AGENDA

THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES, PROGRAM AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Thursday, November 1, 2007
7:00 p.m.           

1.          Memorials and Prayers. 

2.          Roll Call and Apologies.

3.          Approval of the Agenda. 

N.B.    Staff would be pleased to walk the Trustees through any report on this agenda at the direction of the Chair. 

            THE COMMITTEE WILL RESOLVE INTO PRIVATE PRIVATE SESSION AT 9:15 P.M. 

4.         Declarations of Interest.

5.         Approval and Signing of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held October 3, 2007 for PUBLIC SESSION.   p.1-p.9

6.         Presentations: 

            a)         Of a picture to the Board by Trustee Paul Crawford.

7.         Delegations: 

a)         Marilena Candito, CSAC Chair of St. Jane Frances Catholic School, regarding fairness to St. Jane Frances Catholic School.  p.10 

b)         Cathy Yellowlees, representing the parents of St. Jane Frances Catholic School regarding the new catchment area.  p.11 

c)         Colleen Hobson, ratepayer, regarding exclusion of students from applying to a school of their choice.  p.12 

d)         Anthony Bellissimo and Shannon Hogan, representing Toronto Elementary Catholic Teachers, regarding the Religious Knowledge Test.  p.13                       

8.         Trustee Matters:
           
9.         Unfinished Business:  

10.       Matters referred/deferred to this Committee by the Board and other Committees: 

a)     Report regarding Boundary Issues for Elementary and Secondary Schools.  (Deferred by the Committee at its meeting held October 3, 2007).  p.14-p.23 

That the following motions be deferred until such time as the report regarding the situation at St. Basil-the-Great is brought back to the Board: 

1.         The following options are for the consideration of the Board: 

i)          That all grade 8 students continue to have the option to apply for their secondary school placement of choice in consultation with school personnel.

ii)       That the Director of Education establish the maximum loading for each school from time to time including the grade 9 maximum intake based on the following formula:  Ministry building on-the-ground capacity, plus portable capacity, plus an additional allocation for program flexibility for each secondary school.   Any exceptions to the total capacity figure will need to be approved by the Board of Trustees.  (see Comment 6, ii) 

2.       That the placement of students on a non-credit bearing track will be centrally coordinated through the Special Services Department. 

3.       That elementary and secondary school attendance boundaries be dealt with on a school-by-school basis.  Any changes to current attendance boundaries would need to be approved by the Board of Trustees. A joint report would be submitted to Administrative and Corporate Services Committee from the Planning & Facilities Department and the area superintendent.  

4.       That those students seeking entry to TCDSB secondary schools new from the GTA or new to Canada will be assisted by the local field superintendent and the Admissions & Placement Department 

5.       That the previous motion of March 21, 2007 “That the students of Blessed Margherita, St. Martha and St. Jane Frances be redirected in the 2008-2009 school year on a go forward basis” be rescinded.

11.       Reports of Officials and Special Committees Requiring ACTION by the Board.

            a)         Report regarding Suspected Child Abuse Reporting (s.17).  p.24-p.62 

                        That the Board adopt the proposed Policy for Suspected Child Abuse Reporting as follows: 

                        Policy:

The Toronto Catholic District School Board is committed to the Board’s mission of providing a safe and welcoming learning environment that is an example of Christian Community. This mission is affirmed in TCDSB policies. Every member of this community - student, teacher, parent/guardian, support staff, trustee, parish priest or others while on TCDSB property and at TCDSB sponsored events – is governed by the policies of the TCDSB and shares in the responsibility for creating an environment that is safe, harmonious and respectful.  

It is the policy of the Toronto Catholic District School Board that employees shall comply fully with the Child and Family Services Act and report forthwith any suspicion of child abuse or neglect of pupils of the Board directly to a Children’s Aid Society.

For the purposes of this policy, child abuse is any form of physical harm, emotional deprivation, neglect or sexual mistreatment which can result in injury or psychological damage to a child.

                        Regulations:

1.    The Board shall ensure that employees are aware of definitions of child abuse.

2.      All employees will be reminded annually of their legal obligations to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

3.                  The dignity and privacy of the child will be respected in all circumstances.

4.      Employees shall cooperate with the Investigative Team of Children’s Aid workers and police.

5.       Appropriate documentation shall be maintained by employees who receive a disclosure and those who report suspected child abuse.

6.       Reporting procedures will be developed for the situation when the alleged abuser is a Board employee. Under no circumstances shall the implicated staff member be contacted regarding allegations or disclosures until specific instructions are received from the Investigative Team.

7.        Upon notice of an allegation of abuse against an employee of the Board, which the Director (or Designate) believes is serious, the Director shall remove the employee from direct unsupervised contact with students.

8.       A manual detailing guidelines and procedures to be followed for the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect shall be developed under the auspices of the Director and shall be available to all employees.  

12.       Reports of Officials and Special Committees for INFORMATION of the Board. 

a)         Report regarding Response to Trustee Matter regarding Enrolment Issues at St. Basil-the-Great College.   p.63-p.74 

            Receive. 

13.       Approval of Matters for which no trustee has requested debate. 

13.       Communications: 

            a)         From Kevin Kobus, Director of Education regarding his retirement from the Board.   p.75 

                        Receive. 

            b)         Verbal Communication from the Chair of the Board regarding the trip to China. 

                        Receive. 

14.       Inquiries and Miscellaneous: 

N.B.    Private Inquiries must only be related to matters as outlined in the reference to legislation on the inside cover of the Private Agenda. 

15.       Update of Pending List:

16.        RESOLVE INTO PRIVATE SESSION.