2010 Council Meeting Updated 29 July 2010

The first meeting of the Americas ICP Region took place during the NASSP 2009 Convention in San Diego, California on the 1 March 2009.

Present were Steve Pophal, Larry Bradley (NASSP); Karl Walczak (NCEA) and Laura Hodgins (OPC).

The meeting was chaired by David Vodila (ICP Executive Member). Also present was Ted Brierley, ICP Executive Secretary, as an observer to the meeting.

In welcoming those present, David Vodila followed on comments made at the Windsor meeting and initiated an Americas Region e‐mail network which will include the key people in all organisations. The meeting then heard from each association commenting on current issues.

NCEA: Member travel has been hit by the recession, with employing authorities cutting back on funding. Conference attendance is down and the recession is having a significant negative effect on the funding of support activities for principals and schools.

OPC: Laura Hodgins distributed sets of the ‘Leading Student Achievement’ series to all present. She also commented that the global recession is having an effect on the availability of funds for education in Ontario. The OPC is also making vigorous efforts to spread the word about ‘Toronto 2011’ and asked for the support of NASSP and NCEA in this endeavour. Comments were being made about the timing of the Convention in that schools either would have started the academic year, or their principals were preparing to do so. Both the NCEA and NASSP pledged their support. The OPC is also meeting with the NAESP to ensure that the convention is in the diary of every elementary school head.

NASSP: It was noted that attendance was only very slightly down on last year’s convention. This is despite very real budget restrictions in school support, and this may get worse into next year. NASSP has just published a work book to the ‘Breaking ranks’ series and this is being launched at the convention. It may be useful for PLP activities in developing countries. With the installation of a new administration and a new secretary of education (Arnie Duncan), new opportunities will arise and NASSP is intent on increasing its advocacy functions.

The chair then asked for issues that those present thought may be brought up at the ICP Adelaide Council Meeting and adopted as issues for development by the ICP. They included:

• Closing the Achievement Gap
• High Stakes Testing
• Principals as Learning Leaders (cf. Instructional Leaders).

Those present also discussed the dates of their conventions over the next few years: