Boardroom Newsbrief – March 27, 2018

(The Newsbrief is meant to provide the highlights of the decisions made at the Board meeting for the benefit of our community. The notes do not serve as the official record of the meeting. Please refer to Board or Committee minutes).

Public Motions

Approval of 2018-2019 Academic Staffing

The Board approved the elementary and secondary staffing allocations for 2017-2018 subject to changes in Academic Staffing that are required (increases and decreases) as a result of fluctuations in projected enrolment to meet Ministry and collective agreement requirements. 

Trustees also approved an additional 3 kindergarten classes to be added to the academic staffing projections to increase the number of Basic Total Staff by 3 FTE and corresponding 3.0 FTE corresponding Designated Childhood Educators. In addition, 18.0 FTE teachers will also be hired to support elementary intermediate students to successfully transition to secondary school.  These new positions represent new dollars - recently allocated by province.

Overview

·         Approximately 59% of the current year’s annual operating budget is spent on academic staffing

·         The majority of teaching positions allocated each year are tied directly to the projected student enrolment and the number of classrooms required to meet class size regulations issued by the Ministry of Education

·         This year, an additional 40.5 FTE elementary positions and 10.84 FTE secondary positions were added, based on enrolment fluctuations

·         Projected enrolment for the 2018-2019 school year indicates approximately 253 more elementary students and approximately 550 more secondary students

·         Approximately 82% of positions at the elementary level and 89% of positions at the secondary level are required by contract or legislation

·         The basic classroom allocation makes up the largest number of contractual positions within each of the teaching panels

·         An increase of 32.15 FTE elementary classroom positions (including the positions required to provide preparation time) is required next year as a result of increased enrolment, which may be adjusted based on actual enrolment

·         An increase of 35.17 FTE secondary classroom positions is required for next year as a result of increased enrolment, which may be adjusted based on actual enrolment

·         Staffing required by contract or legislation is based on enrolment numbers

***Please note 3 additional kindergarten classes and corresponding staff members including teachers and educational assistances and .57 prep time were added to the budget figures above.

*** 18 FTE additional teachers to support elementary intermediate students to transition to secondary school were also approved.

The Consultation Plan for Management of School Council Funds was referred back to staff and the audit committee for further consideration of this issue in the Fall/Winter 2018-2019

Approval of Consultation Plan for Implementation of International Baccalaureate Program

The Board approved the consultation plan for the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Program (IB Program ) at Merivale High School.

The western accommodation review identified Merivale High School as the chosen site for a second IB program with a start date of September 2019. The program is to be implemented incrementally beginning with the pre-IB grade 9 program as the first cohort of students. 

OCDSB Motion for OPSBA Annual General Meeting

OPSBA recommended that the Ministry of Education with the Education Equity Secretariat, as a priority, explore and develop an action plan with the following elements:

A. An exemption, allowing preferential hiring of qualified FNMI teachers, notwithstanding Regulation 274;

B.  Allowing FNMI Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers to deliver (as paid instructors) the content of specific FNMI courses such as language, traditions, residential schools, treaties, culture and history, the Indian Act and immigration in collaboration with the classroom teachers

C. Recognizing life skills and expertise of FNMI Elders and Knowledge Keepers towards post-secondary teaching credentials, much like British Columbia and Alberta models, through their Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) programs; and

D.  Changing the pathways towards earning Ontario Teaching Certificates that recognize concepts that more faithfully reflect Indigenous traditional educational transmission processes

Appointment of Community Representative to the Special Education Advisory Committee

Sonia Campbell-Nadon was appointed to the position of Community Representative to SEAC for a term from March 27,2018 to November 30, 2018 with an option to extend the term to November 30, 2022. In the event there is a further vacancy of a community representative during the term from 27 March 27, 2018 to November 30, 2022, the selection committee shall first contact Sadia Shermeen and then Keith Jansa to confirm their interest in filling the vacancy.


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