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Home My WebLink AboutP 119 CON - School as a Community Hub -1- P.119.CON POLICY P.119.CON TITLE: SCHOOL AS A COMMUNITY HUB Date issued: 24 November 2015 Last revised: Authorization: Board: 24 November 2015 1.0 OBJECTIVE To facilitate the use of schools as a community hub to ensure that all schools house a range of community programs, services and activities which support the achievement and well -being of students and the broader community. 2.0 DEFINITIONS In this policy, 2.1 Community Hub refers to the use of a school where approved partner(s) work collaboratively with the District to provide mutually beneficial programs for Ottawa - Carleton District School Board students and the broader community. 2.2 Board refers to the Board of Trustees. 2.3 District refers to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. 2.4 Community Use of Schools refers to the District’s process of formalizing the use of its schools by external partners and the division of staff that administer. 3.0 POLICY 3.1 The Board recognizes that a community’s use of its schools and partnerships with external agencies can foster learning opportunities and enhance the well-being of students. 3.2 The Board recognizes that school facilities are unique assets which contribute to the quality of the community in which they are located and should be available for the delivery of programs and services which have the potential to address the diverse needs of both students and the local community. 3.3 Community hub arrangements can be established either during the school day or outside of school hours and can be designed to provide a range of services and programs to the entire school community or groups of students, the broader community and/or specific groups within the community. -2- P.119.CON 3.4 The District reserves the right to determine where the use of a school for community hub activities is practicable or appropriate on a site-by-site basis. 3.5 All community hub activities shall conform to the legal requirements of any activity that would normally be undertaken in a school facility. Guiding Principles 3.6 The following guiding principles shall govern the planning and practice of establishing the school as a community hub: a) Schools may house a range of services and programs that welcome and value community partners in student success and well-being; b) Community hub activities approved for the school shall ensure the safety and security of students, staff or community members in the school; c) Programs and/or services housed in schools shall be appropriate to the school setting and in alignment with District and school priorities; d) Community hub activities shall offer benefits to students, parents and/or the community; e) Programs and/or services housed in schools shall reflect community need wherever possible and within the context of ensuring safe environments; f) The District shall use open and inclusive practices that value stakeholder input and contribution in establishing partnerships; g) The District shall make every effort to ensure facilities are available for community hub activities, whenever practical; h) The District shall offer Community Hub space on a cost-recovery basis; which may include but not be limited to the following costs: heat, hydro, insurance, custodial services, consumables, and short or long term maintenance and renewal; i) The District, at its sole discretion will determine what period of time for the partnership and the extent ongoing services that will be offered to support the space/use and these terms and services shall be detailed in an agreement ; j) Renovations that may be required to facilities shall solely be the cost and responsibility of the partner but shall be undertaken with the review and approval of the District; and k) Programs and services housed in schools will reflect the District's principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. Community Hub Partnership Categories 3.7 The types of programs and services which support the school as a community can be generally categorized into four areas: a) Educational Partnerships Educational partnerships are activities/services that happen most frequently during the instructional day or during the extended day that complement the -3- P.119.CON curricular programming. These partnerships enhance learning opportunities for students and may improve the lives of community members. b) Recreational Partnerships Recreational partnerships are activities that support the arts and/or healthy, active lifestyles. Typically these activities occur after the instructional day, evenings, weekends and occasionally holidays. c) Health Partnerships Health partnerships are partnerships with external agencies that provide mental health services, physical health services and social services. These partnerships may take a variety of forms: professional services for students during the day; supports for families in the school community or general professional/clinical support for the broader community. d) Public Partnerships Public partnerships are partnerships that exist with community or municipal partners for short or long term activities. They may involve longstanding reciprocal agreements and/or shared facility use. e) Private Partnerships Private partnerships are partnerships that exist with private corporations for short or long-term activities. They may involve longstanding reciprocal agreements and/or shared facility use. Their presence would fulfill a community need that is not available through a public partnership. Such partnerships are framed by PR.535.GOV and P.045.GOV Partnerships, Sponsorships, Donations and Co- operative Ventures. 3.8 Community use agreements in support of community hubs may be established at the District or school level with a variety of organizations including, but not limited to, the following: a) other levels of government; b) the private sector; c) community agencies; d) citizen organizations; and e) individuals. 3.9 The type of community use agreement and process for formalizing the partnerships agreement will be determined by the: a) type of community hub program or activity (Education, Recreation, Health or Public); b) time of use of the request (during the instructional day, before or after the instructional day, weekends); c) amount of time and/or the nature of the interaction with students (ongoing instruction or interaction, occasional or one-time, professional services); and -4- P.119.CON d) Impact on the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s financial commitments. 3.10 In order to determine interest in Community Hub partnerships in OCDSB facilities, either planned construction or in unused space, as defined by this policy, a listing of such space or opportunities will be developed and posted on the District’s website. In addition this listing of available space shall be circulated to agencies including, but not limited to: a) The Province of Ontario; b) The City of Ottawa; c) Local Colleges and Universities; and d) United Way of Ottawa-Carleton. 3.11 An annual meeting will be held, coordinated with the other three publicly -funded school boards in Ottawa when possible, with the agencies listed in 3.10 invited to participate to discuss opportunities. 3.12 The Director of Education shall be authorized to issue procedures to support the implementation of this policy. 4.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS Education Act The School as Community Hub: A Framework, OCDSB, February, 2015 Community Planning and Partnership Guideline, Ministry of Education March 2015 P.131.FAC Facility Partnerships P.012.CON Community Use of Schools PR.507.CON Community Use of Schools