HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard 25 Mar 2002 Minutes Public•
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25 March 2002
A meeting of the Ottawa- Carleton District School Board was held this evening in the Board
Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, Ontario, commencing at 6:30 p.m. with Trustee Jim Libbey in the
Chair and the following in attendance: Trustees Brian Gifford; Lynn Graham; Russ Jackson; Margaret
Lange; Myrna Laurenceson; Norm MacDonald; Sheryl MacDonald; David Moen; Pam Morse; Lynn Scott
and Joan Spice.
Staff: Director of Education and Secretary of the Board, James Grieve; Superintendents Rose
Marie Batley; John Brennan; Michael Clarke; Dan Mason; Judy Turriff; and Bonnie Viney; Labour
Relations Officer, Janet Beer; Principal, Continuing Education, Anna Bowles; Manager, Facilities and
Physical Planning, Michael Carson; Coordinator, Communications, Hyacinth Haddad; Supervisor, Design
and Construction Services, Wim Jellema; Assistant Secretary of the Board, Joan Melancon; Technical
Coordinator, Design and Construction Services, Idris Sadikoglu; Management, Policy and Planning
Advisor, Janice Sargent; Facilities Planning Officer, Dick Wells; Principal, Program - Secondary, Peter
Zion; A/V Technician, Robert Giekes; and, Committee Coordinator Kim Young (in camera session and
public session).
Also present: Student Trustees Emma Cohen and Trevor Robinson.
Note: Trustee Graham assumed the Chair when Trustee Libbey wished to participate in the discussion.
On a motion by Trustee Laurenceson, seconded by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, the Board resolved
into Committee of the Whole to consider the items on the in camera agenda. Trustee Lynn Graham
assumed the Chair in the Committee and the Committee later rose and presented the following report
(Board minute 146 -02 refers):
146. Report No. 10, Committee of the Whole (In Cameral 25 March 2002
Trustee Graham presented Report No. 10, Committee of the Whole (in camera), and seconded the
recommendations contained therein, viz:
a) Lease of a Board property
(Motion by Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Graham)
THAT staff proceed as directed in Committee of the Whole (in camera) with respect to
the potential lease of a Board property.
b) Pricing Strategy for Occupancy Charges
(Motion by Trustee Morse, seconded by Trustee Graham)
A. THAT future changes to the charges for the Community Use in Schools program
be brought to the Disposition Committee for review and recommendation to the
Board as part of a comprehensive approach to setting occupancy charges;
B. THAT operating and maintenance costs associated with leases be reviewed
annually by the Disposition Committee to ensure that the rates established as the
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basis of "cost recovery" reflect any escalation in energy, labour rates, etc, and
for 2002, the rate should be adjusted upwards to reflect actual costs; and
C. THAT tenants who occupy surplus OCDSB space on a "commercial" basis
should be charged full cost recovery for operating and maintenance costs plus a
base rent supported by a rental study prepared at the time the lease terms are
being negotiated.
The recommendations were approved by the Board.
147. Avnroval of Aeenda
Trustee Lange, seconded by Trustee Laurenceson, moved THAT the agenda be approved, subject
to the addition of two 2- minute delegations, and an 11- minute video presentation with regard to the
MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre, to follow Question Period.
At Trustee Graham's request, a separate vote was held on the addition of each item to the agenda.
The addition of each delegation was approved, and the addition of the video presentation was defeated.
Trustee Morse, seconded by Trustee Scott, moved THAT the Summit students be allotted 5
minutes for a presentation to the Board.
The motion was carried. The agenda, as amended, was approved.
148. Confirmation of Minutes. 25 February 2002
On a motion by Trustee Graham, seconded by Trustee Laurenceson, the minutes of the 25
February 2002 Board meeting were confirmed as written.
149. Confirmation of Minutes, 27 February 2002 (special meeting_)
On a motion by Trustee Graham, seconded by Trustee Laurenceson, the minutes of the 27
February 2002 special Board meeting were confirmed as written.
150. Confirmation of Minutes 4 March 2002 (continuation)
On a motion by Trustee Spice, seconded by Trustee Lange, the confirmation of the 4 March Board
minutes was deferred until the minutes of the 26 February 2002 Committee of the Whole (Budget) are
available.
In response to Trustee Graham's query about the revised pages distributed at the meeting, Joan
Melancon explained that a correction was made to the recorded vote on page 9 and Trustee Laurenceson
had asked Board Services staff to review their notes regarding the inclusion on page 96 of a staff comment
about the retention of Junior Kindergarten. Ms. Melancon noted that the Committee Coordinator's notes
matched Trustee Laurenceson's recollection, and the minutes were revised accordingly.
In response to a query about the process for correcting the minutes, Ms. Melancon indicated that
trustees are welcome to contact Board Services with requests for revisions, and Board Services staff will
check their notes on that issue, or they may request the changes at the Board meeting. She noted that
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Board Services staff would not make substantive changes to minutes without bringing them to the Board
for approval.
151. Confirmation of Minutes, 7 March 2002 (special meeting)
On a motion by Trustee Morse, seconded by Trustee Graham, the minutes of the 7 March 2002
special Board meeting were confirmed as written.
152. Business Arising from the Minutes
There was no business arising from the minutes of the meetings held on 25 and 27 February, and 7
March 2002.
With respect to the 4 March 2002 minutes, Trustee Graham recalled that during the budget debate,
trustees eliminated transportation within the Greenbelt for Grade 7/8 students, with the exception of special
education students. She noted the need for the Board to discuss this issue, particularly the possibility of
maintaining transportation within the Greenbelt for some, but not all of the exceptional students, depending
on their needs. Trustee Graham expressed the view that some special education students are capable of
taking public transit, and she requested that staff provide a report on the cost of some special education
students living in the UTA using public transportation to get to school.
153. Chair's Report
Trustee Libbey was pleased to note that Trustee Lynn Graham has been nominated in the
Education category for a Women of Distinction Award. Winners will be announced on 7 May 2002 at a
gala event at the Ottawa Congress Centre.
The Chair noted that Robert Hopkins Public School successfully applied for two grants totalling
$7,200 from the Cygnus Foundation and ArtSmarts, to be used to enhance the Language Arts and Fine Arts
programs at the school.
Trustee Libbey announced that on 8 April, Olympian Glenroy Gilbert will celebrate World Health
Day with the intermediate students at York Street Public School, under the auspices of the Pan - American
Health Organization and the World Health Organization.
The Chair congratulated W. 0. Mitchell Public School students in junior and senior bands, as well
as the jazz band, for each achieving the Gold standard at the Capital Region Music Festival, which began
on 22 February 2002. The school's jazz band also received a trophy and plaque, awarded for the first time
this year, for "Most Outstanding School Jazz Ensemble ".
Trustee Libbey referred to a recent study, sponsored by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), conducted by the Program for International Student Achievement
(PISA), whose results indicated that public school students, when socio - economic factors are taken into
account, outperform private school students. He pointed out these research results indicate that public
education is working well for students.
154. Director's Report
Director Grieve noted that the Lakeview Environment Club, consisting of seven Grade 4 OCDSB
students, received the 2002 Churchill Award on 23 March at Ottawa City Hall. For the last two years, the
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students have been collecting food and supplies for orphaned and injured animals at the Ottawa - Carleton
Wildlife Center.
The Director announced that the League of Canadian Poets invited Gloucester HS student Samuel
Anderson to represent Ontario and read his poem "La Calligraphie" on International Poetry Day, 21 March
2002, on Parliament Hill.
Director Grieve congratulated the following Gloucester High School students for being awarded
first place in recent French public speaking competitions: Michelle Lawton at the Lions' Club competition;
Katrina Beavon and George Adler at the Optimist Club contest; and, Erica Swinton and Jennifer Wu at the
Royal Canadian Legion competition.
Director Grieve announced that fourteen OCDSB students have been selected to team up with
members of the Canadian Forces central band staff to form an "honour band" to present a musical
collaborative work at an event on 21 April 2002 at Nepean High School.
155. Public Question Period
There were no questions from the public.
156. Delegations
Note: The first delegation made a presentation to trustees in the Trustees' Committee Room at 7:30
p.m., given that it pertained to an in camera issues.
a) Eleanor Heap, Executive Director Ottawa School Day Nursery Inc
Eleanor Heap provided an overview of Ottawa School Nurseries Inc., explaining that the
organization represents approximately 38 day care centres, and After 4 programs
providing services to 500 OCDSB students. She explained that the proposed 40% rent
increase being considered by the Board, combined with a significant increase in
insurance premiums, and finite funding from the City of Ottawa, will have a serious
negative impact on day care centres and the families they serve. Ms. Heap requested that
the Board not implement such a drastic increase.
Trustee Graham thanked Ms. Heap for her presentation.
b) OCDSB student. David Beckett re: Closure of MacSkimming and Bill Mason Outdoor
Education Centres
Elementary student David Beckett provided an overview of the outdoor activities and
learning related to plants, animals and the environment, that are offered to students at the
outdoor education centres. He submitted that if the facilities are closed, students will lose
the opportunity to access important curriculum and activities that are not available as part
of classroom instruction.
C) Phil Weir, re: Closure of MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre
Phil Weir presented an overview of the history of the MacSkimming Outdoor Education
Centre, noting that it has offered uninterrupted service and curriculum to students for
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thirty -two years. He noted that the centre has successfully operated within a budget that
has been drastically reduced over the last ten years, and asked whether all of the options
related to keeping the Centre open have been considered by trustees.
Mr. Weir noted with regret that if the Centre is closed as planned, the closure would
convey a message to the community that the environment, a key component of the
Centre's work, is not sustainable. Mr. Weir asked that the Board reconsider its decision
to close the Centre, effective September 2002.
In response to Trustee Lange's query, Mr. Weir indicated that he would be pleased to
participate on a committee for the restructuring of the centre in order to make it financially viable.
He agreed with the premise that the MacSkimming Centre could be financially self - sufficient at
some point in the future, and noted that it should remain a public school system offering.
157. Presentation: Summit Alternative School students re: Closure of MacSkimminQ Outdoor
Education Centre
Summit Alternative School students Sarah -Beth Knowles, Greer Brabazon, and Jillian
Robinson described the positive impact that the MacSkimming Centre has had on their
education, with respect to learning outdoor skills such as canoeing, and snow shoeing,
and bringing to life lessons from the classroom related to science, history and biology.
Trustee Spice thanked the students for their valuable input, and requested that a copy of
their video presentation (which was not shown at the meeting due to time constraints) be
made available to trustees for their viewing at a later time.
Trustee Libbey thanked the delegations and presenters for their input and invited them to
remain at the meeting for the discussion of the reconsideration of the closure of the MacSkimming
Outdoor Education Centre.
Trustee Graham, seconded by Trustee Laurenceson, moved THAT item No. 14, with respect to the
MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre, be dealt with following No. 9, receipt of Committee of the
Whole (Budget) minutes, prior to returning to the in camera session.
The motion was carried.
158. Receipt of Minutes, Committee of the Whole (Budget) 19 February 2002
On a motion by Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Norm MacDonald, the minutes of the 19
February 2002 Committee of the Whole (Budget) meeting were confirmed as written.
159. Business Arising from the Minutes
There was no business arising from the minutes of the 19 February Committee of the Whole
(Budget) meeting.
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160. Reconsideration of Closure of MacSkimmine Outdoor Education Centre Trustee Lange
In response to a query, Joan Melancon explained that it is necessary for the Board to first decide
whether or not to reconsider the budget decision at the 4 March 2002 meeting regarding the deletion of
funding in the 2002 -2003 budget for the Bill Mason and MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centres. The
Board should first vote on whether to reconsider the issue, and if the vote is in the affirmative, the previous
motion by Trustee Scott is back on the floor for consideration. Trustee Lange can then move her proposal
as an amendment to that motion.
Trustee Lange, seconded by Trustee Laurenceson, moved reconsideration.
In introducing the motion, Trustee Lange noted that the MacSkimming Centre is an important
facility for students across the region. She expressed the view that the budget process decision to remove
funding for the Centre from the 2002 -2003 budget was made in haste. Trustee Lange referred to the need
to set up a Committee as soon as possible, to devise strategies to make the Centre self - sufficient.
Trustees speaking against the motion to reconsider noted that given that Trustee Lange's motion
does not have a budgetary impact, there is no need to reconsider the MacSkimming Centre motion. Other
trustees expressed concern about reconsidering the budget motion in the absence of further information
about the cost of operating the Centre.
Trustees speaking in favour of the motion to reconsider pointed out that if the Centre is not
reinstated into the OCDSB budget as an expenditure, it is unlikely that it will be able to operate, even if it is
on a cost - recovery basis. They also noted that the staffing component must be taken into consideration as
well.
Trustee Norm MacDonald expressed the viewpoint that the Board should be constructing its
budget based on current, known funding. He referred to the political climate in the province at the moment,
noting that the Board should avoid taking action that will re- affirm that it is spending more money than it
has.
At Trustee Graham's request, a recorded vote was taken, and the motion to reconsider was carried
on the following division:
FOR: Trustees Gifford, Graham, Lange, Laurenceson, Libbey,
Sheryl MacDonald, and Spice
AGAINST: Trustees Jackson, Norm MacDonald, and Morse 3
ABSTENTIONS: Trustees Moen and Scott
The following motion, approved at the 4 March 2002 Board meeting, was back on the floor for
consideration, viz:
THAT $350,000 for the Bill Mason and MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centres be deleted
from the budget.
In introducing the motion, Trustee Scott noted that the issue of closing the Centres has been
considered by the Board during its budget process for a number of years. She expressed the view that the
Board needs to carry out a comprehensive assessment of how the Centres should be restructured to achieve
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self - sufficiency. She submitted that in recent years, the Board has only focused on the cost issues related to
the Centres, and suggested that the educational component and how services are delivered to students must
be assessed as well.
Notice having been given, Trustee Lange, seconded by Trustee Graham, moved in amendment:
Whereas environmental and outdoor education is a key component in offering a well- rounded
educational experience to students;
Whereas MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre last year served 9,000 school groups and 2,500
community groups;
Whereas the original farm was provided to the fOBE with the express intent that it be available to
students to offer them the opportunity to experience the outdoors; the fOBE opened the
MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre in 1967 to fulfill this commitment and serve the
children of Ottawa - Carleton;
Whereas the scope of activities at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre and investment to
date offer a significant potential for revenue generation which can make it self - supporting;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
A. The MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre continue to operate with a mandate to
achieve financial self - sufficiency;
B. A committee be struck to make recommendations for the restructuring of the
MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre and its programs to make it financially viable
and to bring those recommendations to Education Committee in the fall of 2002;
C. The committee, to be formed no later than June 2002, be comprised of administration,
trustees, community members and user groups.
Trustee Lange noted that the MacSkimming Centre is a four hundred acre farm that provides a
variety of outdoor, and environmental programs to students across the region. Noting that the number of
staff at the Centre has been reduced over the years from 24 to 7, Trustee Lange pointed out that the Centre
actually loses potential business because there is not enough available staff to deal with the bookings.
Trustee Lange emphasized the need to find innovative ways to increase the Centre's revenue and offer new
programs to students, and noted that there is considerable community support for the continued operation
of the Centre.
In response to a query, Trustee Lange noted that $200,000 of the $350,000 that was deleted from
the budget is attributed to the MacSkimming Centre, the remainder to the Bill Mason Centre.
During a brief discussion about the impact of transferring funding for the Centre from the
provision for reserves to the expenditures budget, Trustee Spice requested that staff provide a report with
regard to the Centre's potential for cost - recovery, as well as the likely level of community participation in
efforts to achieve self - sufficiency for the Centre.
Trustee Spice, seconded by Trustee Moen, moved THAT the motion and amendment be referred
to the 10 April meeting of the Business Services Committee.
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Trustee Spice noted that the Centre is a valuable educational and community resource, and there is
currently no replacement for this kind of leaming in the Board.
Noting that the issue includes both a financial and an educational component, Trustee Scott moved
in amendment THAT the motion and amendment be referred to the 15 April 2002 meeting of the Education
Committee.
A recorded vote was held, and the motion to refer the issue to the April meeting of the Education
Committee was defeated on the following division:
FOR: Trustees Gifford, Lange, Norm MacDonald, Morse, Scott,
and Spice
AGAINST: Trustees Graham, Laurenceson, Sheryl MacDonald, and Moen 4
ABSTENTIONS: Trustees Jackson, and Libbey
A recorded vote was held, and the motion to refer the issue to the April meeting of the Business
Services Committee was defeated on the following division:
FOR: Trustees Norm MacDonald, Morse, Scott, and Spice
AGAINST: Trustees Gifford, Graham, Lange, Laurenceson, Libbey,
and Sheryl MacDonald
ABSTENTIONS: Trustees Jackson, and Moen
In response to a query about staffing implications, Director Grieve noted that commitments to staff
for the 2002 -2003 budget year have already been made. He also noted that if the Centre is to remain open
until September 2002, it would need to be accepting bookings in June for September. It would be too late
in late August or early September 2002 to make decisions about the viability of the Centre.
Superintendent Viney noted that if staffing changes are considered, due notice to staff would be
required under the collective agreement.
Trustee Libbey, seconded by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, moved in sub - amendment THAT staff
plan for the status quo operation at the MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre for September 2002, be
added to Part B of the amendment.
Trustee Libbey noted that if the sub - amendment is approved, it would ensure that staffing would
be in place, bookings would continue to be accepted, and fees could be increased if necessary, to access the
Centre's programs.
During a brief discussion of the costs of operating the Centres, staff reported that it costs the
Board $424,000 a year to operate the MacSkimming Centre, and $248,000 for the Bill Mason Centre. The
former operates with a deficit of $$258,000 a year, and the latter with a deficit of $158,000.
Trustees speaking against the sub - amendment noted that both the Bill Mason Centre in the west
and the MacSkimming Centre in the east serve all OCDSB students, and if the Board is supportive of
outdoor education, it should keep both Centres open until September. 44
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Trustees speaking in favour of the sub - amendment noted that the Board would be committing to
operate the MacSkimming Centre for at least part of the 2002 -2003 school year, and that it would cost the
Board only a corresponding portion of the $424,000 annual cost of the Centre.
A recorded vote was held, and the sub - amendment was carried on the following division:
FOR: Trustees Gifford, Graham, Lange, Laurenceson, Libbey,
Sheryl MacDonald, and Moen
AGAINST: Trustees Jackson, and Norm MacDonald
ABSTENTIONS: Trustees Morse, Scott, and Spice
In wrap -up on the amendment, Trustee Lange noted that it is apparent that there is a great deal of
community support for the retention of the Centres. She emphasized the importance of learning from the
variety of studies that have been conducted over the years on this issue, as well as strategies employed to
attain self - sufficiency for the Centre. Trustee Lange expressed the view that if the Centres are closed, they
are not likely ever to reopen.
A recorded vote was held, and the amendment was defeated on a tie vote:
FOR: Trustees Gifford, Graham, Lange, Laurenceson, Libbey, 6
and Sheryl MacDonald
AGAINST: Trustees Jackson, Norm MacDonald, Moen, Morse, Scott,
and Spice
ABSTENTIONS:
ism
With respect to the main motion, an amendment by Trustee Morse THAT "draft accountability" be
added before "budget" was accepted as friendly.
A motion by Trustee Moen THAT the motion be postponed indefinitely, failed for lack of a
seconder.
An amendment by Trustee Moen THAT $350,000 for the Bill Mason and MacSkimming Outdoor
Education Centre be replaced by $100,000 for the continued operation of the MacSkimming Centre, closer
to cost recovery, failed for a lack of a seconder:
In wrap -up, Trustee Scott noted the importance of providing students with access to outdoor
education, but emphasized that the Board has a responsibility to design a budget based on the probable
level of funding it will receive, rather than based on the level of funding it would like to have. She
suggested that the Board use the time until the GLGs are announced to look at the issue of outdoor
education and develop strategies, using the expertise of the staff at the Centres, to operate the facilities in a
self - sufficient manner.
A recorded vote was held, and the motion was defeated on the following division;
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FOR: Trustees Jackson, Norm MacDonald, Moen, Morse,
and Scott
AGAINST: Trustees Gifford, Graham, Lange, Laurenceson, Libbey,
and Sheryl MacDonald
ABSTENTIONS: Trustee Spice
Trustees voted therefore, to reinstate the $350,000 in the 2002 -2003 OCDSB budget for the
operation of the Bill Mason and MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centres.
On a motion by Trustee Graham, seconded by Trustee Spice, it was agreed that the meeting would
continue past 11:00 p.m.
The Board resolved into Committee of the Whole (in camera) at 11:15 p.m., and returned to the
public session at 12:05 a.m.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
On a motion by Trustee Morse, seconded by Trustee Scott, as amended by Trustee Graham,
seconded by Trustee Moen, it was agreed that the members would deal with the following items in order:
item No. 11, report No. 5 of the Business Services Committee and the recommendations therein; the
recommendation in the 18 March 2002 Education Committee report regarding the letter to the Ministry
about the expansion of province wide testing and the motion to OPSBA; and item No. 12, the OPSBA Call
for Constitutional Amendments and Policy Resolutions.
161. Report No. 5, Business Services Committee, 20 March 2002
On a motion by Trustee Moen, seconded by Trustee Scott, the Board received Report No. 5,
Business Services Committee, dated 20 March 2002.
Trustee Scott requested that the motion on Folio 27 be reported in the usual format, i.e., The
motion was carried, and your Committee therefore recommends, on a motion by:
Trustee Moen presented the report, and seconded the recommendations therein, viz:
a) Addendum to the Phase II Energy Performance Contract
(Motion by Trustee Scott, seconded by Trustee Moen)
A. THAT the Board approve proceeding with an expenditure of up to $24 million
for an addendum to Phase II of the Energy Performance Contract with the
Board's partner DukeSolutions, to convert additional energy efficiencies to
school renewal and to fund the programs for organizational renewal (training,
etc.), and Destination Conservation/dcPlanet program renewal, as outlined in
staff report 02 -048; and
B. THAT the Director of Education and Chair of the Board be authorized to
approve the expanded Phase II contract.
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In introducing the motion, Trustee Scott explained that Phase I and Phase II of the energy
performance contract has been proceeding for the last four years. The Board has benefited from actual
savings, which have been directed to the facilities renewal budget to address the backlog.
In response to Trustee Morse's query, Trustee Libbey explained that although he has signing
authority for the Board, the energy performance contract is a very complex one, and he felt that it would be
prudent for some other trustees to review it as well, given that there was not enough time for the contract to
be presented to the Board for review.
Trustees Morse and Scott expressed the view that the Chair should seek advice from staff or legal
counsel to clarify issues related to the contract.
Trustee Moen inquired about the tender process for this contract, noting that given the structure of
the contract, it would have been difficult for other firms to submit bids for tender.
In wrap up, Trustee Scott noted that at the time of the project's inception, prior to amalgamation,
an extensive tender process was conducted, therefore it was not necessary to engage in a tender process at
the third interlocking stage of the contract.
The motion was carried.
b) Community Use of Schools - Rates and Categories
(Motion by Trustee Spice, seconded by Trustee Moen)
A. THAT for the 2002 -03 school year, fees be increased by 25% over current fees
but that no organization change user category, except for the change
recommended by staff for the adult recreation groups; and that the staff -
recommended administration, cancellation and amendment fees be implemented
for the 2002 -03 school year;
B. THAT staff present to the October 2002 Business Services committee a draft
policy on Community Use of Schools which provides a basis for establishing a
fee schedule which differentiates among users taking into account the following
and other criteria that staff consider appropriate:
i) THAT community organizations that meet the following criteria be
expected to cover incremental costs but not costs that the Board
would have to incur whether or not they were using our facilities:
• not - for - profit;
• volunteer Board and significant volunteer involvement;
• serving children and/or youth;
• providing educational, social, cultural or athletic
programming;
• programs open to all children (like public schools);
• other factors (e.g. accessibility of programs, availability of
bursaries for disadvantaged children, having a constitution,
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holding an Annual General Meeting, democratic operating
procedures) that staff may consider appropriate.
ii) THAT not - for - profit community organizations providing programs
and services for adults be expected to pay the full cost of their use
based on total average costs;
iii) THAT for - profit organizations including businesses and not -for
profit organizations including private schools and religious
organizations should be charged the full costs of their use and
possibly additional fees to partially or fully cross - subsidize
programs for children and youth;
iv) THAT schools whose facilities are used by community groups
receive appropriate compensation in budgetary allocations;
C. THAT staff present to the October Business Services Committee a report:
• proposing a definition, rationale and breakdown for "incremental costs"
for community use which would exclude costs which the Board would
incur whether or not community groups were using our facilities;
• recommending a fee schedule for user categories proposed in the draft
policy referred to in part B;
D. THAT staff report to the October Business Services Committee on the
Continuing Education program and include:
a complete costing of this program including all direct and indirect
costs including facility costs;
recommendations to increase fees to the level required to reach full cost
recovery based on average total costs for "general interest" continuing
education courses for adults, except for courses that would have
benefits for children and youth such as parenting courses;
information on fees for other courses.
An amendment by Trustee Moen that the following be added to Part B and Part C of the motion
failed for lack of a seconder:
Part B.
Part C.
(v) THAT fees charged by our "competitors" including co- terminus
Boards, universities and colleges, the City of Ottawa, and other
facilities (private or public);
• Including information on fees charged by our competitors as listed in Part B
(v) above;
In response to Trustee Graham's query, staff confirmed that the issue regarding alcoholic beverage
licenses would be presented for consideration at the April Chair's Committee meeting.
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At Trustee Graham's request, a recorded vote was held, and the motion was carried on the
following division:
FOR: Trustees Graham, Lange, Laurenceson, Libbey, and Spice
AGAINST: Trustees Morse, and Scott
ABSTENTIONS: Trustee Moen
C) Ad Hoc Committee, Site Improvement Guidelines
(Motion by Trustee Graham, seconded by Trustee Moen)
THAT the Ad Hoc Committee on Site Improvement Guidelines continue its work and
report back to the Business Services Committee in June 2002.
The motion was carried.
In summary, recommendations a), b), and c) were adopted by the Board.
162. Letter re Expansion of Province -Wide Testing and Motion to OPSBA
(Motion by Trustee Lange, in substitution for Trustee Libbey, seconded by Trustee Graham)
A. THAT staff draft a letter to the Minister of Education for consideration by the
Education Committee at its 15 April 2002 meeting with regard to the OCDSB's
concerns about the expanded province -wide testing and asking the Ministry to
reconsider the testing; and,
B. THAT the OCDSB submit a motion to the Ontario Public School Boards'
Association ( OPSBA) with regard to OCDSB's opposition to the expanded
province -wide testing.
The motion was carried.
In response to Trustee Graham's query, Superintendent Mason noted that a summary of the EQAO
results would be posted on the OCDSB web site as soon as possible.
163. OPSBA Call for Constitutional Amendments and Policy Resolutions
The motion on province -wide testing will be submitted as a policy resolution for consideration by
OPSBA at its Annual General Meeting in June 2002 as indicated in B. above.
The meeting adjourned at 12:45 a.m.
James P. Grieve, Director of Education
Secretary of the Board
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Jim Libbey
Chair of the Board