20 January 2015

REPORT NO. 4, COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DATE: 20 January 2015 A meeting of the Committee of the Whole was held this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, Ontario, commencing at 7:15 p.m. with Trustee Christine Boothby in the chair and the following trustees also in attendance: Erica Braunovan, Chris Ellis, Mark Fisher; Dr. Anita Olsen Harper, Theresa Kavanagh, Shawn Menard, Keith Penny, Sandra Schwartz, Lynn Scott and Shirley Seward. STAFF: Director of Education, Jennifer Adams; Associate Director, Norah Marsh; Chief Financial Officer, Mike Carson; Superintendent of Curriculum, Pino Buffone; Superintendents of Instruction, Peter Gamwell and Stephen Sliwa; Executive Officer, Michele Giroux; Principal, Munster Elementary School, Rebecca Shields; Manager of Facilities, Peter Wright; Manager of Planning, Karyn Carty Ostafichuk; Manager of Communications and Information Services, Diane Pernari-Hergert; Manager of Board Services, Monica Ceschia; Assistant Manager, Planning, Ian Baxter; Planner, David Suriano; Communications Coordinator, Sharlene Hunter; Audio Visual Specialist, John MacKinnon; and Board/Committee Coordinator, Sue Baker. NON-VOTING REPRESENTATIVES: Dorothy Baker, Ottawa-Carleton Elementary Operations Committee; Jane Reeb, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO); and Curtis Bulatovich, Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). GUESTS: Vicky Kyriaco, General Manager/Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Blyth Helman, Assistant General Manager, Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA). 1. Call to Order Trustee Scott, on behalf of Chair Boothby, called the public meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. Trustee Scott advised that Trustee Boothby would be arriving later in the meeting. Trustee Scott assumed the Chair. Trustee Fisher informed the Committee that he wished to publicly apologize for some remarks he made during the discussion of bell time changes at Committee of the Whole on 6 January 2015. He advised that he had misinterpreted Trustee Blackburn’s remarks at the time and he has since provided her with a written apology. Report 4, Committee of the Whole - 1 - 20 January 2015 (Public) 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by Trustee Seward, THAT the agenda be approved. An amendment moved by Trustee Seward, THAT items 6a and 6b be moved to follow 6e to accommodate the late arrival of Trustee Boothby. - Carried, friendly – Moved by Trustee Seward, THAT the agenda be approved, as amended. - Carried – 3. Briefing from the Chair Trustee Seward noted that the District is entering the second step of the development of the OCDSB Strategic Plan for 2015-2019, EverySchool_EveryVoice. Stakeholders received an email this week inviting them to assist in setting priorities for the next OCDSB Strategic Plan. Everyone is welcome to participate, including the stakeholders who did not participate in step 1. Trustee Seward noted that stakeholder input is important in helping the Board of Trustees to develop its strategic priorities for 2015-2019. Trustee Seward reminded all trustees of the annual Board/Senior Staff retreat planned for 6-7 February 2015. The topic for discussion at the retreat is strategic planning; specifically the consultation process, assessing the continuity of the mission, vision and values, and the environmental scan for the 2015-2019 strategic plan. Trustee Seward noted that she looks forward to trustees and senior staff working together as a leadership team. The Minister of Finance will be hosting pre-budget consultations throughout the province and the Ottawa session is scheduled for 29 January 2015. Attendance has been restricted to one delegate per organization and Trustee Seward advised that she has registered to attend. Board members were asked to send key themes or issues that that they would like addressed to Maureen Strittmatter. The draft pre-budget submission will be provided for trustee input at the Board meeting on 27 January 2015. At the request of Trustee Braunovan, Director Adams agreed to send an email reminder to trustees. 4. Briefing from the Director Director Adams noted that the District’s secondary schools will be hosting open houses and information nights for parents and grade 8 students to learn about the Report 4, Committee of the Whole - 2 - 20 January 2015 (Public) variety of schools, programs and courses offered by the OCDSB. Information on the open houses for the various schools is available on the District’s website. The District’s elementary schools with kindergarten programs will be hosting open houses in January for parents/guardians. These sessions will provide information about available programs, what children can expect, and how to register. The dates for the various open houses are available on the District’s website. Director Adams advised that the next session in the Speaker Series will be held on 29 January 2015 at Sir Robert Borden High School, with a presentation by Dr. Rebecca Lloyd, entitled “What is Physical Literacy?” This session will cover the way people integrate physical movement and language in all facets of their lives and the importance of encouraging healthy physical living in schools. 5. Delegations Chair Scott reminded delegations that any questions or comments on the performance or character of any identifiable individual would be ruled out of order. a. Judy Kirsh and Michael Wilson, Advisory Committee on the Arts (4 minutes) Judy Kirsh and Michael Wilson thanked all trustees for their commitment to education and provided information on the background and current status of the Advisory Committee on the Arts (ACA). They noted that the ACA was created in 1987 to provide advice, help inform policy decisions for Arts education, and monitor the state of Arts education. The current objective of the ACA is “All the Arts, for All the students, in All the schools”. Ms. Kirsh and Mr. Wilson noted that many elementary teachers in the OCDSB are expected to deliver all four Arts areas: dance, drama, music and visual arts from grades 1-8, and the ACA is concerned with having these teachers well trained in the Arts in all schools. In conclusion, the presenters advised that the ACA will work to ensure that the Arts are an integral part of the OCDSB 2015-2019 Strategic Plan. In response to queries, Ms. Kirsh and Mr. Wilson provided the following information: In response to a query from Trustee Schwartz regarding the ACA’s suggestions for the Board’s strategic plan, Ms. Kirsh advised that the ACA would like to see the Arts infused into the curriculum and stronger teaching of the Arts. She added that she would provide a written response to the question; Trustee Olsen Harper noted the importance of having a cultural perspective and self-expression in the Arts; and Trustee Kavanagh queried the role of the instructional coaches in the Arts. Ms. Kirsh noted that coaches provide instruction to teachers on meaningful and creative teaching techniques and helping them to feel Report 4, Committee of the Whole - 3 - 20 January 2015 (Public) comfortable. She suggested that additional funds be provided for professional development of Arts teachers. b. Marty Carr re Bell Time Changes at Alta Vista Public School This delegation withdrew prior to the meeting. c. Jessica Breckenridge re Munster Elementary School EFI Study (4 minutes) Jessica Breckenridge, speaking as the Munster Community Association representative on the working group, expressed her support for Option A to bring Early French Immersion (EFI) to Munster Elementary School as a viable solution to the declining enrolment at the school. She noted that Talos Homes intends to develop a 150 home subdivision, and a number of estate lot subdivisions are planned or under construction in the area. In addition, based on her collection of data, Ms. Breckenridge submitted that staff has underestimated the demand for EFI in Munster. She submitted that parents whose children attend schools in co- terminous districts would send them to Munster Elementary School if EFI was implemented. In response to queries from Trustees Seward and Menard with respect to proposed development in the area, Ms. Breckenridge advised that she has discussed this issue with City Councillor Scott Moffatt and provided correspondence from Talos Homes to Trustee Scott. Talos Homes owns land in the area and they have indicated that they are ready to begin discussions with the City of Ottawa regarding servicing the site. d. Norm Gibson re Munster Elementary School EFI Study (4 minutes) Norm Gibson, member of the Munster Community Association and parent, suggested that Option A, to bring Early French Immersion (EFI) to Munster Elementary School, be implemented for two years. He noted that this would provide time to determine EFI interest in the area and to generate actual enrolment numbers and costs upon which to base a decision to close the school. Mr. Gibson drew attention to the provincial mandate of consolidating schools and for co-terminous school boards to work together. e. Laura Rupert re Munster Elementary School EFI Study (4 minutes) Laura Rupert expressed her support for Option A, to bring Early French Immersion (EFI) to Munster Elementary School. She submitted that declining enrolment at the school may, in part, be attributed to parent dissatisfaction with the way the school has operated in the past. A number of parents withdrew their children from the school and District, and Ms. Rupert suggested that Board members look further into the reasons why enrolment declined. She suggested Report 4, Committee of the Whole - 4 - 20 January 2015 (Public) that EFI be implemented for three years to provide time to determine EFI interest in the area and allow time for enrolment to grow. f. Jessica White re Munster Elementary School EFI Study (4 minutes) Jessica White expressed the view that declining enrolment at the school may, in part, be attributed to parent dissatisfaction with the way the school has operated in the past. She submitted that a lack of an EFI program at the school is not the only reason why students have left Munster Elementary School, and suggested that the Board explore all options.

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