Intermediate Review or Specialist Elimination

The following motion deals with broad points of timing, consultation and flexibility that everyone at Summit wants. The council also encourages Summit parents to weigh in on the other specific issues that are of great concern to them, e.g. the co-ed gym, reduction of arts minutes, extra-curriculars. These issues have not been dropped; they can be addressed through a consultation process and local flexibility. Please add your comments.

Subject: Proposed Changes in Intermediate Program Delivery

Whereas major changes in program delivery affecting the intermediate division of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), based on the recent Intermediate Review, have been proposed by Board staff;
Whereas we understand there has been no involvement of elected trustees in this decision making, other than presenting these proposals as an information item to a meeting of trustees;
Whereas there has been no consultation with parents or the community at large regarding these proposals and therefore no opportunity for interested stakeholders to comment and contribute to decision making;
Whereas a petition signed by 375 students of Summit Alternative School has demonstrated the concerns of affected students;
Whereas an information meeting convened by the Summit Alternative School Council (SASC) attracted more than 50 parents, including parents of current Grade 6 students who are concerned about the program their children will be entering next September;
Whereas efforts by the Fisher Park / Summit Alternative administration to implement these staff-directed program changes have contributed to difficult staffing issues at Summit Alternative which are currently causing a significant degree of uncertainty and discomfort in our community;
And, whereas Summit Alternative School is part of the OCDSB’s Alternative Program, with a clear mandate to offer integrated learning opportunities and to promote the student-teacher-parent partnership in learning as well as parental participation in the life of the school.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Summit Alternative School Council requests that the OCDSB agree to the following:

1. An immediate delay in implementation of the proposed program changes arising from the Intermediate Review shall be announced and communicated to affected school administrations, OCASC and intermediate school councils.
2. The OCDSB shall develop and announce a consultation plan to present the results of the Intermediate Review and the proposed program modifications to all interested stakeholders in the community, particularly parents, with provision for stakeholder involvement in decision making.
3. The OCDSB shall acknowledge that local flexibility in implementing staff directives should be allowed where a school can demonstrate that it is meeting the goals of proposed program changes through alternative structures or measures.

Moved by: Teresa LeGrand, Summit Alternative School Council
Seconded by: Lynn Stevenson, Co-Chair, Summit Alternative School Council
Date of approval: May 27, 2009