What is PIC?
The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is a committee of parents. At the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), PIC supports, encourages and enhances parent engagement across the District in order to improve student achievement and well-being. The PIC serves an integral role within the District by providing parents with the opportunity to voice their concerns, ideas and challenges. The duties of the PIC include:
- Outreach to parents, recognizing the barriers of time, language, recent immigration, socio-economic status, newness to the system, or other factors;
- Working collaboratively with the school board to ensure linkages between parents, the Director of Education and trustees;
- Developing strategies for enhancing parental engagement and outreach;
- Holding district-wide meetings and encouraging inter-school communications; and
- Participating in the promotion, development, and implementation of grant applications and projects funded under the Ministry of Education Parents Reaching Out (PRO) program.
PIC Membership
PIC members are chosen from our community and are appointed for either a 1 or 2 year term. PIC members must have a strong interest in and commitment to public education and represent the views of a wide variety of parents. The Committee has 18 members, the majority of members must be parents. The Committee has 18 members, the majority of which must be parent members.
- Ten Parent Members;
- Three Community Representatives;
- The Director of Education (or designate); and
- One Trustee appointed by the Board of Trustees.
- Additional OCDSB staff attend to support the committee, including a principal, a teacher and one other employee. Only the parent members and community representatives are voting members.
Fall 2023 PIC Recruitment
The OCDSB is seeking two parent members and two community representatives to serve on the PIC for a one or two year term, effective November 30 2023.
Candidate Eligibility
- Community Representatives must have a strong interest in and commitment to public education, student achievement and well-being and be able to represent the views of a broad community based perspective;
- Community Representatives must meet one (1) or more of the following criteria:
- demonstrated connection to and/or knowledge of the OCDSB;
- active participation in a community group, organization or business that has as part of its mandate an interest in education, community development or social service;
- interest in and/or ability to link the OCDSB school community with external community groups or organizations;
- ability to represent broad societal or community perspectives; and/or experience or demonstrated interest in educational issues.
- Community Representatives must be willing to serve for a one year or two year term.
Submission of Applications
Candidates interested in serving in this volunteer position on the PIC are invited to submit applications from 15 September 2023 to 13 October 2023. Please provide:
- A written expression of interest outlining your interest in public education as well as your knowledge and skills in one or more of the following: public education; community engagement; equity and inclusion strategies; and public policy and/or communications; and
- An indication of your interest in serving a one (1) year or two (2) year term.
Please submit your application by October 13 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
2023-2024 PIC Members
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Member
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Seat
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Diana Mills
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Parent (Chair)
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Suzanne Lyon
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Parent (Vice-Chair)
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Vicki Arkinstall
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Parent
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Alexandra Arraiz
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Parent
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Calla Barnett
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Parent
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Nancy Dean
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Parent Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC)
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Elena Pushkareva
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Parent Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC)
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Seyi Okuribido-Malcolm
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Parent
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Mohammed Saleem
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Parent
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Claudine Santos
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Parent
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Adriana Johnston
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Ottawa Network for Education Community, Primary (ONFE)
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Kristina Price
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Ottawa Network for Education Community, Primary (ONFE) Alternate
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Kahmaria Pingue
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Parents for Diversity Community Representative
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Emmanuel Worlor
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Community Member, Primary, City of Ottawa
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PIC Meetings
Everyone is welcome to attend PIC meetings. The Committee meets at least six times per year and meetings are generally held on the second Wednesday of the month from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Administration Building at 133 Greenbank Road. A list of upcoming meetings and a link to the meeting details can be found below.
- September 13, 2023
- October 11, 2023
- November 15, 2023
- January 17, 2024
- February 14, 2024
- April 17, 2024
- May 8, 2024
Speaker Series
The PIC supports parent learning and involvement by hosting presentations on topics of interest to parents. Some examples include Raising Resilient Children, Nurturing Critical Thinkers, and Self-Regulation.
If you have an idea about a Speaker Series topic, email [email protected].
What is the Difference Between PIC and OCASC?
In the OCDSB, the PIC and the Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC) work in partnership to support and inform parents of the District. PIC represents all parents, and encourages parent involvement in many ways: at home, at school, and at the district-level. OCASC. The OCASC represents school councils, represents school councils across the OCDSB and holds monthly meetings that allow school council members to share information. The OCASC is represented on the PIC and the Committee of the Whole, which is an important way to ensure good communication between these groups.