Stephen Hansen, an independent consultant with years of experience in education, provides a clear and firm rebuttal to a recent article that groups all trustees in with a few “bad apples.” Never doubt for a moment that our Canadian education system, while far from perfect, is one of the most successful in the world and elected commissioners/trustees have been central to that success.
Read the complete article here:
The CSBA Board of Directors come from each jurisdiction quarterly to discuss shared issues of national importance. We continue to work on our priority areas: Health and Wellness and FNMI Education as well as the pervasive threat to elected school boards and actions we can take nationally to show the importance and positive impact of their role.
ROLE OF SCHOOL BOARDS – Following last year’s failed bid by the Quebec Ministry of Education to abolish school boards in that province, the Saskatchewan government recently published a study to review structure and the role of governance in Education, raising the possibility that school boards may be abolished in that province as well. The SSBA is waiting for the results of the consultation, but the minister has acknowledged that “the vast majority of the people that took the time to make the submissions were in favour of elected school boards and roughly in favour of the status quo.” Following an amalgamation of 4 boards and being assigned appointed trustees, Newfoundland/Labrador successfully completed their first elections in several years this past November.
FIRST NATIONS MÉTIS AND INUIT EDUCATION – Advocacy activities have been focused on appropriate funding for FNMI education and in offering national support for the AFN initiatives in Student Wellness. The National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation recently brought education leadership together from across Canada, an excellent opportunity for CSBA to develop further relationships that could support boards and continue collaborations towards truth and reconciliation in education. Over the coming weeks, we will provide links/resources from several groups who have new and innovative resources. We will monitor the framework that the federal ministries, INAC and FCSD are putting together on Childcare: for more information, see Beyond baby steps: Planning for a National Child Care System. CSBA will attend The World Indigenous People’s Conference on Education (WIPCE) in Toronto July 24-29th.
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS – A Charter of Commitment to Student Health and Wellness is being developed in collaboration with several other national groups. The committee is reviewing and will provide recommendations on the education component of the report from the Task Force on the Legalization of Cannabis. We are meeting with the Pan Canadian Consortium on Student Health to establish how we can collaborate with the provincial Ministries of Health on issues of national concern, including concussions and mental health. Our collaboration with Respect in Schools is being developed with a view to providing a ministry supported, national training baseline on abuse, harassment, bullying for all adults who work with youth. Coming soon: the next CEA/CSBA joint publication FACTS ON EDUCATION that provides links to research on the most effective ways to successfully integrate recent immigrants into Canadian classrooms.
COPYRIGHT – We continue to monitor the 2017 Federal review of copyright regulations and the affect changes could have on schools and students, ready to defend “fair dealing” on a national scale.
1) British Columbia: Supreme court ruling
2.) Saskatchewan: Theodore Case (GSSD v. CTTS)
3.) Taxation on Employee Health Benefits: https://www.mercer.ca/en/our-thinking/mercer-response-to-benefits-taxation.html
4.) Manitoba: Funding for First Nations Students
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ON THE DEFENCE – It’s not news, even for our colleagues in the U.S., that the role of public school boards is continually being questioned. CSBA is working on providing you with strategies from many sources that educate the public on evidence based research on the benefits of publicly elected governors of the education system. But we must do our own homework. Before someone from government comes to evaluate your effectiveness as a board, visit cdnsba.org for helpful board self-assessment tools and make it a regular practice in policy. Lastly, good trustees are good because they put kids first. Put them at the centre every time you raise your voice to defend democracy and public schools.
MISCELLANEOUS
Until next time…
Sincerely,
Floyd Martens, President, CSBA
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!
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
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
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
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 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:
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:
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,
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
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
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!
