April 16, 2010 - Glebe Report

SCHOOLS
Some updates
from the board table
Trustee
Rob
Campbell
OCDSB
Alernative Education
Readers will recall that the future
of the alternative education program
has been in question. The board
‘effectively decided’ to adopt the
status quo, minus Manor Park Public
School, which will be transformed
into a community school. ‘Effectively
decided’ equates to the elimination
of the program over time; others preferred
that it be ‘mutated’ into a form
that guarantees the continuation of
the program. This decision doesn’t
mean particular sites such as Lady Evelyn or Churchill are guaranteed. And,
given the imprecise will of the board on this issue, the general question about
the program itself is likely to be revisited.
One fundamentally destabilizing problem is the lack of access for students
to alternative education who live outside the Greenbelt Glebe where Report it is Ad not offered.
It’s not realistic to offer it in that area at this time. size: I believe 4.75” we x need 2.25” to pay to
bus those students willing to travel for alternative education. While this is an
awkward fix, it does address the equity issue. This issue will be raised before
the school year is out.
Budget
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) has a virtual $14 million
budget problem at the time of writing. We won’t know the grant impacts
for next year until a month from now and may find our problem is less severe.
Because of the requirements of the legacy collective agreement, we need to
decide teaching staff numbers before the grant impacts are known. Other options
for cuts will be looked at in the spring.
The board recently decided to cut various specialist teachers (special education,
English as a second language, curriculum coach, safe schools, and teachers
buffering school reorganization as well as intermediate arts and music
needs). I personally believe the ESL and special education cuts are strategically
unwise for a district wishing to improve achievement rates and to lower
drop out rates. Consequently, I did not support this decision. The effects of all
cuts will be spread out but will be felt everywhere to some degree. Even more
confusing is that enrolment gains mean regular classroom teacher numbers go
up, but the reduction in service per capita is unmistakable.
I also believe it unwise to have insisted on teacher cut decisions for the year
after next when we know the funding formula is to be reviewed by the government
in a year, a provincial election is looming and one must realize that
grants can be quite variable from year to year. Multi-year budgeting is a virtue,
but only if one accepts the premises of a certain trend.
Consolidation of Secondary Gifted Centres
Glebe Collegiate may soon see its gifted French immersion centre amalgamated
with other high schools and Lisgar receive the gifted extended French
program in the shuffle. This is fundamentally about trying to ensure viable
student numbers at a reduced number of high school sites for the purpose of
maintaining program quality.
Rob Campbell
613-323-7803
rob@ocdsbzone9.ca
www.ocdsb.ca
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alan@pickcustomdriving.ca
613.232.4900
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Glebe Report April 16, 2010 31
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