Minutes of Council Meetings

Minutes of the Council Meeting of the Ontario College of Teachers, held on February 28 — March 1, 2002 in the Council Chambers, 6th Floor, 121 Bloor Street East, Toronto.

Table of Contents

1. Call to Order/Welcome

2. Agenda

3. Minutes

4. Business Arising

5. Registrar’s Report

6. Committee Reports

7. Correspondence

8. New Business

9. Notices of Motion

10. Next Meeting

11. Adjournment

SESSION I

February 28, 2002

Present: Bernard J. Adam, Samy Appadurai, Guill Archambault, James Black, Jackie Breithaupt , Douglas Brown, Sterling Campbell, Larry M. Capstick (Chair), Doug Carter, Janet Cornwall, Pat Daly, Karl Dean (from 2:05 p.m.), Margaret Dempsey (via teleconference), Jerry DeQuetteville, Solette N. Gelberg, Audrey Hadfield, Nancy Hutcheson, Marilyn Laframboise (Vice-Chair), Diane Leblovic, Dick Malowney, Elayne McDermid, Karen Mitchell, Harry Mulvale, Iain Munro, Elizabeth Papadopoulos, David Somer, Frances Thorne, J.W. (Joe) Atkinson (Registrar)

Regrets: Ernie Checkeris, Martin Kings, Mark Lefebvre, Larry Mongeon

Presiding Officer: George Merrett

Guests: Caroline Zayid (McCarthy Tétrault), Allan Cohen (Communications Consultant, for Item 4.1)

Staff: Peter Alexander, Margaret Aubé, Marina Brasil, Myrtle Herzenberg, Richard Lewko, Charlie Morrison, Patrick O’Neill, Josie Peretti, Carol Springer, W. Douglas Wilson

1. Call to Order/Welcome

The Presiding Officer, George Merrett, called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. and welcomed all present.

The Chair, Larry M. Capstick, introduced new Council member, James Black. Mr. Black is replacing Rich Prophet who resigned from Council to take up a teaching position in Saskatchewan. The Chair also introduced Janet Ouellette who will be replacing Dick Malowney at the end of March 2002.

It was noted that Steering was comprised of Solette N. Gelberg and Marilyn Laframboise.

2. Agenda (GC20020228-1)

Frances Thorne requested that an additional item “Associate Teachers -- Practicum” be added under New Business.

It was moved by Steering, and

CARRIED,

That the Revised Agenda for the February 28 - March 1, 2002 Council meeting be approved as amended.

3. Minutes

3.1 Meeting, November 8-9, 2001 (GC20020228-2)

It was moved by Steering, and

CARRIED,

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on November 8-9, 2001 be approved.

4. Business Arising

4.1 College Communications Strategy (GC20020228-4, 5, 52)

Richard Lewko, Executive Co-ordinator, spoke to the report “Building Support, Raising Awareness: A Communications Plan” and gave a Powerpoint presentation on the College’s Communications Plan. A question and answer session followed.

It was agreed that activities already budgeted for in 2002 continue, that the non-budgeted items in 2002 be carried out within the budget and that activities for 2003 and beyond be revisited under future budgets.

Copies of the Powerpoint slides (GC20020228-52)were distributed at the meeting.

4.3 Deceased Members Listed on the Public Register As Suspended for Non-payment of Fees (GC20020228-6, 37, 49)

The Registrar spoke to the report. A question and answer session followed.

It was moved by Steering, “That Council approve the following recommendation contained in the report Deceased Members Listed on the Public Register as "Suspended - Non-payment of Fees,

THAT:

1. pursuant to section 47.1 of the Ontario College of Teachers Act and section 26 of Regulation 72/97, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board be required to provide the College with information regarding the death of a plan member on a monthly basis and that this information be used to change the member’s status on the Public Register to deceased;

2. the College continue to require a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate before changing a member’s status from “Suspended — Non-payment of Fees” to “Deceased”;

3. a recurring notice be placed in Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession requesting that (a) members provide the College with updated information when their member status changes, e.g., retirement, leaving the profession, etc., and (b) friends or family of deceased members send a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate to the College so that member statuses on the Public Register are up-to-date;

4. a notice be placed on the College’s website requesting that (a) members provide the College with updated information when their member status changes, e.g., retirement, leaving the profession, etc., and (b) friends or family of deceased members send a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate to the College so that member statuses on the Public Register are up-to-date;

5. the College initiate discussions with the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board to establish a protocol regarding the placement of an annual notice in their publications, in their correspondence with individuals receiving death benefits, and in their retirement toolkits;

6. the College initiate discussions with the Council of Directors of Education (CODE) and representatives from Human Resources Departments of Ontario school boards to establish a protocol for the sharing of appropriate information and acceptable documentation regarding deceased members;

7. a notice be placed in the publications produced by the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO);

8. should the information required in 1 or 2 above be unavailable, the Registrar will review the information provided on a case by case basis and, using the Registrar's discretionary authority, will decide whether a member’s status can be changed.”

Harry Mulvale requested that the motion be split and that point 1 be dealt with as a separate motion.

A vote was taken on the first part of the split motion, and it was

CARRIED,

That Council approve the following recommendation contained in the report Deceased Members Listed on the Public Register as “Suspended — Non-payment of Fees” (GC20020228-6):

That pursuant to section 47.1 of the Ontario College of Teachers Act and section 26 of Regulation 72/97, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board be required to provide the College with information regarding the death of a plan member on a monthly basis and that this information be used to change the member’s status on the Public Register to deceased.

A vote was taken on the second part of the split motion, and it was

CARRIED,

That Council approve the following recommendation contained in the report Deceased Members Listed on the Public Register as “Suspended — Non-payment of Fees” (GC20020228-6):

THAT:

1. That the College continue to require a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate before changing a member’s status from “Suspended — Non-payment of Fees” to “Deceased”;

2. a recurring notice be placed in Professionally Speaking/Pour parler profession requesting that (a) members provide the College with updated information when their member status changes, e.g., retirement, leaving the profession, etc., and (b) friends or family of deceased members send a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate to the College so that member statuses on the Public Register are up-to-date;

3. a notice be placed on the College’s web site requesting that (a) members provide the College with updated information when their member status changes, e.g., retirement, leaving the profession, etc., and (b) friends or family of deceased members send a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate to the College so that member statuses on the Public Register are up-to-date;

4. the College initiate discussions with the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board to establish a protocol regarding the placement of an annual notice in their publications, in their correspondence with individuals receiving death benefits, and in their retirement toolkits;

5. the College initiate discussions with the Council of Directors of Education (CODE) and representatives from Human Resources Departments of Ontario school boards to establish a protocol for the sharing of appropriate information and acceptable documentation regarding deceased members;

6. a notice be placed in the publications produced by the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO);

7. should the information required not be available through the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, or should a copy of a death certificate or an original letter signed by the Executor of the Estate not be available, the Registrar will review the information provided on a case by case basis, and, using the Registrar's discretionary authority, will decide whether a member’s status can be changed.

4.3 Amendments to Council Conference Call Protocol (GC20020228-8, 9)

A revision to point 9 of document GC20020228-8 was noted: the word “Chair” should be replaced by the word “Presiding Officer”. The Registrar spoke to the report.

It was moved by Steering, and

CARRIED,

That Council approve the amended Council Conference Call Protocol for Council Member Participation at Council and Committee Meetings (GC20020228-8) as corrected.

5. Registrar’s Report (GC20020228-10)

J.W. (Joe) Atkinson spoke to the report. A question and answer period followed.

The Registrar advised the Council members that Patrick O’Neill, Investigations and Hearings Co-ordinator, would retire at the end of March 2002. The Registrar acknowledged Patrick O'Neill's contribution to the College and extended his best wishes for an enjoyable retirement.

The meeting recessed at 5:30 p.m.

SESSION II

March 1, 2002

Present: Bernard J. Adam, Samy Appadurai, Guill Archambault, James Black, Jackie Breithaupt , Douglas Brown, Sterling Campbell, Larry M. Capstick (Chair), Doug Carter, Janet Cornwall (until 2:50 p.m.), Pat Daly, Karl Dean (until 1:00 p.m.), Margaret Dempsey, Jerry DeQuetteville, Solette N. Gelberg, Audrey Hadfield, Nancy Hutcheson, Martin Kings (via teleconference until 2:45 p.m.), Marilyn Laframboise (Vice-Chair), Diane Leblovic, Mark Lefebvre, Dick Malowney, Elayne McDermid, Karen Mitchell, Larry Mongeon, Harry Mulvale, Iain Munro, Elizabeth Papadopoulos, David Somer, Frances Thorne, J.W. (Joe) Atkinson (Registrar)

Regrets: Ernie Checkeris

Presiding Officer: George Merrett

Guests: Caroline Zayid (McCarthy Tétrault)

Staff: Peter Alexander, Margaret Aubé, Marina Brasil, Myrtle Herzenberg, Richard Lewko, Charlie Morrison, Patrick O’Neill, Josie Peretti, Carol Springer, W. Douglas Wilson

The meeting resumed at 9:05 a.m.

6. Committee Reports

6.1 Executive Committee/Chair’s Report (GC20020228-11)

The Chair, Larry M. Capstick, spoke to the report and answered questions. It was agreed that correspondence received on behalf of a Council member would be forwarded to the member concerned along with a copy of the response to that correspondence.

6.2 Investigation Committee (GC20020228-12, 13)

The Chair, Harry Mulvale, spoke to the report. He indicated that an Investigations panel had met on February 22, 2002. He also indicated that there was an elected position vacancy on the committee due to the resignation of Rich Prophet.

6.3 Discipline Committee (GC20020228-14, 15)

The Chair, Mark Lefebvre, spoke to the reports.

6.4 Fitness to Practise Committee (GC20020228-16)

The Chair, Margaret Dempsey, spoke to the report and provided an oral update of the meeting held on January 31, 2002.

6.5 Registration Appeals Committee (GC20020228-17, 18)

The Chair, Doug Carter, spoke to the reports and answered questions.

6.6 Professional Learning Committee (GC20020228-19, 20)

The Chair, Jerry DeQuetteville, spoke to the reports and answered questions.

6.7 Finance Committee (GC20020228-21, 22, 23)

The Chair, Solette N. Gelberg, spoke to the report and answered questions. She noted that the operation of the Professional Learning Program would cost an additional $5 million in 2003.

It was moved by Solette N. Gelberg, Chair, Finance Committee, and

CARRIED,

That Council amend the Ontario College of Teachers Statement of Investment Policies and Guidelines by the addition of the following as item (iii) in section 4, to read:

Section 4 — Permitted Investments

(iii) guaranteed investment certificates issued by any trust corporation that is registered under the Loans and Trusts Corporations Act.

6.8 Standards of Practice and Education Committee (GC20020228-24, 25, 53, 54)

The Chair, Diane Leblovic, spoke to the reports, provided an oral update of the meeting held on the morning of February 28, 2002, and answered questions. Copies of Exploring the Awareness and Understanding of the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession Report of November 2001 (GC20020228-53) and Professional Learning Framework for the Teaching Profession (GC20020228-54) were circulated to Council members.

6.9 Accreditation Committee (GC20020228-26, 27)

The Chair, Frances Thorne, spoke to the reports and answered questions.

6.10 Human Resources Committee

There was no report.

6.11 Editorial Board (GC20020228-28)

The Chair, Marilyn Laframboise, spoke to the report and answered questions.

6.12 Election Committee (GC20020228-29, 30)

The Chair, Doug Carter, spoke to the report and answered questions.

It was moved by Doug Carter, Chair, Election Committee, “That Council approve the following recommendation: That in the event that an acclaimed Council position becomes vacant, more than six months prior to the end of the Council’s term, the Nomination Committee should: (i) follow the same procedures that were implemented for the selection of two College member-at-large positions on the Professional Learning Committee, by including a notice inviting applications for the vacant Council position in the College’s magazine and on the College’s web site, and (ii) receive applications from College members who are interested and meet the nomination eligibility requirements for the vacant position, and make a recommendation to Council for appointment.”

Nancy Hutcheson requested that the word “should” in the lead-in sentence be replaced with the word “shall”. This was accepted as a friendly amendment.

A vote was taken on the motion, as amended, and it was

CARRIED,

That Council approve the following recommendation contained in the Election Committee Report (GC20020228-29):

That in the event that an acclaimed Council position becomes vacant, more than six months prior to the end of the Council’s term, the Nomination Committee shall:

1. follow the same procedures that were implemented for the selection of two College member-at-large positions on the Professional Learning Committee, by including a notice inviting applications for the vacant Council position in the College’s magazine and on the College’s web site, and

2. receive applications from College members who are interested and meet the nomination eligibility requirements for the vacant position, and make a recommendation to Council for appointment.

It was moved by Doug Carter, Chair, Election Committee, and

CARRIED,

That the 2003 Council election be held on April 14, 2003.

It was moved by Doug Carter, Chair, Election Committee, and

CARRIED,

That the 2003 Council election be conducted by electronic voting.

6.13 Nomination Committee

There was no report.

6.14 Quality Assurance Committee (GC20020228-31)

The Chair, Sterling Campbell, spoke to the report.

7. Correspondence (GC20020228-32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 49, 50, 51)

The following correspondence was received for information:

• Correspondence from Rich Prophet (GC20020228-32)
• Correspondence from Dick Malowney (GC20020228-33)
• Correspondence from Solette N. Gelberg (GC20020228-34)
• Correspondence from the Minister of Education (GC20020228-35)
• Correspondence from member Derek Hulse (GC20020228-36)
• Correspondence to Claude Lamoureux - Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board (OTPPB) (GC20020228-37)
• Correspondence from Claude Lamoureux - Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board (OTPPB) (GC20020228-49)
• Correspondence from the College and the Ontario Association of Deans of Education (OADE) to the Minister of Education regarding the Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test (GC20020228-50)
• Correspondence from the Minister of Education regarding the Ontario Teacher Qualifying Test (GC20020228-51)

Solette N. Gelberg commented on a paper Student Free Expression in Canada (GC20020228-34) that was presented at the Lancaster Education and Law Conference 2001.

8. New Business

8.1 Amendment to Regulation 184/97 — Definition of “Acceptable University Degree” (GC20020228-38, 39)

J.W. (Joe) Atkinson, Registrar, spoke to the report. He noted a correction in the report; on p. 3 under heading AUCC Membership, point 5, “200” should read “500”.

It was moved by Steering, and

CARRIED,

That Council approve the following recommendations outlined in the report Amendment to Regulation 184/97 — Definition of “Acceptable University Degree” (GC20020228-38):

THAT:

1. The definition of “acceptable university degree” in Regulation 184/97, Teachers' Qualifications be amended to read:

“acceptable post-secondary degree” means a degree that is,

(a) Granted by an Ontario university that is an ordinary member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, or a degree granted by a post-secondary institution operating under ministerial consent in Ontario or an Act of the Ontario Provincial Legislature.

2. The Registrar forward this recommendation to the Minister of Education.

8.2 Bill 110 — Quality in the Classroom Act, 2001 — Analysis (GC20020228-40)

Peter Alexander, Policy Analyst, Policy & Research Unit, spoke to the report and answered questions.

8.3 Professional Learning Motion — Elizabeth Papadopoulos (GC20020228-48)

It was moved by Elizabeth Papadopoulos, seconded by Mark Lefebvre, “That the Council of the Ontario College of Teachers advise the Minister of Education to suspend the Professional Learning requirements imposed by legislation and enter into discussion with the Ontario College of Teachers for the purpose of developing a Professional Learning Framework that is meaningful and supported by the profession.”

It was moved by Jerry DeQuetteville, seconded by Nancy Hutcheson, but

LOST,

That Council amend the motion by substitution to read:

That the Council of the Ontario College of Teachers request the Minister of Education to review the Professional Learning requirements in the legislation and as a part of this review enter into discussion with the Ontario College of Teachers for the purpose of developing a professional learning program that is based upon research, best practice and consultation.

A recorded vote was requested by David Somer.

Recorded Vote:

For	Against
Bernard J. Adam	Samy Appadurai
Guill Archambault	Jackie Breithaupt
James Black	Douglas Brown
Sterling Campbell	Janet Cornwall
Larry M. Capstick	Patrick Daly
Doug Carter	Margaret Dempsey
Jerry DeQuetteville	Solette N. Gelberg
Nancy Hutcheson	Audrey Hadfield
Marilyn Laframboise	Martin Kings
Mark Lefebvre	Diane Leblovic
Harry Mulvale	Dick Malowney
Iain Munro	Elayne McDermid
Elizabeth Papadopoulos	Karen Mitchell
	Larry Mongeon
	David Somer
	Frances E. Thorne
For: 13	Against: 16	Absent: 2

There was discussion on the wording of the main motion, and, whether the Minister could carry out the action in the motion. The Speaker ruled the motion in order.

David Somer challenged the ruling of the Presiding Officer because he believed that the Minister could not carry out the action in the motion.

The Presiding Officer ruled that the motion was in order.

A vote was taken, and the ruling of the Presiding Officer was upheld.

David Somer requested a recorded vote on the ruling of the Presiding Officer.

Recorded Vote:

For	Against
Bernard J. Adam	Samy Appadurai
Guill Archambault	Jackie Breithaupt
James Black	Douglas Brown
Sterling Campbell	Patrick Daly
Larry M. Capstick	Solette N. Gelberg
Doug Carter	Audrey Hadfield
Janet Cornwall	Martin Kings
Margaret Dempsey	Diane Leblovic
Jerry DeQuetteville	Dick Malowney
Nancy Hutcheson	Elayne McDermid
Marilyn Laframboise	Karen Mitchell
Mark Lefebvre	Larry Mongeon
Harry Mulvale	David Somer
Iain Munro	Frances E. Thorne
Elizabeth Papadopoulos
For: 15	Against: 14	Absent: 2

A vote was taken on the main motion, but it was

LOST,

That the Council of the Ontario College of Teachers advise the Minister of Education to suspend the Professional Learning requirements imposed by legislation and enter into discussion with the Ontario College of Teachers for the purpose of developing a Professional Learning Framework that is meaningful and supported by the profession.

A recorded vote on the main motion was requested by David Somer.

Recorded Vote:

For	Against	Abstain
Guill Archambault	Bernard J. Adam	Larry M. Capstick
James Black	Samy Appadurai
Sterling Campbell	Jackie Breithaupt
Doug Carter	Douglas Brown
Jerry DeQuetteville	Janet Cornwall
Nancy Hutcheson	Patrick Daly
Mark Lefebvre	Margaret Dempsey
Harry Mulvale	Solette N. Gelberg
Iain Munro	Audrey Hadfield
Elizabeth Papadopoulos	Martin Kings
	Marilyn Laframboise
	Diane Leblovic
	Dick Malowney
	Elayne McDermid
	Karen Mitchell
	Larry Mongeon
	David Somer
	Frances E. Thorne
For: 10	Against: 18	Abstain: 1	Absent: 2

8.4 Associate Teachers -- Practicum

Frances Thorne commented on associate teachers.

9. Notices of Motion

9.1 Bylaw Amendments — Professional Learning Program (GC20020228-41)

The following notices of motion were read into the minutes:

Moved by Jerry DeQuetteville, Chair, Professional Learning Committee:

1. That Section 23 of the Bylaws of the Ontario College of Teachers be amended by the addition of a new subsection 23.09 to read:

23.09 The fee for application for approval as a new provider of professional learning courses be:

1. $100.00 for 2001 and 2002
2. $100.00 for subsequent years or as may be amended from time to time, by the amendment of these Bylaws.

2. That Section 23 of the Bylaws of the Ontario College of Teachers be amended by the addition of a new subsection 23.10 to read:

23.10 The fee for application for approval of a new professional learning course be:

1. $25.00 for 2001 and 2002
2. $25.00 for subsequent years or as may be amended from time to time, by the amendment of these Bylaws.

10. Next Meeting

• May 2, 2002 (4:00 p.m. by teleconference)
• June 6 — 7, 2002.

11. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

Signed: Chair, Larry M. Capstick	Signed: Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, J.W. (Joe) Atkinson
Dated	Dated