Marino Gazzola, President

OCSTA 2014 AGM & ConferencePresident’s Report

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> 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

Provincial Election, Bill 122

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> 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.

Finance

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> 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

2014 Municipal Elections

5 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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> 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.

Purpose of Lobby Day

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> Dilemma faced by boards – protecting the Catholicity of our school environments – effectively addressing both Charter Rights and Denominational rights – very complex legal considerations.

The Issue of Exemptions

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> 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

Catholic Education Week

9 Faith in Our Future – Catholic Leadership Series

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> 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.

Trustee Certificate Program

11 Questions and Discussion