Chair of the Board 59. Approval of Agenda
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MINUTES 29 March 2016 A meeting of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board was held this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, Ontario, commencing at 6:38 p.m. with Trustee Shirley Seward as chair and the following also in attendance: Trustees Donna Blackburn, Christine Boothby, Erica Braunovan, Mark Fisher, Theresa Kavanagh, Shawn Menard, Dr. Anita Olsen Harper, Keith Penny, Sandra Schwartz, and Lynn Scott. STUDENT TRUSTEES: Kayvon Mihan and Ella Stewart. STAFF: Director of Education, Jennifer Adams; Associate Director of Education, Norah Marsh; Chief Financial Officer, Mike Carson; Superintendent of Human Resources, Janice McCoy; Superintendent of Curriculum Services, Pino Buffone; Superintendent of Learning Support Services, Olga Grigoriev; Superintendents of Instruction, Dorothy Baker and Neil Yorke-Slader; Executive Officer, Corporate Services, Michèle Giroux; Manager of Planning, Karyn Carty Ostafichuk; Manager of Board Services, Monica Ceschia; Manager of Communications & Information Services, Diane Pernari-Hergert; Assistant Manager of Planning, Ian Baxter; Coordinator of Budget Services, Charles D’Aoust; Planner, Janet MacDonald; Communications Coordinator, Sharlene Hunter; Audio Visual Technician, John MacKinnon; and Board/Committee Coordinator, Kelly Sullivan. On a motion by Trustee Blackburn, seconded by Trustee Braunovan, the Board resolved into an in camera session. Trustee Boothby assumed the Chair in camera and presented the report in the public session. (Board Minutes 16-060 refers). 58. Call to Order – Chair of the Board Chair Seward called the public meeting to order at 7:53 p.m. 59. Approval of Agenda Moved by Trustee Schwartz, seconded by Trustee Fisher, THAT the agenda be approved. An amendment moved by Trustee Menard, seconded by Trustee Boothby, THAT item 8e, Notice of Motion re Reconsideration of Decision to Redirect JK and SK Students from Elgin Street Public School to Centennial Public School commencing in September 2016, be moved to agenda item 8d. - 78 - MINUTES 29 March 2016 Trustee Menard expressed the view that, as there a number of members of the public in the gallery, the motion to reconsider should be scheduled ahead of the items for non-consent. An amendment moved by Trustee Menard, seconded by Trustee Boothby, THAT item 8e, Notice of Motion re Reconsideration of Decision to Redirect JK and SK Students from Elgin Street Public School to Centennial Public School commencing in September 2016, be moved to agenda item 8d. - Carried - Moved by Trustee Schwartz, seconded by Trustee Fisher, THAT the agenda be approved, as amended. - Carried - 60. Report from In Camera Session Vice-Chair Boothby reported that the Board met in camera this evening and recommends as follows: a. Human Resources Item Moved by Trustee Blackburn, seconded by Trustee Boothby, THAT staff proceed, as directed in Board in camera, with respect to the renewal of OCDSB benefits plans. - Carried - A recorded vote was held and the motion was carried unanimously by those present: FOR: Trustees Blackburn, Boothby, (11) Braunovan, Fisher, Kavanagh, Menard, Olsen Harper, Penny, Schwartz, Scott, and Seward AGAINST: Nil (0) ABSTENTION: Nil (0) (0) b. Report 16-054, Ratification of Local Agreement with Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation – Professional Educators and Child Care Staff (PECCS) Moved by Trustee Blackburn, seconded by Trustee Boothby, THAT the Board ratify the tentative Memorandum of Settlement reached with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation – Professional Educators and Child Care Staff February 22, 2016. - Carried - - 79 - MINUTES 29 March 2016 A recorded vote was held and the motion was carried unanimously by those present: FOR: Trustees Blackburn, Boothby, (11) Braunovan, Fisher, Kavanagh, Menard, Olsen Harper, Penny, Schwartz, Scott, and Seward AGAINST: Nil (0) ABSTENTION: Nil (0) (0) 61. Briefing from the Chair Chair Seward reminded trustees that nominations are now open for the OCDSB community recognition awards to acknowledge the contribution of volunteers, including school council members, parent and community volunteers, who have coached teams, led clubs or activity groups, been members of advisory committees to the Board and more. She noted that the 2016 awards will be presented at the Volunteer Appreciation Reception and Community Awards Ceremony on 08 June 2016 at the Confederation Education Centre. All nominations must be submitted using the online application form available on the District’s website by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday 04 May 2016. 62. Briefing from the Director Director Adams advised that DJ Cunningham will be presenting his personal experience with a learning disability and how assistive technology in the classroom can support all students at the next Speaker Series event on 07 April 2016. More information about the session “Inspire and Motivate Learners to Develop Resiliency and Advocacy Skills through Technology”, including a video interview with Mr. Cunningham, is available on the District’s website. Director Adams noted that the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) has been working on a School Active Transportation Program (SAT) to support the more than 50,000 students who walk, bike and roll to school every day. This policy is scheduled to be presented at OSTA's next public governance meeting on 25 April 2016. She added that delegations may also be heard at this time and OSTA would like input from the public, including via their survey which can be found on their website. Director Adams advised that the Ministry of Education posted a technical briefing video on its website on 24 March 2016 to provide an overview of changes and technical details on the Grants for Student Needs (GSN). A copy of the Ministry memorandum on the GSNs is provided on folio 1 of the agenda package. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Carson provided trustees with an overview of the GSN. During discussion, and in response to questions, the following points were noted: There is an overall increase in funding per student across the province; - 80 - MINUTES 29 March 2016 The overall funding for the OCDSB may be reduced by approximately one percent; The reduction in funding is a result of declining enrolment and revisions to the funding model, specifically for facilities; Staff are still recommending the projected required reduction of $7.5 million in spending after this funding announcement; While there has been an increase in per pupil funding, this increase may not cover all of the rising costs in other areas; and It is still unclear how much of the final costs of the collective agreements will be paid by the Ministry. Director Adams shared memo 16-065 regarding the motion to relocate JK and SK students from Elgin Street Public School to Centennial Public School, which includes updated information based upon a legal opinion. 63. Student Trustee Report Student Trustees Stewart and Mihan provided the Board with the following report: The main focus of the 2015-2016 Student Senate has been on developing a presentation for the Grade 10 civics classes on student services and student government; The Student Senators have demonstrated a clear passion for well-being and strongly believe that there is a lack of knowledge from the students on available student services, particularly those for well-being; The senators believe that the information will be best absorbed by the students if it is delivered in a presentation by their fellow students; The outline for the presentation is currently being finalized and the soon to be elected student senators will be informed on how to deliver the presentation for the 2016-2017school year. In response to a request from Trustee Menard, the presentation will also be shared with trustees, when available; Student senator and trustee elections for the 2016-2017school year will be coming soon. Students going into grades 10,11 or 12 may run for the Student Senator position at their respective schools; Should elected Student Senators wish to run for the position of a Student Trustee for the upcoming school year, they must be elected by April 15th and be entering either grades 11 or 12; The Student Trustee elections will be taking place on Thursday April 28th, 2016 at Ridgemont High School and the student electorate will consist of the incumbent Student Senators and Students Council Presidents; The Public Board Council of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association recently hosted a student consultation on mental health supports in schools on 18 February known as the Ontario Public Students’ Wellness Summit at the Shaw Centre; - 81 - MINUTES 29 March 2016 The event was a success with a large turnout of students from across the District in attendance, as well as student trustees from across the province; A paper will be submitted to the Ministry of Education outlining all of the student feedback on mental health in the education system to follow up from the summit; Student Trustee Mihan currently sits as a member of the Policy Committee, which is a committee that aids in the release of position papers, in addition to working towards achieving the key goals of the organization; Student Trustee Stewart is the co-chair of the Ontario Student Voice Awards Committee which has worked hard to create and finalize applications for four awards this year; and The Annual General Meeting will be taking place 26-29 May at the Sheraton City Centre in Toronto. All incoming and outgoing student trustees are in attendance to ease the transition process, as