ALGONQUIN AND LAKESHORE CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 at 6:30 PM BOARD OFFICE, NAPANEE, ONTARIO
A.
(i)
Opening Prayer: Trustee Speagle led the Board in an Opening Prayer.
(ii)
Roll Call: Trustees:
Administration:
G. Speagle, Vice Chair J. Brisbois T. Dall R. Doyle J. Kennelly B. Kerby W. Procter C. Rashotte, Student Trustee K. Turkington
M. Schmitt, Director of Education M. Bullock, Superintendent of School Effectiveness J. Fisher, Superintendent of School Effectiveness J. DiRocco, Superintendent of School Effectiveness L. Wallace, Superintendent of School Effectiveness T. Slack, Assistant Superintendent of School Effectiveness T. Kennedy, Assistant Superintendent of School Effectiveness M. Lamarche, Manager, Human Resources E. Pennell, Manager, Financial Services D. Campbell, Controller of Plant & Planning Services M. Weaver, Communications Officer
All trustees and administration were present, with the exception of Trustee Garrah, Trustee Shea and Mr. Koubsky, who sent their regrets. (iii)
Approval of Agenda: MOVER: Trustee Doyle
SECONDER: Trustee Kennelly
THAT the Agenda be approved as presented. CARRIED. (iv)
Declarations of Interest: None.
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B.
1.
Motion to Move to Committee of the Whole Board in Private Session: MOVER: Trustee Dall
SECONDER: Trustee Turkington
THAT approval be given to move to Committee of the Whole Board in Private Session. CARRIED. 2.
Motion to Reconvene the Regular Meeting and Approval of the Resolutions of the Committee of the Whole Board in Private Session: MOVER: Trustee Kerby
SECONDER: Trustee Turkington
THAT approval be given to reconvene the Regular Meeting and approval of the resolutions of the Committee of the Whole Board in Private Session. CARRIED. C.
Actions Items: 1.
Prayer: Trustee Doyle led the Board in the opening prayer, “Being the Light to Others”, with special intentions for Peter Brisbois, brother to John Brisbois, who is feeling better as a result of the many prayers dedicated to him.
2.
Welcome to Visitors and Press: Trustee Speagle welcomed Bronek Korczynski, Coordinator – Religious and Family Life Education; Ann Boniferro, Special Assignment Teacher – Religious Education; Anna Coe, Special Assignment Teacher – Experiential Learning, Secondary; Mr. Tim Buckley, teacher in the Hospitality and Tourism Department and students Chantal King and Brad Garrow from St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School; the elementary and secondary students, who were among the winners of the Virtues Posters competition, their families, teachers, Principals and Vice-Principals; and Mr. Kyle Perry from Starboard Communications Ltd. (95.5 & 100.1 Radio).
3.
Presentations: (a)
Non-Staff: (i)
Presentation to the Winners of the Virtues Posters Competition: Mr. Korczynski stated that the Board‟s Catholic Education Week Committee (2009) embarked on a special project in response to the Ontario Catholic Bishops‟ call to “rediscover” the relevance of the Virtues in the character development of our students. Teachers were invited to involve students from JK to Grade 12 to create visual interpretations of the three Theological and four Cardinal Virtues. An overwhelming 800 pieces of art were received and from these, 14 finalists were selected; seven from the Primary/Junior Division, and seven from the Intermediate/Senior Division. The posters, comprised of the winning entries, have now been received at school sites and hang in the classrooms and hallways throughout the system. The winners of the competition were celebrated and recognized for their creative initiative in this project, each receiving a certificate of recognition and a personal copy of the Virtues Poster, and their schools received a gift from the Director of Education. Mr. Schmitt thanked the
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students and school staffs on behalf of the Board of Trustees for their contribution to our Board‟s Catholic Character and Culture development and the distinctiveness of our Catholic education. Mr. Korczynski offered a presentation of “Our Language, Our Story”, a web-based resource, created through the support of the EOCCC and the Ministry of Education to assist Catholic school communities to integrate the Virtues across the curriculum and into their Character Development initiatives by linking attitudes and behaviours to the Virtues. (b)
Staff: (i)
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), A Program for Secondary School Students: Mrs. Wallace was pleased to report that the participation in the Specialist High Skills Major programs in our Board has increased from 18 students in 2007-2008 to 154 students in 20092010. These programs were introduced in Ontario in 2006-2007 as part of the Student Success Strategy, which focuses on expanding quality learning opportunities and supporting success for all students. The career-focused programs are designed to help students transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace, while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). She introduced Anna Coe, Special Assignment Teacher – Experiential Learning, Secondary, who presented an overview of the Transportation program, currently being offered at the Sir James Whitney School in Belleville, and filmed by Loyalist College, both partners in the Specialist High Skills Major programs with our Board. Ms. Coe introduced Brad Garrow and Chantal King, Grade 11 and 12 Students from St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School, who spoke about their experiences in the Information and Communications Technology SHSM program and the Hospitality and Tourism SHSM program.
4.
Reflection on System Mission Statement – Trustee Ray Doyle:
We are committed to excellence in Catholic education and to lifelong learning, so that those with whom we journey may become caring and contributing citizens in a world of constant challenge. Trustee Doyle remarked that the presentations enjoyed by the Board of Trustees this evening show the huge avenues that are open to students in our Board. The confidence of the two students who spoke about their participation in the Specialist High Skills Major programs is evident and the overwhelming response to the call for the Virtues Posters artwork is indicative of our system‟s commitment to life long learning. We should draw on the words of St. Paul, when he declared that the greatest virtue is that of Love. A recent article in the Catholic Register, by Msgr. O‟Neill, discusses our world of constant change, turbulence and challenges, particularly in the eastern provinces, and bids us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” and to declare that, “I will live my life like Jesus”. 5.
(a)
Approval of Board Meeting Minutes and Associated Recommendations: (i)
Board Meeting of September 22, 2009: MOVER: Trustee Dall
SECONDER: Trustee Turkington
THAT approval be given to the Minutes and Associated Recommendations of the Board Meeting of September 22, 2009. CARRIED.
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(b)
Approval of Committee Meeting Minutes and Associated Recommendations: (i)
Finance and Operations Committee Meeting of October 13, 2009: MOVER: Trustee Doyle
SECONDER: Trustee Brisbois
THAT approval be given to the Minutes and Associated Recommendations of the Finance and Operations Committee Meeting of October 13, 2009. CARRIED. (ii)
Issues and Directions Committee Meeting of October 13, 2009: MOVER: Trustee Kerby
SECONDER: Trustee Kennelly
THAT approval be given to the Minutes and Associated Recommendations of the Issues and Directions Committee Meeting of October 13, 2009. CARRIED. 6.
Business Arising Out of the Minutes: None.
7.
New Business: (a)
Educational Programs/Services: (i)
Catholic School Council Association: Dr. Bullock indicated that the new format for calling meetings of the Catholic School Council Association in the east and west sectors continues to draw good attendance. The meetings held on October 20, 2009 at Mother Teresa Catholic School and on October 21, 2009 at Georges Vanier Catholic School previewed the new resource, “Catholic Education: Enriching the Conversation”, which was presented by Bronek Korczynski, Coordinator – Religious and Family Life Education. Additionally, Mr. Schmitt provided an update from the Board‟s Catholic Education Foundation at the meeting. A discussion regarding how to run a good Catholic School Council followed. The next Catholic School Council Association meetings will take place on January 19, 2010 in Kingston and January 20, 2010 in Belleville.
(ii)
Catholic Leadership Services Workshops/Strategies: Mrs. Fisher provided Trustees with copies of “Succession Planning – Executive Summary”, ALCDSB Catholic Leadership Services brochures, “Leaders on the Journey”, “Building a Culture of Leadership”, and “Leading and Learning: An „Intern‟ Approach”. The Ministry has created the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), a representative group that has been tasked with leading and supporting succession planning and talent development in education in boards. In response to the work of the IEL, our Board has enhanced its focus on leadership development by establishing a team of administrators who meet regularly to discuss and advise on leadership development and recruitment by revitalizing “Catholic Leadership Services” and
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by actively participating in the IEL initiatives. ALCDSB was one of the pilot boards in the IEL‟s three year plan to support and guide leadership development and is now recognized as a provincial leader in “Mentoring for Newly Appointed Leaders”, a strategy that enables principals and vice-principals to learn with and from each other. (iii)
Parents Reaching Out Grant Opportunities: Mrs. Fisher remarked that the Ministry‟s Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants are intended to support school-based initiatives to reach parents who face barriers in their efforts to become involved in their children‟s education. These grants are in addition to funding that is provided at both school and board levels to support the activities of the Catholic School Council Association and Catholic School Councils. In our Board, five schools applied for additional funds to support “Family Literacy Calendar” (Holy Name Catholic School), “Snuggle Up and Read” (St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School), “Parent Resource Centre” (Sacred Heart Catholic School, Marmora), “Be Amazed – Family Science” (Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School), and “Improving Communication” (St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School). Mrs. Fisher noted that these initiatives have been very successful in involving parents, students, and partners in the broader community to become engaged and to actively participate in their children‟s education.
(b)
Human Resources: (i)
Enrolment and Staffing Update: Mrs. Lamarche indicated that, annually, administration provides the Board of Trustees with a summary of enrolment and staffing. Based on data collected from schools during the first two weeks of September, elementary enrolment figures show a decline of 126 FTE students from the 2008-2009 school year, and secondary enrolment figures show a decline of 17 FTE students from the 2008-2009 school year. Staffing adjustments were made as a result of enrolment shifts and the final statistics were submitted to the Ministry. Our Board is compliant to 92% in accordance with the Ministry‟s requirements, with the average Primary Class Size at 18.1 and the average Junior/Intermediate Class Size at 24.66. Secondary statistics will be reviewed after October 31, 2009.
(c)
Other: None.
(d)
OCSTA Update: None.
8.
Items of Information: (i)
The Newsroom: This item was presented for information.
(ii)
Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of September 21, 2009 and October 19, 2009: This item was presented for information.
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9.
Pending Items: None.
10.
Correspondence: None.
11.
Chair‟s Report: No report was presented.
12.
Director‟s Report: Mr. Schmitt reminded Trustees that the OCSTA AGM and Conference will take place on April 29, 2009 in Thunder Bay, Ontario and encouraged early bookings for flights. The H1N1 Flu Virus has reached eastern Ontario and the region has been hard hit. Our Board is maintaining effective and constant communication with the KFL&A and Hastings Public Health Boards, letters have been distributed to staff and to parents, and the ALCDSB H1N1 Website is active and regularly updated, as are the Websites for the local Public Health Boards. Mr. Schmitt advised that our Board‟s focus is around prevention and control and accordingly, cleaning protocols at all sites have been updated to reflect the current situation, staff and students are instructed on proper hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and advised to remain at home if they experience flu-like symptoms. Schools have been directed to inform parents if the 10% absentee threshold (for flu illness) has been reached. Mr. Schmitt took part in a number of information teleconferences with Principals this morning and he reported that school administrators are confident with the comprehensive and current information available to them.
13.
Trustee Community Linkages/Comments: Trustee Turkington attended a celebration at the Limestone District School Board to honour Tom Turcotte, custodian at St. Patrick Catholic School, who was awarded the David Perry Memorial Award for his work with and contributions to the Food Sharing Project. She encouraged Trustees to support the Christmas fundraisers at the schools and the United Way to ensure that our special needs students continue to receive support. Student Trustee Rashotte reported a successful Student Senate Meeting on October 2, 2009. Discussion focused around charity work, goals, dance events, and targeting exclusive groups and cliques in schools. He attended the OSTA-AÉCO Fall General Meeting on October 15, 2009 and enjoyed workshops relating to dealing with the media, and careers. He also attended the Awards Night at St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School on October 6, 2009, where he was the recipient of awards for Grade 10 highest academic standing in several courses, the Honour Roll and the Certificate of Distinction for a 90% + average. Trustee Brisbois announced that the Quinte Children‟s Water Festival will take place at Centennial Park in Quinte West on May 26 and 27, 2010. The activity centres at the festival will focus on water conservation, protection and attitudes for elementary and secondary students. He also had information on a Coop Program that the Niagara Catholic District School Board was offering students, where they were immersed for three months in the culture of Guatemala. He asked if administration would contact the Niagara Catholic District School Board to discuss their views on the benefits and/or pitfalls of the program. Trustee Dall suggested that the Reflection on the System Mission Statement be moved on the Board Agenda, so that if falls directly after the Prayer. This would allow guests to share in the message.
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Trustee Doyle acknowledged the commitment of Board and school staff in consistently achieving Ministry requirements for programming and for attending this evening‟s presentations and supporting the students who were recognized. Trustee Kennelly announced that the Food For Learning Silent Auction will take place on April 22, 2010 at St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School. This event is a major fundraiser for the breakfast and lunch programs at schools, which are in greater demand each year. He enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with the students at St. Mary Catholic School (Read) on October 7th. Trustee Speagle attended the annual Thanksgiving Dinner that was prepared by the St. Gregory Catholic School community. Parents, grandparents, school bus drivers, staff, and many community partners participated in this event, along with the 240 students. With regards to the current H1N1 situation, he suggested that, as the Board looks at new school construction and renovation, design elements include washrooms that have angled entrances instead of doors that need to be opened and closed by hand. 14.
Adjournment: MOVER: Trustee Brisbois
SECONDER: Trustee Turkington
THAT the Board approve adjourning the meeting at 8:15 p.m. CARRIED.
_______________________________ W. Garrah, Board Chair
_________________________________ M. Schmitt, Director of Education and Secretary of the Board
Elsa Swain Recording Secretary Board Meeting (Public) – October 27, 2009
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