Committee of the Whole: October 17, 2023
The Committee of the Whole Meeting and Board Meeting for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board took place on October 17, 2023. Staff brought forward one report and a Trustee brought forward a notice of motion for discussion.
I voted in favour of the recommendations in the Notice of Motion, Letter Requesting the Appointment of an Urban Indigenous Trustee. This motion seeks the approval to send a second letter to the province to seek the approval of appointing an Indigenous Trustee to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board of Trustees. The first letter was sent to the province in February 2021. I believe appointing an Indigenous Trustee to the School Board of Trustees would be a good first step in our reconciliation efforts. The recommendations were passed and are expected to be voted on at the next board meeting.
I voted in favour of the recommendations in the Report 23-071, Board Work Plan and Areas of Focus. I asked staff the following (timestamp: 33:50):
I am wondering if staff can expand on how we will be holding ourselves accountable to this work plan and how we’re going to be reporting back to our constituents and to the public?
The board work plan is on the board agenda as a regular check-in piece. There was a good experience in the Strategic Planning process about the plan coming back to the Committee for regular updates. There is modelling using that process that we can apply to the board work plan.
I can see that a lot of hard work and love has gone into the work plan for the board. It is reflective of both our Strategic Plan and values as a district. I think it is very important for any work plan to have the follow through of metrics and reporting back to the public to whom we are accountable. Having goals, even if they are stretch goals outlined in the board is a key to a wholesome plan. If we do not meet our goals, it is transparent to our constituents and allows us the opportunity to explain why or how we will change our practices to meet the goals. It also enables us as Trustees to have conversations with different levels of government that we cannot meet our goals due to a lack of resources and funding. I plan to follow up on the development of metrics at further meetings. The recommendations were passed and are expected to be voted on at the next board meeting.
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. Please note answers from staff are paraphrased, the recording can be found here if you would like to watch the entire meeting. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using my contact form here.
Key links
Video for the Committee of the Whole on October 17, 2023
Agenda for the Committee of the Whole on October 17, 2023
Notice of Motion, Letter Requesting the Appointment of an Urban Indigenous Trustee
Appendix A, Letter to the Minister-Indigenous Trustee Request
Report 23-071, Board Work Plan and Areas of Focus
Appendix A, 2023 to 2024 Board Work Plan
