March 19th, 2013
Director’s Update
Waterloo Region District School Board – Committee of the Whole
On March 18, 2013 at 7:00pm, the WRDSB held its Committee of the Whole Meeting. The agenda and reports for this meeting are available on the Board’s website by clicking here.
Three delegations appeared at the meeting, two speaking to the Woolwich/Wellesley Pupil Accommodation Review and one to the upgrades to Empire Public School.
Reports
Woolwich and Wellesley Townships Elementary Schools Pupil Accommodation Review Accommodation Report and Recommendations of the Accommodation Review Committee (For Information)
On February 14, 2011, the Board began a pupil accommodation review of the Woolwich and Wellesley Townships elementary schools which includes: Floradale, Linwood, St. Jacobs and Three Bridges Public Schools.
A pupil accommodation review is a formal process that may result in school closure and consolidation, school construction and renovations, and/or boundary and program changes in a defined area within the Board’s jurisdiction.
In accordance with Board Policy 4000, and in compliance with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline (published June 26, 2009), the Board directed the establishment of an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) to carry out the accommodation review.
The ARC’s Accommodation Report and Recommendations were officially submitted and presented at the Board for the information of the public and Trustees. After the submission, there must be no less than sixty days (not including the spring break) prior to the meeting where Trustees will vote on the recommendations. In the interim, Board staff will review and analyze the ARC’s findings and prepare a report with recommendations for Board consideration. The Board will notify the public of the meeting where any final decisions will be made.
Updates to Approvals for Boundaries, Capital and Financing (For Approval)
Each year, staff review a number of initiatives to ensure that all Board approvals align with Ministry funding approvals and are consistent with other recommendations. This year, two specific clarifications are required.
- Alignment of Capital Priorities Funding from the Jean Steckle PS allocation to the Silverheights PS allocation.
On October 29, 2012, the Ministry of Education approved the transfer of capital priorities funding from the Jean Steckle Public School project to the Silverheights Public School project in the amount of $1,301,068 to accommodate our third party cost consultant estimate for Silverheights Public School. This additional funding was made possible due to a favorable tender close in June 2012 for the construction of Jean Steckle Public School. - Clarification of Timing of Boundary Changes as a result of the amendment to the scheduled opening date of Chicopee Hills PS
The opening of Chicopee Hills Public School involves several boundary modifications approved on May 9, 2011 as part of the Grand River South/Sunnyside Accommodation Review. These changes were to take place effective September 2014 to coincide with the original tentative opening date of Chicopee Hills Public School. Since the opening date of Chicopee Hills Public School was amended to September 2015, the timing of the following changes approved on May 9, 2011 requires revision:
Boundary change between Lackner Woods and Sheppard Public Schools
Boundary change between Lackner Woods, Sheppard, Stanley Park, Sunnyside and Chicopee Hills Public Schools
Boundary change between Sunnyside and Stanley Park Public Schools
Trustees approved the following recommendation:
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the transfer of capital priorities funding from the Jean Steckle Public School project to the Silverheights Public School project in the amount of $1,301,068 to align with Ministry approvals; and
That the Waterloo Region District School Board revise the timing of the boundary changes and grandfathering provisions for Lackner Woods, Sheppard, Sunnyside and Stanley Park Public Schools, originally approved on May 9, 2011 as part of the Grand River South/Sunnyside Elementary Schools Pupil Accommodation Review to coincide with the scheduled opening date of Chicopee Hills Public School in September 2015.
Major Capital Projects – Quarterly Update Report (For Information)
There are eight major WRDSB capital projects underway, including three new elementary schools. Information about these projects, including timelines and budget, is available within the report.
Capital Projects Funding Strategy (For Approval)
The WRDSB has a significant investment in buildings and sites across the Region of Waterloo. Building and maintaining learning environments for our students is a complex and ongoing challenge for the Board.
There are many issues to address. Schools must be in the areas where students reside. They must reflect current safety, accessibility and program standards. Over the years, there have been many changes which have challenged the Board to ensure that our facilities are current and reflect legislation and school community needs. Capital projects undertaken by the Board must reflect cost efficient solutions to multiple demands.
A thorough and comprehensive review is underway to address current and future needs. This review involves planning, facilities and finance issues; in addition, the Board’s accessibility committee has been active and forward-thinking in their planning to meet the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) requirements.
The collaboration of all these groups has allowed us to use dollars from a number of sources and achieves efficiencies by leveraging multiple projects simultaneously.
Trustees approved the following amended recommendation:
That the Waterloo Region District School Board administration be directed to report back by April 30, 2014 to Board with a strategy consistent with ensuring optimal use and disposal of capital resources to address accommodation needs of our students.
Capital Priorities Update – March 2013 (For Approval)
This report provides an update on Ministry approved Capital Priorities and to seeks approval for expenditures for capital projects.
Trustees approved the following recommendations:
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the expenditure of $2,767,970 from the Capital Priorities Grant and $931,894 from the Full Day Kindergarten Capital Funding Program for a total estimated cost of $3,699,864 for a classroom addition and internal renovations at Mackenzie King Public School to tentatively be completed for September 2014; and
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the expenditure of $1,944,331 from the Capital Priorities Grant, $1,863,788 from the Full Day Kindergarten Capital Funding Program, $600,000 from the Proceeds of Disposition account and up to $800,000 from a Committed Capital Reserve, for a total estimated cost of $5,208,119, for a classroom addition, internal renovations, infrastructure improvements and childcare facility at Breslau Public School to tentatively be completed for September 2014; and
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the expenditure of $10,308,479 from the Capital Priorities Grant, $931,894 from the Full Day Kindergarten Capital Funding Program and up to $800,000 from a Committed Capital Reserve, for a total estimated cost of $12,040,373, for a 600 pupil place capacity JK – Grade 8 new school and a childcare facility to be constructed in South Kitchener at Groh Drive to tentatively open for September 2015; and
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the expenditure of $1,864,000 from the Full Day Kindergarten Capital Funding Program, $5,600,000 from the Proceeds of Disposition account, up to $800,000 from a Committed Capital Reserve to be supplemented with School Renewal Funds in the amount of $2,000,000, for an estimated total of $10,264,000, for a rebuilt school and childcare facility at Westmount Public School to tentatively be completed for September 2015; and
That the Waterloo Region District School Board approve the expenditure of $1,864,000 from the Full Day Kindergarten Capital Funding Program and $1,000,000 from the Proceeds of Disposition account, to be supplemented with School Renewal Funds in the amount of $700,000 and School Condition Improvement Grants in the amount of $1,500,000, for an estimated total of $5,064,000 for a classroom addition, accessibility and infrastructure needs at Manchester Public School to tentatively be completed for September 2014; and
That the Waterloo Region District School Board seek the required spending approvals for the use of Proceeds of Disposition funds from the Ministry of Education.
Trustees moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:40pm.
