HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.1a Post-Meeting Minutes - Committee of the Whole_Sep12_2023 - English
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE PUBLIC REPORT
Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
Board Room
Administration Building
133 Greenbank Road
Ottawa, Ontario
Trustees Present:
Alysha Aziz, Justine Bell (electronic communication), Donna Dickson (electronic communication), Lyra Evans, Nili Kaplan-Myrth, Jennifer Jennekens, Matthew Lee (electronic communication),
Cathryne Milburn, Suzanne Nash, Amanda Presley, Lynn Scott, Emma Hong (Student Trustee), Malaika Kamanzi (Student Trustee)
Staff Present:
Pino Buffone (Director of Education), Brett Reynolds (Associate Director of Education), Randy Gerrior (Associate Director, Business Operations), Michele Giroux (Executive Officer, Corporate
Services), James Proulx (Executive Officer, Information Technology and Digital Transformation), Paula Hall (Superintendent of People, Culture and Leadership), Shawn Lehman (Superintendent
of Instruction), Richard Sinclair (General Counsel), Peter Symmonds (Superintendent of Learning Support Services), Karyn Carty Ostafichuk (General Manager, Planning/Transportation),
Stacey Kay (General Manager, Learning Support Services), Sandra Owens (General Manager, Business & Learning Technologies), Diane Pernari (General Manager, Communications & Information
Services), Andrea Rahim (General Manager, Research Evaluation & Analytics Division), Christine Lanos (Principal, Office of the Associate Director), Nicole Guthrie (General Manager of
Board Services), Michael Guilbault (Central Audio/Visual Technical Specialist), Susan Baker
Non-Voting Representatives Present:
Seema Lamba (ACE), Sue Cowin (SEAC), Lili Miller (IEC), Suzanne Lyon (PIC), Melodie Gondek (OSSTF), Rebecca Zuckerbrodt (OCETFO), Pat Dixon (OCEOTA), Stephanie Kirkey (OSSTF), Andrew
Nordman (OCEOC), Thomas Holloway (OCASC), Steve Spidell and Jean Fulton-Hale (OCSSAN), Brian LeSage (OCETFO/FEEO)
1.Call to Order - Vice-Chair of the Board
Chair Scott called the meeting to order at 7:28 p.m.
2.Acknowledgement of Territorial Lands
Chair Scott acknowledged that the meeting is taking place on unceded Algonquin Homelands and thanked the Algonquin Nations for hosting the meeting on their land.
3.Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were filed.
4.Approval of Agenda
Moved by Trustee Nash,
THAT the agenda be approved.
Carried
5.Briefing from the Chair of the Board
Chair Lyra Evans reported the following:
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) will host a Speaker Series event on 19 September 2023 for parents. Presenter Ann Douglas will share strategies for strengthening relationships
between parents/guardians and children; and
The Jewish community will observe Rosh Hashanah on 15-17 September 2023 and Yom Kippur on 24-25 September 2023.
6.Briefing from the Director
Director Buffone reported the following:
The District has opened its newest elementary school, Wazoson Public School;
Registration for night school programs is open until 25 September 2023;
The District has created a new Safe Schools Reporting Tool for students to privately and anonymously share their concerns, including bullying, hate, discrimination, mental health, vaping,
drugs, or other concerns; and
The public is invited to the annual Open Trails Day at the MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre on 23 September 2023.
7.Delegations
7.1Oral Delegations
a.Allison Cane, re Effects of Ontario Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) Delays for Students
Allison Cane expressed concern about the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) guidelines for dropping off unattended children in grades one to four. She advised that she observed
a seven-year-old child who was left alone at a bus stop without informing the parent or school. She requested that the Board inform parents and staff at all schools of this practice.
Allison Cane noted that she was unaware of other incidents of this nature and that the child was supposed to be in the Extended Day Program rather than on the school bus.
Trustee Bell requested that staff follow up with OSTA to advocate for a change to this practice.
7.2Written Delegations
a.Jenna Young Castro, re Riverside South Attendance Boundary
Jenna Young Castro provided a written submission requesting that parents of students who attend Farley Mowat Public School have the choice to continue at Farley Mowat Public School rather
than be required to transfer to Steve Maclean Public School in order to be within the zone for the new Riverside South secondary school.
b.Phil Castro, re Riverside South Attendance Boundary
Phil Castro provided a written submission requesting that parents of students who attend Farley Mowat Public School have the choice to continue at Farley Mowat Public School rather than
be required to transfer to Steve Maclean Public School in order to be within the zone for the new Riverside South secondary school.
c.Miranda O'Brien, re Riverside South Attendance Boundary
Miranda O'Brien provided a written submission requesting that parents of students who attend Farley Mowat Public School have the choice to continue at Farley Mowat Public School rather
than be required to transfer to Steve Maclean Public School in order to be within the zone for the new Riverside South secondary school.
8.Matters for Action:
8.1Report 23-048, Riverside South Attendance Boundary (R. Gerrior)
Your Committee had before it Report 23-061, seeking approval of the opening grade structure, program offering and attendance boundary for a new secondary school located in the Riverside
South community.
General Manager of Planning Ostafichuk provided an overview of the report.
Moved by Trustee Jennekens,
THAT the new Riverside South SS open in September the year it is completed for occupancy as a grade 7 to 12 secondary school, initially offering grades 7 to 10, to grow a grade per year
thereafter until offering a full grade complement;
THAT the boundary of this secondary school (as shown in Appendix B) be drawn from the current 7 to 12 boundaries of Merivale HS, South Carleton HS, Osgoode Township HS, Ridgemont HS,
Brookfield HS, and Gloucester HS in accordance with Appendices F, G, H, I, J, L.
THAT any grade 11 and 12 students (upon opening of the new Riverside South SS) attending Merivale HS, South Carleton HS, Osgoode Township HS, Ridgemont HS, Brookfield HS, and Gloucester
HS, shall remain at their current high school with transportation provided if they are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA;
THAT the boundary for Farley Mowat PS be amended (as reflected in Appendix C) to bring that portion of its current boundary east of the Rideau River into the Steve MacLean PS catchment;
all students grade K to 5 will be expected to block move to Steve MacLean PS upon opening of the new Riverside South SS. Students entering grade 6 upon opening of the new Riverside South
SS may remain at Farley Mowat PS with all transportation provided if they are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA;
THAT the grade structure for Steve MacLean PS be amended to a K-6 grade format and the boundary be amended as reflected in Appendix D;
THAT the grade structure for Vimy Ridge PS be amended to a K-6 grade format and the boundary be amended as reflected in Appendix E;
THAT the boundary for South Carleton HS be amended as reflected in Appendix F;
THAT the boundary for Osgoode Township HS be amended as reflected in Appendix G;
THAT the boundary for Merivale HS be amended as reflected in Appendix H;
THAT the boundary for Ridgemont HS be amended as reflected in Appendix I;
THAT the boundary for Brookfield HS be amended as reflected in Appendix J;
THAT the Grade 7 to 8 English Program with Core French and Early French Immersion Attendance boundary for Kars on the Rideau PS be amended as reflected in Appendix K;
THAT the boundary for Gloucester HS be amended as reflected in Appendix L;
THAT students in the area bounded by Rideau Road to the north, Limebank Road to the east, Mitch Owens to the south, and the Rideau River to the west that are impacted by the opening
of the new Riverside South SS,
Students residing in this area upon opening of the new Riverside South Secondary School, be given a one-time option to remain at / choose to attend Merivale HS, Osgoode Township HS,
or South Carleton HS and be provided transportation if they are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA;
Students not residing in this area upon opening of the new Riverside South SS, be directed to attend Osgoode Township HS, or South Carleton HS and be provided transportation if they
are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA; and
THAT any student on a cross boundary transfer at a school whose program cohort is being relocated to another school as a result of approved recommendations in Report 23-048 be allowed
to move with their program cohort without having to reapply for a transfer.
During discussion, and in response to queries, the following points were noted:
The recommended grade structure for the new school is from Grades 7 to 12;
The school is expected to open Grades 7-10 in September 2025. Grades 11-12 will be added over the following two years;
The new school will redirect some students from Merivale High School (HS), South Carleton HS, Ridgemont HS, Osgoode Township HS, Gloucester HS, and Brookfield HS;
Some elementary students will be redirected from Steve MacLean Public School (PS), Vimy Ridge PS, Kars on the Rideau PS, and Farley Mowat PS;
All students receiving special education programs and services will be accommodated in the new school;
The “Boothfield” community will be redirected from Vimy Ridge PS to Steve MacLean PS;
Following Board approval of the new school’s boundaries, all sending and receiving schools will be given information to send home to parents/guardians;
With respect to the redirection of some students from Farley Mowat PS to Steve MacLean PS, it is not practical to provide an option to remain at Farley Mowat PS as it creates busing
issues. A block move helps to establish a new school community; and
Trustee Nash assumed the Chair.
Chair Scott noted that the new Stittsville secondary school will open with Grades 7-9 and inquired whether the decision could be revisited to allow the new Stittsville secondary school
to open with Grades 7-10 given that the opening has been delayed by one year.
Trustee Scott resumed the Chair.
Moved by Trustee Jennekens,
THAT the new Riverside South SS open in September the year it is completed for occupancy as a grade 7 to 12 secondary school, initially offering grades 7 to 10, to grow a grade per year
thereafter until offering a full grade complement;
THAT the boundary of this secondary school (as shown in Appendix B) be drawn from the current 7 to 12 boundaries of Merivale HS, South Carleton HS, Osgoode Township HS, Ridgemont HS,
Brookfield HS, and Gloucester HS in accordance with Appendices F, G, H, I, J, L (Attached as Appendix A).
THAT any grade 11 and 12 students (upon opening of the new Riverside South SS) attending Merivale HS, South Carleton HS, Osgoode Township HS, Ridgemont HS, Brookfield HS, and Gloucester
HS, shall remain at their current high school with transportation provided if they are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA;
THAT the boundary for Farley Mowat PS be amended (as reflected in Appendix C) to bring that portion of its current boundary east of the Rideau River into the Steve MacLean PS catchment;
all students grade K to 5 will be expected to block move to Steve MacLean PS upon opening of the new Riverside South SS. Students entering grade 6 upon opening of the new Riverside South
SS may remain at Farley Mowat PS with all transportation provided if they are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA (Attached as Appendix B);
THAT the grade structure for Steve MacLean PS be amended to a K-6 grade format and the boundary be amended as reflected in Appendix D (Attached as Appendix C);
THAT the grade structure for Vimy Ridge PS be amended to a K-6 grade format and the boundary be amended as reflected in Appendix E (Attached as Appendix D);
THAT the boundary for South Carleton HS be amended as reflected in Appendix F (Attached as Appendix E);
THAT the boundary for Osgoode Township HS be amended as reflected in Appendix G (Attached as Appendix F);
THAT the boundary for Merivale HS be amended as reflected in Appendix H (Attached as Appendix G);
THAT the boundary for Ridgemont HS be amended as reflected in Appendix I (Attached as Appendix H);
THAT the boundary for Brookfield HS be amended as reflected in Appendix J (Attached as Appendix I);
THAT the Grade 7 to 8 English Program with Core French and Early French Immersion Attendance boundary for Kars on the Rideau PS be amended as reflected in Appendix K (Attached as Appendix
J);
THAT the boundary for Gloucester HS be amended as reflected in Appendix L (Attached as Appendix K);
THAT students in the area bounded by Rideau Road to the north, Limebank Road to the east, Mitch Owens to the south, and the Rideau River to the west that are impacted by the opening
of the new Riverside South SS,
Students residing in this area upon opening of the new Riverside South Secondary School, be given a one-time option to remain at / choose to attend Merivale HS, Osgoode Township HS,
or South Carleton HS and be provided transportation if they are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA;
Students not residing in this area upon opening of the new Riverside South SS, be directed to attend Osgoode Township HS, or South Carleton HS and be provided transportation if they
are eligible under Student Transportation Policy P.127 TRA and Procedure PR.556 TRA; and
THAT any student on a cross boundary transfer at a school whose program cohort is being relocated to another school as a result of approved recommendations in Report 23-048 be allowed
to move with their program cohort without having to reapply for a transfer.
Carried
8.2Report 23-061, New Findlay Creek Elementary School Study - Consultation Plan Approval (R. Gerrior)
Your Committee had before it Report 23-061, seeking approval of a consultation process and timeline to establish the opening grade structure, program offering, and attendance boundary
for a future elementary school to be opened in the Findlay Creek community.
General Manager Ostafichuk introduced the report and noted that the new Findlay Creek elementary school will be located south of Vimy Ridge Public School (PS). A working group will be
formed to include representatives from Vimy Ridge PS, Robert Bateman PS, Roberta Bondar PS and local community associations. A public consultation meeting is planned for December 2023.
General Manager Ostafichuk noted that if the attendance boundaries are approved for the new secondary school in Riverside South, the “Boothfield” community will not be directed to Vimy
Ridge PS or the new Findlay Creek school.
Moved by Trustee Jennekens,
THAT the New Findlay Creek Elementary School Study Consultation Plan and Timeline, attached as Appendix D to Report No. 23-061, be approved (Attached as Appendix L).
Carried
8.3Notice of Motion, Re: Air Quality Standards and Guidance for Public School Buildings, Trustee Kaplan-Myrth
Notice of motion having been given in keeping with section 12.9 of the Board’s By-Laws and Standing Rules, Trustee Kaplan-Myrth moved as follows:
Moved by Trustee Kaplan-Myrth,
WHEREAS the ‘triple threat’ of respiratory viruses in Ontario including COVID-19, RSV, and influenza can affect student health, school attendance and overall well-being;
WHEREAS data from Ontario indicates higher and disproportionate rates of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among lower income and racialized communities;
WHEREAS schools as congregate settings can continue to play a positive and proactive role in reducing the spread of respiratory viruses;
WHEREAS ventilation is one strategy to help reduce the number of contaminants in the air and improve indoor air quality; and
WHEREAS the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have recently released recommendations and
standards to improve indoor air quality in new and existing buildings;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
THAT the Chair write to the Minister of Education, including the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ontario Chief Medical
Advisor and Chair of Public Health Board, requesting:
Updates to air quality standards and guidance for public school buildings to support schools in creating the safest possible learning environments;
Dedicated capital and operating funding envelopes for reducing the spread of illness in schools.
These are to:
Build from previous provincial investments to support ventilation improvements to build long-term improvements to air quality in all our schools; and
Support continued public health promotion activities in and around schools, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health.
THAT the Director present a report to the Board of Directors, prior to the end of 2023 on:
Ventilation-related investments, challenges and opportunities; and
Other opportunities related to reducing respiratory viruses in schools.
Trustee Kaplan-Myrth introduced her motion and noted the importance of monitoring and improving air quality to improve outcomes in school. She added that the Toronto and Waterloo Region
District School Boards have approved similar motions.
During discussion, and in response to queries, the following points were noted:
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has recently updated its ventilation guidelines and best practices and provided additional funding for ventilation in kindergarten classrooms;
The District is required to report to the MOE in the Fall of 2023 on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) measures in schools;
Staff will present a report to the Board in October 2023 with respect to Facilities Renewal Program (FRP) and School Condition Improvement (SCI) projects that were completed in 2022-2023;
These reports will inform the information requested in Part B of the motion;
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitoring is done on a building by building basis, not by individual classrooms. Information on monitoring system will be provided in the requested report;
An amendment moved by Trustee Presley,
THAT the words “of Directors” be removed following “to the Board”in Part B.
Carried, friendly
The information on on the District’s website with respect to school ventilation and capital projects will be updated;
Staff agreed to provide an estimate of the cost to to produce the requested report prior to the Board meeting on 26 September 2023; and
Staff confirmed that it is reasonable to expect that a report will be provided by the end of 2023.
An amendment moved by Trustee Aziz,
THAT the words “after the Board receives an update regarding air quality standards in the 2023-2024 school year", be inserted in Part A following the word, “THAT”.
Carried friendly
Moved by Trustee Kaplan-Myrth,
THAT, after the Board receives an update regarding air quality standards in the 2023-2024 school year, the Chair write to the Minister of Education, including the Ontario Public School
Boards’ Association, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ontario Chief Medical Advisor and Chair of Public Health Board, requesting:
Updates to air quality standards and guidance for public school buildings to support schools in creating the safest possible learning environments;
Dedicated capital and operating funding envelopes for reducing the spread of illness in schools.
These are to:
Build from previous provincial investments to support ventilation improvements to build long-term improvements to air quality in all our schools; and
Support continued public health promotion activities in and around schools, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health.
THAT the Director present a report to the Board, prior to the end of 2023 on:
Ventilation-related investments, challenges and opportunities; and
Other opportunities related to reducing respiratory viruses in schools.
Carried, as amended
***The meeting went into recess at 8:50 p.m.***
***The meeting resumed at 9:00 p.m.***
9.Report from Statutory and Other Committees
9.1Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), 7 June 2023
Moved by Trustee Kaplan-Myrth,
THAT the report from the Special Education Advisory Committee, dated 7 June 2023, be received.
Carried
It was requested that staff verify the amount of the budget reallocation of approximately $6,000 to fund the summer learning program referenced on page 4, section 9.1.a and make any
necessary corrections to the minutes.
10.Matters for Discussion:
10.1Report 23-039, Student Suspensions (S. Lehman/M. Giroux/B. Reynolds)
Your Committee had before it Report 23-039 providing an annual report on student suspensions for the 2021-2022 school year. Superintendent Lehman introduced the report and noted that
a report for the 2022-2023 school year will be presented to the Board prior to June 2024.
General Manager Rahim provided an overview of the report and noted that Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) students were suspended at a lower rate than pre-pandemic years
during the 2021-2022 school year.
During discussion and in response to queries, the following points were noted:
1.5% of OCDSB students (1,083 out of 74,477 students) were suspended during the 2021-1022 school year;
80% of all suspensions were discretionary. The majority of suspensions lasting for five or more days were of a mandatory nature;
Multilingual learners, students who reside in lower income neighbourhoods, males, students who self-identify as Indigenous, and those with special education needs (excluding gifted)
continue to be suspended at a higher rate than all other students;
Where Valuing Voices identity-based data is available, groups suspended at a higher rate include those who identified as Black, Middle Eastern, Latino, First Nation, having a disability
(Autism, Developmental, Learning, Mental, and Speech Impairment), and/or in gender diverse ways (Gender Fluid, Non-Conforming, NonBinary, Questioning, Trans Boy/Man, Trans Girl/Woman,
and Two Spirit).
Tools and training will be provided to staff, including updating the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan and renewing focus on restorative practices;
Approximately 40% of suspensions are for students residing in low-income neighbourhoods;
Clarification was requested on whether special purpose funding for the collection of identity-based data has been eliminated or reduced and rolled into the Grants for Student Needs (GSNs);
If required, the number of suspensions and results that are appealed to a trustee panel could be provided in a memo to trustees, or in future reports;
It was requested that the information be broken down by equity groups to show intersectionality, that the reasons for the suspensions be included, whether alternatives to suspensions
were used, and to reflect graduation rates;
Students who have identified as Indigenous have disproportionately higher suspension rates. Members of the District’s Indigenous Education Team work with superintendents to support students;
Dysregulated behaviour has increased. Staff continue to implement different strategies, such as training in behaviour management systems;
The District’s equitable hiring practices to have a qualified and diverse workforce will allow students to see themselves reflected in staff;
Information on supports that are provided to students who were the victims of suspended students was requested; and
The District will continue to collect identity-based data aligned with the MOE standards and integrate it with suspension data, but there are barriers to the collection of data that
are not self-reported.
11.Information Items:
11.1Report from OPSBA (if required)
Trustee Jennekens advised that she and Trustee Scott will attend the OPSBA Board of Directors’ meeting on 22-23 September 2023 in Toronto.
11.2New Ministry Initiatives Update
A memorandum regarding “Implementation of Priority Reforms to support The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023” was provided for information.
11.3Memorandums
a.Capital Projects
Memo No. 23-051 regarding the Capital Priorities Program 2023-2024 was provided for information.
11.4OSTA Update (if required)
Trustee Lee provided an update and, in response to queries, the following information was provided:
Trustee Lee acknowledged the start-up difficulties experienced by the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA). OSTA currently has a shortfall of 140 bus drivers and is reworking
bus routes with limited resources. OSTA is asking parents to contact their child’s school if they require transportation for compassionate reasons;
The Empty Seat Program has been suspended for the 2023-2024 school year and unlikely to be reinstated without additional transportation funding from the MOE;
Trustee Nash assumed the Chair.
One in three students in Zone 1 have no bus transportation and parents are desperate for solutions and communications;
The OSTA Board of Directors are actively looking for solutions to resolve the issues caused by cancelled bus routes;
Trustee Scott resumed the Chair.
The Walking School Bus program was paused for the 2023-2024 school year to reallocate funding to yellow school buses and vans. Staff and OSTA Directors will follow up on possible collaboration
with the City to support the Walking School Bus program; and
Trustee Lee noted that he would follow up with OSTA with respect to young children being dropped off without an adult to meet them.
12.New Business - Information and Inquiries
There was no new business.
13.Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:28 p.m.
_________________________
Lynn Scott, Chair