November 3, 2010

Separate School Assessment

OCSTA representatives recently briefed officials in the offices of the Premier, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance regarding possible legislative and regulatory remedies to help correct inaccuracies in the voters’ list and assessment roll.

OCSTA strongly asserts that these inaccuracies significantly interfere with the democratic rights of voters and the democratic process itself, as well as the constitutional rights of Catholic and Francophone Ontarians.

Ensuring that this issue remains top of mind with the government is an ongoing priority for the Association. Boards will be kept updated on the government’s response and new developments as they occur.

For more information, please contact Carol Devine, Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, cdevine@ocsta.on.ca.

Trustee Professional Development Seminar
January 14-15, 2011

All trustees are encouraged to register now for the 2011 OCSTA Trustee Professional Development Seminar, January 14-15, 2011 at the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel – Toronto Airport (655 Dixon Rd.).

This annual seminar is designed to provide all trustees with an opportunity for informative and interactive professional and faith development. This year's theme is Catholic Trustees: Advocates, Guardians & Stewards of Catholic Education.

A new item on the 2011 Seminar program is the Ministry of Education’s certification course for school trustees. The full-day certification course is entitled “Essentials of Good Governance for School Boards” and is the first of three certification courses offered in the Ministry of Education’s new trustee development program.

Please note that the distinctive faith components of our January Seminar remain the same.  We will open our Seminar with Mass on Friday, January 14th, at 8:30 a.m. Sessions for that day include:

• A keynote presentation by former OCSTA and CCSTA president, Regis O’Connor. Regis will speak to this year’s theme: “Catholic Trustees: Advocates, Guardians and Stewards of Catholic Education.”
• An address by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Leona Dombrowsky
• Workshop sessions examining: School Board Communications and the Media; Current issues in Education Finance; Understanding Conflict of Interest Legislation; and Parliamentary Procedures for School Boards
• OCSTA’s President’s Report to Members

Where:	Doubletree By Hilton - Toronto Airport 655 Dixon Rd., Toronto
Who:	All Trustees, Student Trustees and Directors of Education
Hotel Rate:	Rates start at $135 per night plus applicable taxes.  Boards are asked to make room reservations directly with the hotel by calling 1-800-668-3656.  Please be sure to place the reservation under the "OCSTA" block of rooms in order to obtain our negotiated group discount rate.

Hotel Reservation Deadline: In order to secure this special rate, rooms must be booked by
December 24, 2010.

To download the OCSTA Trustee Professional Seminar program and registration form click here.

For more information about the program please contact Sharon McMillan, Coordinator
Communications & Media Relations, smcmillan@ocsta.on.ca/ (416) 932-9460 ext. 232.

Labour Relations Seminar
November 19, 2010

The Annual Labour Relations Seminar takes place in less than 3 weeks and it’s not too late to register.

For program information and registration details contact Mike McPhee, Coordinator, Labour Relations, (416) 932-9460, ext. 238 / mmcphee@ocsta.on.ca or download the Labour Relations Program and Registration Form from the OCSTA website by clicking here.

Ontario Catholic Education Symposium - Living our Legacy: Forging our Future

The Institute of Catholic Education will once again be sponsoring the Ontario Catholic Education Symposium, May 15-16, 2011 at the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel – Toronto Airport.

The purpose of the 2011 Symposium is:

• To celebrate the mission and identity of Ontario Catholic Education
• To sustain confidence and deepen commitment to publicly funded Ontario Catholic Education – English and French

The symposium will include thought provoking presentations and interactive discussions.  Keynote speakers include: His Grace, Paul-Andre Durocher, Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall; Dr. Mark McGown,  Professor and Principal, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto and Sean Conway, Former Cabinet Minister and Public Policy Advisor with Gowlings Professionals.

Attendees will include representatives from Catholic school board FACE committees, the Association of Catholic Bishops of Ontario and other Catholic partner organizations.

For more information please contact the Institute for Catholic Education at (416) 962-0031 / email: iceont@rogers.com.

Mourning the Loss of Simcoe Catholic DSB Trustee, John Grisé

On November 2, 2010 the Association was informed of the sudden passing of Simcoe Muskoka Ca tholic District School Board trustee, John Grisé.  John was recently re-electe d to serve the areas of Midland, Penetanguishene, Tay and Tiny.

John was first elected to the Board in 1995 and served until 1997. He returned to the Board in 2006.

Jim Canning, Chair of the Simcoe Muskoka CDSB released the following statement to the community:

"This is such an incredible loss. Not only have we lost a truly committed trustee, but we have also lost a great friend and colleague. I worked with John for many years and admired his unwavering support of Catholic education. He cared so much about students and believed in the value of an education rooted in faith. We will miss his passion, his knowledge and his friendship."

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church, Midland, on Saturday November 6, 2010 at 10 o’clock; interment to follow at St. Margaret’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family if desired.

OCSTA extends our deepest sympathies and prayers to John’s family and his colleagues and friends at the Simcoe Muskoka CDSB.

From CCSTA

Application to Host 2014 CCSTA Convention Now Due: Catholic school boards and provincial associations are invited to submit applications to host the 2014 CCSTA Convention/Annual General Meeting.  The dates for this national convention are June 5-7, 2014.  Applications are due January 14, 2011.  Enquiries about hosting the convention may be made through the website – www.ccsta.ca  or the CCSTA office.

Nominations Accepted for 2011 Higgins Award:  The Justice James Higgins Award is presented annually for outstanding leadership in Catholic education in Canada. A Catholic school board, provincial association or the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops may submit a nominee for the award to the CCSTA office by January 14, 2011.

OCSTA in the News

The Catholic Register

School board Trustee Acclamations down Across Ontario

TORONTO - Close to 40 per cent of the 230 seats for Catholic school trustee across Ontario have been filled by acclamation.

But the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association says this represents a drop in acclamations — down from 45 per cent in 2006 to 37 per cent this year — and is a potential silver lining to what’s happened at the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Nancy Kirby, the association’s president, told The Catholic Register that the drop in acclamations is encouraging and may have been sparked by the events at the Toronto Catholic board.

“The fact that we have less acclamations shows that people are starting to get more involved,” she said. “Maybe that’s the good that came out of Toronto. People are taking an  interest in having good leadership in the boards.”

The Toronto Catholic District School Board has been under supervision for the past two years and has been dealing with the fall-out of a trustee expense scandal and conflict-of-interest cases which led to the removal of two of its trustees, and the potential removal of a third still before the courts as of The Register’s press time.

Kirby said it’s important to have new candidates alongside seasoned veterans.

On voter interest, Kirby recalled the sentiments of a Toronto newspaper columnist who suggested that trustee elections should be held at a different time of year than the mayoral races, which appear to be overshadowing the trustee races.

As for a breakdown of the acclamation statistics, the rate of acclamation for incumbents was 32 per cent. There are 176 incumbents across the province seeking re-election. Seventy-three current trustees were re-elected by acclamation and 12 new candidates were acclaimed, bringing the total number of acclaimed seats to 85 or 37 per cent.

This year, 459 candidates registered to run for trustee positions.

The phenomenon of acclamations and incumbency, as well as voter apathy, is not particular to school boards only, said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. He said fewer candidates may have something to do with the lower profile of municipal elections, especially those for trustee.

“It’s a smaller universe,” he said, adding that voter participation at the municipal level is lower than at the federal or provincial level.

“People’s priorities are just elsewhere,” Wiseman suggested. “If I were a parent, my primary concern is what’s going on in the classroom and the quality of education.”

Amy Gerdevich, who heads the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education, ran for trustee in the last election in Thunder Bay, Ont., but found the experience as a first-time candidate “overwhelming.” Parents may be intimidated with having to navigate the bureaucracy and the business of campaigning, she said.

Still, she encourages new candidates to come forward, and plans to run for trustee in the future.

“New people coming in are always asking questions like ‘Why are we doing it this way?’ or ‘When are we going to look at it again?’ ” she said.

In London, Ont., 30-year trustee Paul C. Whitehead says a new candidate’s campaign is challenging because the incumbent already has a profile in the community. With less media profile and attention, getting your name and message known to the public can be difficult, especially in a smaller city or town, he said.