(Brockville) – Greg Pietersma, Chair of the Upper Canada District School Board says the report he requested from Director of Education David Thomas confirms that board administration adhered to the process for transferring and appointing school principals and vice principals.

This spring, board administration made 65 transfers or appointments of principals and vice principals to address significant change as a result of priorities such as Building 2020 implementation, the development of the Teaching and Learning focus on instructional leadership and the strengthening of the family of schools model, as well as succession planning pressure.

Chair Pietersma asked the Director to respond to four key questions.  Following are those questions followed by the responses in the Director’s Report to the Chair:

What are the rules, guidelines, and contractual obligations regarding the transfer of principals?

The transfer and appointment of principals and vice principals is the responsibility of the senior administration of the Board.  The ultimate goal is to ensure that principals and vice principals are positioned to ensure the improvement of teaching and learning.  Decisions are governed by the P/VP Terms and Conditions document with reference to distance between current and new school (80 kilometres) and period of advisement (60 days).

What consideration is given to Principals who are eligible for retirement?

There is no prescribed retirement age or years of service for principals and vice principals and many of our administrators choose to work beyond the date at which they are eligible to receive an unreduced pension.  The Principal/Vice Principal Terms and Conditions document does not reference retirement eligibility within the transfer clause, and it would be inappropriate to do so.  An employee indicates his or her intention to retire via a written letter of resignation.  Currently, there are approximately 45 school administrators who are potentially eligible to receive an unreduced pension upon retirement.  Eight of those have submitted retirement letters effective June 30, 2009.  All of those eight letters of resignation have been accepted.  We estimate that an additional 15 to 20 administrators would be eligible to retire with an unreduced pension within the next 3 years.  The majority of those are school principals.  Within the last year, 17 administrators who are, or will be, eligible to retire within the next 3 years have been transferred.

In addition, on an annual basis, administrators are asked to declare in writing their career plans including change of school, panel or system opportunity.  Consideration is given to factors such as the displacement of principals due to school closure, declining enrolment, the renewed focus on the family of schools model, and the consistent allocation of 1.0 principals, i.e., that no principal has a teaching assignment.  Further transfers and appointments can be expected over the next few months to replace unexpected leaves, retirements and resignations.  For example, recently, two administrators have been successfully recruited for employment in other school boards.

Is all staff treated in a fair and equitable manner?

Yes.

Were there any transfers or appointments in the last 2 reports (May 20 & June 3) that were handled in a different manner?

Transfer and appointment sources include: pre-existing administrative pools; a recent administrative selection process; specific competitions including application and interviews; appointment by the Director; and transfers from the current roster.  There were 3 principals appointed to positions as a result of an open posting and competition for system positions.  The remainder of the principal and vice-principal positions were either appointments (new to the role) or transfers (existing role, new assignment) and were handled in the same manner.

“This report clearly explains how we transfer and appoint principals and vice principals and why we do so,” outlined Chair Pietersma.  “It’s important for us to explain this process to our communities.”

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For more information please call:

Greg Pietersma

Chair

613-290-0698