|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S NEWS | SEARCH THE NEWSROOM | NEWS BY MINISTRY |
QUEEN'S PARK, Oct. 10 /CNW/ - Education Minister Kathleen Wynne today
appointed Norbert Hartmann as chairperson of a co-management team that will
work with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board to implement the
balanced budget plan developed by board staff.
"Since coming to office, the McGuinty government has been doing business
differently with boards, respecting the work they do at a local level with
students and their communities," said Wynne. "As we move forward with this
difficult next phase, we're inviting trustees to be part of the team that will
find solutions."
Led by Hartmann, the co-management team will be responsible for
implementing the balanced budget plan which will protect student programs and
support continued student achievement. The minister will also invite two
trustees to act as advisors to Hartmann. As chairperson, final decisions of
the team rest with Hartmann.
Hartmann, a former assistant deputy minister of education, served as a
director on the Education Improvement Commission and acted on the
co-management team appointed by former education minister Gerard Kennedy for
the Toronto District School Board.
"Student achievement remains our top concern," said Wynne. "I am
confident that the co-management team approach is the best way to ensure
ongoing success for students, and I'm hopeful that trustees will agree to
participate as fully as possible in this process."
The McGuinty government has been working closely with trustees and staff
at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board for over a year to resolve
budget issues. This work has left the board in a much stronger financial
position today than it was a year ago. The board's original projected deficit
of over $15 million in 2005-06 is expected to be reduced to $2.5 million. A
workable plan was developed by board staff to help eliminate the $16 million
deficit projected for 2006-07, and to balance the budget in 2007-08 while
protecting student programs.
For 2006-07, the board has an additional $28 million in government
funding. Since 2002-03, funding to the board has grown by $128 million - or 22
per cent - as enrolment has climbed 3.2 per cent.
Unlike the previous government's supervision model that minimized the
role of board trustees, this co-management structure reflects the government's
commitment to work collaboratively with the board.
Disponible en français
<<
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.ontario.ca/progress
Backgrounder
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLABORATION WITH DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ON
BEHALF OF STUDENTS
>>
Since coming to office, the McGuinty government has worked closely with
school boards across the province. This collaborative approach has resulted in
record investments in the system, peace and stability in the classroom and
three years of rising student achievement.
To help the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board address their
financial issues, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced the appointment
of Norbert Hartmann as chairperson of a co-management team to work with the
board to return the board to a balanced financial position. The Minister will
invite two trustees to act as advisors to Hartmann. As chairperson, final
decisions of the team rest with Hartmann.
Unlike the previous government's supervisor model, the co-management
structure reflects the McGuinty government's commitment to work
collaboratively with the board. The co-management team's structure respects
trustees and the important work they do at the local level by including them
in the team.
All trustees will retain meaningful powers, having broad access to
information from board staff and continuing to perform non-financial duties.
Subject to the determination of the chairperson, the board will continue to
meet and make decisions as long as the decisions do not affect the
implementation of the balanced budget plan developed by school board staff.
<<
The roles and responsibilities of the co-management team include:
1. Direct and oversee the implementation of the balanced budget plan
developed by board staff.
2. Modify or substitute elements of the balanced budget plan as long as
the board's overall financial health is not compromised and a
balanced budget is achieved by the end of 2007-08.
3. Develop communication measures to inform parents, board
trustees/staff and members of the public of the actions taken by the
co-management team and to assure them of the co-management team's
commitment to a quality education for students of the board, and of
the ability of the board's elected trustees to continue to perform
their non-financial duties.
4. Seek the advice of board trustees, staff and parents in any manner
the co-management team deems appropriate.
5. Respect denominational rights, collective agreements, and other
financial contracts and obligations.
6. Ensure trustees have access to information from board staff.
>>
Chronology of Collaboration
Since the summer of 2005, the government has been working with the board
to help manage its financial pressures. When the board filed a deficit in
December 2005, discussions continued with the board to explore options to move
forward.
The government appointed two respected leaders in education - Bill McLean
and Pierre Filiatrault - to examine the board's financial position. The
resulting report made a range of recommendations to address the deficit and
implement appropriate financial management systems. The ministry worked with
the board to address the recommendations in the investigators' report,
however, most of the steps were not implemented.
The board agreed to accept a special advisor, Peter Lauwers, to help
develop a two-year deficit-management plan. Senior board staff working with
the advisor were able to reduce the 2005/06 deficit from a forecast of
$15.1 million to $2.5 million. They also prepared two balanced budget plans,
both of which protected classroom resources and focused funding on student
achievement. Senior board staff recommended one of those plans as being in the
best interest of the board's students. Trustees were required to adopt the
plan according to the terms of reference that they endorsed with the
appointment of Lauwers, the special advisor, in June 2006.
On September 14, the board of trustees voted against the balanced budget
plan recommended by its director of education and special advisor. The plan
built on the additional $28 million in government funding for 2006/07 to
stabilize the board's small deficit and achieve a balanced budget in 2007/08.
Education Investments
The McGuinty government has made significant investments in education
since coming to office three years ago. To date, education funding has
increased by $2.7 billion - an increase of 19 per cent in total funding - or
$1,600 per student.
For the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, the government has
increased funding by 22 per cent, or $128 million, to $718 million despite a
growth in enrolment of only 3 per cent. That investment includes a 24 per cent
increase for special education funding. The government has provided additional
funding for 137 new primary class teachers to meet the primary class size cap,
as well as 64 new elementary specialist teachers and 74 new secondary student
success teachers.
Disponible en français
<<
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
>>
-30-
For further information: Valérie Poulin, Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632; Tanya Blazina, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2746; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929, or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892
Other news releases disseminated by this ministry
