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Home My WebLink About03b COW Budget Minutes 6 Mar 2000OTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (BUDGET) MINUTES 6 March 2000 A meeting of Committee of the Whole (Budget) was held this evening at 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, commencing at 7:30 pm, in the Board Room, with Trustee Pam Morse in the Chair, and the following in attendance: Trustees Albert Chambers, Alex Getty, Lynn Graham, Russ Jackson (by phone), Norm MacDonald (by phone), Sheryl MacDonald, and Lynn Scott. Superintendent of Finance, Michael Clarke; Superintendents Larry Archibald, John Brennan, Ross Donaldson, Judith Hoye, Dan Mason, Katharine Saunders, Barbara Stollery, Judy Turriff, and Bonnie Viney; Manager, Multimedia Technology, Kerry Chalmers; Manager/ Comptroller of Finance, Marie - Louise Chartrand; Manager of Quality Assurance, Marjorie Clegg; Manager of Business and Learning Technologies, Dan Cousineau; Coordinator of Budget Services and Financial Systems Support, Charles D'Aoust; Senior Consultant, Business & Learning Technologies, John Hindle; Principals Laura McAlister and Bob Powell; Coordinator, Family Reception Centre, John McKinven; Assistant Secretary of the Board, Joan Melancon; Management, Policy and Planning Advisor, Janice Sargent; Technician, Robert Giekes; and Committee Coordinator Brenda Cooper. Non -Voting Representatives: Ottawa - Carleton Elementary Principals' Association, Lyndi McDonald; Ottawa- Carleton Elementary Teachers Federation, Dave Wildman; Ottawa Carleton Secondary School Administrators' Network, Neill Wyatt; OSSTF, Education Support Professionals, Helene Hume; OSSTF /PSSP, Christine Dizazzo; OSSTF Teachers, Tony Pearson; Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils, Janice Ritchie and Cynthia Pohran; Ottawa - Carleton Student Presidents' Council, Justin Millette and Russell Ullyatt; Special Education Advisory Committee, Jane Berman. 1. Approval val of Agenda Trustee Norm MacDonald moved that the agenda be approved as presented. Trustee Chambers expressed surprise that his motions pertaining to the transfer to reserves were listed under additions to the budget rather than reductions to the budget. Staff agreed that his motion regarding staffing, 9(b), should be considered as a reduction and moved up on the agenda. Item 9(b) now having been moved up to item 8, Trustee Chambers moved in amendment that item 9(a), transfer to capital reserves, be moved up to item 8, reductions to the budget. The amendment was defeated. In response to a query, Superintendent Clarke advised that it is expected that the Ministry will release information on the grants later this week. The motion to approve the agenda was carried. Committee of the Whole (Budget) - 1 - 6 March 2000 2. Confirmation of Minutes. 21 and 23 February 2000 On a motion by Trustee Getty, the minutes of the meetings held 21 February and 23 February 2000 were confirmed as written. Public Ouestion Period There were no questions from the public. 4. Delegations: The following provides a brief summary of the presentations by the delegations. Their written briefs were circulated with the agenda. (a) Association of Bright Children (Ottawa). Gifted Programs. Nancy C^ orbett On behalf of the Association of Bright Children (ABC) (Ottawa), Nancy Corbett expressed support for a number of general SEAC issues, and support for some of the budget proposals such as continuing the pilot congregated classes in the former CBE. ABC's concerns about the proposed model include inclusion versus congregation, meeting the social and emotional needs of the gifted child, the provision of differentiated learning experiences in a regular classroom, and identification and group test issues. Ms Corbett suggested the work of Dr. Lynn Silverman of the Gifted Development Centre in Colorado be consulted during the review of the special education delivery model. During questions from Trustees, Ms Corbett reviewed the terms 'bright ", "gifted" and "profoundly gifted ". (b) ESL Parents. Cambridge PS, Anita Miller Anita Miller outlined the problems inherent in the reduction of ESL funding, especially the resultant lack of services for students beyond stage one, and the serious consequences for students born in Canada and raised in homes where English is seldom spoken. Under the new three- years -in -Canada regulation, these students will no longer be eligible for ESL support. About 90% of the kindergarten class at Cambridge is in this category. Cecily Lui, a student at Bell High School, reported that she attended ESL classes following her family's immigration to Canada six years ago. She confirmed that this is the best way to learn English. She pointed out that some refugee children do not have basic skills such as holding a pencil, and require intensive support. Trustees expressed appreciation for the presentations, and expressed regret that the province has cut this funding so severely. They provided assurance that they will continue to press the provincial government to increase the funding. Committee of the Whole (Budget) - 2 - 6 March 2000 a9- (c) North Gower /Marlborough School Council re Transportation & Staffing. Sara Charron and Nora Templeton Sara Charron, Co -Chair of the North Gower /Marlborough School Council, expressed the Council's concern about increased enrolment and mid -year transfers from French immersion, accompanied by declining staffing and a reduction of space. She urged the Board to carefully consider the implications of such initiatives as expanding middle French immersion while retaining both other entry points, and to examine the validity of other programs which have been promoted by special interest groups. Trustees expressed interest in the information. Staff advised that following the fall staffing adjustments, changes in staffing are not made except in the most extreme circumstances. Nora Templeton expressed concern about the length of bus rides, and late school start and finish times. She urged the Board to establish an earlier start time at North Gower /Marlborough. Ms Charron noted that she thinks middle French immersion is an excellent program because it provides an opportunity in the primary years to identify children who would have difficulty learning in a second language. (d) Library Subject Council. Sandra Fraser Speaking on behalf of the secondary teacher - librarians, Sandra Fraser urged retention of the Library Service Centre, noting that it provides an essential service, makes good economic sense, frees up time for library technicians, and provides security and consistency. If it were to be disbanded, this would be a permanent loss. With other school boards moving to a centralized library service, it does not make sense to eliminate the Centre. In response to queries, Ms Fraser reported that it would not be possible to make central database entries from schools as this would result in duplicate records and inconsistencies. Trustee Chambers requested a report describing how the new system will work. In responses to a query, staff advised that the Library Service Centre serves fewer than half the Board's students, and that its proposed closure is part of the harmonization process. It was noted that library staff will be able to access the databases in other schools to determine the availability of material. Staff clarified a number of questions about staffing regular classrooms, special education and English as a second language. It was noted that Core French teachers are system - generated. Some trustees expressed concern that congregated gifted classes never exceed twenty- five pupils, but regular classes frequently exceed this number, even though the Board -wide average is at the mandated level. Committee of the Whole (Budget) - 3 - 6 March 2000 It was noted that it was originally planned to have a three -year phase in of the English as a second language reductions, but due to funding realities, it is necessary to reduce by two - thirds this year, and another one -third next year. Superintendent Stollery reported that the gifted program at Ridgemont is operating with a small enrolment now, but it is hoped it will grow to 60-70 by the third year. For now, a different model is being used with some congregation and some participation in regular classes. 7. Commencement of Trustee Debate on Budget The Chair called for a motion to approve the budget. Trustee Getty moved as follows: THAT the Ottawa- Carleton District School Board: A. Approve the budget for 2000 -01 in the amount of $514.0 million; B . Approve the use of $14.0 million of Working Fund Reserves and $0.5 million of Capital Reserves in the 2000-01 budget; and C. Direct staff to proceed with the staffing action necessary to implement the 2000-01 budget. The Chair noted that the motion will remain on the floor through subsequent meetings and subject to amendments, until the Committee is ready to report to the Board. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 pm. Pam Morse Chair, Committee of the Whole (Budget) BLC /cb Budget /000306 Committee of the Whole (Budget) - 4 - 6 March 2000