Michael Barrett
Oshawa DDSB trustee
vice-chairperson
This year's grade: B
Last year's grade: B
Attendance: Special Board 4/5, Board 9/11, Standing Committee 8/10
Expenses: $2,214.99
Comments: An effective player at the board, Trustee Barrett was elected as vice chairman of the board this year. He brings forth some good motions, such as police checks for trustees, citing the requirement for all Ontario school boards to obtain a criminal background check for anyone who comes into contact with or has casual involvement with students, adding that trustees should be included. He performs well as an Ontario Public School Board Association representative for the Durham board, helping to keep trustees well informed about its positions, progresses and limitations. He asks good questions on reports, and draws from his own business experience to cite funding flaws in areas such as construction.
Larry Jacula
Oshawa DDSB trustee
Chairperson
This year's grade: B-
Last year's grade: C+
Attendance: Special Board 4/5, Board 11/11, Standing Committee 10/10
Expenses: $4,207.40
Comments: Moving up from vice chairman to acclaimed chairman of the school board, Trustee Jacula has obviously earned the respect of his fellow trustees, bumping his grade up a notch. A former teacher, he is able to draw on his past experience when discussing topics such as portables at new schools and the atmosphere at big and small schools. In his first year as chairman, he had to deal with the tricky situation caused by the public board's elementary teacher's union refusal to sign a provincial framework, causing some temporary tension in the system. He considers what his co-trustees have to say and is willing to change his stance based on what he hears, such as when he requested an analysis of lower gas prices and their impact on school board travel expenses, then removed it after discussion.
Kathleen Hopper
Oshawa DDSB trustee
This year's grade: A
Last year's grade: A
Attendance: Special Board 4/5, Board 10/11, Standing Committee 10/10
Expenses: $1,949.74
Comments: Trustee Hopper remains a solid player. Her experience on the special education advisory committee and as a trustee is obvious in her ability to provide information that adds to discussions without wasting time. She stays informed on community issues that could impact education, such as a bus loop proposed to Durham Region Transit that would be placed on land the school board leases to the City. She brought the issue to the attention of other trustees, pointing out the safety hazard issues it could cause for G.L. Roberts students, and prompting the board to send a letter to Oshawa on its position. She is well rounded and able to acknowledge equal isn't necessarily fair for things such as transportation, noting that rural kids face challenges others may not, while responding to a fellow trustee's motion.
Joe Corey
Oshawa DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: B
Last year's grade: B
Attendance: Public board meetings 18/20
Expenses: $8,098.80
Comments: Trustee Corey is a strong player at the school board table. He doesn't forget things and questions them when they come up again later. He was shocked this year to discover the board has to apply for Ministry approval on projects trustees approved as part of last year's closure process for five Oshawa schools, adding he voted for the closures because of the enhancements they'd provide to consolidated schools. Set in his ways, he outright refused to accept a report with recommendations for the board's rules and regulations, saying the ones in place are based on the experience of trustees -- a bit closed-minded. But he did make a good point in asking if the recommendations were approved and the number of board meetings cut in half, would trustee salaries be cut as well.
Fred Jones
Oshawa DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: B
Last year's grade: B
Attendance: Public board meetings 17/20
Expenses: $15,490.38
Comments: Trustee Jones is by far the most vocal member of the board, but he often asks questions already answered, such as on transportation costs. He does ask some good questions about regular issues, such as the number of students lost from the Catholic system as the result of closing five Oshawa schools. His expenses were the highest because he attended a Remembering Ortona Italy event on behalf of the board, in honour of the 65th anniversary for The Forgotten Battle. His mark stays the same this year, as his pluses balance the minuses.
John Dolstra
Whitby DDSB trustee
This year's grade: C
Last year's grade: C
Attendance: Special board 3/5; special in-camera 7/10. Board meetings 9/11; board in-camera: 8/11. Standing committee meetings 6/10; standing in-camera 7/10.
Expenses: $3,969.64
Comments: Unlike past years when Trustee Dolstra ran for every committee available, he opted not to this year. He continues to ask questions which are clearly answered in reports or by staff during the meeting, such as he did with a report on proposed accessible information and communications standard. His grandstanding has diminished compared to previous years. Sometimes his constant questioning can challenge the patience of his co-trustees, but as he has pointed out to them, that's what meetings are for. His mark stays the same as last year.
Christine Winters
Whitby DDSB trustee
This year's grade: C
Last year's grade: C-
Attendance: Special board 3/5; special board in-camera 9/9. Board meetings 11/11; board in-camera: 11/11. Standing committee meetings 10/10; standing in-camera 10/10.
Expenses: $1,470.20
Comments: Trustee Winters is really trying hard to be a more active player. This year, she's taken on the role of finance committee chairwoman. She was also forced to bear the burden of being Whitby's only trustee representative during the central Whitby school closure process, as her co-trustee John Dolstra removed himself for legal reasons. She took the time to listen to her constituents by phone, e-mail, and in person, making herself as accessible as possible to them and in the end, voted to keep Palmerston Public School open, although her decision was not shared by the rest of the board. She also brought forth parental concerns about homework, prompting a request for staff to investigate developing a parent survey about it and other issues.
Mary Ann Martin
Whitby DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: B
Last year's grade: B
Attendance: Public board meetings 18/20
Expenses: $11,222.18
Comments: Trustee Martin's performance is good as always. She's active at the board table with questions, and makes decisions on information rather than emotion. When it came time to decide on cancelling busing for hundreds of students who did not require it based on the board's standards, she initially planned to vote against it because of the impact it would have on Father Leo J. Austin Catholic School. After hearing the staff report on why the recommendation was being made, she changed her mind, stating the board's always been one of fairness. She also asked other important questions surrounding the cancellation, such as how much they'd lose in government grants if the students left the board because of the transportation loss.
Scott Murdock
Whitby DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: C-
Last year's grade: C
Attendance: Public board meetings 17/20
Expenses: $7,895.74
Comments: Trustee Murdock wins this year's title as the most uninvolved member at the board table. He rarely, if ever, asks questions or participates in discussions in open session. He simply lets his hands do the talking by voting for and seconding motions. He should become a more active participant before this board starts questioning how necessary it is to have a second Whitby trustee.
Marilyn Crawford
Ajax Wards 1 and 2 DDSB trustee
This year's grade: B+
Last year's grade: B+
Attendance: Special board 5/5; special board in-camera 9/9. Board meetings 11/11; board in-camera: 11/11. Standing committee meetings 10/10; standing in-camera 10/10.
Expenses: $3,529.65
Comments: It was sad to see Trustee Crawford step down from her position as chairwoman instead of running for a third term. She handled the position well, but equally good were her reasons for stepping down. It's healthy for an organization to change leadership, she said -- a statement especially true for local government. Trustee Crawford has been on the board for eight years and her experience shows, allowing her to compare school closure processes of the past, to improvements made to the new one the Durham public board was involved in for the first time this week.
Lisa Hill
Ajax Wards 3 and 4 DDSB trustee
This year's grade: B-
Last year's grade: B-
Attendance: Special board 4/5; special board in-camera 8/9. Board meetings 10/11; board in-camera: 8/11. Standing committee meetings 8/10; standing in-camera 8/10.
Expenses: $1,938.92
Comments: Trustee Hill makes sure she's engaged in the community through things such as community meetings for the board's strategic plan, but she seems to tag-team with Whitby Trustee John Dolstra quite often. From motions regarding the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, to letters to the Province, she supports almost all, if not everything, Trustee Dolstra proposes, even when no one else does. This was again made obvious when she voted against police checks for trustee. On the bright side, she introduced her own motion to request the Minister of Education examine the proposal of trustees requiring criminal reference checks which was also approved. Her mark doesn't go down this year because she is starting to ask more meaningful questions, such as costs associated with building green schools, and she is becoming a stronger player at the board.
Janice Oldman (vice chairwoman)
Ajax DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: C+
Last year's grade: C
Attendance: Public board meetings 20/20
Expenses: $9,816.74
Comments: Trustee Oldman appears to be trying to participate more in board meetings, asking questions about things such as who and what is part of a safe schools symposium, band instruments and raising concerns about trustees not receiving the opportunity to sit on calendar committee. She secured her spot as vice chairwoman of the board for a second term, and is no longer the weakest of the trustees, but she still has a long way to go before being deemed a valuable player at the board table. Although she's already started to do this, she can further improve her performance by becoming more engaged in board discussion and introducing motions or amendments.
Chris Braney
Pickering DDSB trustee
This year's grade: B
Last year's grade: B
Attendance: Special board 3/5; special board in-camera 6/9. Board meetings 11/11; board in-camera: 10/11. Standing committee meetings 9/10; standing in-camera 9/10.
Expenses: $3,976.90
Comments: The board's ambassador against bullying, Trustee Braney has made it his mission to stand up for the little guy since joining the Durham District team. This year, he joined the Coalition for Action Against Bullying in Durham Region as the board's trustee representative. But this year, he's also less involved at the actual board table, turning down committee nominations, citing his desire to take a break from some other things and concentrate on Pickering. Hopefully, that break will bear more fruit at the board table in the upcoming school year.
Sherry Croteau
Pickering DDSB trustee
This year's grade: B+
Last year's grade: B+
Attendance: Special board 2/5; special board in-camera 9/9. Board meetings 10/11; board in-camera: 10/11. Standing committee meetings 10/10; standing in-camera 10/10.
Expenses: $1,794.70
Comments: Trustee Croteau is a good, solid player who knows her community well and asks good questions. She gets involved in board discussions, such as transportation policy reviews and the construction of green schools. When a high school environment club suggested the board ban bottled water, Trustee Croteau asked how much the board actually purchases a year. Although an answer wasn't available, it was a good question especially in these economic times when boards should be clinging to every dollar possible. Hopefully, it will get staff and schools to think twice before buying a case next time.
Jim McCafferty (chairman)
Pickering DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: B+
Last year's grade: B+
Attendance: Public board meetings 20/20
Expenses: $11,683.05
Comments: A trustee with perfect attendance, Jim McCafferty is among the board's top performers.
Securing his position as chairman, he runs the meetings well and brings lots of experience to the table. He's well aware of the issues the board faces surrounding declining enrolment and finances. He listens to his constituents and votes according to their wishes, going against a proposal to eliminate busing to a group of St. Mary Catholic High School students because of his concerns about the lack of sidewalks and presence of gullies in the Dixie Road area.
Paul Bannister
Pickering DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: C
Last year's grade: C-
Attendance: Public board meetings 19/20
Expenses: $6,518.03
Comments: He has the potential to be one of the board's strongest players, but he isn't. His questions about portables and school security are good, and he seems well informed. When a change order on the St. Bernadette replacement school garnered the criticism of some fellow trustees, he ended the debate quickly by asking the question others should have asked: was the proper process followed, to which the answer was yes. He just doesn't seem active enough on the board's committees. His mark goes up for improved attendance but we encourage him to take a more active role at the committee table.
Joyce Kelly
Scugog DDSB trustee
This year's grade: C-
Last year's grade: C
Attendance: Special board 3/5; special board in-camera 9/9. Board meetings 10/11; board in-camera: 10/11. Standing committee meetings 10/10; standing in-camera 10/10.
Expenses: $1,461.32
Comments: Trustee Kelly hardly participates at the board table. When it came time to choose committee representatives, she didn't volunteer for any. She didn't want to be a representative for the Supervised Alternative Learning for Excused Pupils committee, just an alternate. The most she's added to a conversation was during the discussion about criminal background checks. The topic came up during Thanksgiving dinner for her family and one of her relatives said if they need one, why should trustees be exempt. To the board, she said if any of them failed the check, they shouldn't be there and that includes herself. But for most meetings, she doesn't say anything. She should start bring more motions to the board and contribute more to board discussions.
Joe Allin
Brock-Uxbridge DDSB trustee
This year's grade: B-
Last year's grade: C
Attendance: Special board 4/5; special board in-camera 9/9. Board meetings 11/11; board in-camera: 11/11. Standing committee meetings 10/10; standing in-camera 10/10.
Expenses: $7,426.89
Comments: Trustee Allin is well aware and involved, but his questions are long and confusing. Perhaps he should jot down more notes about what he wants to say before he raises his hand to speak. Often, he gets caught up in providing background and pondering out loud, causing his questions to take a long time to come out, if they don't get lost in the process. Trustee Allin's mark goes up for his involvement. He's brought forth discrepancies found in the Ministry of Education's online profiles, prompted improvements to transportation for rural riders, and more.
Kathy LeFort
Brock-Scugog-Uxbridge DCDSB trustee
This year's grade: B+
Last year's grade: B+
Attendance: Public board meetings 17/20
Expenses: $7,586.09
Comments: Trustee LeFort asks for updates and raises valid concerns, such as the time scheduled for committee meetings preventing trustees from being able to attend. She cares about school programming, and recently asked about the impact teacher reductions will have on secondary school courses. When the board closed five Oshawa schools, she also asked how many custodians and secretaries were laid off. Although she seems quieter this year, her performance is still equal to that of the year before.
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