Associations August 2024 Civil and Municipal Education Public Sector

Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) – Ontario Canada

August 28, 2024

Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA)

Championing Catholic Education

Supporting and advocating for Catholic education across Ontario through strategic initiatives and dedicated leadership.

The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) is an institution that has been integral to Ontario’s educational framework for over nine decades. Representing 29 Catholic district school boards and 237 trustees, the OCSTA’s mission is to protect and promote publicly funded Catholic education inspired by gospel values. This comprehensive mandate is carried out through various avenues of support and advocacy.

Patrick Daly, the association’s President, articulates the OCSTA’s role with clear commitment. “Our primary mission is inspired by gospel values to protect and promote publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario,” he says. This mission manifests in multiple ways, from professional development and governance training to faith formation for trustees. “We support them in many ways, both in terms of professional development, governance training, and equally important, faith formation.”

The association hosts several significant events throughout the year to bolster this support, such as an annual trustee seminar in January and an annual general meeting in late April or May. Additionally, there are regional meetings each fall, where OCSTA representatives travel across the province to engage with trustees in five distinct regions. “Each fall, we travel around the province, visiting trustees in each of the five regions, to share information and provide professional development and faith formation opportunities.”

The OCSTA also facilitates speaker series events several times a year, offering virtual gatherings on a broad spectrum of topics to assist trustees. Daly shares a recent example, “We just earlier this week had a media training session for the chairs of each of the 29 Catholic school boards.”

Advocacy is another crucial component of the OCSTA’s work. Daly highlights their regular interactions with Ministry of Education officials, the Minister of Education, cabinet ministers, and MPPs to advocate for Catholic education and respond to legislative actions. “We meet regularly with government leaders and representatives to promote Catholic education and to respond to certain pieces of legislation or actions on the part of the government.”

Over the past decade, the OCSTA has also taken on the role of the legal bargaining agent for all 29 Catholic school boards. Daly notes, “We bargain for all 29 Catholic school boards. We represent them in provincial bargaining and at a number of provincial tables with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, who represents all the teachers in our school boards.”

Legislative Challenges and Advocacy

The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association is deeply engaged in addressing legislative matters that directly impact its members. This engagement reflects the OCSTA’s unwavering dedication to advocating for and supporting Catholic education across Ontario. Its involvement spans consultations, presentations, and direct advocacy efforts, ensuring that the interests of Catholic school boards are well-represented and protected.

Daly explains, “We are at all times dealing with various issues. Recently, we’ve participated in the annual grants for student needs consultation with the Ministry of Education.” This annual consultation is crucial as it allows the OCSTA to present a comprehensive brief on the challenges faced by Catholic school boards regarding funding, accompanied by specific recommendations. Moreover, it has developed a brief for the provincial government’s pre-budget consultation to influence the upcoming budget, presenting these recommendations to the Finance Committee next week.

One significant legislative issue the OCSTA has addressed over the past several months is Bill 98. Daly notes, “It’s a significant piece of legislation introduced and passed by the provincial government, covering a wide range of areas.” These areas include provincial priorities, increased authority for the minister, performance appraisals of directors of education, and the disposition of properties. The OCSTA has actively participated in consultations on various aspects of this bill and the subsequent regulations.

The association’s advocacy efforts extend to regular meetings with MPPs to promote the successes of Catholic schools and highlight the priorities and challenges faced by Catholic school boards. “We meet regularly, one, two, sometimes more, MPPs a week to promote the great things happening in Catholic schools across the province,” Daly shares. These continuous efforts aim to build relationships and positively influence policy decisions affecting Catholic education.

Promoting Catholic Education Initiatives

Beyond legislative advocacy, the OCSTA promotes the initiatives and successes of Catholic education throughout Ontario. This includes not only the achievements of the schools but also the broader impact of Catholic education on the community.

Daly emphasizes the scale of Catholic education in the province: “We represent 29 Catholic school boards, approximately 1,320 Catholic schools, educating over 550,000 students and employing over 59,000 staff. We represent over 2 million Catholic ratepayers in the province.” This extensive network shows the significant role Catholic education plays in Ontario’s educational landscape.

The OCSTA coordinates several key initiatives, such as Catholic Education Week each year in early May. “We have a theme, a Catholic Education Week song, and distribute extensive material. The Catholic school boards and the schools within their systems celebrate and promote the good that’s happening in our schools that week,” Daly explains. These celebrations highlight the intellectual, spiritual, physical, and human formation that Catholic schools provide to every child, reinforcing the positive contributions of Catholic education to society.

Direct Support and Investment in Catholic Education

The OCSTA also plays a vital role in supporting Catholic school boards and individual trustees through a variety of resources and events. These initiatives ensure that trustees are well-equipped to fulfill their roles and address the needs of the Catholic education community effectively.

Daly emphasizes, “Our January trustee seminar, AGM, and regional meetings see hundreds of trustees attending and benefiting from these sessions.” The OCSTA distributes numerous briefs and memos, ensuring trustees have access to the materials they need. Daly believes in the importance of listening to the trustees and responding adequately to their needs by providing the necessary resources. “We provide additional documents or adjust priorities based on what we’re hearing from them.”

Investment in Extracurricular Activities and Addressing Challenges

To further support its members, the OCSTA makes direct investments in various priority areas, including sports, arts, and extracurricular activities, reflecting the broad spectrum of interests and needs within Catholic schools. These activities play a significant role in the holistic development of students, contributing to their intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth.

“Publicly funded Catholic schools in Ontario take great pride in providing Christ-centered learning opportunities,” Daly states. He highlights the wide range of programs offered, from sports and arts to student councils and clubs, emphasizing the success of their teams and choirs at local, provincial, and national levels. “We can take great pride in the quality of programming, both during the school day and in co-curricular extracurricular activities.”

Despite these successes, the OCSTA faces several challenges that require continuous effort and advocacy. Daly mentions issues such as the rising costs related to sick leave and staff absenteeism, which have significantly increased over the past few years. Additionally, the new transportation funding formula introduced last year presents some areas in need of improvement. “Special education funding has been a long-standing issue due to the complexity of student needs today,” Daly notes. He also points out the challenge of capital funding to keep up with costs.

To assuage these challenges, the OCSTA maintains a strong relationship with the Ministry of Education and government officials, working collaboratively to address these challenges. Daly emphasizes the importance of listening to member boards to understand their current challenges and priorities, which informs their advocacy efforts. “We believe it’s important to identify challenges and recommend solutions, being part of bringing about positive change.”

Balancing Challenges and Rewards

The role of President of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association involves navigating a complex array of responsibilities and priorities. Daly’s reflections on his tenure provide a glimpse into the personal and professional dimensions of his leadership.

Daly admits, “The most challenging aspect is an interesting question.” He credits his ability to manage these challenges to the incredible support system around him. “I have been blessed to be surrounded by amazing people, starting with my wife, Carol, and my children. The people I serve with, my fellow trustees, both in Hamilton and across the province, have been a source of great admiration and mentorship.”

He also speaks highly of the staff at the OCSTA office, particularly Sharon and her small but dedicated team. “Their inspiring commitment to Catholic education and goodness far outweighs any particular challenges,” he states. Daly finds immense reward in these relationships and the collective effort towards a common goal, which has always been a source of strength and motivation for him.

Priorities for the Year Ahead

As the OCSTA looks ahead to 2024, Daly outlines the top priorities amidst numerous competing demands. The focus remains on providing robust support and services for Catholic trustees, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the increasing complexities of their roles. “The complexity of our role has increased significantly over the last number of years, so it’s always a priority to make sure we’re serving them well,” he explains.

Financial challenges continue to be a significant focus, with efforts aimed at realizing positive changes in areas such as funding and resources. Additionally, ongoing negotiations with the Catholic Teachers Association are a pressing concern. “Achieving essential agreements and ultimately ratifying local agreements with all of our employee groups is a real priority,” Daly says. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring that teachers, principals, and support staff are treated and compensated fairly while maintaining the quality of service to students.

Throughout these endeavors, Daly underscores the collective effort involved. “It’s me being part of a really good and strong team,” he acknowledges. The shared dedication and collaborative spirit of the board of directors, staff, and trustees form the backbone of the OCSTA’s mission, driving its efforts to continue supporting Catholic education across Ontario.