Boardroom Newsbrief – November 28, 2017

(The Newsbrief is meant to provide the highlights of the decisions made at the Board meeting for the benefit of our community. The notes do not serve as the official record of the meeting. Please refer to Board or Committee minutes).

Public Motions

OCDSB Consolidated Financial Statements

Trustees approved the draft 2016-2017 Consolidated Financial Statements.

Capital Priorities Setting Consultation Plan

The Board directed facilities staff to move forward with a focused parent and school council consultation plan - relating to capital priorities. The Ministry’s next call for submissions is expected in spring 2018.

Facilities staff will present a District Needs Analysis (DNA) at Committee in January. The elementary and secondary DNA will identify areas where additional instructional space is needed based on a variety of factors, including growth pressures; trends in enrolment; gaps in program accessibility; new program initiatives; facility condition; and suitability as teaching and learning space.

Feedback will be collected at trustee zone meetings and through self-directed submissions. The consultation process will take place from January to March. The staff-recommended list of capital priorities will be presented to Board in April for approval.

The staff recommended list will take into consideration the feedback received from stakeholders and the public during the consultation process, as well as areas identified in the District Needs Analysis.

The DNA helps to inform future accommodation reviews and capital processes. The District Needs Analysis will be updated on a four-year cycle.

Board Advocacy Strategy Key Priorities

Trustees approved an advocacy document entitled - Protecting and Promoting Public Education in Ottawa: Key Priorities. 

The document provides recommendations for advocacy in the following areas: 

  • Sustainable capital funding;
  • Providing high-quality accessible child care;
  • Autonomy of school boards; and
  • Availability of qualified French teachers
  • Supply and availability of qualified Educational workers

In addition, trustees encouraged partnerships with trustee associations and others to advance a provincial review regarding the challenges of attracting, funding, and appropriately deploying replacement staff.

Trustees also noted the current funding process favours the “first district” to build in high growth areas. Historically when a new neighbourhood school is built students migrate from one district to another. This eventually results in overcrowding. Instead of providing equitable funding for all districts to build community schools – the first district receives additional funding to mitigate over-crowding. Unfortunately, this leaves the other districts without a presence in the community. 

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