BOARD MEETING Meeting #08 Wednesday, May 06, 2009 1. CALL TO ORDER The Meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by John Grise, Board Chair, in the gymnasium at St. Paul s Catholic Elementary School, 161 Wellington Street East, Alliston. Trustee Clayton Ferguson expressed appreciation to Patti Campbell Principal, staff, parents and students of St. Paul s School community for the opportunity to hold this Board Meeting at the school. 2. ROLL CALL Michael O Keefe, Director of Education, conducted the Roll Call of the Board of Trustees to establish quorum for the Meeting. Present: John Grisé Board Chair, Jacob Brodka, Jim Canning, Clayton Ferguson, Justin Heran, Rick Maloney, Theresa Pinder, Connie Positano and Diana Riffert Regrets: Stéphane Huard Resource: Michael O Keefe Director of Education, Brian Beal, Glenn Clarke, Peter Derochie, Jane Dillon-Leitch, Mary Puopolo, Darren Schmidt and Enda Soostar Recording: Mary Fairhead 3. AGENDA APPROVAL Consensus of the Board of Trustees was obtained for approval of the Meeting Agenda. 4. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST 5. DELEGATIONS 6. PRESENTATIONS Celebrating God s Gift of Life and the Wonder of Life in our Community 1) Catholic Education Week Sherry Chapman, Co-ordinator of Religious Education & Chaplaincy Services led the Opening Reflection and provided a brief overview of the Catholic Education Week theme Catholic Education: Good News For All. Various activities and initiatives in the schools include Christmas Dinners prepared by students for the poor; Thanksgiving Food Drives; support of St. Vincent de Paul initiatives; retreat programs including lunch with the homeless; support of Sleeping Children Around the World fundraiser; social justice solidarity trips to Peru, Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, and Kenya; and the Free the Children fundraiser. PAGE 1 of 6
Sherry Garland, teacher, and student representatives from Pope John Paul II School in Barrie presented highlights of their school s Social Justice Club which included Thanksgiving and St. Vincent de Paul Food Drives, Reverse Trick or Treating, Human Rights Letter Writing, Treats for Troops, Clean Water Campaign, Vows of Silence, Klean Kanteens, and the Social Justice Fair. Board Chair John Grisé expressed the Board s appreciation for their work and presented the students with Board pins. 2) Legislative Page & Student Exchange Experiences Patti Campbell, Principal of St. Paul s School provided introductory remarks for Emily Heffernan, a Grade 8 student at St. Paul s School in Alliston who presented her experiences in the Legislative Page Program at Queen s Park and her recent French International Student Exchange. 3) Technology Update Danuta Woloszynowicz, Elementary Computer/Curriculum Consultant, and Steve Janveau, Secondary Curriculum Consultant, provided an update on the Board s technology initiatives and enhancements in both the elementary and secondary panels. Laptops, white boards, intensive computer in-service and training sessions, in-class support by consultants, and integrated cross-curricular projects were the focus of the technology investment. Appreciation was expressed for the interdepartmental collaboration for implementation of the initiative in short timelines. This investment has had a successful impact on school improvement planning, teachers development of engaging lessons, and support for students with special needs. 7. ACTION ITEMS Board Chair John Grisé thanked the Ms. Woloszynowicz and Mr. Janveau for their informative presentation. 8. INFORMATION ITEMS 1) Report 8. 1) 08-2009: 2008-2009 Budget Update & Preliminary 2009-2010 Budget Projections Peter Derochie, Associate Director of Education (Business & Finance) responded to queries in reference to transportation consortium strategies, impact of declining enrolment, community use of schools funding, and the budget balancing ideas provided in the report. 2) Report 8. 2) 08-2009: Plant Department School Renewal Projects Updates were provided on the Ministry of Education s Good Places to Learn and Prohibitive to Repair initiatives. PAGE 2 of 6
3) Report 8. 3) 08-2009: St. Paul s Catholic Elementary School Construction Project Glenn Clarke, Controller of Plant, provided an update on the current status of the new St. Paul s School with the indication that the school design is complete and there has been continued dialogue with the municipality on the site plan and building permit processes. The target date for the new school to be opened is September 2010. 4) Report 8. 4) 08-2009: Orillia Area Pupil Accommodation Review Update This report was provided for information to the Board of Trustees. 5) Report 8. 5) 08-2009: Report of the Governance Review Committee Legislation is being prepared in response to the Report of the Governance Review committee. 6) Report 8. 6) 08-2009: H1N1 (Swine) Influenza A The Board s Pandemic Plan is in place and is being reviewed as a result of the H1N1 (Swine) Influenza A cases. 9. ROUTINE 1) Approval of Minutes Board Meetings i) Minutes Meeting #07 Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Consensus of the Board of Trustees was obtained for approval of the Minutes. 10. TRUSTEE ENQUIRIES 1) Paperless Board Meetings Trustee Connie Positano queried the possibility of paperless Board Meetings in light of recent Earth Day initiatives and possible cost saving efficiencies. Laptop computers will be in place for trustees at the Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Board Meeting on a trial basis. 11. ITEMS OF INTEREST 1) Children s Health Walk Board Vice-Chair Theresa Pinder provided information on her participation in the Children s Health Walk activities at St. Noel Chabanel School in Wasaga Beach which included power point presentation by students on disorders, phobias, and addiction awareness as well as the Health Walk. 2) 2009-2010 School Year Calendar - Trillium Lakelands District School Board Trustee Rick Maloney informed the Board members that the Trillium Lakelands District School Board approved an amendment to their 2009-2010 School Year Calendar with the first day of classes for students being Tuesday, September 8 which is the day after the Labour Day holiday. The calendars for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board share the same start date for the 2009-2010 School Year. PAGE 3 of 6
3) Kitchen Fire Monsignor Michael O Leary School, Bracebridge Trustee Rick Maloney extended appreciation to the Monsignor Michael O Leary School principal, staff and students for their quick and orderly response to the small fire in the school. 4) 25 th Anniversary Celebration Father F. X. O Reilly School, Tottenham Trustee Clayton Ferguson reported on the successful celebration held at the school on Friday evening, May 1, 2009 with a former Father F. X. O Reilly School student and who is currently a St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School student being the headliner for the dance. 5) Correspondence from Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education Board Chair John Grisé informed the Board of Trustees of the receipt of a response from the Minister of Education to the Board s correspondence regarding water flushing directives in schools. A copy of the letter will be forwarded to trustees for their information. 6) Funding Announcement for EcoSchool Initiatives Board Chair John Grisé reported on the $4.4 million cheque presented to the Board on Friday, May 1 by MPP Aileen Carroll for energy initiatives. 7) Professional Activity Day Friday, May 1, 2009 John Grisé, Board Chair, and Michael O Keefe, Director of Education, collaboratively provided information on the Professional Activity Day which included Dr. Brooks as a keynote speaker. 12. CORRESPONDENCE 1) Ministry of Education: i) March 20, 2009 Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education: Release of Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow: A Policy Framework for Environmental Funding for Environmental Education in Ontario Schools ii) April 22, 2009 News Release: Higher Student Achievement Focus of New Report (McGuinty Government Receives Report on School Board Governance) 2) Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association: i) April 21, 2009 John Stunt, Executive Director: Ontario s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy ii) iii) April 22, 2009 John Stunt, Executive Director: Legal Opinion Conflict of Interest Case (Copy at Trustees Places) (Will be placed on the Board Policy Review Committee Meeting Agenda for discussion) April 28, 2009 Sharon McMillan, Co-ordinator of Communications & Media OCSTA Newswire PAGE 4 of 6
iv) April 30, 2009 Sharon McMillan, Co-ordinator of Communications & Media His Grace, Archbishop Thomas Collins proclaiming the Gospel in Dundas Square, Toronto on Sunday, May 17 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. v) May 1, 2009 Sharon McMillan, Co-ordinator of Communications & Media News Release: Finding Good News in Challenging Times: Ontario s Catholic Schools vi) May 1, 2009 Sharon McMillan, Co-ordinator of Communications & Media Good News in Ontario s Catholic Schools: London DCSB: St. Thomas Aquinas Students Spend PD Day Being Visible for the Invisible 3) Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board: i) Reaching Great Heights 2007/2008 Annual Report (Copy at Trustees Places) 13. MEETING SCHEDULE Thursday, May 7, 2009 OCSTA/OCSBOA 2009 Finance Seminar 8:00 a.m. Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 7 OCSTA 2009 AGM/Conference 7:00 p.m. to Saturday, May 9, 2009 Doubletree by Hilton Toronto Airport Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Board Policy Review Committee Meeting #03 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting #06 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2009 BOARD MEETING #09 7:30 p.m. 14. PRIVATE SESSION 1) Move into Private Session - Contract and Personnel Matters Consensus of the Board of Trustees was obtained to move into Private Session to consider Contract and Personnel Matters at 9:42 p.m. 2) Rise and Report from Private Session Consensus of the Board of Trustees was obtained to rise and report from Private Session at 10:22 p.m. 15. REPORT FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PAGE 5 of 6
16. NEXT MEETING Board Meeting #09: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 7:30 p.m. Agenda Deadline Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 4:30 p.m. 17. ADJOURNMENT Consensus of the Board of Trustees was obtained to adjourn the Board Meeting at 10:25 p.m. 18. CLOSING PRAYER The Closing Prayer was led by Trustee Justin Heran. JOHN GRISÉ Board Chair JG/MOK/mjf c:board/2009/bd 09/MinutesBd08.doc PAGE 6 of 6