Advocacy Strategy Committee: February 13, 2024

The Advocacy Strategy Committee meeting for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board took place on February 13, 2024. Staff brought the six advocacy briefs for discussion and approval.

In the mandate of the Advocacy Strategy Committee, the committee and staff develop an annual advocacy strategy for the board and create advocacy position papers for the board that outline what the board needs. During the meeting, staff brought forward six briefs based on the top areas of concern for the District for the committee’s approval:

1. Capital Funding: Communities across Ontario continue to grow rapidly. Schools need to be prepared for the future and keep pace with development.

2. Mental Health and Wellbeing: More students are experiencing mental health challenges. Schools need more support to respond to urgent situations while promoting long-term preventative measures.

3. Protecting Schools from Cyberthreats: School boards have a legal and ethical obligation to protect private student and employee data and financial systems. Provincial funding to safeguard this vital data is not keeping pace with the growing cyber threat.

4. Replacement Worker Costs: School boards are facing a serious funding gap to cover the replacement costs when staff are on sick leave. This funding gap directly affects student learning.

5. Special Education: Schools are struggling to support an increasing number of students with complex learning needs.

6. Transportation: Changes to funding arrangements along with significant bus driver recruitment and retention issues leave students and families at risk of not having transportation to school.

These advocacy briefs outline the issues faced by the District, funding gaps that currently exist and recommendations to address the issues. Please share these briefs widely in the community! The briefs are expected to come to the Board Meeting for final approval at the end of February.

Please note, that the opinions expressed here are entirely my own and do not reflect an official position of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board of Trustees. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using my contact form here.

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Key links

• Agenda for the Advocacy Strategy Committee on February 13, 2024

  • Advocacy Briefs

    • Capital Funding

    • Mental Health and Wellbeing

    • Protecting Schools from Cyberthreats

    • Replacement Worker Costs

    • Special Education

    • Transportation