Memorandum

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Memorandum
To: Merv Matier, Director of Education and Secretary
From: Chuck Reid, Superintendent of Education
Gail Belisario, Principal of Organizational Development
Bill Torrens ESL/NSL/Equity Consultant
Date: February 9, 2004

Re: Update - Equity Policy

1.0 - Background Information

1.1 - The Ministry of Education and Training requires that each board establish an Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity Policy.

1.2 - It was the recommendation of the Local Education Improvement Committee Report that the Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity Policy be one of the first policies developed. At the December 16th, 1999, Board Meeting it was moved that the membership of the Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity Steering Committee be accepted.

1.3 - Dr. Elizabeth Bond established a Steering Committee comprised of community representatives and Board affiliation representatives to examine past policies and practices of the former Hamilton and Wentworth County Boards of Education.

1.4 - Dr. Elizabeth Bond established a Validation Committee comprised of all employee groups and the diverse community to review and validate the draft policy created by the Steering Committee.

1.5 - In November 1999, the “Draft” Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity Policy was forwarded to Chuck Reid, Superintendent of Education responsible for the Antiracism Portfolio, and to Gail Belisario, ESL/NSL/Antiracism Consultant, to complete the development and consolidation process.

1.6 - The “Draft” Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity Policy was presented to the Steering Committee in February 2000 for review of the document and to complete the validation process.

1.7 - A series of meetings were scheduled commencing February 4th, 2000, and ending Tuesday, February 6th, 2001 for the Steering Committee to make changes as a result of the validation process.

1.8 - The Validation Committee and Steering Committee met on May 30th, 2000, to review the “Draft” document.

1.9 - Members of the Validation Committee joined the Steering committee to make final revisions to the document prior to its presentation to Planning Council in October 2000.

1.10 - The “Draft” Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity Policy was presented to Planning council on Tuesday, October 17th, 2000.

1.11 - Suggested changes and recommendations from the Planning Council were bought to both the Steering and Validation Committees on Wednesday, January 17th, 2001.

1.12 - May 2002 Executive council suggested that the policy needed to expand to include the following areas: Equity for Persons with Disabilities, Anti-homophobia and Sexual Orientation, Anti-sexism and Gender Equity, Anti-classism and Socio-economic Status as well as Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity.

1.13 - During the course of the academic year 2002-2003 the finalization of operating procedures and guidelines of the Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity component was completed.

1.14 - Validation with the community of the Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity component occurred on February 25th, 2003.

2.0 Current Information

2.1 The Equity Policy Steering committee for 2003 - 2004 is comprised of the following members:

Chuck Reid, Superintendent of Education
Gail Belisario, Principal of Organizational Development
Bill Torrens, ESL/NSL/Equity Consultant
Paul Beattie, O.P.C.-21
Mary Scime, H.W.P.A.
Kelly Hayes, H.W.E.T.L.
Anne Marie Anie, H.W.E.T.L.
Chantel Mancini, O.S.S.T.F.
Dinna Fascione, O.C.T.U.
Earl Dockree, C.U.P.E.
Grace Matheson, Elementary Teacher
Sue Mawson, Co-ordinator, Disability Management/EAP
Judith Bishop, S.E.A.C.
Souhaila Dihaini, Settlement Integration Services Organization
Mel Madamba Wakeham, Community Representative
Jessica Brennan, Home and School Representative

2.2 - The committee has completed the development and validation f the Antiracism and Ethno-cultural Equity component of the Equity Policy.

2.3 - The committee is currently addressing the development of the operating procedures and guidelines for the Anti-Classism and Socio-Economic component of the Equity Policy.

3.0 - Future Plans:

3.1 - The Equity Policy Steering Committee is to complete the development of the procedures and guidelines for the Anti-Classism and Socio-Economic section of the policy by March 2004.