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On March 22, 2016 in Toronto, I made the following presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Bill 173, Jobs for Today and Tomorrow (Budget Measures) 2016.

Office of Chair of the Board

22 March 2016

To: Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Dear Honourable Members,

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on March 22, 2016 to discuss Bill 173, and Jobs for Today and Tomorrow (Budget Measures) 2016. My name is Shirley Seward, and I am Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB).

In January, I participated in Associate Minister of Finance Mitzie Hunter’s Roundtable on the Provincial Budget in Ottawa, and provided a Submission to this Committee as part of the 2016 Provincial Pre-Budget Consultation. Copies of the Submission have been distributed today.

This meeting with you today is very different. The Budget is out, and we expect to receive from the Ministry of Education our Board’s overall Grant for Student Needs (GSN) later this week. I am not here today to argue for a higher grant, but for flexibility from the province in the way we work, in timing, and in the use of the money we receive.

ONE PERCENT CUT IN GSNs

Boards across Ontario had been encouraged to plan for a possible one percent decrease in their GSN grant for 2016-2017. In spite of the announcements contained in the provincial budget, we anticipate that there could still be a reduction in funding, amounting to $7.5 - $8.0 million for the OCDSB. This is related to declining enrolment and changes to the funding model associated with the province’s School Board Efficiency and Modernization (SBEM). 

From our perspective, there are problems applying this goal in the same way for all Boards. Enrolment trends are very different across the province. In the case of OCDSB, we are projecting a very modest decline in 2016-17, approximately 316 students or .4 of one percent of our actual enrolment in 2015-2016 of 71,000 students. Over recent years, there has been relative stability in enrolment.

The majority of the decrease in GSN funding is associated with changes in the funding model associated with the School Board Efficiency and Modernization initiative that is removing over 3 years our $8 million top up grant for schools that are not fully utilized. The province has asked Boards to consolidate and close schools that are under-utilized, perhaps where the utilization rate is at less than 65%. In large, complex urban school boards such as OCDSB, this is not an easy or a quick process. Trustees and staff have spent the last year developing and improving our secondary school policy framework and our accommodation review policy. We are trying to balance the province’s immediate fiscal needs with the requirement to look at the needs of our students, schools and the district in the longer term. We are committed to equity for all learners and we live in the capital city where there is a strong community expectation for engagement and a commitment in our political leaders to consult in a meaningful way.

As we move forward with this complex process of rationalization of our facilities, we need the provincial government to support our efforts to ensure that all our students have their learning needs met, not only in the short run, but over the next 15-20 years. Such careful planning should not be rushed – the immediate short term fiscal goals may be met, but our fundamental objective should be to provide better learning for all students in the years to come.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE USE OF EDCs

I was pleased to see in Jobs for Today and Tomorrow the emphasis on support for infrastructure, and I sincerely hope this will extend to our schools and facilities. Despite the capital investments by the Province over the last decade, the current backlog of renewal projects in our school board is in excess of $600 million. It is essential that over the coming months and years, the Province allocate sufficient operating funds to protect its investments in schools.

There are a number of mature areas within our Ottawa-Carleton District that are currently experiencing a revival in primary-age enrolment due to neighbourhood turnover and the impact of local development intensification policies. Currently, Education Development Charges (EDCs) fund only those costs associated with acquisition and preparation of land needed for the accommodation of growth-related students.

For several years, we have asked the Province to expand the use of EDCs for other purposes, including some aspects of construction and renewal. I understand that the Province may be undertaking a review of EDCs. We would ask the Province to work closely with and involve boards in this review. OCDSB has many years of experience working with the municipality and developers. Even if the Province is able to increase investment in infrastructure, school boards will continue to need the revenue from EDCs.

AUTISM AND OCDSB’S SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM

Six years ago, OCDSB had accumulated substantial reserves. With the encouragement of Provincial Cabinet Ministers and area MPPs, we made a decision to use the reserve responsibly over the next few years and invested in particular areas of need, including special education, English as a Second language and our computer and Wi-Fi network. We also made expenditures in order to harmonize our transportation policies with those of our co-terminus board, in order to improve the efficiency of our provincially mandated transportation authority.

As we develop our 2016-2017 budget, we no longer have the flexibility that we had with a reserve. We will be debating a budget that could include about one hundred staff cuts. These could be even higher depending on the exact details of the Grant for Student Needs to be announced later this week.

In looking for savings, OCDSB staff has suggested it may be necessary to eliminate or shrink a number of longstanding programs. One of the most inequitable of these would be the Summer Learning Program we have provided, with some Ministry support, for over a decade. This program serves the needs of our most vulnerable special needs children, those who are autistic, have serious developmental delays, and severe physical limitations. Some are fed with feeding tubes, others are in wheelchairs. All of these children need continuity and repetition in order to learn.

The Summer Learning Program is a 17 day, full day learning program offered during the month of July. It is not a respite or a recreation program. It is a learning program and report cards are issued at the end. The net budgeted cost of the program for 2015-2016 is $342,000 after accounting for Ministry grants and other recoveries of $168,000.

We provide July summer school programs for our academic students, both for reach ahead credits and credit recovery, and this is fully funded by the Province. Surely, if we are committed to equity of access to learning for all students this Summer Learning Program for autistic and developmentally delayed children needs to be continued and supported.

I noted, with great appreciation, the commitment to autism in the Provincial budget. I am hopeful that this will provide some modest provincial funding so that we can continue the Summer Learning Program in the coming years.

SUMMARY

In conclusion, we understand the fiscal challenges the government is responding to, and our Board has made substantial progress in reducing expenditures already. The changes to the funding model will mean that the OCDSB will need to further change the way we serve all of our children and families.

We look forward to working with the government in the coming months to ensure that the increasingly complex needs of our diverse population are kept in the forefront as we plan for the future.

Sincerely,

Shirley Seward

Chair of the Board

cc Hon Charles Sousa, MPP, Minister of Finance

Hon Mitzie Hunter, MPP, Associate Minister of Finance

Hon Bob Chiarelli, MPP Ottawa West – Nepean

John Fraser, MPP Ottawa South

Marie-France Lalonde, MPP Ottawa – Orleans

Hon Madeleine Meilleur, MPP Ottawa Vanier

Hon Yasir Naqvi, MPP Ottawa Centre

Lisa MacLeod, MPP Nepean – Carleton

Trustees, Student Trustees, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Senior Staff, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Corporate Records

It is hard to believe that the school year has come to an end. Our classrooms and halls are much quieter, and students of all ages are excited that the weather is warm and vacations have started.

At the Board, Trustees have consulted on, debated and finalized the Budget for 2015-2016. The Board of Trustees has also approved the Strategic Plan for the four year period 2015-2019, based on an extraordinary amount of input from parents, teachers, students, staff, community representatives and many more. See both documents online at the Board’s website at www.ocdsb.ca

As we head into summer, parents and students may be thinking of educational opportunities offered by the Board during the month of July. 

There are three kinds available:

SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Students in Grades 7-12 may take reach ahead courses, or may recover a high school credit at summer school. Online courses are also offered. Co-op provides an opportunity to gain valuable work experience. Grade 7 and 8 students may reach ahead and take a secondary school credit. Summer school courses run from July 2-July 24, and online courses run from July 2-July 30. For more information, call Continuing Education at 613-239-2620 or visit the Board’s website.

SUMMER LANGUAGE CAMPS for students aged 5-12. Camps are offered for French, Spanish, Japanese, and potentially Serbian languages from July 6-24. These camps have fees starting at $130/week. For more information, call 613-239-2703.

SUMMER INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. OCDSB offers language courses other than English and French in the morning from July 2-July 24. These are free for Ontario residents, except for a $10 consumables fee. For more information, please call 613-239-2703.

WORKING FOR YOU

It is a privilege to serve you as Chair of the Board and Trustee for River Zone. If you have any suggestions or questions, or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca.

The labour relations situation is challenging for all of us. Here are some recent developments.

Secondary Teachers Legal Strike Position

Our secondary teachers and occasional teachers (OSSTF) remain in a legal strike position. The OCDSB is one of seven Ontario school districts which OSSTF has targeted for strike action. At the time of writing this arcticle (May 12), strike action is underway by OSSTF at the Durham District School Board, th‎e Rainbow District School Board, and at the Peel District School Board.  OSSTF must provide 5 days advance notice of any planned strike action to the OCDSB. To date, we have not received notice and we remain committed to negotiating fair and fully funded collective agreements for our employees.

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Elementary Teachers Partial Withdrawal of Services Strike 

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) went on strike in all Ontario’s public elementary schools on May 11, 2015. This strike is not a full withdrawal of services, and all elementary schools in Ontario, including Ottawa-Carleton, are open for classes. During this partial withdrawal of services, teachers will not administer EQAO (standardized testing), and will not write comments in student report cards, among other things.

There are some important differences between the elementary and secondary teachers' unions positions. At the elementary level, the union is on strike with respect to 'central bargaining'‎. The school district does not sit at the central bargaining table.  At the local level, the school district is continuing to meet with our elementary teachers and occasional teachers, however this is separate from the 'central table' negotiations.

We understand that the potential for labour disruption at secondary schools, and partial withdrawal of services at elementary schools can create anxiety for our students, parents and staff.   We will be communicating regularly with parents and students to ensure that you have as much information as possible, so that you can make informed decisions and undertake any contingency planning.‎

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If you have questions, please feel free to contact your school principal or e-mail us at chat@ocdsb.ca.

WORKING FOR YOU

It is a privilege to serve you as Chair of the Board and Trustee for River Zone. If you have any suggestions or questions, or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca.

As Chair of the Board, the Ontario Ministry of Finance invited me to submit our Board’s input into the next provincial budget. Working with my fellow Trustees and senior staff, we identified the following issues as some of the most important needs of our Board and the 70,000 students we educate and support.

ONE: FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN- LARGE CLASS SIZES The Ontario Government has invested heavily in early learning through the introduction of full day kindergarten in our schools. However, in a number of our schools, classes are larger than is optimal. The result of this is that our Board has set up new classes, using our dwindling reserves. This is not sustainable.

TWO: CHILDCARE FUNDING – NOT ENOUGH CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES The Ontario Government initiated extended day programs, before and after full day kindergarten, to enrich the early learning of children. Our Board has taken leadership in this area in the province. However, because parents have to pay for this service, the program has benefited those who can afford it but not the poor. More childcare subsidies are needed to ensure all children have access to this early learning opportunity. This is an equity issue.

THREE: SPECIAL EDUCATION – FUNDING DOES NOT MATCH NEED Our Board has placed high priority on the needs of students with special needs. On an ongoing basis, we have used our dwindling reserves to provide extra support in this area. The needs are growing year be year and we are feeling the constraints. There is an increased requirement to take funds from elsewhere. This too is an equity issue. No child should fall between the cracks.

FOUR: BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF OLDER SCHOOLS As certain parts of Ottawa-Carleton grow, there is an increasing need for new schools, as well as an ongoing need for maintenance and upgrading of our older schools to meet safety, accessibility and environmental demands. One change that would help, and would not cost the Ontario Government anything, would be for the Province to redesign Education Development Charges (EDCs) that developers pay when the build new development communities. At the present time, EDCs can be used by the Board only to purchase new land, but not to build new schools on that land. Redesigning EDS for broader use could save the Province money that could be used for other pressing problems discussed above.

These are some of the pressing needs we face as we develop our own budget for the 2015-2016 school year. To see our full submission to the Ministry of Finance, please visit www.shirleyseward.com

WORKING FOR YOU

It is a privilege to serve you as Chair of the Board and Trustee for River Zone. If you have any suggestions or questions, or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or at 613-851-4716.

This is the time of year when I ask for your input into the development of the annual budget for the next school year (2015-2016).  I look forward to discussions and debate with my fellow Trustees and senior staff. I will work on your behalf to improve our efforts to provide access to quality public education for all children, and to close the gaps in achievement and well being based on gender, special needs, English language skills, First Nation/Inuit/Metis status, and poverty. 

We will face challenges and threats, especially from the Ontario Government that has given notice that it will be looking for savings in education funding. In the Spring, we expect to have greater clarity on the amount of provincial funding we will receive. The strength and diversity of our Board of Trustees and the engagement of all of our stakeholders will help ensure that our focus is always on the students that we educate and nurture, even in difficult times.

You can help me represent you well during the budget discussions by answering the following questions:

1. Can you identify three opportunities for investment that would support student achievement and well-being at OCDSB?
2. Can you identify three opportunities or changes that could generate savings?
3. Our Strategic Plan includes four key priority areas: well-being, engagement, leadership and learning. In your opinion, does one of these priority areas require more attention at this time?

IMPORTANT DATES

2015-2016 Kindergarten Registration: Register any time at your local school

2015-2016 Middle French Immersion Registration: Register between February 17 and 23, 2015

WORKING FOR YOU

It is a privilege to serve you as Chair of the Board and Trustee for River Zone. If you have any suggestions or questions, or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or at 613-851-4716. For more information, please visit my Trustee website at www.shirleyseward.com

At the end of October, I was delighted to be re-elected as the Trustee for River Zone for 2014-2018. And, at the Inaugural Board meeting on December 1, I was elected Chair of the Board by my fellow Trustees.

Our new Board of Trustees is an exciting mix of six experienced Trustees who successfully ran for re-election, and six new Trustees who bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to public education. Together we have a unique opportunity to map out a future that focuses on excellent education for all children.

Our first major task is to develop a strategic plan for the next four years. Consultations are already underway with all our stakeholders including OCDSB high school students, parents and guardians, employees and community partners. They were asked to answer the following three questions:

1. What are some examples of key challenges at our schools?

2. What are some examples of things you appreciate about our schools?

3. What are your thoughts about how the school district could better support and engage students, parents, employees and community partners?

In January, these same respondents and others will be asked to set priorities amongst the issues identified in December. And, in February, all of the input will be summarized and discussed amongst Trustees at a number of strategic sessions. This grass roots approach to consultation will ensure that the voices of those who are closest to and most affected by our public school system will be heard.

If you would like to participate in this exciting process please visit www.ocdsb.ca and register by clicking on Every School Every Voice.

As the Chair of the Board, I look forward to leading the Strategic Plan discussions and debate. I will work with my Trustee colleagues to increase our efforts to provide access to quality public education for all children, and to close the gaps in achievement and well being based on gender, special needs, English language skills, First Nation/Inuit/Metis status, and poverty. We will face challenges and threats, especially from the Provincial Government that has given notice that it will be looking for savings in education funding. However the strength and diversity of our Board of Trustees and the engagement of all of our stakeholders will help ensure that our focus is always on the students that we educate and nurture.

It is a privilege to serve you as the newly elected Chair of the Board and the Trustee for River Zone. If you have any questions or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or at 613-851-4716. For more information, please visit my Trustee website at www.shirleyseward.com

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON

People sometimes ask me – What does a good Trustee do? The simple answer is - a good Trustee works hard to represent the interests of their constituents, especially parents, students, schools and the community. At the same time a good Trustee provides overall policy direction at the Board, develops and monitors the $800 million annual budget, debates specific new policies and initiatives, and hires and evaluates the Director of Education and the most senior staff.

In addition to these duties, there is a broader leadership and planning role for the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board. As the Vice-Chair, I am involved in long term agenda planning, I participate in a number of ad hoc committees for hiring, Director evaluation, Board evaluation and other activities, and I chair all Committee of the Whole and in-camera meetings. In the absence of the Chair, as happened this past year, I serve as Acting Chair of the Board.

The constituency role is in many ways the most rewarding role that Trustees play. In River Zone, I have been involved in a wide range of issues and concerns raised by parents, schools and community members. Some examples demonstrate this role:

• The fight for student safety related to a proposed development right next to one of my schools – Fielding Drive - continues. A decision was made by the Committee of Adjustment on October 15 to adjourn the hearing, based on resident concerns on lack of consultation, and the issues I raised about student safety;
• Many parents reach out to me when their children with special needs are struggling, or when students are being bullied. Working with parents, school administration and senior staff at the Board, it is often possible for me, as the local Trustee, to help find solutions to these problems in practical ways that give parents comfort and confidence in the public education system;
• In my annual budget consultations with River Zone schools, school councils and parents, people stressed the importance of respect for school administrations, teachers and other school staff with heavy workloads and sometimes inadequate support. This was particularly important for teachers dealing with special needs and behavioural issues in their classrooms. As a Trustee, one way in which I have been able to help was by increasing the Board budget to hire additional emergency/itinerant and in-school educational assistants.

It is a pleasure to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Board and the Trustee for River Zone. If you have any questions or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or at 613-851-4716. For more information, please visit my Trustee website at www.shirleyseward.com

The new school year has begun, and our students are settling into their routines and busy schedules. There is a sense of excitement in River Zone public schools, and some dramatic changes as well.

Bayview Public School, for the first time, is offering Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) for four and five year olds. This is the fifth and final year of the roll out of FDK in all our public schools in the Ottawa Carleton District. Bayview, like many other elementary schools, also offers Extended Day programs before and after the regular school day.

At W.E.Gowling Public School, I worked closely with the Carlington community, my fellow Trustees and Board staff to create a new Early French Immersion program that began this month in senior kindergarten. Over 30 new students registered for this program, strengthening the school and at the same time alleviating overcrowding at the nearest other public school offering early French immersion.

Brookfield High School, like other public secondary schools in Ottawa Carleton, is introducing an expanded technology initiative that uses electronic devises such as smart phones and iPads in the learning process in classrooms. Used appropriately by students, and encouraged by educators, technology can improve learning experiences by giving direct classroom access to all the information and learning resources on the Internet.

We have also introduced free bus transportation for secondary school students who meet distance eligibility requirements. This appears to be working out quite well so far.

Students at Carleton Heights Public School returned this month to their beautifully refurbished and renovated 21st Century school building on Prince of Wales. The school also houses Andrew Fleck child care services and the Parenting and Family Literacy Centre. Carleton Heights continues to provide a middle French immersion program in Grades 4 to 7.

At Fielding Drive Public School, there has been a focus on student safety in the context of proposed multi-unit housing construction. In response to resident concerns, I have ensured that the School Board carries forward student safety priorities into the City of Ottawa’s planning process.

As the Vice-Chair of the Board and the Trustee for River Zone, my first priority is always the students, parents, schools and the community in River Zone. If you have any questions or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or at 613-851-4716. For more information, please visit my website at www.shirleyseward.com

JUNE is the last month of school. My high school daughter has finished her summatives and is studying hard for exams. Our younger students are completing their projects and reviewing what they have learned this year. It can be a stressful time for students, and I know that parents throughout River Zone join me in saying thank you to the teachers and all other education and administrative staff who inspire and support our children. Good luck, students. We are proud of you!

JUNE is also the last month for the Board of Trustees to complete its work before resuming again in September. We are very close to the finish line in finalizing the OCDSB Budget for 2014-2015. As you know, I undertook budget consultations with parents in all of my River Zone school councils, and wrote a Budget Report 2014 that can be viewed by clicking here. The single most important issue that I heard was the need for more educational assistants (EAs) for students with special needs and behavioural challenges. At the June 9 Budget meeting, I was successful in securing $420,000 for an additional 8 new full time EAs. Five will be itinerant emergency EAs, and 3 will be placed in schools. I was also successful in adding an additional $100,000 for playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces that are important for our children’s fitness and well-being. A final vote on the 2014 OCDSB Budget will take place at the June 23 Board meeting at 7:30.

This month, we will be putting the final touches on some key policy issues such as childcare for preschoolers and toddlers. I believe very strongly that we must partner with the excellent childcare providers across the District. Many of these providers have been delivering childcare to our children for as long as forty years. The Board needs the childcare community, and we must work in a mutually beneficial partnership.

As the school year draws to a close, I look forward to the Graduation and Leaving Ceremonies at our River Zone schools. I am very proud of the work we do together. Our children are our most precious gifts. It is a pleasure to represent you and to contribute to the achievement and well-being of our students.

If you have any questions or need my help, please do not hesitate to contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or at 613-851-4716.

This month we celebrated Education Week at the Board. The theme was Moving from Great to Excellent. This theme is central to Brookfield High School’s Annual Academic Dinner. Brookfield’s Century Club (top one hundred) academic students are honoured at this event. A special thank you to the teachers, school staff, parents and families who inspired these students.

Moving from Great to Excellent takes many creative forms in our schools. At Fielding Drive, students enjoyed their first cooking lesson given by the Council Chair during lunch hour. Vice-Principal Josee Beaudry and I enjoyed delicious spinach and fruit smoothies. 

An OCDSB news release on May 15 spread the news that General Vanier Public School is 50 years old this year and to mark the historic occasion students are creating a time capsule with the help of Artist, Marc Walter. Mr. Walter will be the Artist in Residence at General Vanier Public School from May 16-23.  

He will be working with the students to construct a time capsule out of nature.  The Grade 2 and 3 students will construct the time capsule, while the Kindergarten and Grade 1 students will decorate the capsule with silken ribbons.  School Principal, Tammy McCormack says, “Each class has created a large 3D figure and filled it with memories of school year 2013/14 in writing and pictures.  The colorful 3D figures will be placed inside the time capsule.”

A get together held at the home of Susan Pfister and Ted Radstake across the street from W.E. Gowling brought together parents and their children to celebrate the introduction of early French immersion at the school in September 2014. Our youngest future students in their baby seats joined their older siblings and friends for photos in front of the school. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT ON OCDSB BUDGET 2014-2015

Over the past few months, I have held Budget discussions with the School Councils of all of the River Zone schools I represent. These include Clifford Bowey, Bayview, General Vanier, Fielding Drive, Carleton Heights, W.E. Gowling, and Brookfield. I have also received dozens of emails from parents who have ideas or concerns about the Budget for 2014/2015. This outstanding input is helping me to represent the needs and views of River Zone during the Budget debates at the Board. The next Budget meetings at the Board are on May 26 and June 2. These are public meetings and I would welcome your attendance. If you wish to be a delegation at one of meetings please contact Monica Ceschia at monica.ceschia@ocdsb.ca or 613-596-8211, ext. 8381.

What a wonderful time of year for renewal and growth. And nowhere is this more evident than in the public schools in River Zone. Here are some examples:

- Brookfield High School is introducing a new International Certificate in September 2014.  Encourage your children to sign up and become global citizens through a rich set of activities that might include study abroad.

- Fielding Drive Public School intermediate students have formed a social justice club called We Make Change. This club builds on ME-to-WE, a national movement of youth leading local community and global change. On April 29, 2014 a large group of Fielding Drive students participated in WE DAY, a major educational event held in Ottawa/Gatineau.

 -  Bayview Public School will be offering Full Day Kindergarten in September 2014. If you haven't already registered your child, you can do so any time by calling the school.

 - Carleton Heights Public School students will be returning to the newly renovated and transformed site on Prince of Wales Drive in September 2014. It will be a 21st Century jewel.

- Early French immersion will be introduced at the newly renovated W.E. Gowling Public School in September 2014, beginning with senior kindergarten and growing one grade per year for the next five years. How exciting for the Carlington community and W.E Gowling staff and students.

I NEED YOUR INPUT -OCDSB BUDGET 2014-2015

SPRING is the time of year I seek community input on the OCDSB budget for next year. Board staff has developed a Budget Guide for 2014-15. This document outlines the budget process, provides timelines and explains how Trustees make final decisions. The document may be found at: http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/ob/201415%20Budget/BUDGET_2014-2015.pdf

My goal every year is to represent the views and needs of River Zone schools, parents and communities. Please let me represent you well by providing input on two questions:

1. Can you identify 2 or 3 investments that would support student achievement and well-being? Suggestions I have received so far include more emphasis on special education, transportation, school maintenance, technology, and outdoor playgrounds and natural play spaces.

2. Can you identify 2 or 3 changes that could lead to savings?

Please contact me with your ideas and concerns at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca While input is always welcome, I would love to hear from you by May 31, 2014.

This Outdoor Education course is very popular in our high schools, especially this year with the excitement of the Winter Olympics. Brookfield High School is fully subscribed this year once again. How fortunate our students are to have this extraordinary experience!

CONSULTATIONS ON EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION AT W.E. GOWLING CONTINUE

On February 5, Board staff held a consultation meeting on a proposal to introduce Early French Immersion at W.E. Gowling starting with senior kindergarten in September 2014. For more information, and to provide your input, please go to www.ocdsb.ca, Current Accommodation Reviews, EFI at W.E. Gowling. We want to hear from you.

50th ANNIVERSARY – GENERAL VANIER PUBLIC SCHOOL

What a wonderful celebration we had in this delightful primary school. It was fun dancing with the excited children to the music of a “sixties” band. Congratulations to the Parent Council, volunteers and school administration and staff for a night to remember.

IMPORTANT DATES AND CONSULTATIONS

Kindergarten Registration is ongoing. For more information go to www.ocdsb.ca or call your designated school.

Middle French Immersion Registration – February 18-24, 2014. For more information go to www.ocdsb.ca or call your designated school. To register at Carleton Heights Public School, call 613-224-7922, or 613-596-8730 (July and August).

THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT

The spirit of the Winter Olympics is present in all our schools. Imaginative principals and teachers are organizing classes and activities inspired by the values so evident in the Olympics: values such as determination, striving for excellence, team work, unselfish caring and the importance of celebrating the richness and diversity of our global society. Our students are proud of the medals Canadians have won. They are equally inspired by the three Canadian sisters who competed with each other while supporting each other, the Canadian coach who gave a ski to the Russian athlete, and the young Canadian skater who gave up his spot to another member of the Canadian team who had a better chance of getting a medal for Canada. Thanks to our educators who brought the spirit of the Olympics into our schools.

AT YOUR SERVICE

My first priorities are the students, parents, communities and schools in River Zone. I am always at your service. Please contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or call me at 613-851-4716.

PARENTS PROMOTE EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION AT W.E. GOWLING

An energetic group of parents in the Carlington area have formed a group – Parents for Early French Immersion at W.E. Gowling Public School. The group will be presenting a delegation on January 21, 2014 at the Board’s Committee of the Whole meeting. For more information, go to www.gowling-efi.com The group is also on Facebook and Twitter.

As the Trustee who represents this community and school, I will be bringing a motion to my fellow Trustees at the January 21 Committee of the Whole meeting as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED

• THAT staff be directed to prepare a proposed attendance boundary for a new EFI program, beginning with Senior Kindergarten, at W.E. Gowling Public School effective September 2014;
• THAT staff be directed to conduct community consultations to receive input in February 2014, allowing time to receive and review feedback regarding the proposal; and;
• THAT a staff recommendation report be brought forward to the March 18 meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

To see the details of the delegation and my motion, please go the www.ocdsb.ca, go to “Mark Your Calendar”, and click on the January 21, 2014 public meeting.

IMPORTANT DATES AND CONSULTATIONS

Kindergarten Information Night, January 16, 2014, 6:30-8:30 pm (go to www.ocdsb.ca for further information)

Kindergarten Registration Week, January 27-31, 2014 (go to www.ocdsb.ca for further information)

The Ottawa School Transportation Authority (OSTA) has developed proposals on bell time changes for individual schools, to be effective September 2015. While that seems a long time into the future, OSTA is looking for input now. In the coming days, this information will be on the OSTA website at www.ottawaschoolbus.ca and on the Board website at www.ocdsb.ca At this point, affected schools in River Zone include Bayview, W.E. Gowling and Carleton Heights.

AT YOUR SERVICE

My first priorities are the students, parents, and schools in River Zone. I am always at your service. Please contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or call me at 613-851-4716.

Students at General Vanier receive certificates for their good work at the Halloween Assembly.

FREE BUSING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

I was one of the Trustees who recently voted to provide free busing to secondary students who live at least 3.2 km (walking distance) from their school. This will be effective in September 2014. The cost of an OC Transpo pass can be a burden for parents, especially if they have two or three children.

In the coming months our transportation consortium, the Ottawa School Transportation Authority (OSTA), will be holding consultations on walking distances and hazards. Your input is important. Please stay tuned at www.ottawaschoolbus.ca.

EXTENDED DAY AND CHILD CARE POLICY - CONSULTATIONS

As Full Day Kindergarten rolls out to all of our schools, including Bayview Public School in September 2014, the Board is exploring the role it will play in the broader child care area. Information sessions and consultations are moving forward. If you are a child care organization, a parent of young children, or a concerned citizen, please have your say. We value and appreciate your input. For more information, go to the OCDSB website at http://www.ocdsb.ca/Pages/Extended-Day-and-Child-Care-Policy.aspx.

What a year it has been! Our last Board meeting took place on July 2, and now it is time to take stock of what we have achieved this year. It is also time to think about the challenges we will face going forward. But first, let us congratulate all of our graduates.

TO THE CLASS OF 2013

What a joy it was for me to participate in graduation and leaving ceremonies in our River Zone schools. I had the pleasure of attending closing ceremonies for Grade 6 students at W.E Gowling and Grade 8 students at Carleton Heights public schools.

It was a special year for me too, as a mother. My daughter Sarah graduated from high school as an Ontario scholar and a silver medalist, and is enrolled in Carleton University International Business Degree. I am so proud of her. Wasn’t she a baby, only yesterday? How the years have flown.

Sarah (in blue gown) with mother Trustee Shirley Seward (right), sister Rebecca, and father Steven Langdon

As the Trustee for River Zone, I am one of 12 elected Trustees responsible for the overall policy framework and $800 million budget of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. My dual role is to represent the needs and priorities of students, parents and the broader River Zone community, and to make decisions in the best interests of River Zone and the overall Ottawa Carleton District. As a Trustee, I also monitor the policies and activities of the Board on an ongoing basis.

I serve on the Board as the Chair of the Audit Committee, and as a member of the Budget Committee and Committee of the Whole. I am a Director on OCENET, the Ottawa Carleton Education Network, as well as a Director on OPSBA, the Ontario Public School Board Association.  

During the spring of 2013, Trustees began to discuss and debate the annual budget for the 2013-2014 school year. Every year at this time, I seek the input of my River Zone constituents. This year, I posted questions about the budget on this website. Last year, I organized an in-person meeting of representatives of school councils and community organizations. In both years, the input from River Zone was consistent. I heard that the priorities are stronger services in special education, increased emphasis on English as a second language, and refurbishment and renovations for older schools.

If you drive by Carleton Heights or W.E. Gowling Public School this summer, you will notice that construction is taking place at both sites, in order to refurbish and renovate these places of learning. 

During the budget discussions, I was successful in bringing forward a motion to increase the number of special education teachers and educational assistants, as well as the number of English as a Second Language teachers. These new resources have been allocated to some of the neediest schools in River Zone and the overall Ottawa Carleton District. As the letter below shows, parents place very high priority on special education.

MY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

One of the great pleasures of being a Trustee is being invited to participate in important events in our schools and community. These range from the Academic Dinner at Brookfield High School, the Multicultural Food Fair at Fielding Drive Public School, and school Council meetings across River Zone.

One fascinating event was the opening of a Parenting and Family Literacy Centre at Carleton Heights this spring. 

From right to left, Principal Andrew Canham, Philip O’Brien (Ministry of Education),  OCDSB Director Dr. Jennifer Adams with one of Mrs. Bhinder’s sons, Trustee Shirley Seward, Caroline Cote, Coordinator of the Centre, Mrs. Kiran Bhinder with her other son, Jennifer McKenzie, Chair of the OCDSB Board, and two enthusiastic students, Rachel and Tommy.

I certainly don’t want to wish the summer away, but do want to give you a preview of at least one important activity in the Fall. 

At the Board, senior staff will continue to work on the Near West Accommodation Review, which is concerned with overcrowding at Devonshire and Elmdale Public Schools. At an early stage of this review, senior staff suggested the option of introducing Early French Immersion at W.E. Gowling Public School, to take accommodation pressure off the overcrowded schools by directing students in the EFI program to W.E. Gowling. The option was discussed, but it appears that solutions may be found within under-capacity schools closer to the Devonshire and Elmdale neighbourhoods.

While the W.E. Gowling option is unlikely to be adopted as part of the Near West Review, parents and community organizations in and around the Carlington area are very excited by the idea of early French immersion at W.E. Gowling, and have been advocating for this as part of future accommodation reviews, including the potential Far West Review that should begin during the 2013/2014 school year to deal with overcrowding at Agincourt and other public schools.

Please keep posted by checking the Board website at www.ocdsb.ca When the timing for the potential Far West review becomes clear, I will post further information on this website as well.

In the meantime, enjoy the glorious summer. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Shirley.seward@osdsb.ca, or by calling me at 613-851-4716. I am always at your service.

Carleton Heights Public School will be undergoing a major renovation and refurbishment, scheduled for this Fall. In a special public consultation held on March 18, an overwhelming majority of parents voted to move the students to the now vacant Parkwood Hills Public School during the renovations that are expected to take 8 months. Parents were thrilled that my motion to remove the students from the construction site was approved unanimously by Trustees. I am also working hard to ensure that the child care and extended day programs at Carleton Heights are treated with sensitivity, with priority placed on the safety and well being of our youngest children.

At Fielding Drive Public School, change is in the air as well. At a recent School Council meeting, I met with a wide cross section of parents and the new Principal Marc Slesar. We talked about exciting new extracurricular sports and clubs at the school, supervised by the Principal, Vice-Principal and an eager group of parent volunteers. We discussed the vibrant multicultural community at the school, and talked about ways to increase parental engagement. The Principal presented the school budget, and sought input on ways to meet the needs of all students, in both the English program and the French immersion program. I left the meeting with a feeling of great excitement and optimism, as the parent community exercises its role in making the educational experience for our students an outstanding one.

Clifford Bowey is a specialized school that focuses on the academic and social needs of students with developmental disabilities. Parents play a critical role on the School Council by fundraising, advocating for programs such as the excellent Summer Learning Program, and ensuring that the needs of students are being met. The following Clifford Bowey events are coming up in May:

Clifford Bowey School Council is having a BAKE SALE

Canadian Tire @1820 Merivale Rd @ Hunt Club

Saturday May 11, 2013......9am to 3pm

and

ANNUAL GARAGE SALE

25 Fourth Ave. (in the Glebe)

Saturday May 25, 2013...8am to 3pm

Help support the purchase of specialized equipment

As your Public School Trustee for River Zone, my first priority is the achievement and well being of your children. As we look ahead this Spring, Trustees will be making decisions regarding the Budget for next year, 2013-2014. I would love your input on three questions:

• Are there areas in which we should be making greater investments?
• Are there areas in which we could be saving money for other purposes?
• What other issues should we consider in developing the Budget?

Please send your ideas to me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca, or call me at 613-851-4716. I am always at your service.

As December comes to an end, and our students are looking forward to the holidays, let’s take a few minutes to think about what has happened in public education over the past few months. What seems to be top of mind, for all of us, is the strike that has affected our elementary and high schools – a strike that was brought on by the Ontario Government’s passing of the controversial Bill 115. This is what the media focuses on, but so much more is happening in our schools.

Earlier this year, the results of the EQAO tests across the province were released. These tests measure student achievement in the areas of literacy and mathematics/numeracy. In almost all respects, students in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board are doing better than students in the rest of Ontario, and the results are improving over time. This is a major success for our students and is a reflection of the dedication of school administrators, teachers and all education staff. It is a reflection too of supportive parents and hardworking students. Of course we cannot be complacent. We need to do better, especially in mathematics, and the Board has put measures in place to make this happen.

INNOVATION IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

On another front, our public Board is developing innovative approaches to achieving first class education. I believe it is critical for us to educate our students to be able to thrive in an international context. I am excited by a pilot program that began this year to create an international certificate for high school students. This certificate requires that students take courses and prepare summatives that have an international element, and be involved in international activities in Ottawa and abroad. The program is run by the Board and the Ottawa Carleton Education Network (OCENET), and is a perfect fit for today’s economy and society. OCENET also brings international students to our schools, including Brookfield, and this enhances the learning experience for everyone. For more information visit www.ocenet.ca

ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE

Looking ahead to the New Year, there likely will be ups and downs in the labour relations climate. You can stay informed by visiting the Director of Education’s labour relations update at www.ocdsb.ca

But please be assured that I will continue to work hard for the students, parents, schools and community in River Zone. Please do not hesitate to contact me at Shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca or by calling me at 613-851-4716.

I wish you and your loved ones a happy and restful holiday season, and my very best wishes for the New Year.

Great News - Secondary Teachers end Strike

On November 22 at 3:00 am the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) reached an agreement with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) and the strike ended amongst secondary teachers in our high schools. I had the privilege of being the Trustee observer during these negotiations, and I was impressed with the commitment of both sides to meet the challenge together and come to an agreement that respected the needs of students, teachers, the union and the Board. This agreement was sent to the Ontario Minister of Education for approval, and must be ratified by OSSTF members and the Board of Trustees. I believe this is an important first step in getting back to normal in our schools.

After a few hours of sleep, our Board and OSSTF began negotiations for support groups including education assistants, custodians, office administrators , early childhood educators and professional support. Talks are also scheduled with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), and our local elementary bargaining units. We remain committed to negotiating local agreements with all our bargaining units by the legislated deadline of 31 December 2012. Please see regular updates on labour relations by our Director of Education Jennifer Adams at www.ocdsb.ca

Parents across the District have made, and continue to make, extraordinary contributions during this period of labour disruption. Parents have helped by coaching extra-curricular sports, monitoring students during lunch hour, keeping libraries open and a whole range of other critical activities. I am proud to be the Trustee for River zone where parents volunteered their time in such large numbers. The spirit of collaboration for our students has been remarkable.

At your Service at the Board and in the Community

Meanwhile, I have been very busy as your Trustee in our community and at the Board. Here are some examples:

* On October 24, I had the pleasure of participating in the Brookfield Awards Ceremony for last year's graduates. Almost 40% of the graduates received recognition as Ontario Scholars (who achieved 80% and over) and 11 per cent were Silver Medalists (who achieved 90% and over). Bravo Brookfield!

* Over the Fall, I attended School Council meetings at General Vanier, Carleton Heights and W.E. Gowling. It was exciting to meet the vibrant new Council executives and expanded memberships. Each school enjoys the contribution of seasoned, experienced members and new parents who bring new perspectives. School Councils play a very important role in strengthening parental engagement, which is so critical for student achievement and well being.

* At the Board, Trustees discuss and reach decisions on important strategic, program and policy issues including full day kindergarten, extended day care, transfer policy, the role of technology in education and in our schools, and accommodation issues.

* This year, I am the Trustee member on the Board's Secondary Review, a multi-year project that examines many aspects of learning at the high school level. This Review has produced a fascinating report called "OCDSB Exit Outcomes”, that talks about the different pathways students can take during the high school years. These can lead to university, college, apprenticeship, work and community life.

* As an elected Board member on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA), I regularly meet with Trustees of other school Boards across the province. We are able to share ideas and innovative practices, and I bring this back to our Board discussions. It is helpful to learn how others are dealing with some of the same challenges we face, and to share our own experience as well. This exchange results in better education for our own students, as well as others across Ontario.

* Most important, I am at your service. If you have concerns or ideas to share, please contact me at shirley.seward@ocdsb.ca, or call me at 613-851-4716. I look forward to hearing from you, and continuing to work with you. Together we will strive for excellence.

Dear Constituents and Friends,

I wanted to bring you up to date on the labour relations situation at the school district.  As you know, the collective agreements with all of our bargaining units expired on August 31, 2012.  We have been negotiating with our unions locally in hopes of having a new agreement in place by the legislated deadline of December 31, 2012.  

Six of our nine bargaining units will be in a legal strike position effective Monday November 12th.  All six of these units belong to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF).  This means that secondary school teachers and occasional teachers will be in a legal strike position next Monday.  Elementary teachers are not in a legal strike position and will be expected to perform their regular duties.  However, the bargaining units in a legal strike position include support positions at both the elementary and secondary level.  This includes educational assistants, early childhood educators, office administrators, office assistants, custodial and maintenance staff and professional staff (psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists and social workers).  

We understand that OSSTF has advised their bargaining units to withhold certain services effective Monday, November 12th.  Based on that advisory, we believe that supervision will continue in all classrooms, but we anticipate a withdrawal of supervision of students outside the classroom and a withdrawal of other job duties.  This means that we may experience challenges with supervision at bus drop off and pick up, recess, lunch hour, hall duty and in other non-classroom activities in both elementary and secondary schools.  We are working with our local bargaining units to get a better understanding of the specific impacts and will communicate more information as it becomes available.  

We understand that provincially OSSTF has resumed discussions with the Ministry of Education.  We remain hopeful that this may lead to a resolution in the very near future.

Student safety is our first priority.  We are committed to keeping schools operating, provided it is safe for students.  We are working with unions, our principals and our administrative staff to ensure that we have appropriate strategies in place.  

During periods of labour disruption, there is always the possibility of full service withdrawal.  Although that is not expected immediately, it would be prudent for parents to start thinking about their child care arrangements in the event that we find ourselves in a situation where schools must close.

The Board is committed to keeping you informed.  School principals will be sending letters home.  However, as situations may change rapidly, the most up to date information will be posted to the district website @ www.ocdsb.ca.   We will also provide updates on any major changes to operations through the media.

I thought it was important for the community to be aware of this information.  Since the situation may differ from school to school, and from day to day, please contact your principal if you have any specific questions.  

September is an exciting time of year. It is a time of renewal, a time of new beginnings, and a time to savour every single day when the sun is shining and summer is still with us. As my teenage daughters left for school on September 4, I remembered the sense of excitement and nervous anticipation I felt about returning to school. What will my classes and teachers be like? Will I make new friends?

Renewal in River Zone

Change is in the air this September in River Zone. We welcome two new Principals in our schools - Tammy McCormack at General Vanier and Andrew Canham at Carleton Heights. They both bring a wealth of experience with them and they are excited to be in our schools. We say goodbye and a big thanks to Charlotte Patton who has retired, and Jim Taylor who has moved to Glashan Public School.

Carleton Heights is providing full day kindergarten for the first time this year, and joins General Vanier and W.E. Gowling in being able to offer this enriching educational environment for our youngest students. Together with its growing middle French immersion program, Carleton Heights is expanding its offerings to a lively multicultural student body.

A Challenging New Year

As I write this article, during the second week of school, other changes are also taking place. The Ontario Government’s new Bill 115 was passed in the Legislature. This Bill effectively cuts teachers’ salaries and benefits, and stops collective bargaining between the Provincial Government and the teachers’ unions. The Bill also prevents teachers from using the usual means for protesting the imposition of this Bill. The Bill calls on School Boards to negotiate agreements with its unions before December 31, 2012. This will be challenging given that Bill 115 has already imposed major conditions that are normally part of the bargaining process.

The reaction to this legislation varies from school to school across the District. As I write this article on September 14, there is little or no change in some schools. In others, many teachers have stated they will no longer be volunteering their time to run sports teams and clubs, and these activities have been suspended. On September 14, many teachers demonstrated in front of the Premier’s constituency office in Ottawa. Students have also held demonstrations, some at the Premier’s constituency office.

As a mother and a Trustee, there is a silver lining to these developments. I have been impressed by the mutual respect and understanding that is evident amongst teachers, administration and students, and this is very evident in our schools in River Zone. What we are seeing is a democratic debate and expression of views in the context of a difficult and emotional environment.

Before becoming a Trustee, I spent 15 years as the CEO of a national public policy organization that provided policy advice to all levels of government. My Board consisted of Deputy Ministers, business and labour leaders and senior members of the education community. Our mission was to foster better understanding and cooperation amongst these diverse groups and to reach consensus on public policy issues. We believed in mutual respect, recognition of legitimate differences and the importance of collective bargaining which is enshrined in Canada’s Bill of Rights in our Constitution.

By the time you read this article, the situation in our schools may have evolved further. Given the variation amongst schools, I would encourage parents and guardians to stay in touch with your children’s Principals, and to check the Board’s website at www.ocdsb.ca for further information.

It is hard to believe that it is already the middle of June, and school is winding down for students. I love this time of year, when I have the privilege of attending the graduation and closing ceremonies at our schools. These occasions bring home to me the ways in which our public schools support our students, help them grow and learn, and develop in each child a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

This year has been an especially good one, both in River Zone and the School Board as a whole. It has been a year of change and improvement. Some of the major achievements are having a very positive impact in our own schools:

* On June 12, the Board of Trustees approved a budget of $794 million for 2012-2013, up about 1.7% from the current year. The budget includes increases for special education, infrastructure funding, improved transportation, and increased support for new immigrants. All of these improvements were recommended during the River Zone budget consultations I held in early April.

* Trustees have approved capital expenditure for rejuvenation and renewal in two schools in River Zone: Carleton Heights and W.E. Gowling. The school councils from both schools did an excellent job helping convince Trustees that work was badly needed.

* By September 2012, three schools in River Zone will have full day kindergarten: General Vanier, W.E. Gowling and Carleton Heights. In September 2014, Bayview will join the list.

* Working in partnership with the School Board, the Carleton Heights Child Care Centre (CHCCC) will be providing extended day care to full day kindergarten students, as well as childcare for pre-school children and older students. The Executive Director of the

Centre sits on a small working group at the Board that is helping pave the way to successful implementation of the extended day program as the roll out of full day kindergarten continues.

* Over the past year I have been centrally involved in the Board’s Secondary Review, which is exploring a range of issues in high schools, including Brookfield in River Zone. We are tackling important questions such as – How do we make our schools true community hubs, serving students as well as families? Should schools be semestered? Should they be large or small? And, how do we make best use of technology and e-learning? The answers will help us make our schools leading edge learning centres.

One of the most important factors in student achievement and well-being is active parental engagement. As your Trustee, I am in awe of the parents, school councils, community organizations and immigrant groups who find the time to be actively involved in the public education system. Over the past year, people have come out to speak about childcare, special education, religious accommodation, transfer policy, mental health, inclusion, capital needs in our schools and a wide range of other issues. It is this engagement that makes my job as your Trustee such a joy.

But we must never be complacent. If one child falls between the cracks, or is struggling, or feels excluded, that is not good enough. Every child should be able to grow, to learn, and to reach their potential. Since becoming your Trustee in December 2010, I have worked with hundreds of parents whose children were facing difficulties at school. Together, we were able to make necessary changes to help these students thrive. If you have concerns, or suggestions about how we can make things better, I am only a phone call or email away.