Question 1 – Zone 1 Responses
Will you act to postpone the appointment of a new OCDSB director? If no, what are your reasons? If yes, what are your reasons and how will you act?
In alphabetical order below
– Jon Flemming
– Gurprit Kindra
– Lynn Scott
– No Responses
Jon Flemming – Yes
Absolutely, yes. Governance in, in my view, one of the most important roles for the Board. Not only do I believe that the appointment of a new Director be postponed until the new Board is sworn in and up to speed on the issues, familiar with the personalities, and the needs of students, I believe the entire process should be paused until such time, and perhaps reset once the new Board is in place. The notion that there are veteran trustees who believe otherwise is troubling, to say the least. I can assure you that I will be a strong voice to ensure each trustee has a role in making this critical decsion, that has the potential to impact a generation of students.
Gurprit Kinda – Yes
Dear sir and or madam,
Obviously, we cannot have the “old” Board appoint a new director. Allowing them to do so, would simply hobble the capacity of the new Board to work with a Director that is in on the same wavelength and not beholden to the outgoing Board. I cannot begin to count the types of conflicts and inefficiencies such an appointment would bring into the picture. Detrimental effect of such an appointment would be long term, and would definitely outweigh any perceived benefits of hiring the Director immediately.
Incidentally, under the circumstances, attempts by the current Board to appoint a CEO post-haste, would not be considered a normal management practice and remain open to challenge by parents as well as the new Government in Queens Park.
Lynn Scott – No
As a person who has always valued innovation and forward thinking, I believe we need a new Director with exemplary qualifications and all the skills necessary to take the OCDSB forward and, over at least the next four years, implement whatever new policy decisions will be made by the board elected this fall. For the record, I do not have any particular candidate in mind.
For trustees selecting a new Director of Education, a bold vision for initiating changes to how we deliver education to unleash the real potential of current and future students must be accompanied by a reasonable understanding of the complexities of the public education system, the OCDSB as a large institution, and the many competing needs of our diverse communities.
The mandate of the current board extends to 30 November 2018, and hiring directors of education is part of that mandate. All current trustees were democratically elected. All current trustees have had at least four years to hear the hopes and concerns of our constituents — the general public, parents, students and staff — for public education in Ottawa, and to see those hopes and concerns in the context of the system as a whole. Additional consultation has been undertaken specific to expectations for a new Director, to enlarge on what we’ve already heard incidentally about the role through previous consultations on the strategic plan and other initiatives.
Failing to attempt to have a new Director of Education in place, with a timely transition coordinated with the transition to the new board of trustees, would be an abdication of the current board’s governance and fiduciary responsibilities, and a disservice to our students.
No Responses
– Ken Lumsden
– Brandon Rabideau