Director Joudrie released his final version of report 09039 showing the 5 alternatives he will present to the community as part of the consultation process for Southeast Oakville (Ward 3).
At Wednesday Feburary 18th Halton District School Board Trustee meeting, Trustees indicated they did not support all of the options listed.
The options that will be presented to the Community do not have the support of the Trustees. Some of the options have the Trustees support, presumably Option B that was approved July 2nd by the Trustees, and later suspended, as a result of the Cooke report criticizing the Board for the handling of the PARC process in Ward 3.
Trustees spoke about not compromising education for popularity or wishes of politicians. Options C1 and C2 were specifically mentioned as problematic. "Options C look like 3 + 1 [reference to the PARC recommendation rejected by the Board]".
Presenting this information to the community with the knowledge the Trustees won't support certain options is contrary to an open and transparent process. The Board needs to present the community with viable options that the Trustees would support. What value is community input on options Trustees are already ruling unacceptable.
Speaking (delegating) before the Halton District School Board to express concerns or issues should be a simple, straight forward process allowing members of the public to express their view and opinions on a matter before the Trustees.
The case at the school board has a number of restrictive conditions that lacks openness and transparency.
Delegates must register the Wednesday prior to the Board meeting, without knowledge of the Agenda Delegates must provide written materials the Thursday prior to the Board meeting, again with the Agenda.
This written material is only provided to the Trustees in the Friday Agenda package - it is not provided to the public.
Delegates must read their written materials to the Trustees.
Recently, at least for Southeast Oakville (Ward 3) the Board has begun to invoke a "verbatim" ruling. On three occasions we are aware of, the Board has requested the delegate read their materials. Recently, the Board emailed a prospective delegate, requesting he confirm he will read verbatim his written materials.
We would point out, although, we also disagree with by-law 1007, it states, in item 6, "The oral delegation shall not deviate substantively from the written submission." This does not suggest verbatim reading of materials are required.
We take issue with the process.
Reading of delegations is highly restrictive and I would challenge anyone to find another level of government, including the Supreme Court, that requires such draconian measures. Compare the Board's policy to the Town of Oakville.
Item
Halton District School Board
Town of Oakville
Notifcation Requirement
7 days prior to meeting (delegation) no other category
Noon of day of meeting, if item on the agenda (Delegation) 6 days prior, it item not on agenda (public presentation)
Written materials
6 days prior to meeting
Noon of day of meeting, or provide 20 copies to Clerk at the meeting
Verbal conduct
"oral delegation shall not deviate substantively from the written submission" - This has recently been replaced with read verbatim your written materials.
"Delegations may only speak to matters listed on the agenda for that particular meeting"
Questions to speaker
"Except for questions of clarification, Trustees of the Board or staff shall not enter into discussion with the speaker or any Trustee of the delegation concerning the presentation."
"Following each delegation, Members of Council may ask questions of the delegate"
Wednesday February 4, 2009 the Trustees of Halton District School Board unanimously approved Director Joudrie's consultation process for Southeast Oakville. Moved by Trustee Ellis and seconded by Trustee Ockenden.
Unanimously approved after 4 community delegations voiced their opposition to the motion. Oakville Residents for Public Education, Oakville Residents for Public Education HDSB delegation Feb 4, 2009 appellent group of the July 2nd board closure decision, PARC appellents delegation to Trustees Feb 4, 2009, family of schools (6 school councils), and the 3 resident associations of Southeast Oakville (Trafalgar-Chartwell Residents Association, Oakville Lakeside Residents Association and Joshua Creek Ratepayers Inc), Resident Associations delegation to HDSB Feb 4, 2009 all requested the Board defer the motion, and consult with the community to create a consultation process that meets the recommendations of the Cooke report, and the Ministry Guidelines.
Ministry Guidelines, Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines, require a successful Accommodation Review Committee, (ARC [PARC in Halton]) process occur. David Cooke's report, Cooke Report on HDSB SE Oakville school closure process, concluded that the school board's process had major flaws from the very beginning, was not open nor transparent and the Board failed to adhere to its policy.
Cooke concludes that " the Board needs to understand Public Education is a partnership with parents and community" We are requesting a consultation process that meets the framework of a partnership not a survey and focus group approach.
We are disappointed the Trustees continued on this path and did not seize the opportunity to reach out to the community and work towards rebuilding community trust in the Board's decision making process.
At a special meeting of the Halton District School Board on December 10th, 2008 Trustees passed 4 motions unanimously. The first 3 motions passed without debate, while their was lengthy debate on the fourth motion.
The motions passed are: [editor's note: underlined items are additions by Trustees and striked out text are Trustee deletions]
Be it resolved the Halton District School Board ask the Director to bring a report to the Board in January 2009, reviewing the findings of the facilitator, giving consideration to the report’s recommendations, and outliningtaking steps to develop appropriate responses.
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board suspend implementation of motion, M08-0147, pending further resolutions of the Board.
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board construct a elementary school at capacity of 500 in Southeast Oakville (Ward 3) in the area north of Cornwall known as Clearview, subject to the Minister of Education’s authorization.
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board direct staff to develop a community consultation process with Ministry input by January 2009, for Board consideration, to explore solutions and work from the Board’s goal of meeting the accommodation and program needs of students of Ward 3 Oakvillein Southeast Oakville; with the process to include timelines, representation and alternative accommodation options.
A complete copy of the Board Report 08165 is availble by clicking on the READ MORE button.
In an open letter to the new Halton District School Board chair, Bruce Jones (Trustee for Oakville's Wards 5 &6) that appeared in Wednesday December 10, 2008 Oakville Beaver, Oakville Residents for Public Education calls on the school board to follow the Cooke recommendations and rebuild its relationship with the community.
Oakville Residents for Public Education a group fighting school closures in southeast Oakville believes there must now be a reprieve from the decision by the Halton District School Board to close four neighbourhood schools.
Oakville Residents for Public Education coordinated a request for an Administrative Review by the province of the local school board’s decision. The findings of that review determined that a flawed process was employed by the local board in arriving at its decision to close four schools. The report noted “that the Halton District School Board failed to adhere to its Board-approved policy”
“The closure decision must be put on hold immediately,” stressed group spokesperson Mark Caskenette. “If the process is flawed, then the decision is flawed; it is that simple. There is an opportunity now for the school board to conduct this process correctly by working with all the affected parties and finding a solution that respects the character and history of our community.”
Local school board members voted in July to close Brantwood Public School, Linbrook Public School, Chisholm Public School and New Central School. The Board wants to use funds from the sale of the four school sites to construct a new school in a more recently settled area of Oakville.
In addition to flawed process, area residents were concerned about the decision itself, including: • Loss of walk-to community schools • Loss of priceless green space, in a mature community • Viability of the Board’s plan, in light of the current economic conditions.
Oakville Residents for Public Education appreciates the efforts of local MPP Kevin Flynn who supported an independent review of the Board's process and is urging all parties to explore techniques that will facilitate community driven recommendations and solutions.
“Mr. Flynn can continue to play a role by assisting in the first stage of coordinating efforts to develop a comprehensive solution that is arrived at through an open and transparent process,” said Caskenette. “The process then should move forward with the involvement of all impacted parties and be overseen by an independent and well-respected individual. We are confident a satisfactory solution for all involved can be achieved. “
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HDSB Final Report 0939 Ward 3 Accommodation alternatives (
in Schools by I_heart_oakville, 14-04-10 06:43