Dufferin-Peel Catholic Chapter

40 Matheson Blvd. West

Mississauga, ON L5R 1C5

June, 2007

President Report Dan Milne

This has been an active year for the APSSP Executive and for the President.

While Dufferin-Peel as a Board moved into uncharted territory this year as it has engaged in a funding struggle with the Ministry of Education, it impacted the work of the Association. The early part of the year was marked by APSSP representation at a number of late night Board Meetings in support of the goal of fair and equitable funding. APSSP made two formal presentations to the Board in support of its campaign and our services. In addition APSSP wrote two letters of support to our Trustees and senior administration and worked with the Provincial Association to have Dufferin-Peel’s APSSP voice heard by the Minister of Education.

Last month APSSP presented to the Board Budget Committee, marking the third formal presentation to the Board this academic year. This most recent presentation is available to you for your information in your AGM package. Only time will tell if our participation in the budget process has made a difference to the Board staffing decisions.

The Executive has worked hard to communicate to the membership on a regular basis with the Executive Reports. Four reports were sent to the membership this year. These reports have been well received and it would be our plan in the upcoming year to continue with that format as opposed to a more formal but less frequent newsletter.

As President I continued to maintain a profile throughout the Board, representing APSSP at 4 meeting of Catholic Partners, 3 meetings of the Board and Presidents, 3 Joint Consultation meetings.

Additionally APSSP was directly involved in supporting a number of members who presented a variety of issues related to workplace concerns. Potential grievances were dealt with at a Board/Union problem-solving and information sharing stage.

Throughout the year APSSP maintained ongoing communication with our colleagues in other unions. In March I attended a meeting involving parent and union groups with an initial plan towards forming a joint collaborative committee to pressure the Ministry to consider a more equitable funding formula.

As we move towards the new year we face a number of potential challenges. APSSP must continue to maintain a strong positive presence in the Board and continue to advocate for the work of our members and the students who need our services to have an opportunity to succeed in school. The advocacy work we do in the Board must be mirrored by our Provincial Association in working with the Ministry of Education.

As we move towards negotiations we will need to ensure that the Board does not move away from its practice of fairness and equity in dealing with all its employee groups.

I would like to thank all members APSSP members for your support of our union and for the work you do each and every day in our schools supporting our most vulnerable and at-risk students. I would like to thank in particular the members of our local Executive who have spent many late nights struggling with the issues we face and focussing on positive solutions to complex issues and concerns.

This marks the end of my two year term as President of our local Chapter. Some of you are aware that as well as my role as your local President I have taken on a role with our Provincial Executive.

At this point in time I have agreed to accept the nomination to run again to serve as the President of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic Chapter.