School Board Management Conference: The New Rules of School Board HR

8:30

Registration and Coffee

9:00

Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:10

Whirlwind Tour

A fast-paced review of a wide variety of current topics.

10:20

Networking Break

10:30

Plenary Sessions

Dolores Barbini, Njeri Damali Sojourner-Campbell, Lesley Campbell

School boards need to be particularly mindful of expression issues given their important role in society and the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In this session, we will delve into the delicate balance between fostering freedom of expression and other related Charter rights, reconciling competing rights under the Human Rights Code, and maintaining a safe and discriminatory-free environment for staff and students. The presentation explores scenarios and challenges faced by boards when navigating discussions on sometimes polarizing topics while maintaining a safe and equitable environment

Andrew Movrin, Julia Nanos

This discussion will explore emerging issues and recent developments in labour relations affecting school boards. Drawing on the latest arbitration awards and interpretations of collective agreements, we’ll provide insights on key trends, lessons learned, and practical implications for the school board sector.

12:05

Lunch

1:00

Workshop Session A – First Set

During registration, attendees can choose two of the three workshop options below.

• Workshop One: Latest Developments in Attendance Management 

Njeri Damali Sojourner-Campbell, Grant Nuttall

Managing mental health issues, including addiction, in the workplace poses a considerable challenge to employers, who are often required to navigate difficult questions around employee privacy, employment preferences, and workplace rules and expectations with the duty to accommodate.

These challenges are amplified in a school environment. Join us as we discuss the legal obligations that arise when working to accommodate employee addiction concerns and the best practices to keep in mind for supporting them in the workplace.

In this presentation we will address the following:

1. the latest cases on attendance and disability management
2. how to implement an effective attendance management program
3. performance management and addiction

• Workshop Two: The Latest Developments at the HRTO – Procedure and Substance

Lauri Reesor, Amanda Lawrence-Patel, Lauren Viegas

Human rights law is a continuously developing area. As such, it is important to remain up to date on the evolving legal and social trends. Attendees at this workshop will explore recent human rights cases in the school board sector, as well as the Tribunal’s new procedures and how they may impact a school board’s strategic approach to human rights litigation. This workshop will conclude with a discussion regarding the practical considerations for managing human rights-related communications with applicants who may be parents or employees of a school board.

• Workshop Three : Ending Employment – A Review of Recent Jurisprudence

Sean Reginio, Dianne Jozefacki

Probation, for cause, non-culpable absenteeism, mitigating factors, reasonable notice, frustration, abandonment, specific collective agreement clauses deeming service at an end – all of these contribute to the complex issues at play when considering ways to end an employment relationship. Recent case law has given us useful new guidelines to help navigate these complex and consequential decisions. Our discussion will address a broad range of circumstances where employment ceases, including cases from school board employers and non-school board employers, as well as unionized and non-unionized employees. This workshop will ensure attendees are up-to-date on the numerous factual and legal considerations that inform the decision to end the employment relationship.

1:50

Networking Break

2:10

Workshop Session B – Second Set

During registration, attendees can choose two of the three workshop options below.

• Workshop One: Latest Developments in Attendance Management 

Njeri Damali Sojourner-Campbell, Grant Nuttall

Managing mental health issues, including addiction, in the workplace poses a considerable challenge to employers, who are often required to navigate difficult questions around employee privacy, employment preferences, and workplace rules and expectations with the duty to accommodate.

These challenges are amplified in a school environment. Join us as we discuss the legal obligations that arise when working to accommodate employee addiction concerns and the best practices to keep in mind for supporting them in the workplace.

In this presentation we will address the following:

1. the latest cases on attendance and disability management
2. how to implement an effective attendance management program
3. 3. performance management and addiction

• Workshop Two: The Latest Developments at the HRTO – Procedure and Substance

Lauri Reesor, Amanda Lawrence-Patel, Lauren Viegas

Human rights law is a continuously developing area. As such, it is important to remain up to date on the evolving legal and social trends. Attendees at this workshop will explore recent human rights cases in the school board sector, as well as the Tribunal’s new procedures and how they may impact a school board’s strategic approach to human rights litigation. This workshop will conclude with a discussion regarding the practical considerations for managing human rights-related communications with applicants who may be parents or employees of a school board.

• Workshop Three: Ending Employment – A Review of Recent Jurisprudence

Sean Reginio, Dianne Jozefacki
Probation, for cause, non-culpable absenteeism, mitigating factors, reasonable notice, frustration, abandonment, specific collective agreement clauses deeming service at an end – all of these contribute to the complex issues at play when considering ways to end an employment relationship. Recent case law has given us useful new guidelines to help navigate these complex and consequential decisions. Our discussion will address a broad range of circumstances where employment ceases, including cases from school board employers and non-school board employers, as well as unionized and non-unionized employees. This workshop will ensure attendees are up-to-date on the numerous factual and legal considerations that inform the decision to end the employment relationship.

3:00

Conference Concludes