winter Clothing allowance
Copy of a Halton letter to the Ministry which outlined a resolution of the Halton DSB with regard to allowances for back to school and winter clothing needs of social assistance recipients was provided to members of the Board of Directors.

See
Supreme Court Decision: R. v. A.M., April 28
Report of Working Table on Student Success/Learning to 18
Putting Ontario’s Leadership Framework Into Action: A Guide for School & System Leaders
Education Leadership Presentation Slides

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

> Top

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

Register now!

A NEW workshop “iPod Nanos and the Reluctant Reader” has been added, as well as a large plenary session “Connecting Learning in a Connected World.” 

Visit to Niagara College on Saturday afternoon: (pre-registration required)

Wine Tasting and Culinary Showcase
This wine tasting and culinary event will showcase the partnership between the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and Niagara College.

Hospitality students from both the DSBN and Niagara College will be on hand to tour delegates around the College facility, offer a tasting of Niagara College’s own fine wine, and DSBN students will make and serve delicious hors d’oeuvres sure to please the palate!  This is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the local food, wine and hospitality that makes Niagara such a unique part of the province. 

Dinner at Queenston Heights:  FRIDAY NIGHT - dinner on your own OR join your colleagues for Dinner at the Queenston Heights Restaurant (extra cost)
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED (see Registration Form for details).
The maximum number of delegates has been increased.
DON’T DELAY IN REGISTERING FOR THIS EVENT.
Transportation will be provided.

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)
• iPod Nanos and the Reluctant Reader

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.

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

> Top

WSIB Holds Meetings Regarding Funding Framework

OPSBA was invited and attended the WSIB meetings held in February and March and provided input. The following is a synopsis of the proceedings:

• The WSIB reviews its Funding Framework every three years.  The last review was in 2005.
• The purpose of these meetings was to give stakeholders the opportunity to provide input into the development of the Funding Framework for 2008.

The current average premium rate for all employers across Ontario is $2.26 per $100 of insurable earnings.  The rate for school boards is $0.77. The maximum insurable earnings ceiling for 2008 is $73,300.

Road to Zero

• The proposed 2008 Funding Framework sets out a strategy and targets with the broad objectives of:
  • Maintaining premium rates at current levels, and
  • Reducing the unfunded liability to zero by 2014.
• The WSIB needs the co-operation of its partners to meet a series of initiatives and targets to reduce costs and mitigate pressures.

Proposed 2008 Funding Framework

• Maintain average premium rates at current levels.
• Reduce the unfunded liability to zero by 2014.
• After full funding is achieved, establish a premium rate and benefit stabilization reserve of up to 10% of liabilities.
• Limit premium rate increases for individual rate groups to 10% over the average rate change.
• Review funding framework again in three years.

Outlook for 2014

• Once full funding is reached in 2014, premium rates should come down and reserves should be built into the system to allow for more flexibility.
• All partners must make a full commitment to work collaboratively to actively pursue better health care and return to work outcomes and continue to focus on prevention, as this will have the greatest impact on Ontario workplaces and the financial sustainability of the system.
• If WSIB does not reach targets, the options will be to:
  • Reduce benefits
  • Increase premiums
  • Accept an increase in the unfunded liability.

For more information: Wayne Burtnyk, Financial Consultant, (416) 340-2540

> Top

See
Addressing Media Violence

Presentation on Poverty – Central West Regional Meeting

When trustees from school boards in OPSBA’s Central West Region met on April 19, 2008, a key item on their agenda was action on poverty. Dr. Christopher Spence, Director of Education at the Hamilton-Wentworth DSB attended the meeting and made a dynamic presentation on the impact of poverty. He spoke of the cost to the nation of inadequate education quoting research that concludes that every dollar invested in high quality early care and education saves $7.16 in welfare, special education and criminal justice costs. A copy of Dr. Spence’s power point presentation is available online.

See
Hamilton-Wentworth DSB's Presentation

OPSBA in the MEDIA

OPSBA Supports the Building of Schools in Attawapiskat and Other First Nations Communities

At a Board of Directors meeting on April 26, 2008 the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association unanimously passed a motion initiated by Bluewater District School Board urging the Government of Canada to fund the building of a new school in the Attawapiskat community.

See
OPSBA News Release, April 28

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

> Top

Ontario Grade 8s top the class. Province's 13-year-olds lead nation's anglophones in reading, test finds; also excel at math, science
As reported by Louise Brown, Toronto Star, April 29

At 13, Ontario's English-language students are the best readers for their age in the country, a new study shows – especially when it comes to making sense of what they read in a "thoughtful and elaborate manner."

In a study that tested 30,000 13-year-olds across Canada last spring in reading, math and science, Ontario's English-speaking students topped everyone in reading, beat the national average in math and came second only to Alberta in their grasp of science.

The bold showing may reflect Ontario's rigorous new curriculum, suggests Michael Kozlow, director of data for Ontario's testing body, which took part in the new nation-wide Pan-Canadian Assessment Program.

"Through the 1980s and early 1990s, Ontario students scored at about the national average on nation-wide assessments, but since Ontario developed a much more focused curriculum in the late 1990s, we have seen students improve," said Kozlow, of Ontario's Education Quality and Accountability Office.

"This time Ontario is above the national average in reading, especially the higher level thinking skills of interpretation and responding to text. Put together, this shows real improvement." Overall, Canadian students showed well at reading, with 88 per cent scoring at the level expected for their age – Level 2 of three levels.

Girls continue to outperform boys at reading, with 91 per cent scoring at or above Level 2, compared to 87 per cent of boys.

When the test scores of French-language students and their anglophone peers are measured together, Quebec outperformed Ontario in reading. But when comparing only those who study in English, Ontario topped the chart, with 90 per cent of students reading at Level 2 or 3, squeaking by Alberta with 89 per cent and 88 per cent across Canada as a whole.

And where Ontario students shine, noted Kozlow, is at "taking that information and making connections to their own lives and extrapolating from what they read."

On one question, students were asked to read a gripping tale that parallels a 1992 labour dispute at a Yellowknife mine where a locked-out miner was convicted of planting a bomb that killed nine scab workers. In the story, the son of one of the victims ends up in class with the son of the bomber.

Some questions were designed to test students' understanding of what they had read ("What was 2,113 kilometres away?") while others asked them to interpret why someone in the story acted in a certain way, and a third type challenges the students to speculate on what might happen in the future ("Can the tension between the two boys be resolved? Explain your answer").

It was on this particular type of question ("responding to text") that Ontario students outdid their peers across the Canada, which Kozlow says may reflect a growing emphasis on these skills in Ontario classrooms.

Not only was the average performance of Ontario's English-speaking students better than others, but more of them scored at the top level in reading – 23 per cent, compared to 18 per cent of English-speaking students across Canada.

The study is a newly revamped version of the School Achievement Indicators Program that is conducted every three years across Canada.

The new version conforms more to global test standards.

The assessment tested 15,000 students in reading, 7,500 in math and 7,500 in science.

At age 13, the majority tested would be in Grade 8.For more information: Jeff Sprang, Director of Communications, ext.111

> Top 

Board bans sale of bottled water at its schools
As reported by Kristin Rushowy, Toronto Star, April 24

The Waterloo Region board has banned the sale of plastic bottles of water in its schools starting next year, a move that is expected to spur others across the province into action.

The decision covers cafeterias, vending machines, and school and board functions.

"The thing about bottled water is that you can just as easily go to the tap – it's just as high quality" and in fact is tested more often and more rigorously, said Kitchener trustee Ted Martin, who spearheaded the Waterloo Region District School Board decision.

The new rules don't forbid students from bringing bottled water from their own homes, "but we hope through this campaign and the education around it, children wouldn't want to any more," Martin said.

At board meetings, trustees will likely be given jugs of water and drinking glasses – in fact, it was during such a meeting when Martin first began thinking about the negative aspects of the plastic bottles.

"It came up during last year's budget discussions," he said.

"We were looking at cutting programs, as school boards always are, and I saw these blue boxes overflowing with empty bottles of water."

Board staff will prepare a report on how to eliminate all sales of bottled water in its schools and buildings by September 2009.

It will mean a loss of revenue for the board from vending contracts, although how much isn't known.

Environmentalist Josh Matlow, who is also a trustee for the Toronto District School Board, called the Waterloo initiative a "fantastic idea ... and something we could do system-wide" in this city.

A few Toronto schools, including Claude Watson School for the Arts at Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave., are already taking steps to curb the use of bottled water.

Last fall, the school teamed with a local store to sell stainless steel bottles at a discount, and sold 300 – equal to its population.

"We were concerned about the volume of plastic bottles" as well as the health worries over bisphenol A – an industrial chemical used in the production of plastic bottles – said teacher Alan Gotlib.

While plastic bottles aren't banned "and we still have a fair number, this certainly has reduced the number we had," he said.

The school even purchased an engraving device to label children's stainless steel cups.

Colleen Schenk, president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, said Waterloo is the first board in the province to ban the sale of bottled water, although individual schools have already done so.

"I think you may see more boards going down this route," she said.

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

> Top

Boards look at closing 50 schools. Lobby group People For Education urges Queen's Park to launch a planned working group on the issue
As reported by Daniel Girard, Toronto Star, April 23

School boards across Ontario have recommended that at least 50 schools be closed and are reviewing the viability of nearly 300 others, according to a new report.

Calling declining enrolment the "elephant in the room," the lobby group People For Education today urged Queen's Park to launch a planned working group on the issue as soon as possible, and to give it the latitude to suggest how municipalities, school boards and communities can work together to make use of school buildings.

"We need new thinking around this issue," Annie Kidder, executive director of People For Education, told a news conference in Stratford where the report was released. "And it has to cross ministries, sectors and all levels of government.

"We have to use this potential crisis as an opportunity to break down all the old barriers."

Among the report's other findings:

• Ontario schools have lost 90,000 students over the last six years.
• Nearly half of the province's 72 school boards have seen enrolment declines of more than 10 per cent since 2002.
• In four of Ontario's northern boards, enrolment has declined by more than 20 per cent since 2002, one by 36 per cent.
• Only nine English-language boards have had enrolment increases, all in the 905 region.

"This is one of the most serious issues facing our boards right now and we must have new policy and new strategies to deal with it," said Catherine Fife, vice-president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association.

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne said the working group on declining enrolment, which was proposed in the provincial budget last month, will be announced "very shortly." And Wynne agreed that there needs to be a broader look at such things as incorporating public libraries, community health centres and recreation opportunities into areas where two schools may be closing and a new one built or renovated.

"It strengthens the connective tissue between those public services," Wynne said in an interview.

At Queen's Park, Premier Dalton McGuinty stressed it was important to consider the context of the report on declining enrollment.

“Schools open and close in the natural order of things. I think we’ve built as many schools in first four years (in power) as schools in fact closed in Ontario,” McGuinty told reporters. “Boards have go to make their own call on a case by case basis,” he said.

“If they can put more money into supports for kids and … less money into buildings which aren’t really serving their intended purpose, that’s probably a good thing.”

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said the government needs to fix the education funding formula, which would spare the closure of some rural schools.

“Closing a school is not a happy event no matter where it happens, but in a small town the school is a huge part of the centre of life in those communities,” said Tory.

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

> Top

Settlement Workers in Schools Seek Input on New Brochures for Students in Middle Grades

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) is adding to its range of excellent resources for newcomer students and their families. Three new brochures will focus on newly-arrived students in the middle grades as they experience their first week and first months in the classroom in Ontario. 

If you are interested in providing feedback on these brochures, please send your input by May 9, 2008 to Peter Dorfman, Provincial Coordinator, Settlement Workers in Schools at: pdorfman@cicswis.ca

See
Brochure Index
SWIS Newsletter No. 56

EQAO Releases PCAP 2007 Ontario Results

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has released Ontario Reports for the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) 2007. In Ontario, EQAO administered PCAP to 13-year-old students who were mostly in grade 8 or 9. For highlights of provincial results, as well as a PCAP 2007 Ontario Report, visit the EQAO website.

See
EQAO Memorandum, April 28
Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (2007): Ontario Report: English-Language Students
Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (2007): Ontario Report: French-Language Students
Highlights of Ontario Results (French)

Re-experience the 2007 EQAO Conference via Webcast

On November 29 and 30, Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) hosted its second provincial conference, "Large-Scale Assessment: Supporting the Everyday Work of Schools—From Knowledge to Action." Leaders in Ontario’s education system and experts in assessment explored the role played by large-scale assessments in providing information that supports improved student learning.

To re-experience the plenary sessions of this event via webcast online and learn more about current thinking, innovation and best practices in large-scale assessment, visit the EQAO website.

See
English sessions
French sessions

EQAO Appoints Dr. Brian L. Desbiens Chair of the Board

The Government of Ontario has appointed Dr. Brian L. Desbiens Chair of the Board of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), Ontario’s large-scale assessment agency. Dr. Desbiens has been serving as acting chair since former chair, Dr. Charles E. Pascal, stepped down on February 1, 2008. Dr. Desbiens brings over 35 years of education experience to the leadership of the agency.

See
EQAO News Release, April 24 (French)

Ministry of Education UPDATE

MEMORANDUM
2008: SB 12: Capital Program Amendments, April 29

NEWS RELEASE(S)
Ontario's English-Language Students Tops in Canada, April 28

Memo Summary: April 2008

See
http://cal2.edu.gov.on.ca/apr08.html

> Top

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal, PIRNETNEWS, May 2008

29th Annual Educational Computing Conference for Educators

The Educational Computing Organization of Ontario (ECOO) will be holding its 29th annual conference for educators from November 12-14 at the Sheraton Parkway North Hotel in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

From April 16 to May 9, ECOO is also challenging all Canadian teachers to name this conference! The teacher who comes up with the best conference name will win a free 2-day registration to the ECOO 2008 conference. Original submissions for the name of the 2008 ECOO conference should be submitted to contests@ecoo.org with “Conference Name” as the subject line on or before May 9th, 2008. All questions relating to this contest should also be directed to contests@ecoo.org. Please submit your full name, school, school board and email contact with entry.

See
Quest for a Name
29th Annual Conference for Educators

For more information: email office@ecoo.org

> Top

National Character Education Conference, November 3 & 4, Trillium Lakelands DSB

BCSTA e-Digest, April 24, May 1

"Made in Ontario," A showcase of leading practices in child and youth mental health

OCSTA Elects New Leadership

Over 200 members of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA) gathered last week in Niagara Falls to elect new executive members during the 78th Annual General Meeting of the OCSTA membership.

See
OCSTA News Release, April 29

Calendar of EVENTS