Ad Hoc Committees and Board Representative Assignments
Ad hoc committees are appointed by the Board or a standing committee of the Board to investigate or act on specific matters. Each ad hoc committee is responsible to the Board or standing committee that created it, and it is discharged on completion of its assignment.
Interpretations Committee
An Interpretations Committee is established pursuant to a collective agreement with any of the four organized employee organizations to interpret the application of the collective agreement with respect to an employee grievance. An Interpretations Committee is comprised of four individuals, two assigned by the respective employee organization and two Trustees representing the corporate Board as the employer.
Two Trustees will serve as committee members, on a rotational basis, as Interpretations Committees are requested by each of the four employee groups and with due consideration to conflicts of interest.
A record of Trustee assignments shall be maintained and made available to all Trustees on the Trustees' On-Line Reading Room.
The written decisions of Interpretation Committees will be provided to all Trustees.
Purpose
To hear and to resolve grievances filed by the employee organizations concerning the interpretation or application of the respective collective agreements.
To render decisions with respect to the grievances on whether the provisions of the collective agreement have been applied appropriately in the given situation. A unanimous decision of the committee is final and binding. A decision that is not unanimous gives either party the right to request arbitration of the dispute as set out in each of the collective agreements.
The committee is not empowered to change, modify, or alter any of the terms of a collective agreement in rendering its decision. However, the committee may vary the remedy sought, in an effort to mutually resolve the grievance.
Negotiation Assignments
The Conference Committee assigns two Trustees to each set of contract negotiations.
Purpose
To advise and assist the Administration in negotiations with teachers, custodians, maintenance staff and support staff.
Terms of Reference
The Conference Committee will identify the spokespersons for the different communication requirements of each set of negotiations.
In accordance with Section 59(1) of the Labour Relations Code, the Superintendent of Schools will recommend, for Conference Committee approval, a negotiator for the Board who will be authorized to "bargain collectively and conclude a collective agreement" with each employee organization.
The Superintendent of Schools will name one staff member responsible for all activities away from the bargaining table for each set of negotiations.
The Superintendent of Schools will be responsible for assigning members of the Administration to each bargaining team and reporting these assignments to the Conference Committee.
The Administration, through the negotiator, will prepare bargaining briefs and objectives for the consideration of the Conference Committee.
The Administration, through the negotiator, will be responsible for keeping the Conference Committee informed concerning all aspects of negotiations.
The negotiator will be responsible for bringing recommended settlements to the Conference Committee for consideration prior to ratification.
In accordance with Section 59(1) of the Labour Relations Code, the Trustees who have been assigned to each set of negotiations will be authorized to 'sign the collective agreement' after it has been ratified by the Board.
Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA)
Purpose
This association represents all of the publicly funded school Boards in the province. It is charged with the responsibility of promoting the interests of public, separate and francophone school Boards throughout the province. In addition to lobbying with the provincial government, the association provides member services in the areas of employee relations, legal services, professional development and employee benefit programs (through ASEBP).
Edmonton Public School Board Representatives to ASBA:
Provincial Board of Directors - one representative plus an alternate elected in evenly-numbered years for an 18-month term following the pattern - November 2011, June 2013, November 2014, June 2016). This position receives remuneration from the ASBA.
Zone 23 Executive - one representative plus an alternate for a one-year term.
ASBA Issues and Resolutions Committee
The Board assigns three Trustees to the committee:
the Board Chair (or Vice-Chair if the Chair already sits on the provincial Board of Directors)
the ASBA provincial Board of Director member
the Zone 23 representative
Purpose
To advise and assist the Board in presenting issues and resolutions to the Alberta School Boards Association Zone and General Meetings.
Public School Boards' Association of Alberta (PSBAA)
Purpose
This is an association that was formed to represent the interests of public school Boards in the province in cases where the Alberta School Boards Association cannot take strong positions since it must represent public, separate and Francophone boards.
Edmonton Public School Board Representatives to PSBAA:
The Executive Committee consists of a president, a first vice-president, a second vice-president, two directors and the executive director. The Edmonton Public School Board is entitled to nominate a Trustee for election to one or more of the above positions, however, only one Trustee from the district may sit on the Executive Committee at any one time. The term of office for president or vice-president is two years.
Public School Boards' Council - one representative and an alternate elected by the Board annually. The PSBC acts on behalf of the membership of the association subject to the authority of a general meeting of the Association. Each Board is asked to designate a Trustee and an alternate as liaison representative to the Association to serve on the Public School Boards' Council.
Capital Region Services to Children Linkages Committee
Purpose
To provide a regional forum for governing bodies involved with services to children and families to meet as equal partners to share information, adopt strategic directions, and facilitate collaboration that will reduce fiscal, attitudinal and organizational barriers.
To promote the regional delivery of family centered, child focused, comprehensive care, and reduce fiscal, attitudinal and organizational barriers to achieving these goals. The committee facilitates linkages amongst municipalities, school Boards, Capital Health Authority, Child and Family Services Authority - Region 6 - Edmonton and Area, and other organizations to identify issues of common interest and collectively develop and implement appropriate actions.
Edmonton Public School Board Representative to Linkages:
The Board elects one representative annually to the Capital Region Services to Children Linkages Committee.
Edmonton Public School Board Representative to EPS Foundation Board of Directors
The Board elects one representative annually to the Board of Directors for the EPS Foundation.
School Closure Moratorium Committee (Approved December 14, 2010)
Terms of Reference (Approved February 22, 2011)
Composition
The Moratorium Committee shall consist of three Trustees appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve until the end of the Moratorium on School Closures (November 30, 2012).
The Superintendent of Schools shall assign appropriate staff to support the work of the Moratorium Committee.
Parameters
All recommendations from the Committee will be presented as a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at a public board meeting.
The committee will inform itself and complement rather than duplicate the work of the Mayor's Task Force on Community Sustainability, the Tri-level discussions related to school closures, and other initiatives that the Board and broader communities take related to the issue of school closures.
Purpose
The motion that the Board of Trustees passed on November 30, 2010 was:
"That the Board impose a renewable two-year moratorium on school closures, and that during this time the Board seek to further understand the issues and impacts surrounding school closures. During the moratorium, the Board will also identify a number of ways to support schools instead of close them."
On December 14, 2010 the Board of Trustees passed this motion regarding the Moratorium Committee:
"That the Board create a committee to further understand the issues and impacts surrounding school closures and that this committee work to keep schools open by recommending initiatives to the Board that will address these issues and impacts over the period of the moratorium. That the committee report back to Board with the proposed terms of reference, and a plan and budget by February."
Therefore, the purpose of the Moratorium Committee will be to educate themselves on the issues and impacts surrounding school closures and identify ways to keep schools open.
Outcomes
Supports are identified to keep schools open.
Board's role is clarified in providing these supports, and the feasibility.
Recommendations are provided to the Board over the duration of the moratorium.
Potential partner's roles are identified.
Partners have been engaged to determine their interest and ability to support.
Increase level of public trust/confidence in the Board.
Advocacy Committee will incorporate and maintain a focus on issues related to school closures to increase public awareness of current pressures and realities.
Impacts of school closure to students, families, communities, and the district, both positive and negative, are summarized.
Process/Plan
Examine the issues surrounding school closures (March - October 2011).
This would include but not be limited to: Student instruction funding; space utilization; ageing school building; plant operation and maintenance funding; alternative programs and open boundaries; leasing issues; district enrolment trends; urban sprawl.
To achieve this, the Committee will meet with staff members, students, parents, and other members of the community. This will include meeting with those impacted by the CCEP and Hardisty Area schools which were closed in June 2010.
Give a Committee update to the Board (October/November 2011).
Develop recommendations for the Board (November 2011 - November 2012).
Communicate the work of the committee with public and increase awareness of our district realities (Ongoing).
Inform, advise and provide resources to the Tri-level conversations and the Mayor's Task Force on Community Sustainability (Ongoing).
Engage in dialogue and collaboration with the Advocacy Committee and Board's delegate to the Mayor's Task Force on Community Sustainability (Ongoing).
Amendment to the Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference may be amended upon recommendation of the Moratorium Committee and approval of the Board of Trustees.
Proposed Budget
Information Gathering Meeting (food/drink) -- $1000
Communications -- $4000
Incidentals -- $1000
TOTAL -- $6000
September 14, 2010
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