Agenda of the Association for the week of December 5, 2011.


Monday:  Montreal

Tuesday:  Montreal - François Legault speech to Chambre de commerce

Wednesday:  Montreal

Thursday:  Quebec City - Commission de l'administration hearing on VG Transport Report

Friday:  Montreal


Meeting of the Board of Directors

A first meeting of the new QESBA Board of Directors was held in Montreal last Friday. Among the items treated were: A QESBA-commissioned legal opinion on the constitutional protections afforded English school boards, eligibility issues and the formation of a new Immediate Priorities Committee and more important, the future of school boards. The Board considered follow-up steps to a meeting last Wednesday, convened, at the request of the Minister, between Sous-Ministre Louise Pagé and the Directors General of the nine Boards and QESBA. The Board also underlined the upcoming retirement of the Director of Labour Relations, Ben Huot. The Board of Directors adopted a unanimous motion of recognition of Ben’s 17 years of dedicated service at the helm of QESBA labour relations. His long teaching and school administration career include some 18 years of service before Ben joined QESBA. 

Immediate Priorities Committee

The Board of Directors adopted the creation of a new ad-hoc Committee on Immediate QESBA Priorities, to be chaired by Executive Committee member and Chair of the Eastern Townships School Board Michael Murray. The Committee will assess and propose Association priorities to the Board of Directors, based on its analysis of member board needs as well educational, political and financial circumstances facing English public education in Quebec. The other members named to the Committee were: A first meeting of this Committee will be held shortly.

Meeting of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs

A meeting of the network Chairs and Vice-Chairs will be held by VCN or teleconference later this week (participants are being surveyed regarding their availability for a Friday or Saturday meeting). The session will be held to address a single, but major item: strategies regarding future funding and service organization of English school boards.

CSBA Congress 2012

CSBA Steering Committee met on Friday, December 2, 2011 prior to the Board of Directors to review a preliminary program and recommend a fee structure for the Congress. Information on CSBA 2012 will go up on the QESBA site this week and the launch of a CSBA 2012 site will take place shortly. School boards across Canada, including our own, have been invited to propose break-out workshop ideas on best practices relating to the “ConneXions” conference theme.

Commission parlementaire on transportation

The Commission de l’administration of the National Assembly will hold a private session with QESBA, the Fédé and representatives of the MELS to further its deliberations on the Vérificateur général’s report and recommendations on school board transportation. QESBA will be represented by Executive Director David Birnbaum and CQ ADG Cathleen Scott at the session.

Examination into expanded group purchasing

A MELS-réseau task force seeking economies of scale for school boards through group purchasing has been holding meetings over the past few months. EMSB Assistant Finance Director George Alexiou is serving on the exploratory group, and is sharing deliberations with QESBA and ADGESBQ. In the current and difficult financial context, there is an enhanced focus on seeking to group services, where real efficiencies can be found.

François Legault at the Chambre de commerce de Montréal

Francois Legault will be the guest speaker for the Chambre de Commerce du Montréal métropolitain luncheon tomorrow. QESBA will be represented by President David D’Aoust, Vice-President Frank Verrillo and Executive Director David Birnbaum. QESBA has also invited AAESQ President Mark Masserelli to join the delegation, which will be sharing a table with the President and Director General of the Fédé.

"Food for thought"

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.