Terms of Reference

Background

Active & Safe Routes to School Steering Committee consists of community partners from organizations throughout the Counties of Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and the cities of London and St. Thomas working together to promote and sustain programs that encourage children and families to choose active school travel.

Active school travel is any form of human powered travel to and from school and the school bus stop, such as walking, biking, scootering and helps to:

  • Improve physical and mental health
  • Reduce traffic around schools
  • Improve air quality and the environment
  • Have students arrive at school alert and ready to learn
  • Have students feel more connected to their community

Sustainable travel options are either self-powered or decrease individual parent drop-off/pick-ups.

Vision

Children and youth confidently use active, safe, and sustainable school travel in the counties of Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and the cities of London and St. Thomas.

Mission

To work in partnership for the improvement of children’s health, well-being, and environment by encouraging the safe use of active school travel and working to remove barriers to active school travel through comprehensive health promotion strategies.

Committee Goals

The Committee believes equity, diversity, and inclusion principles are vital to creating programming that encourages and supports active school travel by all children. Through education, advocacy, and research, the Committee seeks to influence:

  • Decision makers to adopt public policies that support active and sustainable school travel;
  • Families to have increased comfort and confidence in choosing active and sustainable school travel for their children;
  • • Built environments in school neighborhoods that support active and sustainable modes of travel.

Committee Objectives       

  1. Increase number of children using active school travel.
  2. Decrease school-based vehicular traffic congestion around schools.
  3. Promote programs and resources to increase students’ knowledge and skills in pedestrian, cycling, and road safety.
  4. Increase the capacity and sustainability of the partnership.
  5. Ensure equitable access to programs and resources.
  6. Collaborate with other agencies to inform public policies. 

Membership

Community partners interested in working together to develop a sustainable program for the region. Membership is made up of active and resource members. To see our current list of partners and their role on the committee, visit http://activesaferoutes.ca/partners/.

Role of Active Committee Members

  • Contribute to Steering Committee agendas.
  • Attend and actively participate in meetings.
  • Review minutes and action items.
  • Actively participate in School Travel Plans.
  • Participate in working groups.
  • Contribute to social media content and alternate social media leadership.
  • Identify an alternate to attend when primary member cannot.
  • Chair working groups when capacity allows.

Role of Resource Committee Members

  • Assist in a consultative role
  • Participate in committees, working groups, and support local schools as needed

Executive Committee

The executive committee will be comprised of active members of the Committee. Each executive member will serve a renewable 2-year term. The executive committee includes the following positions: (1) Co-Chair #1; (2) Co-Chair #2; and (3) Secretary. The executive committee members will be elected every two years. The election will take place using the following process:

  • Nominations: A request for nominations will be distributed at least 7 days prior to the election meeting (generally held in May) with all active members in good standing eligible to be nominated.
  • Election: If more than one active member is nominated for a position and are willing to stand, an election will be held at an in-person meeting. The election will use a secret ballot to determine the winner. Each organization must delegate a member to make their organization’s vote. Note: Organizations with multiple members may be considered unique if they are from different divisions. For example, MLHU School Health Team is different than MLHU Health Promotion.
  • Term: September Year 1 – August Year 2

Co-Chair Role

  • Division of tasks to be determined and agreed upon by the two co-chairs
  • Agenda preparation and distributed with input from the Steering Committee
  • Facilitate ASRTS Steering Committee meetings
  • Review, edit, and distribute minutes to committee
  • Communicate updates to the committee regarding, but not limited to, grants, projects / working group updates, and related articles or links via email
  • Oversee and confirm resources remain current (e.g. Terms of Reference, School Travel Planning manual, Work Plan, website, ethics)
  • At least one co-chair attends each working group
  • Track & monitor program activities through the reporting at meetings and / or school portals

Secretary Role

  • Participation in the leadership of the committee along with the co-chairs.
  • Take minutes at Steering Committee meetings. If unable to attend a meeting, responsible for finding a replacement secretary.
  • Book meeting dates and rooms (confirm AV equipment is available)
  • Ensure that the agenda and minutes are posted on the http://activesaferoutes.ca website.
  • Maintain the membership roster and send out communication for meetings.

Meeting Structure

  • The Steering Committee shall meet in September, November, January, March, and May each year.
  • Additional Steering Committee meetings can be called by the executive committee as needed.
  • Working groups will be formed as needed for program development.
  • Meetings may be held in person or virtually through Microsoft Teams or Zoom based on the needs of the committee.

Funding

Many program elements do not require funding, so they should be developed to be universally delivered with minimal financial support from the Committee.

The Committee cannot apply for funding on its own but may support funding applications from partners that align with its the vision, mission, goals, and objectives.

Funding may be provided by partners for active school travel programs, which may have limitations based on the geographic distribution of the program. When funding is secured, support should initially be provided to priority schools as identified by the school boards and health units. If capacity and funding allow, the resources should then be distributed to all schools.

Decision Making

Decisions regarding funding will follow work plan priorities or grant specifications. All other decisions will be made based on consensus. Each representative agency team will be entitled to one vote and decisions made on majority vote in the absence of consensus. Votes at meetings will consist of those in attendance. When time does not allow for an in-person vote, an email request for votes will be disseminated.

An alternate’s ability to vote is up to them and their primary member on the committee as to whether they feel they have enough knowledge to vote.

Renewal Period

Annual review with full revision every 3 years.

Revision dates:

May 2013

February 2015

March 2018

March 2020

June 2023