The Business Services Standing Committee will ensure that matters related to business and finance; capital planning and facilities; student transportation; and human resources are in alignment with the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan and operational goals. The committee will deal with such matters as may be referred to the committee by the Board and receive reports as requested or as appropriate.

2025-2026 Business Services Standing Committee Meetings

Date Agenda Recording* Minutes
September 15, 2025 Agenda Recording Minutes
November 19, 2025
December 8, 2025
January 12, 2026
March 23, 2026
May 11, 2026
June 8, 2026

*Recording are transitory records and will be available for 1 year. The meeting minutes are the official record.

All Standing Committee meetings are open to the public. Under the Education Act, meetings that are closed to the public (in-camera) are conducted to discuss matters of personnel, property, contract negotiations and litigation.

Information on attending or watching a Standing Committee meeting can be found on the 2025-2026 Standing Committee Meetings page.

Terms of Reference

Membership: Four (4) Trustees plus the Chairperson of the Board

Members Election of Committee Chair and Vice-Chair: Election to be held at the first meeting of the Committee after the Inaugural Meeting or the Organizational Meeting of the Board and will follow the Election Process outlined in Section 10 of the WRDSB Board Bylaws.

Term of Appointment: Two-Year Term

Quorum Requirement: A majority of members – three (3)

Meeting Frequency: Approximately six (6) per year

(for example: September, November, January, March, May, June)

Structure: Reports Directly to Board 

Administrative Responsibility: Associate Director, Business Services

Approval Date/Last Update: August 31, 2025

COMMITTEE MANDATE: 

  • to provide oversight for physical planning, finance and building matters to review and make recommendations to the Board for short and long-term accommodation and to develop strategies for meeting these objectives through the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) 
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board for new schools and additions 
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board to change school boundaries and school organizations 
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board for major maintenance, repair, retrofit and replacement projects (i.e. LTAP) 
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board for an Annual Accessibility Plan including measures to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities
  • to receive Accommodation Review Committee reports and recommendations and forward reports to the Board for review and approval 
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board to purchase, sell or lease sites or facilities through Agreements of Purchase and Sale
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board to enter into agreements with other organizations and agencies to use school facilities such as Joint Use Agreements
  • to review and make recommendations to the Board regarding financial matters and the development of the Board’s annual capital and operating budgets 
  • to review the Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Update
  • to review and recommend to the Board new financial systems 
  • to monitor and report to the Board the performance of major Construction Contracts, as outlined in the Major Capital Projects Quarterly Update
  • to receive the annual report from the Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR)
  • to receive minutes from the Budget Development Committee 
  • to ensure the Committee’s deliberations are undertaken with the intent to achieve the goals of equity, decolonization, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-oppression and accessibility and in compliance with its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code and related policies 
  • to provide all members of the WRDSB community with an opportunity to provide input to the Committee
  • to ensure that the Committee’s decision-making process and any subsequent recommendations are free from discrimination and adhere to the Ontario Human Rights Code and related policies in addressing historically and currently marginalized or underserved students or families
  • to consider delegations in accordance with the WRDSB Bylaws

Roles and Responsibilities of Members: 

  • to ensure that the Committee’s work supports the goals in the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan and the Board’s Mission, Vision and Values 
  • to ensure that the Committee’s work is supported by relevant Board policy, where applicable 
  • to provide official minutes and related recommendations to the Board for its consideration 
  • to ensure that the Committee’s work is conducted in an open and transparent manner (within the confidentiality provisions of the Education Act) 

Annual Reports:

  • Bank Borrowing Resolution 
  • Capital Priorities 
  • Annual Facilities Partnership 
  • Major Capital Projects Quarterly Update
  • Audit Committee Report 
  • Audited Financial Statements 
  • STSWR Update 
  • Final Financial Report 
  • Trustee Expenses 
  • Interim Financial Report & Forecast  
  • Extended Day Program Fee 
  • School Renewal 
  • Tabling the Budget 
  • Energy Update 
  • Accessibility Plan