Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12b COW (Budget) Report 5 15 Aug 2006 Minutes PublicOTTAWA- CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) REPORT NO. 5 DATE: 15 August 2006 A meeting of Committee of the Whole (Budget) was held this evening with the public session commencing at 7:45 p.m. in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, with Trustee Riley Brockington in the Chair and the following also in attendance: Trustees Bronwyn Funiciello, Alex Getty, Lynn Graham, Margaret Lange, Greg Laws, Jim Libbey, David Moen, David Primeau, Lynn Scott and Joan Spice. STAFF: Director of Education and Secretary of the Board, Lorne Rachlis; Executive Superintendent Diane Jeudy -Hugo, Chief Financial Officer, Michael Clarke, Superintendents Jennifer Adams, Mike Carson, Laura McAlister, Janice McCoy and Glenda Stevenson, Manager of Board Services, Monica Ceschia; Manager of Communications, Maggie Melenhorst; Assistant Treasurer, Cathy Dempsey, Coordinator of Budget Services, Financial Systems Support & Labour Relations Costing, Charles D'Aoust and Committee Coordinator, Bruce Fraser. Student Trustees: Steven Robins and Oliver Kahn Non - Voting Representatives: Elementary Operations Committee (EOC), Colleen Robazza and Mary McConnell, Non - Affiliated Staff, Dave Miller, Ottawa Carleton Secondary School Administrators' Network (OCSSAN), David McMahon, Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC), Elaine Morgan, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), Cindy Dubuc (Educational Assistants - EA), Sharon Campbell, Education Support Professionals (ESP), Andrew Horwood, Plant Support Staff Unit - (PSSU), Diane McCargar, Professional Educators and Child Care Staff (PECCS), Christine DiZazzo, Professional Student Services Personnel (PSSP), Susan Rab, (Teachers) and Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAL), Lamar Mason,. Call to Order Trustee Brockington called the public session to order at 7:45 p.m. He welcomed everyone to the budget meeting and introductions were made around the table. 2. Approval of the Agenda On a motion by Trustee Getty, the agenda was approved as circulated. Public Question Period a) Greg Bonnah Greg Bonnah asked why the Board continues to fund programs which should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Committee of the Whole (Budget) -1- 15 August 2006 Superintendent Stevenson advised that staff will consider the report of the Special Education Review Ad Hoc Committee with respect to options for the delivery and funding of programs for students with special needs. b) David Humphries In response to a query by David Humphries regarding the impact of possible reductions to occupational therapists at the Ottawa Technical Learning Centre, Superintendent Stevenson advised that occupational therapy has traditionally been provided by the Community Care Access Centre and that staff will be consulting with external agencies to encourage their participation in the education system. C) Barbara Grinfeld Barbara Grinfeld asked what guidelines and /or principles are used to determine which special education programs will be funded and if the vulnerability of students is considered. Superintendent Stevenson noted that staff considers student needs and other factors to ensure the effective delivery of programs while minimizing disruption to students and schools. She reiterated that the report of the Special Education Review Ad Hoc Committee will be reviewed and external agencies will be encouraged to participate in the education system. Superintendent Stevenson pointed out that the lateness of the grant information has limited some of the options available for the next school year. d) Denise Rhodes Denise Rhodes asked how staff would deal with the impact of possible reductions on the sometimes fragile egos of children with special needs. Superintendent Stevenson advised that staff are aware of the difficulties that special needs students can encounter and noted that much work was done through the Council of Ontario Directors' of Education special education project to raise the capacity of regular classroom teachers to work with special needs students. e) Merelee Kemp Merelee Kemp asked how her organization which works with children with special needs can work collaboratively with the OCDSB to advocate for those students. Director Rachlis advised that the OCDSB is willing to work cooperatively with partners in support of a common cause to assist with service delivery and ensure that "safety nets" are maintained. He noted that the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAL) is a key partner in this area and encouraged Ms. Kemp to contact Executive Superintendent Jeudy- Hugo's and Superintendent Paxton's offices for further dialogue on this subject. Committee of the Whole (Budget) -2- 15 August 2006 4. Suspension of Board by -laws and Standing Rules On a point of personal privilege, Trustee Funiciello noted that due to her visual impairment she is unable to observe the voting process on motions or amendments and must rely on the Committee Chair calling the results of each vote while other trustees are able to observe voting preferences. She expressed the view that she should have the same information with respect to the voting choices of other trustees. She requested that all votes be recorded for the duration of the Committee of the Whole (Budget) meetings for 2006 -2007 budget deliberations. Monica Ceschia advised that Annex 5 §5.1 of the Board's by -laws and Standing Rules states that votes shall be decided by majority vote, by show of hands of those members present and voting and that Annex 5 §7.1 c) states that votes shall not be recorded in Committee. She noted that §22.1 states that amendments to the by -laws and Standing Rules may be amended only by approval of two - thirds of all members present and voting, at a regular or special meeting of the Board, provided that at least two weeks' notice in writing has been given to all Board members. Trustee Funiciello proposed that that section of the by -laws be temporarily suspended for the duration to provide for recorded votes. Trustee Brockington proposed that trustees' votes be announced by the Manager of Board Services to provide an oral record. Trustee Funiciello indicated her preference would be for a written record. Trustee Brockington advised that he would take the request under consideration and following consultation with staff, provide a ruling at the next Committee of the Whole (Budget) meeting. Monica Ceschia advised that § 10 of the Board's parliamentary authority Procedures for Meetings and Organizations (Kerr and King) states that "The constitution and by -laws of organizations cannot be suspended, because this would remove the very protection that they are intended to provide for the officers and members." Trustee Moen expressed the view that temporary suspension of the Board's by -laws had been done in the past in order to introduce revisions on a trial basis. He suggested that only Standing Rules would be suspended, not the Board by -laws. Trustee Scott noted that the by -laws were suspended while under provincial supervision and the trial revisions introduced while coming out of that situation. She noted that the suspension of the by -laws and the recording of votes in committee were two issues and requested that they be dealt with separately. Trustee Spice expressed support for an oral declaration of the each trustees' voting decision. Trustee Funiciello moved: A. THAT Annex 5, Section 7.1 c) of the Board's by -laws be suspended for the duration of Committee of the Whole (Budget) 2006 -2007 budget deliberations. Committee of the Whole (Budget) -3- 15 August 2006 B. THAT all Committee of the Whole (Budget) votes for the duration of the 2006 -2007 budget deliberations be recorded. Parts A and B of the motion were carried. On a motion by Trustee Funiciello, therefore, the Committee recommends as follows: A. THAT ANNEX 5, SECTION 7.1 C) OF THE BOARD'S BY -LAWS BE SUSPENDED FOR THE DURATION OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) 2006 -2007 BUDGET DELIBERATIONS. B. THAT ALL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) VOTES FOR THE DURATION OF THE 2006 -2007 BUDGET DELIBERATIONS BE RECORDED. 2006 -2007 Recommended Budget The Committee had before it staff report No. 06 -177 seeking Board approval of the 2006- 2007 budget. Director Rachlis noted that the budget exercise will be challenging due to the lateness of the grant announcements and the need to significantly reduce expenditures due to the drastic reduction in a number of grants. He advised that no new initiatives are being proposed and that while most of the Board's budget is spent on staff in schools, staff have made significant effort to minimize the impact of reductions on students. Director Rachlis pointed out that the proposed budget focuses on services mandated by the Ministry of Education and recommends reductions and deletions to those which while they may be well received, could be provided by other agencies as they are outside of the education mandate. He noted that consultation has taken place with parents, the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAL) and special education staff affected by many of the proposals. Director Rachlis submitted that expenditure reductions are difficult but that decisions regarding the allocation of resources are the most important that can be made and will have a significant impact on the mandate and vision of the next Board. Superintendent Clarke noted that, as funding is driven mainly by enrolment and enrolment is declining, the financial resources available are becoming more limited. The declining numbers of school aged children in Ontario results in less pressure on the provincial government to increase resources for the education system. He pointed out that grants for special education are now essentially dependent on the Board's total enrolment and not the number of special education students or the services they require. Superintendent Clarke pointed out that the salary gap continues to be funded from other budget lines and that revenues are not keeping up with expenditures. He commented that the trend is moving to a province wide funding model and that some services, offered when boards could increase the tax base to provide for local program decisions, can no longer be provided. Staff are proposing budget "model A" which will reduce expenditures by approximately $12.0 million, use $12.0 million in one -time reserves and, subject to Ministry approval, provide for the use of $5.0 million in interim financing to be covered by the future sale of board assets. He noted that the interim financing would provide a one -year reprieve and additional time to develop a multi -year expenditure reduction plan. Committee of the Whole (Budget) -4- 15 August 2006 Superintendent Clarke reviewed the major areas of revenues and expenditures. He noted that the Board must decide whether to accept or reject the province's interim funding terms and whether or not to structure expenditures within the limits of the province's allotted funding. Superintendent Clarke advised that corrections or revisions to the budget document would be provided as necessary and questions and answer sheets would be provided as regularly as possible. During discussion staff addressed a number of general trustee queries and the following requests were noted: • provide revised pages in Friday's package and post to website • provide a summary sheet of changes to "big ticket" items if possible • provide technical information as to why the Board could not borrow against its own capital fund without approval from the Ministry 6. Commencement of Debate and Deliberation Trustee Lange moved as follows: A. That the Board approve the 2006 -2007 operating budget in the amount of $615.4 million, as set out in the Model A section of Report 06 -177, subject to receiving Ministry of Education approval for $5 million of interim financing. B. That the Board approve the use of $12 million of reserves in financing its 2006 -2007 budget, subject to receiving the Minister of Education's approval for the conversion of the Wide Area Network specific reserve to a working fund reserve. C. That the Board directs that the annual $150,000 transfer to the Wide Area Network specific reserve end for 2006 -2007 and future years. On a motion by Trustee Libbey the Committee went back in camera at 9:35 p.m. 7. Adjournment The Committee returned to public session at 10:45 p.m. and on a motion by Trustee Scott, the meeting adjourned to Tuesday, August 22 2006. Riley Brockington Chair Committee of the Whole (Budget) BAF/ Committee of the Whole (Budget) -5- 15 August 2006