New OCSTA president seeks equity for Catholic schools

TORONTO - Nancy Kirby says her first priorities as Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association president will be ensuring “equitable and adequate funding” for Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools and tackling the $68-million gap in special education funding for Catholic schools.

Kirby, 57, was elected OCSTA’s president at its annual conference in Thunder Bay April 30.

Kirby said she will also work to ensure funding across the province which allows for flexibility, accountability and “more autonomy,” and funding which meets “local needs.”

OCSTA will also be looking at the province’s new, multi-billion dollar early learning program set to begin in the fall and ensuring that government resources adequately meet the program’s needs. And it will work towards implementing the province’s equity and inclusive strategy which “represents the distinctive nature and mandate of our Catholic schools.”

“Any form of social or cultural discrimination is incompatible with our (Catholic) principles and a violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code,” she said, adding that Catholic schools need to “be allowed the freedom” to implement the strategy in accordance with Catholic values.

Kirby has been a Catholic trustee for 16 years at the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario. She’s been OCSTA’s vice president since 2008 and is vice chair of the Eastern Ontario board. She also served on the Minister of Education’s Advisory Council on Special Education and on the board of directors for Curriculum Services Canada.

Wellington Catholic District School Board trustee Marino Gazzola was elected vice president. Colleen Landers of the Northeastern Catholic District School Board was chosen Ontario representative to the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association.