News Release
December 5, 2007
For Immediate Release
Bruno Iannicca re-elected chair of
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Anna Abbruscato elected vice-chair
At its annual organizational meeting held last night at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s Catholic Education Centre, trustees re-elected long-time Mississauga Ward 7 trustee Bruno Iannicca as chair of the 11-member board. Mr. Iannicca was first elected to the board in 1991 and over the past 16 years, has served in leadership capacities on various board committees, including chair of the Administration & Finance Committee, vice chair of the Administration & Finance Committee, vice chair of the Faith & Program Committee, and vice chair of the Contract Negotiations Committee.
Mississauga Ward 4 trustee, Anna Abbruscato was elected vice-chair. Like Iannicca, Abbruscato has extensive leadership experience on the board. She is a former vice chair of the board and has served as chair and vice chair of numerous committees.
Iannicca has a BA degree in Commerce and Economics from the University of Toronto, and a diploma in Management Studies from Sheridan College. The Senior Serve Advisor at Canada Post is active in the community as a youth hockey coach. He begins his second term as chair in vastly different circumstances than last year, when the board was under provincial supervision because trustees refused to make cuts to balance the board’s budget; cuts that trustees felt would be harmful to students and were being forced due to chronic underfunding. This year, the board has filed a projected balanced budget for 2007-08.
“This is a new day and a new time,” said Iannicca. “We have put the past behind us and we are all looking forward to great things in 2008.” Iannicca further noted, “As trustees, our role is to be stewards and guardians of Catholic education in our community. As chair of this board, let me assure you that we will be tenacious on this point.”
The board also elected the chairs and vice chairs of its five standing committees and its representative on the Transportation Consortium:
Administration & Finance Committee - Thomas Thomas (chair), Joyce Anderson (vice chair)
Faith & Program Committee - Sharon Hobin (chair), Tony da Silva (vice chair)
Audit Committee – Mario Pascucci (chair), Linda Zanella (vice chair)
By-Law & Policy Review Committee – Joyce Anderson (chair), Mario Pascucci (vice chair)
Contract Negotiations Committee – Frank Di Cosola (chair), Luz del Rosario (vice chair)
Transportation Consortium – Linda Zanella
The meeting opened with the annual address to the board by the Director of Education. Director John Kostoff recognized and thanked system partners, including employee groups, trustees and staff at all levels for their commitment and dedication to Catholic education. Kostoff outlined a year in which the board overcame significant challenges, solidified its financial footing and positioned itself for the future. “We are in the process of embarking on a journey of system renewal,” said Kostoff. “We will be inviting our community to join us on this journey as we seek to dialogue and discuss where we’ve been, where we are, and where we hope to be, as a Catholic school system.”
The meeting was preceded by a Eucharistic celebration held in the Catholic Education Centre chapel, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop John Boissonneau.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is one of the largest school boards in Ontario with approximately 88,000 students in 144 schools located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and Orangeville. The board is also one of the largest employers in the region with approximately 10,000 employees.
For more information about the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, go to Dufferin-Peel online at www.dpcdsb.org
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