THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2020/21 Our Mission Inspired by the Gospel, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association provides the provincial voice, leadership and service for elected Catholic school trustees to promote and protect publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario. Our Vision Ontario is enriched by a publicly funded Catholic education system governed by locally elected Catholic school trustees who serve with faith, commitment and compassion. Patrick J. Daly Nick Milanetti President Executive Director Message from the President “In an age which seems more fearful of the future, we are directed to give an account of the hope that is within us.” This Moment of Promise, 1989 Last March, Catholic schools together with the rest of our Province, experienced the first lockdown as a result of the global pandemic. The onset and rapid spread of the virus was not something that Catholic or other school systems could have adequately prepared for. Despite the great uncertainty and countless complex challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic, we have witnessed exceptional goodness and resiliency in response to the pandemic. As encouraged by the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario in their 1989 Pastoral Letter “This Moment of Promise” publicly funded Catholic school systems throughout Ontario have indeed “given an account of the hope that is within us.” As people of faith, we know that this hope flows from and is centred on the person of Jesus Christ. With each interpretation, description and adjustment, Catholic School Trustees, system and school leaders, teachers and support staff in every position have risen to the challenge. They (you) have worked heroically to place priority on the health and safety and well-being of students and staff and to ensure continuity of quality faith based Catholic education. On behalf of the OCSTA Board of Directors I would like to commend each of you and the staff in your school system for your faith-filled and selfless service. I would as well like to recognize and extend our appreciation to our students, parents and parish communities for their understanding support throughout these unprecedented times. Over the past year, the OCSTA has maintained close communications with the Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister and Ministry staff to ensure our knowledge of board concerns and priorities were effectively communicated and used to inform the development of provincial policies and provision of funding necessary to support continuity of learning for all of Ontario’s students. These collective efforts have had a positive impact that served to support Catholic school boards in establishing innovative systems to support the delivery of Catholic education to students in various and unique circumstances across Ontario. P a g e | 1 Slide from the Dufferin-Peel CDSB Online Learning Presentation Advocacy A significant aspect of OCSTA’s advocacy throughout the year was the emphasis on ensuring adequate and flexible funding to address necessary health and safety protocols, and the costs associated with implementing significant program changes. We were pleased to acknowledge that various funding announcements throughout the year directly responded to the priorities put forward by Catholic school boards and the OCSTA. These additional resources assist Catholic school boards to: • Address the increased demand for mental health and related supports for students and staff; • Close learning gaps among students; • Supply of Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE); • Enhance remote learning for all students participating in this format through the provision of electronic devices and improved broadband access; • Improve ventilation and necessary capital improvements in schools to support health and safety protocols; • Support the well-being of students and staff; • Expand asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in schools, and; • Improve student transportation services and health and safety protocols on buses. Professional Development Throughout this past year we have placed priority on providing timely and helpful professional development and faith formation opportunities for Catholic School Trustees. Last fall we hosted a media spokesperson seminar for Catholic school board Chairs, who typically serve as media spokespersons on behalf of their board. Established media trainer Irene Bakaric of MediaPrep delivered a session that highlighted best practices for boards to consider when preparing for media interviews and working with the media to raise the profile on board initiatives and to clarify board actions and plans regarding Catholic education. Trustee feedback on this presentation and the resources provided was very positive and many participants appreciated the timeliness and relevance of the presentation. Launched in celebration of our 90th Anniversary and continuing into 2021 is the OCSTA evening speaker series program. Throughout the year speakers have been selected that can discuss topical issues, provide timely and expert information or lead us in prayer and reflection to deepen our faith. Our sessions to date: • “Isolated but Not Alone: Reflections on Catholic Education and in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic” presented by author and historian Dr. Mark McGowan • “An Advent Evening of Reflection” with His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto • “Student Mental Health and Well-being During the Pandemic: Considerations for Catholic School Board Leaders” presented by: P a g e | 2 o Theresa Kennedy, Co-Director of School Mental Health Ontario and Supervisory Officer on Secondment from the Algonquin and Lakeshore CDSB; o Dr. Susan Sweet, Clinical Psychologist and former Mental Health Lead from the Dufferin-Peel CDSB, and; o Mya, Durham CDSB student with the THRIVE-School Mental Health Student Reference Group OCSTA Annual General Meeting and Conference Last year was historic for many reasons but of particular importance to Catholic education was the 90th Anniversary of OCSTA. Due to pandemic restrictions on gatherings, we were unable to follow through with our planned 90th Annual General Meeting and Conference in Ottawa. The cancellation of that event did not, however, stop us from acknowledging this significant milestone in the advocacy of publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario. The Annual General Meeting was rescheduled and hosted virtually in June. Using the Zoom videoconferencing platform, we realized almost 100% attendance and took the opportunity to acknowledge the significance of our gathering 90 years after that first hopeful gathering in 1930, when a small group of Catholic Trustees decided to form a provincial organization. Our predecessors recognized that the unity of Catholic School Trustees and the boards they serve on was crucial to the protection and promotion of publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario. That commitment to co-operation, solidarity and unity remains today and has led to the outstanding Catholic school system we enjoy in Ontario. Throughout 2020 and into 2021 we have maintained our membership meeting schedule, and while nothing is more effective for advocacy work than meeting in person, we have continued to effectively address the issues before us through virtual presentations and interactive discussions. Our Catholic faith prepares us well for the joys and the challenges on our journey. As we look back on 2020, our Catholic Education Week theme “Igniting Hope” could not have been more timely or relevant for our Catholic school communities as they sacrificed so much for the students entrusted to their care. I commend and applaud each of you for generously responding to God’s “call to serve as Catholic School Trustees.” I pray that Our Lord Jesus Christ showers you and the Catholic school systems you serve/lead with all of His blessings. Yours truly, Patrick J. Daly President P a g e | 3 • Marit Stiles, Education Critic, NDP Political Advocacy and • Kathleen Wynne, Education Critic, Partnerships Liberal Party of Ontario • Steven Del Duca, Leader, Liberal Party of Ontario STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Enhance political advocacy for publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario by • Andrew Davis, Ministry of Education building positive new relationships and reinforcing • Yael Ginsler, Ministry of Education existing ones with provincial and local politicians, • Didem Proulx, Ministry of Education government officials, education partners and the • Chris Rastrick, Ministry of Education media. Through these meetings, OCSTA continues to Director of Legislative and Political Affairs: advance the policy and regulatory issues of concern Stephen Andrews to our Catholic school boards, which include: As the provincial voice for Catholic education in • Funding for COVID-19 health and safety Ontario, OCSTA advocates on behalf of all 29 management Catholic school boards. A key part of this work • E-Learning policy framework involves informing senior government officials, • Student transportation funding MPPs from all political parties, and the broader • Information technology and broadband Catholic community about the contributions, value services and priorities of Catholic school boards across • Special education, student mental health Ontario. funding and programs for students with autism Since the election of the Progressive Conservative • School board autonomy and flexibility government in June 2018, OCSTA developed and • Capital funding and benchmark costs implemented a comprehensive government relations • Cybersecurity strategy to articulate and advance