b'FINANCE COMMITTEEREPORTAs per the CSBA Constitution, the Finance Committee consists of the President, Vice President, Executive Director and one Board Member, and monitors financial matters. The Committee worked with the executive director to prepare the annual budget and the audited statements from the previous year. The Committee met regularly to review the approved budget updates and forecasts and to consider requests from other committees and work teams for special funding. The committee also directed a review of the CSBA Insurance coverage and provides oversight for accounting and audits. In addition, new Terms of Reference were developed and approved by the Board of Directors. Shawn DavidsonChair, Finance CommitteeEMERGENT ISSUES WORK TEAMREPORTThe Emergent Issues Work Team addresses and makes recommendations to the CSBA Board of Directors on issues identified by the Board that require short to medium term attention and action. The Work Team met regularly throughout the year. Following the preparation of a draft report on independent and private schools, the Work Teamcommissioned a statement of support for public education. The statement, which was approved by the Board, is available on the CSBA website. The Work Team is responsible for oversight of the French Minority Language and French Second Language teacher shortage project. The project is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and managed by Mary-Ann Zauhar-Hiscock. It is a collaborative initiative with lassociation nationale des conseil scolairesfrancophone, le regroupement national des directions gnrales de lducation and the Canadian Association of School System Administrators. A full report on this project is included elsewhere in this annual report. The CSBA is a champion for student representation. The Work Team developed, and the board approved, a statement on student representation. Working with the Ontario Student Trustees Association (OSTA-AECO), the CSBA is pleased to support the Ontario approach as one model to ensure student voice. A letter ofsupport is included in the OSTA-AECO report, which is available on the CSBA website. As soon as the 2021 federal election was announced, the Work Team developed key messages related to priorities in public education. These messages were sent to the federal party leaders and shared with member associations and their members. It is essential that trustees throughout the country connect with candidates to ensure public education is top of mind.In addition to these issues for 2020-2021, connectivity for all students and families continues as a key priority. This is especially vital for communities that are already systemically marginalized. Carolyn BroadyChair, Emergent Issues Work Team15'