April 23rd, 2013

Director’s Update

Waterloo Region District School Board – Committee of the Whole Meeting

On April 22, 2013 at 7:00pm, the WRDSB held its Committee of the Whole Meeting. The agenda and reports for this meeting are available on the Board’s website by clicking here.

No delegations appeared at this meeting.

Reports
Recipients of the 2012-13 Tim Walker Memorial Awards (For Information)
The Tim Walker Memorial Award for Environmental Stewardship which was established in 2006 by the Board to honour the life of secondary school teacher Tim Walker and his contribution to education and environmental initiatives. The annual award is $2,000 to be distributed equally among two elementary and two secondary schools (i.e., $500 per school).

The recipients of the Tim Walker Memorial Award are:

Coronation Public School
Hillcrest Public School
Grand River Collegiate Institute
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute and Vocational School

Information about these projects is found in the report.

Ministry of Education Program Changes Update (For Information)
This report provides details about recent Ministry of Education directions to school boards that will significantly impact secondary school enrolment and generate financial pressures for the WRDSB. The changes have been identified as The Secondary School Completion in Four Years – Changes to Funding after 34 Credit Threshold and the 15 Day Consecutive Absence rule. Information about these changes is found in the report.

Proposed Schedule of Meetings – 2013-14 Budget (For Approval)
Special Committee of the Whole meetings are scheduled in June for presentations by staff and the public for the 2013-2014 Budget, and to provide opportunities to discuss budget issues. The proposed dates are set out in the recommendation however, the June Special Committee of the Whole meeting dates are tentative pending receipt of funding information from the Ministry of Education.

Trustees approved the following recommendation:
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the following additions to the regular meeting schedule to provide supplementary meetings to discuss the 2013-2014 Budget:

Special Committee of the Whole Meeting – Monday June 3, 7:00pm (tentative)
Special Committee of the Whole Meeting – Wednesday June 12, 7:00pm (tentative)
Special Committee of the Whole Meeting – Wednesday June 19, 7:00pm (tentative)

Engagement Strategy Update (Verbal Report)
The Board is developing an Engagement Strategy and Plan that will help our organization to realize our Strategic Direction of “engaging students, staff, parents, and communities”. The presentation to Trustees provided information about the project, including timelines, and activities such as focus groups and a survey. The final report, to be delivered in June, will provide the Board with a strategy and plan that will include an engagement framework, tools and tips to implement the framework, as well as clarity of roles, responsibilities and implementation as it relates to the plan.

Motion from Trustee M. Ramsay re Male Teachers (For Information)
Trustee Ramsay served notice at the May 30, 2011, Board Meeting that he intends to present a recommendation that directs staff to review and report on trends in the hiring of elementary male teachers by the Board for the last 5 years {amended} with a view to attract and recruit male teachers.

Trustees approved the following recommendations:

Whereas, a significant number of our students come from single parent households where there is no male role model; and

Whereas, experts say it is particular important for children to have positive male role models as they grow up; and

Whereas, for many students the disproportionately low number of male teachers in elementary school means they do not have regular contact with an adult man until they move to secondary school; and

Whereas, many of these students do not have any contact with male teachers for a significant portion of their elementary school education; and

Whereas, the Board, OPSBA and the Ministry of Education openly and rightly support diversity in hiring practices; and

Whereas the disproportionately low number of male teachers does not reflect diverse hiring practices as it is not reflective of the community or the school populations; and

Whereas, the Board brought this disproportionate representation to the attention of staff more than 20 years ago; and

The Waterloo Region District School Board direct staff to review and report on trends in the hiring of male teachers by the Board for the last 5 years (amended), and to report back to the Board by June 24, 2013 with the initiatives currently in place to attract and recruit male teachers, how effective the initiatives have been and what their recommendations are on future initiatives to attract, recruit and retain male teachers.

Bylaw Amendments – Committee Structure Review – Articles 1, 4 and 5 (For Approval)
At the Special Committee of the Whole Meeting of April 8, 2013, trustees approved and/or amended recommendations to the Board’s current committee and meeting structure. At the Committee of the Whole Meeting on April 15, 2013, trustees were provided with written notice of the proposed amendments, in accordance with Board Bylaw Article 7 – Amendments to Bylaws, 7.1 Amendment Procedures.

Trustees approved all the recommendations in the report, with the exception of 4.8.1, which Trustees agreed by consensus to vote on separately.

Trustees unanimously approved the report with the exception of 4.8.1.

Trustees voted on adopting 4.8.1 which required a two-thirds majority vote. The motion failed to receive the required two-thirds majority vote and was lost.

The meeting adjourned at 8:53pm