Transcript OCSTA 2014 AGM & ConferencePresident’s Report

OCSTA 2014 AGM & Conference
President’s Report
Marino Gazzola, President
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Provincial Election, Bill 122
> Provincial election – spring?
> Bill 122 – the School Boards’ Collective Bargaining Act, 2014
reflects many of OCSTA recommendations
– There are ten regulations designed to enable implementation of Bill 122
– Funding provided by Ministry helping to build the capacity of OCSTA to
serve as the designated bargaining agent
– Board of Directors has established a 3-person steering committee to guide
activities
– Provincial meeting of Chairs and Directors of Education being planned to
discuss other important aspects of legislation, including ratification
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Finance
> 2014-15 GSNs
> Board Administration Grant
creating concern for some
boards
> Met with Minister to discuss
and now the government
will roll out change over 4
years (instead of 2) to lessen
impact.
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2014 Municipal Elections
> Municipal Elections – October 27, 2014
> All four Trustee Associations working together to address public
awareness of the role of trustees
> Joint awareness effort may include public service announcements,
posters, social media promotions
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Lobby Day – April 2, 2014
> Historic event –
Mass celebrated
at Queen’s Park
> Delegation teams
included
representatives
from: OCSTA,
ACBO (Ontario
Bishops) and
OECTA
> Teams met with
Premier Wynne,
Minister of
Education,
Opposition
Leaders, & many
other MPPs
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Purpose of Lobby Day
> Inform MPPs about the value and contributions of Catholic
schools to the vibrancy of their constituencies
> Debunk myths being distributed by one-school system advocates
regarding any savings to be realized through an elimination of
Catholic schools.
> Funding is per-pupil based  only way to lower costs would be to
close hundreds of schools across Ontario  would create chaos and
disrupt the lives of every family with children in public or Catholic
schools
> The last time the education sector went through amalgamation it
“cost” Ontarians $1.1 billion dollars and resulted in higher costs
throughout the system.
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The Issue of Exemptions
> Dilemma faced by boards –
protecting the Catholicity of
our school environments –
effectively addressing both
Charter Rights and
Denominational rights – very
complex legal
considerations.
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Catholic Education Week
> Annual Promotion
– engages students through
curriculum
– Involves the community
through activities
– Helps to define the essence of
Catholic education through a
dedicated focus on the Gospel
values and teachings of the
church as they are
demonstrated/lived out in our
Catholic schools
> Student Trustees create a
historic moment via first
Province-wide Mass –
Message from Pope Francis
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Faith in Our Future – Catholic Leadership Series
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Trustee Certificate Program
> Trustee Certificate Pilot
Program created in
partnership with University
of St. Michael’s College (U of
T)
> 7 graduates
> Details about the revised
certificate program in 2014
will be announced soon.
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Questions and Discussion