Nov. 6 and 7, Calgary

A year of legal issues facing school boards

Have a school closure in your future? Contemplating transferring staff? This 2-day conference covers the legal bases in a year of school board life. Ideal for:
senior staff who work for the school board, board chairs and trustees interested in the legal working of the school board.  Fee: $514.50.  Register before Oct. 26, 2012. Program and registration are here.

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6 ways to enhance your FGM experience

Read some books
Check out keynote speaker Dr. Gabor Mate’s books Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers  and When the Body Says No:  The Cost of Hidden Stress. His keynote and break-out sessions will explore these themes.

Make sure your MLA attends Tuesday’s breakfast
The annual MLA breakfast is at 7 a.m. Tuesday Nov. 20. Invites go out Oct. 24. As MLAs respond, we will post their RSVPs on the ASBA website. Have to share an MLA? Think about inviting your MLA to join your board for dinner on Monday night for some private time.

Bring a yoga mat
CBE trustee Sheila Taylor will offer sunrise yoga on Monday and Tuesday morning.

Bring your woolies  
Join the hardy morning crew in the Westin lobby to walk in Edmonton’s beautiful river valley first thing Monday and Tuesday morning.

Put on your TV makeup
Tell local media they can watch you in action during the business session. We will be webcasting for their viewing pleasure. Go to www.asba.ab.ca (Or just tell your grandkids).

Bring your policies bulletin
Bring your policies bulletin. It will make the business session a whole lot more interesting. To be e-mailed October 26.

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vis-à-vis legal newsletter Oct. 2012

More transparency needed in teacher
discipline procedures: Ontario review

The Ontario College of Teachers says it will act swiftly on retired Superior Court Justice Patrick LeSage’s 49 recommended changes to its teacher discipline procedures including heeding LeSage’s call that the college build more transparency into process for disciplining teachers.

The Ontario College of Teachers regulates teachers in that province. As reported in the May 31, 2012 Toronto Star, the college commissioned LeSage to review its disciplinary practices after a series of Toronto Star articles revealed secrecy around disciplinary decisions and poor disciplinary practices. Read more.

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In the Oct. Communications Now

Trustees building relationships with local media

Trustees and news reporters have more in common than one might think. They rely on mutual cooperation to get the story to the public. Education reporters need trustees’ insights and cooperation to cover their assignments. School boards need a reporter’s cooperation and willingness to listen to get detailed and correct information to the school jurisdiction’s publics. Read more.

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Like reworking bylaws?

2 spots open on team reviewing ASBA bylaws

The ASBA’s bylaws are up for review. A task force made up of ASBA’s Policy Development Advisory Committee and two trustees at large will do this work. If you are interested in participating, complete the call for interest which will be sent shortly. For more information contact Heather Tkachuk.

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Interested in student health?

2 spots open on the ASBA
Student Health and Wellness Task Force

The ASBA Student Health and Wellness Task Force is looking for two additional members who have a strong and active interest in student health and wellness and who enjoy working with other organizations to accomplish its goals.  A call for interest will be posted on ASBA’s website shortly.  The deadline date to submit applications is Friday, November 23, 2012.

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What's new @ www.asba.ab.ca

Agenda Board of Directors October 11 (PDF–64K)
Draft Minutes Board of Directors Sept. 13-14 (PDF–136K)
Minutes Board of Directors Sept. 13-14 (PDF–96K)

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In the news...

Each day the ASBA posts education headlines
on the ASBA website.

Recent headlines

No-zero principal gets new job
10/06/2012, The Edmonton Journal
CBE making noise to deter vandals
10/08/2012, The Calgary Herald
Pilot program to evaluate children as early as Kindergarten
10/08/2012, The New Jersey News
Students don’t like healthy school lunches
10/05/2012, The New York Times
Toronto board's guidelines to
accommodate transgender students/teachers
10/08/2012, The Globe and Mail
North Van district apologizes to man for homophobic slur
10/04/2012, The Huffingtonpost.com
France looks at extending
school week to curb student burnout
10/05/2012, The Globe and Mail
CBE bid for expense transparency goes too far
10/04/2012, The Calgary Herald
Drop-out rates dropping in Calgary high schools
10/02/2012, AM 770
3 BC students suspended for
fighting and posting video on YouTube
10/03/2012, The Calgary Herald
Much vaunted Finnish system drops on latest PISA tests
10/03/2012, The Australian
Comparing teacher hourly wages to other professions
10/02/2012, The Financial Post
No school fees  for Lethbridge
Public elementary school students
09/27/2012, The Calgary Herald

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