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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 Business Services Report 5, 12 May 1998/o. OTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD REPORT NO 5 BUSINESS SERVICES COMMITTEE TO: Board of Education DATE: 12 May 1998 A meeting of the Business Services Committee was held this evening at 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, commencing at 7.30 pm, in the Trustees' Committee Room. Trustee Lynn Graham was in the Chair and the following were also in attendance: MEMBERS: Trustees Russ Jackson and Jinn Libbey ALSO PRESENT: Trustees Albert Chambers, Patty -Anne Hill, Andrew Lam, Norm MacDonald, and Sheryl MacDonald STAFF: Carola Lane, Director of Education & Secretary of the Board Michael Clarke, Superintendent of Business Lorne Rachlis, Superintendent of School Operations Barbara Stollery, Superintendent of Program & Information Technology Donna Warren - Maxwell, Manager of Physical Planning & Transportation Mark Smith, Intermediate Planner John Morrell, Coordinator of Health & Safety Brenda Cooper, Committee Coordinator REPRESENTATIVES: Stan Currie and Janice Ritchie (alternate), Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils Paul Hankes- Drielsma, Ottawa - Carleton Student Presidents' Council Helene Hume, OSSTF (Support Staff) Diane Jeudy - Hugo, Ottawa - Carleton Secondary School Administrators Network Dave Wildman, Ottawa - Carleton Elementary Teachers' Association • • •- •• 1 L1J!!J§)J16J Trustee Graham called the meeting to order, and invited trustees, non - voting representatives, and staff to introduce themselves. 2. Al2vrovr al of Agenda On a motion by Trustee Jackson, the agenda was approved subject to deferring the item on the adult crossing guard for A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School students to the June meeting. The Chair noted that Trustee Scott, who raised the matter, had requested deferral because she was unable to attend this meeting. There were no questions from the public. Business Services Committee 1 12 May 1998 4. Delegation: Longfields- Davidson Heights Community Association re Confederation HS Gilles Saucier, President of the Longfields- Davidson Heights (LDH) Community Association, spoke to the need to include Confederation High School in the current area review. He recalled that Confederation was slated for closure so that a secondary school could be built in Barrhaven. In making these plans, the former Carleton Board did not appear to take into account the remaining communities in the Confederation attendance area, nor the new community of LDH. Mr. Saucier described the growth in LDH (3170 households and 125 new building permits), and remarked that the community is concerned about ever getting a new public school under the new funding model. Currently, all elementary children are bused out of LDH to Merivale Public School (K -6, 4.5km) and Sir Winston Churchill Public School (7 -8, 10.5km). Secondary school students are directed to Merivale High School (7km). He also noted that there is a Catholic primary/junior school now, and that an intermediate/ secondary Catholic school will open in 1999. Mr. Saucier emphasized that Confederation is the closest secondary school to the LDH community (4km), and the only one with a direct OC Transpo bus route. Students using OC Transpo to go to other schools in the area, including the new John McCrae Secondary School in Barrhaven, would require at least two buses. Janice Ritchie pointed out that the expansion plans for Woodroffe Avenue include a bike path, which would make Confederation accessible by bicycle as well. Mr. Saucier and Ms Ritchie urged that Confederation be included in the area review V) which begins next month. Trustees asked why students from LDH would not be directed to John McCrae SS, which will be much closer. Staff advised that the new school will be filled to capacity with about 1100 students from Barrhaven. There are about 300 -400 secondary students from LDH. Superintendent Clarke confirmed that Confederation will be counted in the present tally of school space. He added that he suspects the Ministry would be willing to deduct the space from the Board's total if the Board wrote now to advise that Confederation HS will be closed. Donna Warren - Maxwell reported that Confederation HS, which is located next to the Nepean Sportsplex, has been built on leased National Capital Commission land. When the Board cancels its lease, the land and building will revert to the NCC. The matter of demolition would be subject to negotiations with the NCC. Superintendent Clarke confirmed that aside from savings on utilities and maintenance, there is no financial benefit to closing the school. Staff will provide trustees with information about the condition of Confederation High School and other secondary schools in the area, i.e., Merivale, J.S. Woodsworth and Laurentian. It was noted that renovation programs have been suspended, including the earlier plans for renovations at Laurentian High School. There was general agreement that Confederation High School should be included in the upcoming area review, and a suggestion that all school buildings be included so that no potential options are eliminated. Ili Business Services Committee 2 12 May 1998 Ia. 5. Revised Confieuration of Plannine Areas for School Spa Your Committee had before it for consideration staff report 98-173 recommending for approval a revised configuration for the planning areas for the upcoming school space study (attendance boundaries, area reviews, and school closures). It was noted that staff will be submitting a further report before the end of June. The June report will provide the proposed study mandate, the consultative approach, etc. (Board minute 183-98 refers /30 April 1998). Donna Warren - Maxwell briefly reviewed the staff report, noting that staff had made revisions to several planning areas, in accordance with some of the suggestions made at a special Board meeting held 30 April 1998 (Board minutes 182 & 183 -98 refer). Specifically, Longfields- Davidson Heights has been included in area 10, rather than area 8; Cedarhill is in area 10, rather than area 9, and Bells' Corners /Crystal Bay are in area 9, rather than 10. The result is fewer elementary planning areas, i.e., thirteen instead of fourteen. Planning areas for the secondary schools have not been defined yet, but it is planned to include all secondary schools in the study. The approach to studying secondary schools will be addressed in the June report. A number of members had reservations about the use of the term "final configuration" of the planning areas, pointing out that it implied there would be no flexibility for adjustments or for finding cross -area planning solutions. It was felt that if the community groups do not find the areas logical, there should be the flexibility to make modifications. Staff advised that if necessary, there is the flexibility to redefine the planning areas later on. Trustee Libbey moved the recommendation in the staff report, changing 'final configuration of the planning areas" to "revised configuration... ". Trustee Jackson observed that some of the former OBE schools require complete reconstruction, and recalled plans to tear down and rebuild a number of schools. He remarked that this time of school space review is an opportunity to look at the whole system with a fresh perspective. Trustee Jackson stated that there is a natural relationship between the schools in planning areas 4 and 5, and suggested that they be combined. Donna Warren - Maxwell advised that in devising the planning areas they took "natural communities" into account, such as Ottawa South /Gloucester, and noted that there is a manageable number of schools in each area. While the areas could be combined, the number of elementary schools would be too large. This would not preclude addressing the area as a whole during the study. Superintendent Carlon emphasized that planning areas are not attendance boundaries or service delivery areas, nor are they based on families of schools. They are, insofar as possible, based on the established guidelines such as safety, natural communities, etc., and very importantly, the optimum number of students and schools in a study area. If an area is too large, then community input will become unwieldy. That is, the work groups will have too many members to work effectively together. He noted that issues such as service delivery and the family of schools concept will be addressed in the June report on the parameters/ scope of the study. Trustee Jackson moved in amendment THAT planning areas 4 and 5 be merged for the purpose of studying secondary schools. The amendment was carried. Business Services Committee 3 12 May 1998 i5 . The main motion, as amended, was also carried. On a motion by Trustee Libbey, therefore, your committee recommends: A. THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE REVISED CONFIGURATION OF THE PLANNING AREAS AS SHOWN IN THE MAPS IN APPENDIX A HERETO *, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY /AREA REVIEW/ SCHOOL CLOSURE STUDIES TO ADDRESS THE SHORT -TERM NEEDS OF THE BOARD; AND B . THAT PLANNING AREAS 4 AND 5 BE MERGED FOR THE PURPOSE OF STUDYING SECONDARY SCHOOLS. *Note: The maps will be renumbered in accordance with the revisions for the June report. 6. Policy on Education - Business Links Your Committee had before it for information staff report 98 -160 seeking input on a proposed new policy governing education - business partnerships, commercial sponsorships, donations, cooperative ventures, and advertising (draft Policy P.044.GOV). Your Committee also had before it a report from the Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils ( OCASC) regarding the proposed policy (distributed at the meeting). OCASC liked the policy and procedure but felt that there should be wide consultation with the school councils before approving a policy involving commercial advertising, particularly as it pertains to advertising in /on school buses and Board property. The policy had been referred by the Budget Committee to the Business Services Committee for consultation, and will go to the Education Committee meeting for consideration on 26 May. The policy includes the proposed text on advertising on school buses. The policy was developed on the basis of work by the regional interscholastic athletics Joint Board Cooperative, on materials from the York Region public and catholic school boards, on the predecessor boards' policies, and on input from staff. Superintendent Stollery noted that the York Region school boards found that advertising on school buses in its first year (1997) was not profitable enough to warrant the amount of work that went into the project. Nonetheless, they decided to extend the project for a year, and a second review is scheduled for June 1998. Superintendent Stollery briefly reviewed the proposed policy, highlighting the sections pertaining to the ethical guidelines, educational benefits, optimization of revenue opportunities, and external and /or internal advertising on school buses. In reviewing the procedure, she pointed out the guidelines for formal partnerships and for commercial sponsorships, the Board's right to approve advertising messages, and the need to be consistent with the Board's policies and procedures. She noted the importance of avoiding an association with controversial products, such as that experienced by the City of Ottawa Council recently regarding a donation from Nike. Trustees generally agreed with OCASC that the policy and procedure "appear to be excellent in terms of defining their intent and laying out the conditions that apply to each of the various [components]... ". Despite their approval of the policy per se, however, a number of trustees and non - voting representatives had strong concerns with the whole concept of marrying corporate advertising and education. They generally had no difficulty with the idea of partner- ships, sponsorships, donations, etc., but were very opposed to selling ad space to generate revenue. Business Services Committee 4 , 12 May 1998 l4' A number of other comments were noted, viz: • There should be a process to ensure that advertisements meet the standards and criteria in the policy, and to avoid problems such as the City of Ottawa's dilemma with Nike. • The additional cost of screening advertisements should be factored into the price charged. • Partnerships with labour groups should be pursued. • There are advantages to corporations in retaining ownership of donations, so consideration should be given to flexibility vis -a -vis donations becoming the property of the Board (i.e., corporations may be more generous if there are advantages to retaining ownership). • The Milk Marketing Board has partnerships with a number of schools, and sponsors a series of activities. They do not pay for their participation, nor for having their materials distributed in schools. Since the Milk Marketing Board is promoting good health, provides benefits to schools, and has a good community image, it would not be prudent to charge them for distributing materials. It was noted that the input from the Business Services Committee and from OCASC will be forwarded to the Education Committee to assist with their consideration of the new policy on business - education links. This item was deferred to the June meeting. • • • - ti • ��� • • • • MEW • Your Committee had before it for information staff report No. 98 -111 presenting comments from the Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils regarding the Community Use of Schools procedures. The comments were provided at a meeting between Board staff and OCASC representatives. Superintendent Stollery reported that staff were comfortable making the suggested changes to the procedure, viz: • Extend to 15 May the date for providing school /school council schedules to the booking office; • providing all users with the opportunity to make schedule changes up to 15 September; • the cancellation/ amendment fee will not apply to those who are not charged user fees; • the 150/1 ratio for security guards will not apply to school /school council activities if there is adequate supervision; and • rewording of the user categories for those groups not required to pay user fees. * * * * Trustee Libbey assumed the Chair * * * * Business Services Committee 5 12 May 1998 16- Trustee Graham noted that she has made her views on this topic well- known, and reiterated her reservations about using central booking to handle the process, rather than having a school -based booking system. She is concerned that central booking will erode the relationship between school principals and City recreation staff and other groups. She hopes that this issue can be revisited soon. * * * * Trustee Graham resumed the Chair * * * * Elementary Cross- Boundary Transfers Your Committee had before it for information staff report No. 98 -169 summarizing the cross - boundary transfer results for the former Ottawa Board of Education elementary schools. Mark Smith reported that there were 199 elementary cross- boundary requests for the 1998 -99 school year, one less than last year. Junior kindergarten applications were not accepted during the cross- boundary process in March because no decision on the future of the program had been made then. Principals will review any JK transfer requests, and approve them if they are within the approved staffing and accommodation arrangements. Mr. Smith summarized the two situations where all or some transfer requests could not be accommodated, viz: • Due to overcrowding, there will be no cross - boundary transfer requests into Broadview PS for the coming year, and the right to register based on a child care address will be withdrawn, subject to review on an annual basis. • To maintain program viability, transfer requests out of the York Street School grade 7 intermediate program will be limited to 26 out of the 45 requests. This will enable the school to maintain an enrolment of 75 students in three grade 7 classes. The 26 spaces will be allocated by using a random selection procedure. All other transfer requests were approved. Mr. Smith noted that there is an appeal process available for those whose transfers were not approved. Your Committee noted a tentative long range agenda for the period June to December 1998. There were no comments or questions. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm Lynn Graham, Chair Business Services Committee BLC /cb ES/980512 Business Services Committee 6 12 May 1998 PI Ottawa - Carleton District School Board 4, N:/:)1 jC /+ // PLANNING AREA 1 Cumberland Rural, Orleans, Blackburn Hamlet N Ottawa River rnitium t5 New Cumberland ES (19992") SeCOndairy Schools Cairine Wilson SS Sir Wiiltrid Laurier SS Other Norman Johnston Alternate Physical Planning and Transportaton m D= v c ca m a` 0 c 0 0 U Ottawa - Carleton District School Board PLANNING AREA 2 Beacon Hill, Rockcliffe, Vanier N J Physical Planning and Transportaton Ottawa- Carleton District School Board /4? PLANNING AREA 3 Ottawa Central N Physical Planning and 7ransportaton Ottawa - Carleton District School Board 19. PLANNING AREA 4 Alta Vista /Featherston /Canterbury N Alta vista PS Arch Street PS Charles Hulse PS Featherston Drive PS Hawthorne PS Pleasant Park PS Riverview Alternative PS Vincent Massey PS Secondary Schools Canterbury HS Hillcrest HS RUgemont HS Other Cr Bowie PS Physical Planning and Transportaton PI Ottawa - Carleton District School Board PLANNING AREA 5 Ottawa South /Blossom Park/Riverside /South Gloucester N rt. ts. curry ra Robert Bateman PS Roberta Bonder PS Sawmill Creek ES Secondary Schools Brookfield HS Physical Planning and Transportaton Ottawa - Carleton District School Board �( PLANNING AREA 6 Osgoode Township N Metcalfe PS Secondary Schools . Osgoode Township HS Physical Planning and Transportaton Ottawa - Carleton District School Board 122• PLANNING AREA 7 Ottawa Near West N D. Roy Kennedy PS Devonshire Comm. ES Elmdale PS Fisher Park PS Hilson Avenue PS W. E. Gowling PS Whitehaven PS Woodroffe Avenue PS Secondary Schools =ffe HS Other Summit Program (Fisher) Physical Planning and Transportaton Ottawa - Carleton District School Board Revised Planning Area Fisher Heights /Merivale /Bel Air /Meadowlands /South Nepean N Greenbelt o o �o o Rural Nepean Area Agincourt Road PS 13anhaven PS Carleton Heights PS CVc ew MS Century PS J. H. Pubnan PS Jockvale ES Mary Honeywell ES Of Rideau McGregor Easson PS Meadowlands PS Merivale PS Parkwood Hills'PS Sir Winston Churchill PS Secondary Schools Confederation HS J. S. Woodsworth SS Merivale HS Laurentian HS New John McCrae SS (199912000) Other Elizabeth Wynwood Physical Planning and Transportaton 0 Ottawa - Carleton District School Board Revised Planning Area Ottawa West /Pinecrest/Centrepointe /Crystal Bay/Bell's Corners D. Aubrey Moodie IS Grant Alternative PS Greenbank MS Knoxdale PS Lakeview PS Leslie Park PS Manordale PS Pinecrest PS Queensway PS Regina Street PS Severn Avenue PS Secondary Schools Bell HS Sir Robert Borden Other Crystal Bay Centre Sir Guy Carleton SS Physical Planning and Transportaton Ottawa - Carleton District School Board PLANNING AREA 11 Rideau Township N ManotidcPS North Gower/Mariborough PS Rideau Valley MS Physical Planning and Transportaton Ottawa - Carleton District School Board PLANNING AREA 12 Kanata soy Ga�e� r`Q G7 st O� mf o� Planning Area 12 E/N►►ennYry Schools Bridlewood CES Castlefrank ES Glen Caim PS John Young ES Katimavik ES Roland Michener PS Stephen Leacodk PS W. E. Johnston PS • New Bridlewood North ES (1998/1999) Secondary Sdwols A Y. JaokSOn SS Earl of March SS Other Frederick Banting Altemative Program Physical Planning and Transportaton `dam F / e Ottawa River 'i L of 26. i Ottawa - Carleton District School Board PLANNING AREA 13 Goulbourn Township N a P% ego Physical Planning and Transportaton a° �Q' `Qo A. Lome Cassidy ES Goulboum MS Munster PS Richmond PS Stittsville PS Seaardary Schools South Carleton HS 13 F] Ottawa - Carleton District School Board PLANNING AREA 14 West Carleton Township N • New West Carleton ES (19981999) West SSA Physical Planning and Transportaton