7/31/2019 Catholic trustees leaked memo stating strategy to go
around Bill 13
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Special Teleconference Meeting of the OCSTA Board of
Directors
Monday, June 4, 2012 7:00 p.m.
A G E N D A
1. Prayer
2. Aftermath of Bill 13
- Verbal Update President- Report of Executive Director
1-4
3. Adjournment
TO ACCESS THE TELECONFERENCE
Local: 416-764-8673
Toll Free: 1-888-780-5892
Guest Code: 1026010 followed by the number (#) key.
Distribution: OCSTA DirectorsOCSTA Senior Staff
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CONFIDENTIAL
7/31/2019 Catholic trustees leaked memo stating strategy to go
around Bill 13
2/5
Report to the OCSTA Board of Directors re: Bill 13
Kevin Kobus, Executive Director
June 4, 2012
Bill 13 will pass on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The objectionable
amendment regarding the requirement to
allow the name Gay Straight Alliance will be part of the Bill.
Because of the need to move on, a
suggested strategy is being recommended.
Attached as Appendix A is a memorandum submitted by the
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
to OCSTA. It addresses a number of the issues pertaining to Bill
13.
There are enough indicators to show that this governments
support for Catholic schools is questionable.
The Minister, however, has been consistent in saying that the
defunding of Catholic schools is not on the
table. Time will tell. In light of the passage of Bill 13
(expected on Tuesday, June 5th), it is important to
have a unified response to the key issues. Two of the
fundamental issues are taken right from the
Dufferin-Peel document.
a. Will OCSTA initiate a legal challenge of Bill 13?
Suggested Strategy:
It is not the intent of OCSTA to initiative a legal
challenge.
b. What should a principal of a Catholic school do if a group of
students wants to name the
group GSA?
Suggested Response:
Principals should be advised to allow students to call a group a
GSA if such a request is
made. This does not, however, remove the right of a principal to
ensure the appropriateness
of materials used in the school. The Respecting Difference
Resource created for Catholicschools provides guidelines for
ensuring that student-led groups to combat bullying reflect
Catholic values and adhere to Ministry guidelines. I would point
out that a group of students
in a GSA may be a subset of a larger group such as a Respecting
Difference or Open Arms
group. As there are various names currently being used in
Catholic schools, the deliberation
will occur at the local level.
Subject to the passage of the Bill on Tuesday and subject to the
approval of the above strategies by the
OCSTA Board of Directors, a memo will be sent to all Catholic
boards on Tuesday.
Recommendation:
That the strategies mentioned in this report be endorsed by the
OCSTA Board of Directors.
There is a meeting scheduled for noon on Monday, June 4,
involving the Minister of Education, the
Ministers Chief and the President and Executive Director of
OCSTA. If that exchange has any bearing on
the recommended strategies, it will be reported to the Board of
Directors at the meeting later in the
day.
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CONFIDENTIAL
