a history of curriculum services canada
a history of curriculum services canada
a history of curriculum services canada
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Discussions <strong>of</strong> the appropriate kind <strong>of</strong> partners for OCC continued, with the need for four<br />
distinct partners identified: 1) a marketing partner to market OCC catalogued materials on the<br />
Internet; 2) a publishing partner to manufacture products; 3) a “fulfillment” partner to take and<br />
fulfill orders, deposit revenues, and pay partners; and 4) a <strong>curriculum</strong> development partner that<br />
would co-fund and co-produce products. Compucentre Toronto, Inc. and Netscape Publishers<br />
were contacted as two such potential partners, and preliminary negotiations continued<br />
throughout the summer.<br />
The need for stronger public relations was becoming increasingly apparent. Therefore, a public<br />
relations director, shared with OPSBA, helped in developing a more public pr<strong>of</strong>ile for OCC. In<br />
late August, a Press Release describing the <strong>services</strong> and activities <strong>of</strong> OCC was sent out to all<br />
major editors <strong>of</strong> education materials, as well as to The Toronto Star. Contact was also made with<br />
The Honourable John Snobelen, Minister <strong>of</strong> Education and Training, with the intent <strong>of</strong> informing<br />
the Minister <strong>of</strong> recent developments, including the recent initiatives towards partnerships.<br />
Invitations to meetings with Ministry <strong>of</strong>ficials in the summer <strong>of</strong> 1997, concerning the new<br />
provincial <strong>curriculum</strong> in Mathematics and Language, grades 1 to 8, were taken as a sign <strong>of</strong><br />
government support and respect for OCC’s expertise and <strong>services</strong>. Similarly, a request from the<br />
Ontario College <strong>of</strong> Teachers to attend a meeting about pre-service and in-service teacher<br />
education and a favourable acknowledgment <strong>of</strong> OCC’s contribution at an annual OPSTF dinner<br />
confirmed OCC support at the non-governmental level.<br />
Fall<br />
By September, OCC’s website included a catalogue <strong>of</strong> over 500 materials. Thanks to an HRDC<br />
grant, a third-year engineering student was hired over the summer to update the website and<br />
develop a registry <strong>of</strong> key <strong>curriculum</strong> contacts. Contact was made with all school boards for new<br />
information for the OCC catalogue <strong>of</strong> school board developed resources, and a questionnaire was<br />
incorporated into the website in an effort to document much needed data on website users.<br />
September also brought in the new schedule <strong>of</strong> board and business and <strong>curriculum</strong> committee<br />
meetings. Alternative months were set aside for Committee Meetings, with Board Meetings<br />
scheduled in between, and the Annual General Meeting scheduled for June. This arrangement<br />
meant that Board Meetings would be held six times a year while Committees would meet four<br />
times a year.<br />
The fall <strong>of</strong> 1997 again raised the issue <strong>of</strong> OCC’s exact role vis-à-vis the Ontario <strong>curriculum</strong>.<br />
Government <strong>of</strong>ficials were aware <strong>of</strong> the need to review and the current process for the approval<br />
and acquisition <strong>of</strong> learning materials and compare it with the needs <strong>of</strong> the new <strong>curriculum</strong>. Close<br />
links were maintained with government <strong>of</strong>ficials to ensure OCC’s visibility.<br />
In the meantime, OCC was discussing a new and changing vision <strong>of</strong> itself. In this new vision,<br />
OCC would be divided into two parts, with working titles as follows: 1) The Ontario Curriculum<br />
Standards Agency (OCSA); and 2) The Ontario Curriculum Development Foundation (OCDF).<br />
1997<br />
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