ECI School Minutes

Etobicoke Collegiate Institute

School Council Meeting – September 15, 2008


Minutes & Business Arising:

Sandy Brown welcomed a large group of attendees and outlined the general process of meetings. They were advised to complete the e-mail distribution form in order to receive minutes of meetings and other notices. Minutes are also available on the ECI web site www.etobicokecollegiate.com .


Student Council Report:

SAC: introduced themselves and gave a brief overview of their responsibilities: Julia Tran (President); James Schneider (Vice President); Greg Martin (Event Co-ordinator); Thomas Schneider (Jr. Vice President and Treasurer) & Nikola Andric (Jr. Vice President & Secretary). Upcoming items of interest include the Grade 9 week and CN Tower Stair Climb for Charity.

Athletic Executive: the Presidents introduced themselves: Emily Joslin and David Beaumont. Items of interest include athletic clothing, sports teams, intramurals and year end banquet.

Music Executive: one of the Presidents presented: Sarah Pirie; key items included Holiday Concert: Dec. 3; proposed Music Trip to Sweden, Finland & Russia; orange & cookie dough fundraiser; OPUS May 6


School Council Chair Report - Sandy Brown:

Circulated articles and information regarding workshops
Reviewed more detail of role of “elected” parent group and larger group
Discussed ad hoc parent information sessions held in the past and the opportunity for future sessions. Recommendation from School Council to hold “Underage Drinking” session every other year and invite other high schools to participate again for a larger community impact
Requested attendees to consider joining “elected” group as many current members were “graduating” this year and new members would be desired
Also a need to identify a new “Chair” as Sandy is also “graduating”
Encouraged School Council to participate in Ward meetings
Website www.etobicokecollegiate.com – good resource and hoping that link to TDSB site will be accomplished
Budget reviewed indicating funds that have been accrued for 2008-2009 school year as well as student activities that receive support as well as funds that are available for parent outreach or as a donation to the school (last year donations made to Library, Math and Art departments)


Teacher Representative Report - Jim O’Reilly:

§ Mr. O’Reilly attended the meeting and announced that after a number of years as Teacher Rep. he will be stepping down. A new rep. is to be announced soon.
§ Grade 9 Parent night Sept. 25 gives parents: information session and an opportunity to go to classrooms
§ University Information Night for Parents Nov. 12 – started as a parent information session during a School Council meeting and has been so successful, Guidance runs every year now.
§ Mid Oct. – early warning report goes out re:students at risk
§ Mid Nov. – all get report cards; Parent/Teacher night – Nov. 27
§ Parents reminded to contact teachers at any time if desired


Principal & Vice-Principal Report – Gordy Stefulic, Sam Iskandar & Jinah Park

§ Staffing: some positions yet to be filled including POR’s (Positions of Responsibility) for Business, Science, Leadership, Library & Music
§ 2 full time hall monitors in place
§ New – SRO - School Resource Officer “Officer Mike”: ECI one of 22 schools selected among 127 who applied for pilot program; paid by Police Services, reports to Principal, focuses on safety & security issues in the community and school; hope to have him at next meeting; Community Liaison Officer – Marty Olsen – still in place and speaks to all Gr. 9 classes in Set. & Oct.
§ September is “Respect” month at TDSB
§ Reminder of no hats rule and no cell phones (in class) rule; Lockers – some shared due to numbers; Back packs – don’t leave valuables in them;
§ New – “Passport” pages in agenda that will be used to show authorization for students to be out of class (students with spares excepted)
§ Fire Drills and Lock Down Drills will be held throughout the year; if there is ever a lock down a letter will be sent home with information; not all incidents are reported by a letter home Key dates: Commencement – Oct. 9; Homecoming Football Game – Oct. 10; ECI participating in invitational football games with Richview for their 50th anniversary celebration
§ School Uniforms – has not been supported as an option by students/parents in the past; the current attire policy is effective
§ Collective Agreements: this is a negotiation year for all teachers and support staff; hoping for no disruption of school year


New Business

§ Bike Racks – is there a safe spot? Suggest in the small parking area at the north end of the building but no guarantees unfortunately
§ Is there video surveillance around the school? As best can be arranged
§ Staffing – some desired teachers not kept and what is happening about teachers who were removed or did not return this year? Placements are made based on availability and the type of position and courses required….still a work in progress; any teacher removed will not return until outstanding issues determined by appropriate authorities; there was a leave of absence approved over the summer.
§ Will there be a girl’s hockey team this year? Based on sufficient student interest and available coaches there would be.


Next Meeting: scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30 pm in the Library