OCSTA Newswire November 20, 2009

November 20, 2009

Full-Day Early Learning

The first phase of Ontario's recently announced plan for a province-wide Early Learning Program (ELP) is the implementation of full-day early learning for four- and five- year olds.

The government has committed $200M in 2010-11 to support the first year of full-day early learning for up to 35,000 children (4-5 year olds) or 15% of the JK/SK population in the province. This investment will grow to $300M in 2011-12 to expand to approximately 20% of the JK/SK population.

The Ministry memo (2009:B12) outlining the the government's plans for funding this initiative was sent to all boards on October 27th.

On November 10, OCSTA officials met with Jim Grieve, the newly appointed Assistant Deputy Minister for the Early Years Division (Ministry of Education) to discuss concerns around resources and timelines to support ELP's implementation.

The discussion was helpful and the Association further learned that start-up costs associated with this initiative have been incorporated into the 2010 per pupil allocation for JK/SK.

Jim Grieve has been invited to discuss the provinces Early Learning Program in greater depth with OCSTA members during the Association's upcoming Seminar for Chairs, Vice Chairs and Directors of Education (see below).

For more information, please contact Carol Devine, Director, Legislative and Political Affairs - cdevine@ocsta.on.ca / (416) 932-9460, ext. 224.

Seminar for Chairs, Vice Chairs and Directors of Education

All OCSTA member boards are reminded to submit their registrations as soon as possible for the Annual Seminar for Chairs, Vice Chairs and Directors of Education taking place January 15-16, 2010 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel - Toronto Airport. Please note that the Seminar Program and registration information can be downloaded directly from the OCSTA website by clicking on the following link:

http://www.ocsta.on.ca/page54694332.aspx

Program Highlights:

Key Note Speakers:

Paula Peroni, President, OCSTA

Fr. Norm Roberts, Dufferin-Peel CDSB
Fr. Roberts will be discussing the Seminar theme: "Forward Together in Hope"

Minister of Education, The Hon. Kathleen Wynne

Deputy Minister, Mr. Kevin Costante

Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years Division (Ministry of Education), Jim Grieve

Come Grow With Us: Welcoming Families to Catholic Education at the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board - A presentation by the Simcoe Muskoka CDSB on a recently launched outreach program

An Examination and Discussion of Bill 177 - An Act to Amend the Education Act with respect to Student Achievement, School Board Governance and Certain Other Matters

Leona Hobbs, Social Media Group - OCSTA Social Media Strategy and Resources for Catholic School Boards

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Available to the General Public

On November 18, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced that Ontario's H1N1 flu immunization program will be open to all Ontarians regardless of age or medical condition.

Please visit the following Government of Ontario website for more information:

www.news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/11/province-calls-upon-all-ontarians-to-get-their-h1n1-flu-shot.html

Friars' Student Writing Award

Encouraging Christin Unity and Recognizing

Student Achievement in Faith-based Writing

From the Catholic Register:

The Catholic Register is proud to join with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement to sponsor a writing contest for Ontario Catholic high school students.

The Contest:
Students are invited to submit a short essay based on a question related to the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The upcoming week of prayer (Jan. 24 - 31) will have the theme: You are the witnesses to these things (Luke 24:48). The question students are asked to contemplate is: What is God calling us as Christians to do in this Scripture verse?

The essays, up to 500 words, will be judged by a panel of professional journalists.

PRIZES:
1st place - iPod touch, 32GB memory; 2nd place - iPod nano, 16GB memory; 3rd place - One year subscription to The Catholic Register.

Eligibility: For students aged 14-18 attending an Ontario secondary school.
Entry deadline: January 11, 2010. Winners will be announced later that month.
To enter: Essays must include student name, age, address, telephone number, school and grad. Send essays by:

Mail: The Catholic Register, 1155 Yonge St., Suite 401, Toronto, ON, M4T 1W2

Fax: 416-934-3409

email: editor@catholicregister.org

For more information please call: (416) 934-3400 (ext. 344) or (416) 934-3410

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Catholic Education Week

The Catholic Education Week Advance Kit has been distributed to all Catholic school boards. Contained in this kit are prayers and reflections designed to help our Catholic community to prepare for the celebration of this year's Catholic Education Week theme: Rejoicing in Hope.

For your convenience these prayers and reflections can be downloaded from this website at the following location:

http://www.ocsta.on.ca/CatholicEducationWeek.aspx

OCSTA in the News

Toronto Star
Parents should vote on Catholic board chair, trustee says

November 16, 2009

Kristin Rushowy

EDUCATION REPORTER

A Toronto Catholic trustee says parents - not he and his colleagues - should choose the board's new chair in December.

Rob Davis is appealing to the provincial supervisor, who runs the Toronto Catholic District School Board, to allow parents to somehow vote on the issue rather than leave it up to trustees, who are yet again facing trouble as two are accused of conflict of interest.

He says parishes, even student councils at high schools, could be included.

"The potential for a smooth and non-controversial election for chair and vice-chair does not bode well," Davis says in a memo to provincial supervisor Richard Alway and fellow trustees sent Monday.

Davis notes that the last time trustees voted in a chair last January, there was animosity amongst some trustees as well as an ongoing court case alleging conflict of interest launched against trustee Oliver Carroll for which some board members and staff provided affidavits on both sides.

"The last time the trustees voted for the chair and vice-chair positions the ensuing bad media from the divisive nature of the process was a setback" for the board, says Davis' memo.

"The process was divisive in part because of ongoing legal action commenced by a ratepayer against one trustee..... Unfortunately the similar conditions exist as we fast approach the annual election of chair and vice-chair," with conflict of interest cases launched against current Chair Angela Kennedy and veteran Trustee Barbara Poplawski.

Alway is out of town and could not be reached for comment.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education said it is not aware of parents ever electing a chair, but notes the Education Act requires trustees to hold such a vote at their first meeting in December.

Davis, however, said he is not married to any one method - trustees could even vote to endorse whomever ratepayers had chosen.

He came up with the idea at a parent conference on the weekend, and after Alway had asked for some input on electing a new chair.

"It came to me like a lightning bolt.....that we empower parent groups to make the decision," said Davis, adding it could be done through a direct vote, or by having parent councils at schools send a designate to vote on candidates. Student councils at high schools could also participate, he added.

Because the board is under provincial supervision after failing to balance its budget and a number of spending scandals, "in our very unusual state of limbo I thought we could try something new.....and help (parents) take back their boardroom," Davis added.

"I think this helps us back on the road to restoring faith into the institution."

Davis, who will not run for chair, says all trustees would have to consent to allowing parents to make the decision. He doesn't think there would be any major costs to such a move.

"I am hopeful that you will give full consideration to the idea of engaging our ratepayers, parishes, parents, and students in a manner the likes of which has never been done at the TCDSB," Davis' memo also says. "To be certain it would be uncharted waters. With good faith on the part of all trustees I believe we can not only avoid the waiting icebergs, but navigate to safer more calm waters in a way that re-establishes our reputation for innovation, responsiveness, and accountability."

Paula Peroni, president of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association, said the opportunity is already there for trustees to consult with parents before voting. She wasn't sure how much traction Davis' idea will have.

"The opportunity is there if they want to (consult)," she said, adding the current system of trustees electing a chair - their leader - has been in place for years.

thestar.com