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Receipt of Committee of the Whole, Budget Report, 12 June 2023COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE,BUDGET REPORT Monday,June 12,2023 7:00 pm Board Room Administration Building 133 Greenbank Road Ottawa,Ontario Trustees Present:Alysha Aziz (electronic communication),Donna Blackburn, Justine Bell,Donna Dickson,Lyra Evans,Jennifer Jennekens, Nili Kaplan-Myrth,Matthew Lee,Cathryne Milburn,Suzanne Nash,Amanda Presley,Lynn Scott,and Antong Hou (Student Trustee) Staff Present:Michele Giroux (Director of Education),Brett Reynolds (Associate Director),Randy Gerrior (Associate Director, Business Operations),Janice McCoy (Executive Officer),James Proulx (Executive Officer,Information Technology and Digital Transformation),Prince Duah (Superintendent of Instruction), Mary Jane Farrish (Superintendent of Instruction),Paula Hall (Superintendent of People,Culture and Leadership),Reg Lavergne (Superintendent of Instruction),Shawn Lehman (Superintendent of Instruction),Shawn Lehman (Superintendent of Instruction),Richard Sinclair (General Counsel, Superintendent of Labour Relations,Risk Management and Privacy),Peter Symmonds (Superintendent of Learning Support Services),Teri Adamthwaite (Team Manager,Financial Planning),Stacey Kay (General Manager,Learning Support Services),Pamela LeMaistre (General Manager,Human Resources),Sandy Owens (General Manager,Business & Learning Technologies),Diane Pernari (General Manager, Communications &Information Services),Nicole Guthrie (General Manager,Board Services),Roxanne Sun (Team Manager-Financial Planning),Michael Guilbault (Content Creator,Digital Multimedia Technician),Darren Gatley (Senior Board Coordinator) Non-Voting Representatives Present: Natahsa Baines (OSSTF-SSP),Bronwyn Funicello (ACE), Corinne Lassaline (OSSTF-PECCS),Jennifer Capitani (OCEOC),Tracy Shapiro (OCSSAN),Stephanie Kirkey (OSSTF-TBU),Terry Warner (SEAC),Nina Stanton (IEC),Susan Gardner (OCETF),Melodie Gondek (OSSTF-ESP), 1 1.Call to Order -Chair of Committee of the Whole,Budget Chair Blackburn called the public session to order 7:02 p.m. 2.Matters for Action (Cont'd): 2.1 Report 23-047,2023-2024 Staff-Recommended Budget (R.Gerrior) Chair Blackburn advised that Report 23-047 had been previously presented at the 6 June 2023 Committee of the Whole (COW)Budget meeting. Chair Blackburn noted that at the time of adjournment at the 6 June 2023, the following motion was tabled: Moved by Trustee Kaplan-Myrth, THAT the Autism Spectrum Disorder/Developmental Disabilities (ASD/DD) Summer Learning Program option be retained in the 2023-2024 budget. Director Giroux noted that staff provided information to trustees regarding additional information on the Summer Learning Program,Ottawa Carleton Virtual (OCV)funding,and options for $610,000 in savings. Associate Director Gerrior provided a PowerPoint presentation. ***Following a recess at 7:12 p.m.,Chair Blackburn called the meeting back to order at 7:17 p.m.*** A sub-amendment moved by Trustee Aziz, THAT the following be added at the end of the amendment:and that the cost be offset by the following reductions: Initiative Cost MTCA Vehicles (0.15) Professional Development PRD (0.09) Replacement Furniture Portables (0.10) Green/Composting Initiative (0.15) VP 0.5 FTE (0.07) Reduce additional funding for EAs by (0.15) 2 MTCA Laptops OCV replacement (0.05) Total (0.61) In response to a query,staff noted that the tabled budget does not change the Board motion carried from 2016 pertaining to the Summer Learning Program. Some trustees suggested that funding should not be reduced for the green/composting initiative. Some trustees noted that when compared to the value of additional funding that educational assistants (EAs)provide to students,reducing additional funding to the green/composting initiative would be preferred rather than reducing EA funding. Trustee Scott requested that a cost benefit analysis of the green/composting initiative be provided at a future date to determine if the initiative achieved its intended goals in order to inform future Board decisions. Moved by Trustee Presley, THAT debate be closed. Carried A sub-amendment moved by Trustee Aziz, THAT the following be added at the end of the amendment:and that the cost be offset by the following reductions: Initiative Cost MTCA Vehicles (0.15) Professional Development PRD (0.09) Replacement Furniture Portables (0.10) Green/Composting Initiative (0.15) VP 0.5 FTE (0.07) Reduce additional funding for EAs by (0.15) MTCA Laptops OCV replacement (0.05) 3 Total (0.61) Carried In response to a query,staff clarified that the vice-principal (VP)allocation listed in the amendment would be for in-person elementary schools. Trustee Jennekens assumed the chair. It was noted that budget decisions are difficult to make and that costs of programs are expected to continue to increase going forward.It was suggested that trustees continue to advocate to the province for increased funding through the Ontario Public School Boards'Association (OPSBA). Trustee Blackburn resumed the chair. Moved by Trustee Kaplan-Myrth, THAT the ASD/DD Summer Learning Program option be retained in the 2023-2024 budget and that the cost be offset by the following reductions: Initiative Cost MTCA Vehicles (0.15) Professional Development PRD (0.09) Replacement Furniture Portables (0.10) Green/Composting Initiative (0.15) VP 0.5 FTE (0.07) Reduce additional funding for EAs by (0.15) MTCA Laptops OCV replacement (0.05) Total (0.61) Carried Trustee Aziz requested that staff provide information and highlight the areas where staff anticipate increases in school board operating costs. In response to a query on how reduced operating budgets would affect departments,staff noted that efforts will be made to maintain programming.Reduced operating budgets may impact the way that 4 programs are delivered,such as not hiring guest speakers and could affect the method in which professional development (PD)resources are used. It was noted that there is an investment of $4.4 million towards equity, notwithstanding reductions to operating budgets,and programs such as the Black Youth Forum and the Rainbow Youth Forum will continue, although the way they are delivered may be amended. In response to a query on concerns about reduction to school budgets and discretionary funding,staff noted that options are available to schools throughout the school year.Staff noted that schools have options for budget carry forwards which can assist with the purchase of consumable school materials and staff added that they will work with school principals to create options to ensure that learning opportunities are maximized for students. Associate Director Gerrior noted that the budget is a starting point for the 2023-2024 school year as the consolidated financial statements provide a monitoring “checkpoint”to ensure that schools have the learning materials they require. In response to a query regarding the impact that Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA)budget shortfall concerns may have,staff noted that the OCDSB has been working with the Ministry,OSTA and the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB)on the issue.It was noted that there was some blending of the funding formula used;however,it is too early to determine the extent of the potential impact and staff are reviewing OTSA contracts with the legal team.Staff added that the revised estimates could be reviewed to further understand this pressure and that many school boards are advocating to the Ministry to provide additional funding. It was suggested that when writing the letter to the Ministry advocating for additional resources,the specific amount of resources needed to provide the best learning opportunities should be included in order to have the most impact. Moved by Trustee Scott, A.THAT the unconsolidated 2023-2024 operating budget of $1,100,848,097 as presented in Report 23-047,2023-2024 Staff-Recommended Budget and detailed in the 2023-2024 Staff-Recommended Budget Binder be approved as amended as follows: 5 I.THAT the Autism Spectrum Disorder/Developmental Disabilities (ASD/DD)Summer Learning Program option be retained in the 2023-2024 budget and that the cost be offset by the following reductions: Initiative Cost MTCA Vehicles (0.15) Professional Development PRD (0.09) Replacement Furniture Portables (0.10) Green/Composting Initiative (0.15) VP 0.5 FTE (0.07) Reduce additional funding for EAs by (0.15) MTCA Laptops OCV replacement (0.05) Total (0.61) B.THAT the 2023-2024 capital budget of $140.3 million as presented in the 2023-2024 Staff-Recommended Budget Binder,be approved. Carried 3.New Business -Information and Inquiries There was no new business. 4.Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. _________________________ Donna Blackburn,Chair 6