Special Board Meeting: August 19, 2024
The Special Board Meeting for the Ottawa-Carleton District Board took place on August 19, 2024. Staff brought forward 2 reports with 3 recommendations for discussion.
I voted in favour of the recommendations in Report 24-097 on the Trustee Resignation and Appointment Process for Zone 2. This report seeks to accept the resignation of the Trustee for Zone 2 effective August 19, 2024, and to seek approval for the candidate selection process to fill the vacancy. Interested applicants will be required to submit a maximum two-page cover letter, a resume, complete this form, and a declaration of interest. All qualified candidates will then be invited to make a short presentation to the Board of Trustees during a Special Board meeting on October 15, 2024. More information for applying to the position can be found here. During the intervening period, constituents in Zone 2 can direct all inquiries to Chair Scott. During the discussion, amendments were brought forward:
I voted in favour of an amendment to delete current lines 3 and 4 and insert the following the words:
Once all of the candidates have made their presentations, the Board will take a preliminary ballot, where each Trustee may select up to three candidates to proceed to the next interview stage.
3. Once all of the candidates have made their presentations, the Board will take a preliminary ballot, where each trustee may select up to three candidates to proceed to the next interview stage.
Any individual who receives at least two trustees' votes shall proceed to the next round. Any candidate who does not receive the requisite number of votes shall be invited to watch the rest of the meeting. All remaining candidates will be moved back to the trustee waiting area, and brought back, in the same order as before, and asked, by the chair, the same three questions, as predetermined by the board.
Following this the Director of Education and Secretary of the Board will appoint two election assistants to distribute ballots.
Trustees will then vote by secret ballot (candidate’s names will be last name, first name and in alphabetical order). The election assistants will tally the results and report the name of the successful candidate to the Director of Education who shall advise the Chair.
During the discussion, I made the following remarks (timestamp 38:00): “I am in favour of this amendment. I have never been through a job application process where questions are not asked. I also think it is important that once we hit the ground running for opening the application process for the Trustee that we make the decision on the next steps tonight, so we are clear, concise and equitable to all our applicants. Whether we have 50 applicants or 1 applicant it should not matter it is about being transparent.”
The amendment was carried.
The recommendations were carried.
I voted in favour of the recommendations in Report 24-098 on Revisions to Policy P.073.GOV Board Member Code of Conduct. Ontario Regulation 246/18 Member of School Boards Code of Conduct has been revoked and replaced with a new Ontario Regulation 312/24 Members of School Boards Code of Conduct that sets out certain mandatory provisions for codes of conduct. The Ontario Public School Board Association created a template to assist school boards in implementing the mandatory provisions and changes to the Board Member Code of Conduct. The recommendations were carried.
I voted in favour of the amendment to strike the words and replace the words from section 3.6:
“When acting or holding themself out as a Board Member, Trustees shall conduct themselves in a manner that would not discredit or compromise the integrity of the Board.
At all times Trustees shall conduct themselves in a manner that would not discredit or compromise the integrity of the Board.”
During the discussion, I made the following remarks (timestamp 1:02:44): “I would like to voice my support for this amendment. As I have stated before in code of conduct investigations, I believe that the level of respect and the bar we hold ourselves should be higher and I think that this amendment is a step in the right direction.”
The amendment failed.
I voted in favour of the amendment to strike the words and replace the words from section 3.7:
“At all times Trustees shall treat persons equally without discrimination based on a person’s race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability and/or socioeconomic disadvantage. This provision applies to all forms of written and oral communication, including via media interviews and correspondence and via social media.”
The amendment was carried.
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 Board Meeting on August 19, 2024
Agenda for the Board Meeting on August 19, 2024
Report 24-097, Trustee Resignation and Appointment Process, Zone 2
Appendix B, Board Member Removal or Resignation from Office
Appendix C, Guidelines for a Meeting to Appoint a Trustee
Appendix D, Candidate Frequently Asked Questions
Report 24-098, Revisions to Policy P.073.GOV Board Member Code of Conduct
Appendix A, Policy P.073.GOV Board Member Code of Conduct
Appendix B, Policy P.073.GOV Board Member Code of Conduct
Appendix C, Template for School Board Member (Trustee) Code of Conduct
