The Legislative Assembly of Ontario was scheduled to resume this week but now MPPs have an extra three days in their constituencies and will return on April 28, 2022 – the same day the provincial budget will be tabled. OPSBA has been asked to participate in the stakeholder budget lockup that will provide a technical briefing, and budget information will be shared with our members. However, there will not be many, if any, education-related items as these were identified in the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) and 2022-23 Technical Paper.
The election writ will drop on May 4, 2022, and then the house is currently set to adjourn for the election. This would mean that the government will not likely have enough time to pass the budget motion or its corresponding legislation by that day, which will set the budget blueprint as the government’s campaign platform. Any bills currently at Committee will not have public hearing dates to complete the legislative process. With the government entering into caretaking mode, the Minster of Education held his last weekly teleconference earlier this week with school boards, as did the Deputy Minister with Directors of Education.
The extension of “provincial masking requirements in select higher -risk indoor setting until June 11, 2022″ was announced on April 22. The requirement in those settings was previously set to expire on April 27, 2022.
OPSBA Municipal and School Board Social Media Campaign Begins
With municipal and school board trustee nominations opening on May 2, OPSBA is creating a series of social media posts to generate awareness of the nomination date and process, and to encourage more diverse candidates to seek election. This campaign has been designed to complement OESC resources, with ads and posts appearing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram during the week of April 25 to May 2, 2022. OPSBA will be encouraging all trustees and education partners to follow and share the posts with their contacts. To see the visuals and posts, please visit our social media accounts.
Capital Priorities Announced
The Minister of Education has announced funding to support school and child care projects as part of the 2022-2023 Capital Priorities Program. This latest round of approved projects was introduced in the February 4, 2022 memo that asked boards to submit up to five project proposals with at least two being new project proposals. The ministry received a total of 290 requests from 58 school boards for school capital projects, and these projects also included 132 requests from 39 school boards for child care capital funding. Member boards received individualized information that provided an overview of their particular approved projects, as well as a communications protocol for any local announcements.
The news release, Ontario Building New Schools and Launching Rapid Build Pilot, also lists the five schools that will pilot using modular construction for their projects. Two OPSBA member boards were selected: the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Upper Grand District School Board. OPSBA President Cathy Abraham responded to the modular announcement in the Toronto Star.
REGISTRATION OPEN for OPSBA’s 2022 AGM and Program, Re-Connecting and Making a Difference
Be sure to visit the conference registration site to secure your registration : Summary – 2022 AGM and Program (cvent.com)
OPSBA looks forward to welcoming members back in person at the 2022 AGM and Program. Join us to determine priorities and directions for the coming year, elect officers and plan for the future. The event also features dynamic keynotes from Nik Nanos and “Brittlestar” Stewart Reynolds, professional development sessions and engaging opportunities for trustees to network and re-connect.
The AGM program begins the evening of Thursday, June 9 with registration starting at 6 p.m., followed by a welcome reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Registration will continue on Friday morning and the formal event will kick off at 9 a.m. The AGM will conclude with the Presidents’ Dinner on Saturday, June 11.
