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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11a COW Report, 17 Oct 2000114 OTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Report, Committee of the Whole (Public) (Area Review /School Closures (Inside the Greenbelt)) TO: Board of Education DATE: 17 October, 2000 A meeting of the Committee of the Whole (Area Review /School Closure Study (Inside the Greenbelt)) was held this evening commencing at 7:40 pm in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, with Trustee Lynn Graham in the Chair, and the following in attendance: Trustees Albert Chambers, Alex Getty, Patty Anne Hill, Russ Jackson, Andrew Lam, Jim Libbey, Norm MacDonald (by phone), Sheryl MacDonald, Pam Morse and Lynn Scott. Staff. James Grieve, Director of Education and Secretary of the Board; Superintendents Rose -Marie Batley, Ross Donaldson Judith Hoye, Dan Mason, Katherine Saunders, Barbara Stollery and Judy Turriff; Michael Carson, Manager of Facilities and Physical Planning; Hyacinth Haddad, Coordinator of Communications; Kathleen Lausman, Manager, Physical Facilities/Design & Construction; Joan Melancon, Assistant Secretary of the Board; Policy and Planning Advisor, Janice Sargent; Planners, Estelle Butler, Marc Labelle, Janet Sauriol and Mark Smith; Planning Technician, Ian Baxter; Robert Giekes, A/V Technician and Bruce Fraser, Committee Coordinator. Approval of A eg nda Trustee Sheryl MacDonald moved THAT the agenda be approved. Trustee Chambers moved in amendment THAT the Committee defer consideration of the recommendations in Report 00 -187 until the deadline, (19 October 2000) for a response from the Minister of Education to the request for an extension to the 31 December deadline regarding the offering of school spaces so that they may be removed from the Board's inventory. The amendment carried. The agenda was approved as amended. Public Question Period a) Pierre Boivin suggested that there is between $33 - $43 million currently available in capital funding. He asked if the Board has developed a contingency plan to alleviate overcrowding situations while new schools are being built, and why the Board is rushing to close nine schools when there is currently money available to build new schools. Superintendent Batley advised that Mr. Boivin's capital funding figures are excessive and explained that the $9 million in renewal funding is not available for new construction and that part of the $14 million in Education Development Charges is required for site acquisition as well as other initiatives. b) In response to a query by Brodie Harrington as to the value of surplus sites and undeveloped land and the suggestion that they be disposed of, Superintendent Batley noted that the former Borden HS, Brook Lane Education Centre and Gilmour Street administrative office are currently in the disposition process. She advised that the value of Board assets is not discussed in a public forum. C) Joan Spice requested a response to the following series of questions: i) Is the methodology used for projecting fall enrolments the same as for five -year projections? Staff advised that the methodology used is similar in both cases but that the long -term projections are accurate within the family level. ii) Is a .6% enrolment increase between October and March unusual? Committee of the Whole (Public) - 1 - 17 October 2000 s Superintendent Batley commented that it would not be considered abnormal. iii) Would the early September enrolment normally be less than the October ADE numbers? The enrolment numbers vary so it would not necessarily be less. iv) Will staff provide 29 September enrolment numbers prior to the 19 October meeting? Staff advised that enrolment numbers were not collected for September but will be collected in October and should be available by the end of November. d) In response to query by Don Buckingham, Trustee Libbey remarked that the request to the Minister does not reflect a lack of confidence in the current demographic projections. Superintendent Batley asked Mr. Buckingham to leave his second question,regarding a reply to a question contained in a Questions and Answers Release regarding the School Area Review process, with her. e) In response to queries by John Farah, Director Grieve noted that staff is attempting to identify the extent and accuracy of the perceived trend that young families are moving to mature neighbourhoods. He remarked that the funding formula is forcing the Board to make closure decisions affecting these neighbourhoods in order to receive funding for new construction in new growth areas. Submission from Special Education Advisory Committee - Imuact of School Closures on Special Education The Chair acknowledged receipt of a written submission from the Special Education Advisory Committee which was copied to all trustees. Trustee Ouestions In response to a series of questions by Trustee Chambers, staff advised that that the number of pupil places targeted for new construction for September 2002 will depend on the number of closures that the Board approves and the prioritization of new construction. Michael Carson clarified that planning staff estimate 600 pupil places per elementary school and that the estimated capital cost is $117.00 per square foot resulting in a cost of approximately $16.5 million for construction and land costs to accommodate 1500 new pupil places. He noted that staff is preparing an analysis of grants with respect to the OCASC submission of 6 October 2000. In response to a query, Superintendent Batley expressed confidence in the process and the resulting staff recommendations in Report 00 -187. She noted that the process has resulted in the development of the families of schools and provided options prior to the final recommendations. Superintendent Batley commented that while making any closure recommendations is difficult, staff are comfortable with the results of their analysis and the subsequent recommendations. Staff advised that the enrolment projections used existing enrolments as well as projections provided by Regional Planning staff that are based on the Region's official plan. It is assumed that all land within the Greenbelt will be developed by 2021 and that while the overall population will increase, there will not be a significant impact on the number of school age children. It was noted that an increase in student population within the Greenbelt will not be concentrated in one area but will be spread across all of the families of schools. In response to a query by Trustee Jackson, staff advised that no type of risk analysis was applied to the enrolment projections but that local issues were considered in the development of the model and a 90% usage rate provides a buffer within the projections. Short term overcrowding situations will be addressed through boundary reviews where required. Staff addressed Trustee Lam's concerns regarding the potential loss of market share should the Board vote to close schools, explaining that the Board will continue to have a significant presence in each area and that closures will not likely result in a significant loss of enrolment. It was noted that staff have factored in projected Committee of t h e Whole (Public) - 2 - 17 October 2000 rall development proposals based on Regional planning figures, and that a large increase in the school age population is not anticipated. (W In response to trustee queries for information regarding the development of a buffer factor for unexpected enrolment situations resulting from school closures, staff will provide an analysis of the area north of the Queensway from the Rideau Canal to Broadview Avenue. Staff noted that, should the Board decide not to approve all of the recommended closures, it may be necessary to review the boundary and program relocations and bring further recommendations to the Board. Staff clarified that the Education Act specifies the process for the disposal of Board properties. The Board may offer the property at no cost to the co- terminus boards and the Ontario Realty Corporation at no cost and at fair market value to a list of designated agencies. Fair market value would be defined as the amount that a willing vendor is prepared to accept from a willing buyer. It was noted that discussions with other boards regarding property acquisitions are ongoing, but no commitments have been made at this time. Staff agreed to provide information regarding school closures by the co- terminus boards for each family of schools. In response to trustee queries, staff advised that grants for new pupil places are issued on the basis of actual enrolments compared to rated capacities and are not tied to the construction of a particular site. It was confirmed that official capacities will now be fixed for a twenty -five year period and new pupil places will not be added to the inventory until the end of that period. Staff noted that a reduction in the size of a school during reconstruction would not result in pupil places being removed from the inventory and that staff would consider the impact of significant reconstruction on program delivery during that period and would make recommendations to minimize disruption. Staff agreed to provide as many responses as possible to outstanding questions prior to the 19 October meeting of the Committee of theWhole. Trustee Chambers moved THAT an in camera session be held at the beginning of the meeting scheduled for 19 October 2000. The motion was defeated. Trustee Scott moved A) THAT the Committee of theWhole move in camera to hear trustee questions and; B) THAT the in camera session be continued if required, before the public session, on the 19 October 2000. Part A of the motion was defeated. Part B of the motion was carried. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. to continue on 19 October 2000 at 6:30 p.m. with an in camera session, followed by the public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Lynn Graham, Chair Committee of the Whole (Public) /baf Committee of the Whole (Public) - 3 - 17 October 2000