May 5, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 16

WHAT'S INSIDE?

OPSBA Calls for Nominations for Elected OPSBA Positions
OPSBA Candidates for 2008 Election
20^th AGM & PROGRAM 2008
Meal and Entertainment Tickets are Available for Guest/Spouse
Violence in the Media
OPSBA NEWS RELEASE: Confronting Violence in the Media and Entertainment Industry Provincial Conference
Ministry of Education UPDATE
Supreme Court of Canada: Random School Searches Unreasonable
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

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OPSBA Candidates for 2008 Election

May 14, 2008 was the deadline for nominations for position of President*, Vice President* and Regional Vice President*. Nominations from the floor of the AGM election meeting will be taken only when insufficient advance nominations to fill the positions have been received. 

Nomination for Positions Elected at Large

Nominations for Regional Positions - Election held at AGM Regional Meetings

School Authorities Representative on Board of Directors

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

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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

HOTEL CUT-OFF DATE:   next week, Monday 12 May

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.

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.” 

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
• Streaming Video
• 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 Program are available online.

IMPORTANT! Meal and Entertainment Tickets are Available for Guest/Spouse

If you have not yet purchased meal tickets for your guest/spouse, please obtain meal tickets BEFORE the event at the OPSBA registration desk.  

A ticket or name badge is required to participate in the meals.

REMINDER!  If you ordered tickets in advance, please pick them up at the OPSBA registration desk.

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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Violence in the Media

See
Addressing Media Violence

OPSBA in the MEDIA

OPSBA NEWS RELEASE
Confronting Violence in the Media and Entertainment Industry Provincial Conference

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

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Ministry of Education UPDATE

MEMORANDA
2008: B6, Enhanced funding for adult education programs, May 7 (French)
2008: B5 - Infrastructure project recognition signage program, May 7 (English) (French)
Recognition signage program order form (English) (French)

NEWS RELEASE(S)
Outstanding Educators Honoured, May 2 (French)

Memo Summary: April 2008

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

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Supreme Court of Canada: Random School Searches Unreasonable

On April 25, 2008, the Supreme Court of Canada released two decisions regarding random searches and the use of drug sniffer dogs to conduct those searches.

See
SHIBLEY RIGHTON LLP - Education Law eBulletin, April 2008

Calendar of EVENTS