(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).
Student Trustee Update
Over the course of the 2016-2017 school year the Student Senate made great progress in terms of contributing to the OCDSB Strategic Plan pillars of Engagement and Equity.The senate welcomed incoming Student Trustee Rita Ramotar, as well as a new group of energetic Student Senators.
Both the Student Senate and Student President’s Council worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of, and unify the students of the OCDSB. This year the Student President’s Council made it their goal to bring students together, from all schools in the district, in the hopes of creating a fun, and inviting way, to network with other secondary students.
The Student President’s Council was able to provide invaluable professional development to the Student Presidents’ across the district, as well as target Environmental Stewardship as their area of focus. The Student President’s Council planned and executed an initiative for Earth Day 2017 where each secondary school in the district participated in an Environmental Awareness Kahoot.
Student Trustees Mihan and MacDonald continue to be involved in student voice at a provincial level with the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association. Over the last six months, OSTA-AECO has brought together nearly all student trustees in the province, been consulted on policy and met with several key stakeholders within Ontario’s education system.
Student Trustee Mihan will be attending Queen’s University this September. Student Trustee MacDonald will begin his second term as an OCDSB Student Trustee. The Student Trustee-elect is Rita Ramotar of West-Carleton Secondary School. Student
Trustee-elect Ramotar is entering her grade twelve year and has had prior experience on students’ council and student senate.
You can find the detailed Student Trustees report at http://www.ocdsb.ca/calendar/AGENDA%20DOCS/2017%20DOCS/June%202017/26%20June%202017%20Board/03%20StudentTrusteeReportJune2017%20REV.pdf
Public Motions
Report 23, Committee of the Whole, 06 June 2017
Approval of Student Learning and Multi-Year Plan and Timelines for Alta Vista/Hunt Club Area Review
Director of Education,Jennifer Adams advised Trustees that given the rural engagements and the on-going discussions with Ministry staff on the issues at play, it appears more and more likely the changes may arise to the PARG both for rural schools and fro the broader PAR process.
If this is the case, this will most likely affect the timelines and requirements related to the OCDSB Multi-Year Plan and more immediately the proposed timelines for the Alta Vista/Hunt Club accommodation review. As such staff is recommending that the motion relating to the
multi-year plan and the timelines for the Alta Vista/Hunt Club review be delayed until more information becomes available.
Trustees referred the motion to staff until further information is available.
Approval of Short Term Borrowing
Trustees approved the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Borrowing Resolution. The increase to the line of credit from $70 million to $90 million will address the fact that significant incremental operating costs and funding enhancements are expected next year as detailed in the 2017-2018 Budget. Trustees felt it was prudent to permit greater borrowing permissions as unexpected financial situations can arise. The City and the Province remit monies from various grants, taxes, and development charges and the timing of remittance does not always coincide with the District’s payroll and financial obligations.
Report 17-059, Revisions to Policy P.017.GOV: Student Trustees and Policy P.113.GOV: Student Senate
Trustees voted to approve changes to the Student Trustees Policy that encourages the re-election of student trustees to a second term; as well Student Trustees were authorized to co-author a letter with the Chair of the Board to the Minister of Education to encourage changes to provincial legislation to allow school boards the option of creating two-year student trustee terms of office.
The current Student Trustees indicated there support for student trustees serving a second term.
The meeting ended at 8:53 p.m.