OFSAA REPRESENTATIVES’ COUNCIL MEETING
Sheraton Parkway Conference Center
Thursday, April 16, 2015
10:30 am Buttonville Room – upper level
- Roll Call and Introductions
- Chair’s Welcome – Ian Press, Vice President
- Appoint a recording Secretary – Tracey Parish
- Adoption of Minutes of April 14, 2014 Meeting
Mover: Martin Ritsma; Seconder: Shawn O’Hara
- Business Arising From the Minutes
Shawn O’Hara: removal of the Grade 8 transfer policy from association. Why? Principals did not support, logistics a nightmare, lack of agreement with rationale, difficult to hear appeals and be equitable, every decision scrutinized.
Discussion about the recruiting item and the development and implication of specialty program followed in relation to the above. Concern that students looking at the grade 9-10 “loophole” for transfer. Further consideration about speaking about/regulating grade 7-8 when the students have no access to this body needs to be reviewed.
- Association Reports
NOSSA – concerns relate to transportation and costs especially as they relate to ofsaa championships.
NEOSSA – within association, removal of championship funds; track and field to fund themselves this year
NWOSSA – agree that transportation is a key issues – local provider increased costs by 41%; Ethical guidelines to be considered within association.
GBSSA – conflict among local associations an boards; hot button issue is hockey (body contact and teams on probation); concerns around concussion/head trauma
CWOSSA – large geographic area so transportation is also an issue and the new team classifications poses further concerns about “balance” and costs; currently costs 30-60,000 for transportation and expected to only increase; one board of 8 to be hit with job action (and there are some hold over issues from previous labour disruption.
NCSSA – costs of championships; coach recruitment, retention and qualifications; looking to support students who transfer from home school for a semester to access specific programming and return to home school.
CISSA – concerns are classed time missed due to travel expectations and transportation costs.
CHAC – very positive – financial support available through senior staff and trustees; some issues related to individual sports vs team sports; declining enrolment means no new hires but several candidates in LTO positions running programs.
WOSSA – challenge – what is a reasonable fee to play (amount that can also be consistently applied across association); some coaches doing all three seasons; outside coaches on the increase and the question is does their philosophy match school sport philosophy?
TDCAA – soccer intervention strategy seemed to have a positive impact on association this year; costs of concern especially for those coaches/schools/administrations new to proceeding to championship; TDCAA – only policy – rationale and impact; currently fiscal concerns for schools that part of the TCDSB given situation impacting staffing and budgets; impact of 274.
TDSSAA – retaining coaches and convenors – “ageism” and declining enrolment; monetary issues impacting association; concerns with 274; on-call coverages internally between colleagues in HPE courses – no push back from federation yet.
SOSSA –concern – admin expectations/time to deal with the concussion policy; 274: hiring and coaches; insurance policy too overwhelming and impact co-curricular and curricular planning.
LOSSA – moral; declining enrolment and labour unrest currently at the forefront; general lack of energy; impact of outside coaches.
YRAA – concussion protocol; transgender policy - providing equity and inclusivity (Bill Caruthers, Human Rights)
- New Business
a)Move to three classifications levels – motions reviewed; question posed “do the northern boards support motion 6?”; discussion of local impact
b)#14 Eligibility Rules –100% following of ofsaa rules from day one; communication will be KEY; attempts to make it clean and clarifies
c)CIAAA – professional development for athletic directors; pilot course offered in Thunder Bay; module included safety, liability, best practices; another pilot in Belleville to be offered in June this year (may offer locally or invite others if there is space); ofsaa reviewing the efficacy of offering province wide; question may be how athletic directors are recognized locally; related to advocacy piece – recommendation that MoE or MoHP be invited to witness; cost currently $125 (and locally coverage for supply).
d)Governance Structure – the continuum of grassroots to leadership model; do we shift or maintain?; Grassroots speaks from the heart but sometimes loose sight of time commitment and financial impact; we need to remember we are made up of volunteers; Executive Council has an important management role between meetings; attempted previously and concern was there was a real lack of voice; need to remember that change in governance model came from outside forces; specific examples provided.
e)OPHEA – Safety Guidelines – coaching criteria with 2016 implementation; viewed as a really short time line for implementation; “thou shalt” means is will be not a suggestion as OSBIE will see this as industry standard; concern about financial support for roll out; general awareness?; does ofsaa have a role to play?; hi-risk sport redefined and on-going recertification expected; no funding attached to this roll out for either courses, on-calls; etc; general feeling WHOA!!!; how will this impact volunteer coaches?; need to start with awareness and explore expertise for training.
f)Advocacy – discussion piece; impact of Healthy Schools doc; need to place the uniqueness of school sport.
- Other Business
Sanctions – Football - 2 large fight at the end of Bowl games;
Sanctions requesting assistance to remind P and VP that consequences on schools behalf should be there (Safe School Expectations) ; query – fighting in hockey vs fighting in the cafeteria – are these seen as the same issue.
Question: do federation issues need to be of concern (consider reporting on colleague)?
Sanctions feels compelled to act differently if nothing “seen” to be done at school level.
OFSAA seeking a new Vice President: role of vice president – important and can have an impact; another call being put out; example of role of executive council – permission for them to decide in June to allow for the subsequent call out
Respectfully submitted
Tracey Parish
April 2015