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12/3/2002 - Special Board MeetingTHAMES VALLEY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL BOARD MEETING 2002 DECEMBER 03,7:00 P.M. BOARD ROOM,EDUCATION CENTRE AGENDA REVISED V-verbal M -material 1.CALL TO ORDER -Director of Education 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3.CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 4.ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2003 a.Election of Chairperson of tiie Board b.Election of Vice-Chairperson of the Board 5.VALEDICTORY ADDRESS 6.RECESS TO INFORMATION COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE V M V V V THAMES VALLEY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD iSPECIAL MEETING,2002 DECEMBER 03 The Board met in special session on 2002 December"03 in the Board Room atlhe Education Centre at 7:10 p.m.,and in Committee ofthe Whole,in-camera at 9:25 p.m. PRESENT:TRUSTEES D.Stewart S.Delier J.Hunter D.Anstead G.Hart P.Sattler Regrets:P.Schuyler M.McTaggart J.Bennett S.Peters T.Roberts L.Stevenson A.Cartier P.Jaffe ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS B.Bryce P.Gryseels B.Greene J.Thorpe C.Murphy G.Jazey M.Sereda K.Haveli<a B.Tucker K.Wilkinson J.Empringham D.Blair K.Dalton J.Roth J.Neville C.Dennett S.Christie W.Scott C.Linsdell K.Bushel! 1.CALL TO ORDER Director of Education Bill Bryce called the meeting to order. 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved on motion of D.Stewart and L.Stevenson. 3.CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No conflicts of interest were declared. 4.ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2003 a.Election of Chairperson of the Board Director Bryce called forwritten nominations for the office of Chairperson of the Board for 2003. Nominations were declared closed on motion of T.Roberts and S.Deiler. Trustees Bennett and Hart were nominated.Trustee Bennett and Hart declared their acceptance of the nomination.Followinga vote,Trustee Bennett was declared Chairperson of the Board for 2003.Nomination forms for Chairperson of the Board were destroyed on motion of L.Stevenson and S.Peters.Chairperson Bennett assumed the chair and conducted the election of the Vice- Chair of the Board. b.Election of Vice-Chair of the Board Chair Bennett called for written nominations for the office of Vice-Chairperson of the Board for 2003.Nominations were declared closed on motion of L.Stevenson and S.Peters.Trustees Anstead,Hart,Hunter,Roberts and Sattler were nominated. Trustees Anstead,Hunter,Roberts and Sattler declared their acceptance of the nomination. Trustee Hart declined the nomination.Following a vote.Trustee Hunter was declared Vice- Chairperson of the Board for 2003. Nomination forms for the Vice-Chairperson were destroyed on motion of L.Stevenson and S. Deiler. 2002 December 03...2 5.CHAIRPERSON'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS 2002 Chairperson Joyce Bennett presented.the following valedictory address: •"I first want tothank my fellow trustees for their trust and confidence in my leadership and for their continued support during the difficult times as well as the good.This has not been an easy school year by any means,far from it;but I have always been able to count on the wisdom,support and good advice of the people around this table.Iam proud to call the trustees of the Thames Valley District School Board a great team and.Iam proud to be a member ofthat team. My special thanks to Director of Education Bill Bryceand the senior administration ofthisBoard for the steady and capable leadership they have provided over the last year to me personally,to the Trustees around this table and of course tothe students of Thames Valley. With the concern and attention we give to the day-to-day issues that confront this system,we sometimes tend to overlook the huge and ongoing administrative taskwe face in managing and building our school district.Today, Thames Valley District School Board rates as one of the province's largestschool boards responsible for 186 secondary and elementary school facilities, 8,000 staff members and an annual budget ofnearly$550 million.Our Board now stands as one of this region's largest public bodies. But how well ^we doing really?Like many of you I was most interested to hear Dr.Lynne Hannay's recent presentation to the Board on the implementation of the "Attainment of Our Vision"initiative.Acrossthis system.Dr.Hannay found encouraging evidence from our own principals and teachers that we are indeed achieving significant success in our goal of facilitating system wide improvement.Weare beginning tospeak a common languageand we continue to lay the groundwork for a new and common culture within our school district. Whether in Tillsonburg or Woodstock,St.Thomas or Dutton,Strathroy or Parkhill or right here in the City of London,we have becomeaccustomedtothisideaof working within one common administration,driving towards a common set of goals and objectives.Dr.Hannay reported considerable success both in managingthe urgencyofthe manyschool reformsthat have been thrust our way over the last few years as well as with the associated tasks of continuing to develop our school district. I for one found great satisfaction in hearing Dr.Hannay's presentation which was based on dozens of interviews and focus groups conducted throughout the school region.Big we most certainly have become;but along the way we have not lost focus on the sole reason for our existence,the building ofa Caring and Learning Community for our 80,000+elementary and •secondary school students. Formal review isone way of measuring progress against a clearset of goals and objectives. Another,which Ifavour from my old Home and School days,is to enter any school in our system, secondary or elementary, and to check out the welcoming smiles, the interaction between students and teachers,that special sense of pride that students take in showing off their best work and the urgency with which students,teachers and school administrations reflecton their hopes and dreams for the future. The judgements may be subjective, buttome that special sense of excitement that students and schools bring to their work is the only real way ofmeasuring the successof our school system as a whole. 2002 December 03...3 5.CHAIRPERSON'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS -cont'd It is part of the reason why Ifeel it is so important that the first item on every Board agenda should belong to the students themselves.1 have taken special pleasure over the last year in watching the short school performances that have begun every Board meeting. The opportunity also to highlight and recognize both student and staff success brings special focus to our work. Itis my hope that we will continue these recognition opportunities at our Board meetings inthe busy year that lies ahead. On the administrative front we have lived through some highs and lows that many of us will remember for a long time - truly the best of times and the worst of times. Trustees will recall the beginning of this school year when 1 reflected that it is not often that publicly elected officials face the prospect of heavy personal fines or a ban fromseeking public office as part of the consequence of doing-their jobs to the best of their ability.That is what happened this year as the Board of Trustees chose to deliver a strong message on the state of its finances by rejecting a compliance budget prepared by the administration and delivering instead an interim deficit budget to the provincial government. The objective was to remind the provincial government that it was "not keeping pace with the inflationary pressures faced by this Board and that urgent financial assistance was required. We were ready for the political risks that decision implied.We were not so ready for the additional cash flow restrictions withwhich the administration was immediately faced. Withthe new school year upon us, we had no choice inthe end but to reach into our reserves and to submit a compliance budget to maintain the financial viability of our system and to avoid the prospect of a provincial takeover of our system.Having followed the progress of provincially instigated takeovers of other large school boards inthis province Ithinkwe would all agree that ourdecision inthe end tosubmita compliance budget was both responsible/timely/and prudent. We chose instead to carry the fight on provincial funding to the next level preparing a comprehensive brief for Dr.Rozanski's Education Equality Task Force.Delivered in late September,that brief was presented in the form of a challenge to the provincial Ministry of Education enclosing 12 key recommendations for change. We made it clear that the requirement for a new funding model was urgent and that-without prompt action at the provinciallevelour Board, along withmost others across the province, would have no option but to reduce service and to allowits school buildingsto fall intodisrepair. Atthis moment, we can onlyhope that our message will be heard and acted upon by the Ontario government. Wehave been toldthat Dr.Rozanski will deliverhistask force findings onTuesday, December 10.He has said only at this stage that he has been profoundly Impressed with the pride and the passion that Ontario takes inits public education schooling.We are most interested in Dr.Rozanski's findings but we will hold our fire untilwe hear the all important response from the provincial government.With a new budgetary year upon us we heed to hear soon how the government will act on its findings and to provide new funding directions for the future. Most importantly, we need the assurance of multi-year funding that will allow us to plan in sensible three-year cycles.We need an end to the instability that has.marked the provincial funding of public education In this province for the last few years.Administrators,trustees, teachers,support staff and most certainly our students need to hear that their needs are being taken seriously and that we can continue to build on our amalgamation success story. 2002 December 03...4 5.CHAIRPERSON'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS -cont'd As recent history has shown, the Thames Valley Board has been more than willing to innovate when it comes tothe deliveryofnew school facilities. The new Strathroy DistrictCollegiate which opened with this school year shares its space withthe newly established Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School.It stands as a clear example of-the kind of cooperation that our school systems can bring to major school planning issues. Education Minister Elizabeth Witmer called the concept truly innovative and a trailblazer for other boards to follow.I personally could not have been prouder of the high levels of cooperation displayed by both school systems in the patient planning and preparation that went into the design and buildingof this wonderful project. The opening of this shared secondary school and its accompanying recreation facilities stands as an impressive landmark for the current school year and a signpost perhaps of things to come. In my inaugural address of a year ago,Italked about our responsibility to develop our students intellectually,physically,socially and spiritually.I highlighted quality daily physical activity for elementary students in a program spearheaded by Learning Coordinator Jayne McCuliough. Jayne and Oxford Park Principal Mark Seaton recently accepted the 2002 Innovator of the Year Award from the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association.The Board is in the final year of a 3 year program and preliminary research suggests the program is not only making students healthier but more successful in the classroom.My congratulations to Jayne and Mark and everyone involved In this initiative. It is my strong feeling that working together we have been able to make a difference to our schools and with our students.What happened in Strathroy serves as a reminder of how good it can get ifwe can think and plan together with one simple objective inmind of meeting the needs . of our students.The contribution of both Jayne and Mark show how important individual contributions are to the success of our system. It says a lot about why I remain optimistic about the future of our schools and the directions we will choose in 2003 and beyond.Public education remains one of this province's great success stories and one in which I have every confidence that we will continue to build and invest for the future. Once again,1want to thank the trustees around this table,those who chaired committees and my particular thanks to my colleagues on the Chairs Committee,Trustees David Stewart and Graham Hart. Your wisdom and guidance has been greatly appreciated over the last year. Special thanks also to Trustee Secretary Sue Pullamfor her contributionto the running of my officeand particular thanks for support on the dark days.Also;to Sharron Christie forher patient attention to detail as the Board's Executive Secretary. Thank you all for a rich year of service." The following motion was moved by J.Hunter,seconded.by S.Peters,and carried: That the Chair Bennett's Valedictory Address of December 3,2002 be spread upon the minutes and posted to the TVDSB web site. The meeting recessed at 8:00 p.m.to the Information Committee of the Whole on motion of L. Stevenson,seconded by S.Deller.It reconvened as the Thames Valley District School Board at 9:48 p.m.on motion of D.Anstead,seconded by S.Peters. 2002 December 03...5 6.REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE -IN CAMERA MEMBERS PRESENT J.Hunter,Chair J.Bennett S.Peters D.Stewart P.Sattler L.Stevenson T.Roberts D.Anstead P.Jaffe Regrets:P.Schuyler,8.Deller Absent:G.Hart,A.Cartier 2002 December 03 ADMINISTRATION AND OTHERS B.Bryce B.Greene P.Gryseels C.Murphy J.Thorpe M.Sereda G.Jazey K.Havelka D.Blair- W.Tucker K.Wilkinson J.Empringham K.Dalton S.Christie K.Bushell J.Neville The Committee rhet in camera'from 9:25 p.m. to 9:48 p.m. 1.APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved on motion of 8.Peters. 2.CONFLICTS OF INTEREST -No conflicts of interest were declared. 3. A confidential property matter was discussed. 4.RISE AND REPORT A motion to rise and report was moved by S.Peters at 9:48 p.m.and carried. RECOMMENDATION: 1.That the motion approved at the in-camerasession of2002 December 03 related to a property matter be approved. J.HUNTER, Chairperson ' The recommendation was moved by J. Hunter,seconded by T.Roberts and carried. 6.ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.on motion of P.Jaffe and 8.Peters. CONFIRMED:.(X' Chairperson 2002 December 03...6 APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2002 DECEMBER 03 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING That the Chair Bennett's Valedictory Address of December 3,2002 be spread upon the minutes and posted to the TVDSB web site. That the motion approved at the in-camera session of2002 December 03 related.to a property matter be approved.