Minutes of Council Meetings

Special Meeting of Council
Via Teleconference
April 14, 2020

Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council of the Ontario College of Teachers Held Via Teleconference on April 14, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Call to Order/Welcome

2. Agenda and Approval of Preparation Time

3. Conflict of Interest

4. Businesss

4.1 COVID-19 Update

4.2 Personnel Matter (In Camera Session)

5. Adjournment

Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council of the Ontario College of Teachers Held Via Teleconference on April 14, 2020

Present : Charles Dimitry Abraham, OCT; Diane Ballantyne, OCT; Paige Bennett, OCT; John Cammarata; Bob Cooper, OCT; Chantal Côté, OCT; Irene Dembek, OCT; Elizabeth Edgar-Webkamigad, OCT; Susan E. Elliott-Johns, OCT; Richard Filion; Rebecca Forte, OCT; Melissa Gaffen, OCT; Tim Gernstein, OCT (Vice-Chair); Erin Glen, OCT; Mary Ellen Gucciardi, OCT; John Hamilton, OCT; Jacqueline Karsemeyer, OCT; Timothy Kwiatkowski, OCT; Colleen Landers; Marlène Marwah; Michelle Miner Seal; Mary-Anne Mouawad, OCT; Sara Nouini, OCT; Gerry O’Reilly, OCT; Bonnie Oakes Charron; Wanda Percival; Paul Picard (Interim Deputy Registrar) (until 5:10 p.m.); Tom Potter; Nicola Powadiuk, OCT; Vincent Rinaldo, OCT; Jonathan Rose; Nancy Saunders, OCT; Stéphane Vallée, OCT; Nicole van Woudenberg, OCT (Chair); Jennifer Wyatt, OCT; Stephen Zimmermann, OCT

Staff: Kim Bauer

1. Call to Order/Welcome

The Chair of Council, Nicole van Woudenberg, called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and welcomed all present. She thanked members for staying connected through texts and emails, recognizing the various pressures that had to be addressed during the current circumstances.

2. Agenda and Approval of Preparation Time (GC20200414-34)

The Chair of Council confirmed that no preparation time was required for the meeting and that one half-day of per diem time would be included in the allocation for a future meeting.

It was moved by Tim Gernstein, seconded by Nicola Powadiuk, and by consensus

CARRIED,

That the Agenda for the April 14, 2020 Special Meeting of Council be approved.

3. Conflict of Interest

No conflicts were declared.

4. Business

4.1 COVID-19 Update

The Interim Deputy Registrar, Paul Picard, provided an update on the College’s current position with respect to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Interim Deputy Registrar indicated that, based on government and Ministry of Health announcements, the current situation might remain in effect until the end of May or early June. He noted that it was important from both a student and a teacher level to deal with all of the realities of the situation going forward, particularly from a mental health perspective. He further noted that the circumstances presented a unique opportunity for collaboration in the truest sense of the word, where the governance side and operational side were working together. He indicated that this was an opportunity to redefine the role of the College to serve as a resource to the profession on multiple levels.

The Interim Deputy Registrar reported on two of the College’s positions with respect to members and to staff. He confirmed that despite the possibility of financial implications, the College had shared messaging with members indicating that no action would be taken as a result of unpaid fees and that licences would not be suspended. During this period, the Interim Deputy Registrar acknowledged that the decision related to members’ unpaid fees should have been made in collaboration with the Chair of the Finance Committee. He also noted that no College staff would be laid off as a result of the present situation.

Following the Interim Deputy Registrar’s comments, he and the Chair of Council responded to questions from members of Council.

4.2 Personnel Matter (In Camera Session)

It was moved by Timothy Kwiatkowski, seconded by Colleen Landers, and by consensus

CARRIED,

That Council move into an In Camera Session with only Council members present to deal with a personnel matter.

The Interim Deputy Registrar declared a conflict and left the meeting at 5:10 p.m.

Council moved out of the in camera session at 6:45 p.m. and the Chair of Council reported out that the current Interim Deputy Registrar would be completing his term in that position effective end-of-day on April 17, 2020. She also reported the following motions that were approved by Council:

It was moved by Michelle Miner Seal, seconded by Gerry O’Reilly, and by consensus

CARRIED,

That Council appoint Chantal Bélisle, OCT as Deputy Registrar for a two-year term, renewable upon mutual consent, commencing April 15, 2020.

It was moved by Michelle Miner Seal, seconded by Gerry O’Reilly, and by consensus

CARRIED,

That Council retain Paul Picard, OCT as an advisor to Council effective April 20, 2020 to complete the report as requested and, present the findings and recommendations to Council at the June Council meeting.

The motion to move out of the in camera session was moved by Tim Gernstein and seconded by Colleen Landers.

5. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.