Professionally Speaking

Council meeting

Summary: November 12-13, 2009

At its November 12-13 meeting, College Council:

n formally requested of the Ontario government that it amend the Ontario College of Teachers Act to enable the Discipline Committee to impose publication bans that are binding on third parties – such that, under such a ban, no person could publish the identity of or information that would reveal the identity of:

• anyone under 18 who is a witness in a hearing or who is the subject of evidence at a hearing
• any witness whose testimony relates to allegations of a member’s misconduct of a sexual nature involving the witness
• any person subject to hearing evidence related to allegations of a member’s misconduct of a sexual nature involving that person

(Notwithstanding, information on the member whose conduct was in issue at the hearing would be available to the public on the College’s public register.)

• affirmed that the Chair of Council and the Registrar remain as the College’s official spokespeople, with appropriate Council members assigned responsibility on a case-by-case basis

• approved amendments to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation so that:

  • proof of eligibility for employment as a teacher, under the laws of Canada, no longer be required for registration and certification

  • the teacher education program completed in either English or French, as proof of language proficiency, be one that is acceptable to the College

  • the requirement to complete an orientation program for applicants certified outside Ontario be removed

  • applicants certified in another Canadian jurisdiction are required to acknowledge or attest to the Registrar that they have knowledge of matters applicable to the practice of teaching in Ontario, as long as providing such acknowledgement does not involve added training, experience, examinations or assessments

  • applicants certified outside Canada are required to acknowledge or attest to the Registrar that they have knowledge applicable to the practice of teaching in Ontario

  • an AQ course, Orientation to Teaching in Ontario, is added to Schedule C.

• directed the Registrar to develop resource materials about the practice of teaching in Ontario to help applicants meet the requirement and to develop an attestation in the electronic application form for certification

• approved an amendment to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation that would identify the criteria for eligibility for a transitional certificate for those completing the first session of a multi-session program in Ontario or in another Canadian jurisdiction and to provide for the imposition of terms, conditions or limitations

• approved an amendment to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation to add a new Schedule F – AQ courses related to technological education and that:

  • Schedule F courses be named “Teaching (XXXX) Technology”

  • each course consist of parts that reflect the areas of emphasis in the particular broad-based technology area

  • candidates be required to hold technological education basic qualifications, Grades 9 and 10 or Grades 11 and 12

  • specialist qualifications denote having completed three parts within a teaching technology area

• approved an amendment to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation changing the names of several qualifications

• approved an amendment to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation to add Media Arts to Schedule A and Occasional Teaching, Teaching Inuktituk, Teaching Michif and Teaching Students with Intellectual Needs (Mild Intellectual) to Schedule C

• approved an amendment to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation to enable those who hold an Interim Certificate of Qualification with a condition to complete 194 days of teaching to be deemed to hold a Certificate of Qualification and Registration without this condition

• approved an amendment to the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation to enable those who were certified in another Canadian jurisdiction and who hold an Interim Certificate of Qualification or Interim Certificate of Qualification (Limited) with Conditions to be deemed to hold a Certificate of Qualification and Registration without conditions

• directed the Registrar to consult further on classroom management; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues; and safe schools in the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation and report back to the March 2010 Council meeting

• directed the Registrar to consult further on science and technology, Grades 7 and 8 in the Teachers’ Qualifications Regulation and report back to the March 2010 Council meeting

• undertook to develop an attestation of knowledge of Ontario education as part of the online application process and resource materials

• undertook to have the Registrar examine whether teaching experience could meet the requirement of work experience with respect to technological education and report his findings to the March 2010 meeting

• undertook to have the Registrar follow up with the Ministry regarding the use of Temporary Letters of Approval for use in technological areas and green studies while AQs are being developed

• directed the Chair of Council and the Registrar to bring to the attention of the Minister of Education the matter of the reporting process regarding College member performance appraisals and report to Council

• passed the Ontario College of Teachers’ 2010 budget with operating revenues of $32,298,211, operating expenses of $31,187,405 before depreciation, and capital and deferred charges of $2,596,000

• approved depreciation costs of $1,653,851 for fixed assets and an added amount that reflects depreciation for the new building, such amount to be finalized once the valuation is completed

• approved that, in consideration of the extraordinary capital expenditures related to the move to 101 Bloor Street West in 2010, minimal capital expenditures be made in 2011

• approved an annual College employee salary increase of 1.24 per cent in 2010

• directed the Finance Committee to consider fee increases for certain services

• directed the Quality Assurance Committee to review and make recommendations on the mandate and composition of the Executive Committee to Council at its December 2010 meeting

• amended a bylaw to enable the use of e-mail for official notification to members

• asked the Registrar to present a plan to Council by June 2010 to exercise the College’s option to buy the fifth and sixth floors of 101 Bloor Street West during the five years following the facility purchase

• supported full-day kindergarten with an Ontario Certified Teacher delivering the program throughout the instructional day.