September 26th, 2013

On September 23, 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.

Two delegations appeared at this meeting, both speaking to the Woolwich/Wellesley Accommodation Review.

Policy & Governance

Policy Review Schedule
Trustees received a list of Board policies that included dates that the policy was last updated. Trustees will be reviewing and updating Board policies at future Policy Review Committees.

System Fiscal Review Update
Bell Times Presentation
Trustees received a presentation (for information) from staff on bell times.

This year, the Board is projected to spend $15.9M on student transportation. $14.9M will be provided from the Ministry of Education, resulting in a deficit of $1M, which will have to be funded from other grant areas. It is anticipated that Ministry funding for transportation will remain unchanged for the 2014-15 school year, putting additional pressure on the budget.

Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region was asked to develop four options for consideration:

• No changes beyond +/- 10 minutes, +/- 20 minutes, +/- 30 minutes from current bell times and a full system change.

Any changes made to bell times would require the coterminous Board to make the same changes.

Reports

Woolwich/Wellesley Elementary Pupil Accommodation Review Administrative Analysis (for information)
Trustees received an update from staff on the Woolwich/Wellesley Accommodation Review. This presentation and report focused on the recommendations of the ARC, which was presented to Trustees on March 18, 2013. This presentation is for information only; recommendations will follow in a separate report.

ARC Recommendations:

1. Status Quo:

  • Rebuild St. Jacobs PS
  • Construct a bus lay-by at Three Bridges PS
  • Consider a future boundary study between Floradale and Conestogo Public Schools

2. Scenario 10a:

  • Close Three Bridges PS
  • Modify the boundary between St. Jacobs and Floradale Public Schools
  • Modify the boundary between Floradale and Linwood Public Schools
  • Rebuild St. Jacobs PS
  • Consider a boundary study between Floradale and Conestogo Public Schools

The largest issue identified by the ARC during this Accommodation Review has been the potential closure of Three Bridges Public School and its impact on the community it serves. The ARC and Board administration have examined the implications of both the Status Quo (operating Three Bridges Public School as is), and its closure as a standard elementary school facility.

It is recognized that the closure is consistent with the majority of the review objectives, Board Policy 3002, and mirrors previous Board decisions with respect to small schools. It is also logical from a financial standpoint, owing to the condition, staffing and operational costs, nearby vacant pupil places, and the position of the Board with respect to the $4.6M fiscal review. However, it is also recognized that the school serves a population who may not have the option of attending another Board facility should Three Bridges Public School close, and the Board may experience an enrolment loss as a result. Nonetheless, should this enrolment loss materialize, there remains a net financial savings to the Board.

More information on the Accommodation Review can be found in the report. Staff recommendations will be brought forward to Trustees at a future meeting.

Bank Borrowing Resolution (for approval)
In the normal course of business, the WRDSB borrows money to meet the current operating expenditures of the Board. The Education Act allows borrowing up to the uncollected amount of revenues of the Board. Up until September 2012, this borrowing limit had been set at $40M.

With the growth in the board’s overall budget over the last number of years due to increased enrolment, staffing, full day kindergarten implementation and the extensive capital and maintenance program being undertaken by the board, the borrowing limit was increased to $50M effective September 2012. For the last fiscal year, the $50M borrowing limit has been sufficient to meet the board’s cash flow needs.

Trustees approved the following recommendation:

That the Waterloo Region District School Board adopt the Resolution, as outlined in Appendix A of the report titled Bank Borrowing Resolution, dated September 23, 2013, authorizing the borrowing of money to meet current expenditures of the Waterloo Region District School Board for the fiscal year 2014.

Major Capital Projects – Quarterly Update
There are 7 major capital projects under way, including two new elementary schools. Information on these projects, including timelines and budget, can be found within the report.

EQAO 2013 Primary and Junior Divisions Assessment Results
During May/June 2013, over 259 000 Grades 3 and 6 students across the province participated during the EQAO assessments of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. In the WRDSB, 4203 Grade 3 students and 4225 Grade 6 students participated.

Student Participation: We have maintained increases in participation rates over the last five years, most notably for students with Special Education needs (where average increases in participation rates across five years are 5 to 6 percent in Reading, 5 to 6 percent in Writing, and 5 to 7 percent in Mathematics), and English Language Learners (with average five-year increases of 3 to 6 percent in Reading, 2 to 7 percent in Writing, and 6 to 7 percent in Mathematics).

Student Achievement: The Waterloo Region District School Board has maintained the previous increases in both Primary and Junior Reading and Writing, within one percentage point increase or decrease in these areas as compared to last year’s results. Consistent with provincial results, gains were not seen in Mathematics achievement. Students in both Grade 3 and Grade 6 experienced a decline of 3 and 2 percentage points respectively in the 2013 assessments.

More information on the EQAO assessments can be found in the report.

Motion – Trustee C. Watson – Shading Policy Amendment
Trustee Watson proposed the following amendment to the Board’s Sun Safety and Shading Policy:

That the Waterloo Region District School Board Sun Safety and Shading Policy 2011, be amended to include a communication strategy that would inform and allow input from school communities as well as surrounding neighbours, before trees are removed from school property.

Trustees postponed the consideration of the motion.

 

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:00pm.