The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine McCullough as its new Director of Education. Previous to her appointment as Director with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Mrs. McCullough was the Superintendent of Education for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

Catherine McCullough obtained her Catholic Leadership Certificate from the University of Toronto (2004), and her Supervisory Officer Certificate (1998), she also holds a Masters of Education in Curriculum Development from Brock University (1995). Mrs. McCullough began her career in Catholic education 25 years ago with the Dufferin Peel Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Building on a lifelong commitment to faith-filled learning, she served with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District Board for the past 17 years. She is an active member of many education related groups including the Board of Directors and Provincial Representative for the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association (OCSOA), the Institute for Educational Leadership for OCSOA, the Canadian Association of School Administrators, the Children’s Coalition Table, Community Partners with Schools (COMPASS), the Canadian Safe Schools Network, Women in Education in Ontario and is a member of the Advisory Group for Lakehead University, Orillia Campus. In these various capacities, Mrs. McCullough’s focus has always been on advancing student learning and on promoting Catholic education.

“I am honoured to assume the role of Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” stated Mrs. McCullough upon accepting her new position. “I am looking forward to continuing the excellent standard set by the Board’s Senior Administrative Team and the Board of Trustees.”

“It is with a great deal of pleasure that the Board announces Mrs. McCullough as our new Director of Education,” stated Sudbury Catholic District School Board Chair, Paula Peroni. “She is well suited for the position given her previous experience as a teacher, consultant, vice-principal, principal and Superintendent. Catherine McCullough is a highly experienced and passionate advocate for Catholic education and will be a credit to our board.”

Mrs. McCullough and her husband Mike have two children who are enroled in university. She officially assumes her position as Director of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board effective, August 1, 2007.

Trustees with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board proved successful in passing a balanced budget for the 2007-2008 school year at the last board meeting before the summer break. The approved budget of $72,230,115 will sustain the positive momentum that has been achieved in the Board’s new initiatives and programs such as the “Learning with Laptops” program and complies with the objectives set by the Ministry of Education with respect to the reduction of class sizes in the primary classes.

With respect to curriculum, the 2006-2007 level of support for curriculum services including special education, professional development, special assignment teachers and secondary school co-ordinators, as well as the level of teacher support in curriculum in-service has been maintained. The budget allows for the retention of the Faith Animator position and provides for a chaplain in each of the board’s four secondary schools. There will be no reduction in the amount of the support from technology and school-administrative lines.

Rossella Bagnato, Interim Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased with the budget. “I am very happy with the fact that the Board was able to bring in a balanced budget,” stated Bagnato. “The new budget will allow us to meet Ministry of Education regulation and obligations and we will continue to deliver quality services and programs to our students in order that they may achieve their maximum potential.”

Board Chair, Paula Peroni is also pleased with the budget. “Over the past few months, Trustees and Senior Administration have worked extremely hard to bring in a balanced budget that addresses some of the key priorities of the Board and its stake holders. This new budget will allow us to move forward on present initiatives such maintaining our Special Education Program, the reduction of class sizes in our primary grades and the upgrading of our wireless laptop program in Grade 9 from I-books to Macbooks which are state of the art and more efficient.”

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 1369 and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have ratified a new
three year collective agreement with its custodial, maintenance and warehouse staff (retroactive) from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2009. The new agreement includes the following wage increases; 2.5 percent in the first year, 3 percent in the second year and 2 percent in year three. The agreement ensures that the stable and co-operative work environment will continue at the Board’s 24 Catholic elementary and secondary schools.

On Sunday, March 18, 2007 the union membership voted in favour of the tentative settlement and on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Trustees for the Sudbury District School Board approved the new contract.

David Chezzi, National Representative and Associate Coordinator for the OSBCC stated that, “when both parties began negotiations there was a willingness on both sides to come to an agreement without having to resort to work interruptions, a strike or lockout and/or arbitration.”

Paula Peroni, Chair of the Board’s negotiating committee and Board Chair is pleased with the fact that the contract has been ratified by the membership. “The fact that the majority of the CUPE membership voted in favour of the agreement is extremely encouraging,” stated Peroni. “It reflects the outcome of the goodwill demonstrated by both parties throughout the negotiation process.”

We congratulate the Minister of Education for the timely announcement of the Grants for Student Needs. Receiving this information in mid-March will greatly assist school boards in the 2007-08 budget planning process,” said Paula Peroni, Vice President of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA).

“Today’s announcement contained news regarding a number of initiatives that are good for Ontario students including funding to support improved Aboriginal student outcomes and more flexible implementation guidelines to assist boards in meeting Primary Class Size standards,” explained Peroni.

OCSTA is pleased that the Ministry of Education maintained its commitment to funding the fourth year of the provincial framework for education and we are encouraged by the continued priority focus on education. This announcement does not, however, address the need for updated funding benchmarks. Funding shortfalls in such areas as employee benefits, special education and student transportation will create financial challenges for some school boards across the province as they plan their budgets for 2007-08.

OCSTA will monitor and analyze the impact of these announcements on schools boards and will continue to work closely with the Minister of Education to ensure that boards have the necessary resources to meet the needs for student success.

The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association is the provincial voice for Catholic education. Founded in 1930, OCSTA represents Catholic school boards that collectively educate more than 600,000 students in Ontario, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.