February 2, 2017 by CSBA Leave a Comment

Fighting to keep the “public” in public education

When it comes to education governance, the national trend in recent years has been towards a troubling centralization of decision-making power, despite research that suggests school boards provide an effective way to improve student learning and increase local participation in school management.

“Communities historically have had lots of input into what transpires [in their schools] but over time, for a whole lot of reasons, we’ve started to move decision making further and further away,” says Floyd Martens, president of the Canadian School Boards Association. “But when it comes to the education needs of our children, is it one-sizefits-all? Not in the least.”

The Spring Edition of Education Today, published by the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA), features an article on the amalgamation process of school boards across the country. Several key CSBA members disapprove of the process, read more below:

Canada’s School Boards – Fighting to keep the “public” in public education

Visit here for the full Spring Edition 2017 magazine of Education Today!

December 8, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

CSBA News – December 2016

We are already well into 2017, but read here how we finished 2016.

CSBA is pleased to share with you our recent newsletter (December 2016). You will find the President’s Message detailing some of our activities since our annual congress and our recent board meeting. You will also learn about our plans for the coming month, some of our partner activities and a few issues of concern. Pay special attention to Copyright news. Take a look at the latest PISA results with news on the standardized global testing for academics and equity. Last, make sure you look at the different professional development modules offered by our colleagues across the country on any and all subjects pertinent to the role of a trustee.

Cute kid in snow, snowtime, winter, happiness

October 22, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

A best practice in FNMI education

“Imaginations shared create collaboration – collaboration creates community – community inspires social change.“… Terry Tempest Williams.

Saskatchewan School Boards Association provide an example of what can be accomplished through working with different, sometimes non-traditional partners towards a common and youth centred purpose.

The Canadian Education Association has published an article on activities that have proven very successful in First Nations communities with the support of the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative Entrepreneurship Program, along with government and private partners.

Read about it here.

September 13, 2016 by CSBA 1 Comment

CSBA CONGRESS 2017 – Whistler, BC!

CSBA is happy to announce that the 2017 CSBA Annual Congress will be hosted this coming year by BCSTA in beautiful Whistler, BC, along with the National Gathering for Trustees on Aboriginal Education. Details about registration and accommodations and programme are available at the CSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE WEBSITE (csba2017.ca)

Save the date: July 5-8, 2017

And check out this video for a taste!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImJ5P9o0POo

September 8, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

New President and Vice-President of the CSBA.

The Canadian School Boards Association is proud to announce that Floyd Martens of the Manitoba School Boards Association has been acclaimed as the new President of CSBA. Goronwy Price of Newfoundland Labrador was also acclaimed as Vice President.

Floyd Martens has been a locally elected school trustee for over 20 years. He has served on the Manitoba School Boards Association as a Regional Director, Vice-President, President and currently serves as the Past President on the Executive. He has also been Vice-President of the CSBA over the past two years.

Goronwy Price currently serves as the President of the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association and been served as trustee for 11 years for both the Labrador school board and the Newfoundland Labrador English School Board.

Please find a message from our new President at: http://cdnsba.org/presidents-message

June 30, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

The CSBA 2015-2016 Annual Report

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Sometimes your actions speak so loud, I cannot hear what you are saying”. These are just some of this past year’s activities at Canadian School Boards Association. We hope you find they speak loudly and clearly.

CSBA 2015-2016 Annual Report on Activities

March 17, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

CSBA statement on proposed draft of Quebec Law 86 abolishing school elections

CSBA stands with Quebec school boards and defends the basic Canadian right of community members having a voice in our children’s education.

The following is the letter sent to Quebec Minister of Education Sebastien Proulx on the CSBA’s position (french version follows):

___________________________________________________________________________________

Monsieur Sebastien Proulx

Ministère de l’Éducation, de l’Enseignementsupérieur
Assemblée nationale du Québec, Hôtel du Parlement
1045, rue des Parlementaires
Québec (Québec) G1A 1A3

March 9, 2016

Dear Monsieur Proulx,

The Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA) continues to monitor Draft Law 86 concerning the governance of the public schools in Quebec.

A strong public education system that prepares students to become productive and contributing citizens is the foundation of a civil society. Setting the conditions that will provide a high quality education for every student to succeed in school and in life is the absolute first priority of a school board. It is why commissioners, without exception, run for office.

CSBA members represent jurisdictional school board associations across the country, which are made up of universally elected local school boards. This model produces one of the best student success rates in the world. Most significantly, this model allows local communities to be engaged and directly involved in decision-making in education, a researched, evidence based, proven contributor to student success, achievement and well-being for some four million six hundred and sixty six thousand Canadian children.

While CSBA members continue to be adapt and transform to meet the ever-changing needs of our 21st century world, be flexible in adjusting to the ever-changing expectations of children, parents, communities and the larger society we have always ensured that student success is at the centre of all we do. The intention of the Quebec government to replace the present successful system of elected governance with a system of variable structures/electoral colleges is troubling, and at the very least, a distraction from the basic mission of ensuring the best possible education for all students of Quebec.

As such, in the interest of the public voice, a pillar of Canadian democracy and a proven significant contributor to student achievement, well-being and success – CSBA strongly encourages the Quebec government to consider the following:

Democratically elected community representation on every school board is of the utmost importance to the success of the education system and student success. This absolutely must be protected, at the same time recognizing that parents, teachers and administrators play an important and critical role in the system.
In the majority of Canadian jurisdictions, school board elections are held in collaboration with municipal elections, allowing and resulting in far greater voter participation.
Duly elected school boards are important players in the education system and all children in Quebec will benefit if the Quebec government works closely in partnership with the QESBA and the FCSQ.

The Canadian School Boards Association would like to offer our best wishes to you in your new role as Minister of Education and remain at your entire disposal for comments or conversations with a view to in finding solutions that respect all parties and will produce the best outcome for Quebec students. The priorities of our Association are focussed on creating the best possible education system for the children of Canada. We believe this is also your goal and we are prepared to work with you and your government to achieve this vision.

The vision of the CSBA is excellence in public education achieved through democratically elected school boards. Our mission is to support the members school board associations; to advocate the collective interests of the provincial/territorial public school boards; to promote the value of democratically elected school boards.

Respectfully submitted,

cc: Philippe Couillard, Premier, Quebec
Doug W. Currie, Minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture, Prince Edward Island, Chair, CMEC
Mike Bernier, Minister of Education, British Columbia
David Eggen, Minister of Education, Alberta
Don Morgan, Minister of Education, Saskatchewan
James Allum, Minister, Department of Education and Advanced Learning, Manitoba
Liz Sandals, Minister of Education, Ontario
Serge Rousselle, Minister, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, New Brunswick
Karen Lynn Casey, Minister, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Nova Scotia
Dale Kirby, Minister, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Newfoundland Labrador
Doug Graham, Minister, Department of Education, Yukon
Alfred Moses, Minister, Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Northwest Territory
Paul Quassa, Minister, Department of Education, Nunavut

Please see the full letter here.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Monsieur Sébastien Proulx

Ministre de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport

Assemblée nationale du Québec, Hôtel du Parlement

1045, rue des Parlementaires

Québec (Québec) G1A 1A3

Le 9 mars 2016

Monsieur Proulx,

L’Association canadienne des commissions/conseils scolaires (ACCCS) continue d’être attentive aux avancées du projet de loi 86 concernant la gouvernance des écoles publiques au Québec.

Un système d’éducation public solide, qui prépare les élèves à devenir des citoyens productifs et engagés, est le fondement de la société civile. Les commissions scolaires ont comme mission fondamentale de mettre en place les conditions nécessaires pour offrir une éducation de haute qualité à chaque élève afin de lui permettre de connaître le succès à l’école et tout au long de sa vie. C’est ce à quoi aspire chaque commissaire, sans exception, lorsqu’il se présente aux élections.

Les membres de l’ACCCS représentent les associations de commissions scolaires de partout au pays, qui rassemblent à leur tour des commissaires locaux élus au suffrage universel. Il s’agit du modèle qui produit l’un des meilleurs taux de réussite pour les élèves dans le monde. Plus important encore, ce modèle permet aux collectivités locales d’être engagées et directement impliquées dans le processus décisionnel pour leurs écoles, ce qui a fait ses preuves pour contribuer à la réussite scolaire et au bien-être des quatre millions six cent soixante six mille enfants canadiens qui bénéficient de ce système.

Alors que l’ACCCS s’adapte et se transforme pour répondre aux besoins en constante évolution en ce 21e siècle et continue d’être flexible pour répondre aux nouvelles attentes des enfants, des parents, des communautés et de la société en général, nous veillons à garder la réussite des élèves au centre de tout ce que nous faisons. L’intention du gouvernement du Québec de remplacer le système actuel éprouvé de gouvernance élue par un système de structures variables et de collèges électoraux est troublante et, à défaut d’autre chose, ne servira qu’à distraire de la mission fondamentale, qui est d’assurer la meilleure éducation possible pour tous les élèves du Québec.

Pour toutes ces raisons et dans l’intérêt de la pleine expression citoyenne, un pilier de la démocratie canadienne qui contribue de manière significative aux progrès des élèves, à leur bien-être et à leur succès, l’ACCCS encourage fortement le gouvernement du Québec à considérer ce qui suit:

La présence de membres de la communauté démocratiquement élus au sein de chaque conseil scolaire est d’une importance capitale pour le succès du système d’éducation et, par conséquent, pour la réussite des élèves et elle doit absolument être protégée, sans mettre en doute le rôle important et essentiel que les parents, les enseignants et les administrateurs jouent dans le système.
Dans la plupart des provinces et territoires canadiens, les élections scolaires sont jumelées aux élections municipales, ce qui assure une plus grande participation des électeurs.
Les conseils scolaires dûment élus sont des acteurs importants dans le système d’éducation et tous les enfants du Québec en profiteront si le gouvernement du Québec travaille en étroite collaboration avec l’ACSAQ et la FCSQ.

L’Association canadienne des commissions/conseils scolaires aimerait vous souhaiter beaucoup de succès dans votre nouveau rôle en tant que ministre de l’Éducation et reste à votre entière disposition pour engager une conversation en vue de trouver des solutions qui respectent toutes les parties et qui produiront le meilleur résultat pour les élèves du Québec. La priorité de notre Association est toujours la mise en place du meilleur système d’éducation possible pour les enfants du Canada. Nous sommes convaincus que vous partagez le même objectif et nous sommes prêts à travailler avec vous et votre gouvernement pour concrétiser cette vision.

Du point de vue de l’ACCCS, l’excellence dans l’enseignement public passe par des conseils scolaires élus démocratiquement. Notre mission est de soutenir les associations de commissions scolaires membres de l’ACCCS, de défendre les intérêts collectifs des commissions scolaires publiques provinciales ou territoriales et de promouvoir l’importance des conseils scolaires démocratiquement élus.

Respectueusement,

February 26, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

NGTAE and CSBA2016!

We hope you will be able to join us in Winnipeg for what looks like a superbly organized, quality event with extraordinary programming. The CSBA congress has long been a provider of excellent Professional Development, but it can also be a place to find inspiration, develop ideas, learn from others and feel empowered by our common goals.

I want to thank MSBA and the organizing committee for their excellent work and the warm welcome they have prepared for us all. Special thanks to President Ken Cameron, Executive Director Josh Watts, CSBA Vice President, Floyd Martens (MSBA) and especially Heather Demetrioff and the MSBA team. It really does “take a village…” I promise it will be difficult to choose your favourite session in the program.

From the opening, the tone will be set for the excellent program, as we go to the world-renowned Human Rights Museum and hear author of Three Day Road, Joseph Boyden, best-selling and award-winning author. Also, you may have read the moving book “I Shall Not Hate”, but you will have a rare opportunity to listen to the author tell his own story. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, educated in Cairo, London and Harvard and winner of the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award of Canada, will inspire you . This event will be a first time joint event with the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA). In the days that follow, you will hear of the challenges and triumphs of comic Big Daddy Taz and Michael Redhead Champagne , which will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

Other exemplary examples of courageous leadership in Winnipeg this week, are speakers Kevin Lamoureux, Aimée Craft, Fred Kelly and Elder Harry Bone at our National Gathering pre-congress. And don’t miss the CSBA Annual Presentation and Cross County Check-In where provincial presidents and myself will present the work we have all been doing across the country on both a national and a provincial scale.

Kevin Waugh, Minister of Parliament from Saskatchewan will be present at congress on Saturday morning if you would like information or be interested in supporting his bill to legislate full refund of GST to school boards. Another story you should hear about is the disturbing theme of the threat to school boards as a democratic right. At CSBA, we stood by Quebec to help defeat Bill 86 abolishing school elections. But come to congress and you can hear from the school board associations themselves, how they faced this challenge and won.

There will be plenty to keep you engaged at this year’s event. Please visit the congress website csba2016 for more information on program, registration, accommodations, extra tickets, etc. for both the annual conference and the National Gathering.

Hope to see you there!

Janet Foord

President

February 25, 2016 by CSBA Leave a Comment

CSBA2016 Update, July 6-9, Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Canadian School Boards Association 2016 Congress and National Trustee Gathering on Aboriginal Education will be coming to Winnipeg in less than five months. This memo will serve to bring you up to date on some recent developments in the planning of these events.

The deadline for the submission of workshop proposals was February 29, 2016. The proposal form was available as a PDF under the workshops tab at csba2016.ca. IMPORTANT: We recently determined that there were some technical problems with the online submission form for certain users. The online submission option has now been removed. If your board submitted a proposal online and you did not receive confirmation of receipt, please contact me (hdemetrioff@mbschoolboards.ca) to ensure that it was received.
A limited number of rooms are still available at both the primary Congress hotel (the Delta Winnipeg) and our alternate facility, The Alt. Additional double-bedded rooms were just added to the block at the Delta, so if you were unable to book such a room in the past, you may want to try again. Contact information for both hotels can be found under the hotels tab at csba2016.ca.
Most keynote speakers for both events have been confirmed, and information about them can be found under the speakers tab at csba2016.ca. The remaining speakers will be confirmed in the next few weeks.
Online registration will open once the program, including all workshops, has been finalized (late March or early April). I will be sending out a notice as soon as that happens.

If you have any questions about these or other matters related to Congress or the National Trustee Gathering on Aboriginal Education, please don’t hesitate to contact Heather Demetrioff at 204-233-1595, or via email at hdemetrioff@mbschoolboards.ca. On behalf of all Manitoba school trustees, we look forward to welcoming you to Winnipeg in July!

December 11, 2015 by CSBA Leave a Comment

The program for CSBA 2016 is beginning to take shape…

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, now based at the University of Toronto, wrote a memoir called “I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey” in which he describes the horrific events surrounding the death of his three daughters. There has not perhaps been a more pertinent time to hear his words or learn from his wisdom so sorrowfully won.

Dr. Abuelaish will be a key-note speaker at the upcoming CSBA Annual Conference. The (call for presentations) has just gone out and we invite you to refer to the conference website for more information on presenting along with this incredible man, Big Daddy Taz, Michael Redhead Champagne and other leaders from across the country.