UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
BUSINESS OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
April 12, 2011
The Business Operations Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met
on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in the Board Room at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph,
Ontario commencing at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee Fairbairn, Chair, presided and the following Trustees were present:
Bailey, Borden, Busuttil, Cooper, Gohn, Topping and Waterston together with Student
Trustee MacDougall.
Present from the Administration were Dr. M.C. Rogers, Director of Education,
together with Superintendents Benallick, Boswell, Fyfe, Morrell and Wright; J. Alder,
Manager of Plant Operations; D.S. Cuomo, Manager of Planning; M. McFadzen,
Communications Officer; J.L. Rose, Executive Officer of Human Resources; P.
Scinocca, Manager of Capital and Renewal Projects.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The following item was added to the agenda as item 10 and the agenda was
renumbered accordingly: Preliminary Elementary Teacher Staffing for 2011-2012.
Trustee Busuttil moved that the agenda be approved as amended with items 15
through 19 to be considered in camera.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Waterston moved that the Minutes of the Meeting of March 8, 2011 be
approved as recorded.
The motion carried.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of conflict of interest.
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OPEN SESSION
DELEGATIONS
Dave Sills – Transportation to Waverley Drive P.S.
Dr. David Sills, a parent of a student who is currently in Grade 6 at Laurine
Avenue P.S. presented his concerns around the issue of students who will be required
to walk to Waverley Drive School for the coming school year while King George P.S. is
under construction. Dr. Sills indicated that he felt it was not safe for the students and
unfair to the parents.
Dr. Sills reported that the students would be required to walk up to 90
minutes/day (45 minutes each way) through unfamiliar neighbourhoods. He voiced
concern that side streets are often not cleared in the winter and that main roads in the
area are very busy with some of the intersections included on the City of Guelph’s most
dangerous list. It is the consensus of the parents that it is too dangerous to have
students walk to Waverley Drive P.S., and noted that taking the city bus as an
alternative would cost approximately $600/school year/child.
Dr. Sills also felt there was an issue of fairness as the schools attended currently
are walking schools and students have not required busing in the past, while the
families indirectly help provide busing in other areas through their tax dollars.
Dr. Sills explained that the suggestion had been previously made that a walking
school bus be developed, but it was felt that it would be difficult to obtain adult
supervision for such an initiative. The suggestion had also been made that students
could possibly take the city perimeter bus along Victoria Road if the School Board could
subsidize or absorb the cost. He presented the preferred solution that students walk to
a central location (King George School site has been suggested) and that the Board
provide a temporary shuttle bus to and from Waverley Drive P.S. for the coming school
year. He cited the benefits would include the fact that students would continue healthy
walking along safe roads in known neighbourhoods and could continue to walk with
siblings. He did not feel that providing this busing for the one year period of transition to
the new King George School would be considered as precedent setting.
Dr. Sills referred to an online petition that has been signed by 117 people, mainly
current and future King George parents, as well as some students and other supporters.
He also presented a map outlining the locations of the petition signatories and
highlighted where dangerous intersections are located.
In response to questions by Trustees, Dr. Sills clarified that he was not aware of
crossing guards being provided at any of the dangerous intersections. He further
explained that his understanding was that the number of students involved was in
excess of 100, and that the number had not been fine tuned. Dr. Sills acknowledged
that he was aware that a delegation had been previously addressed the Board in
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December on this issue and he reported that a lot of work had been undertaken since
that time by parents. He also further clarified the feelings that because the students
currently attend walking schools and have not cost the board a lot in terms of busing
costs, the group felt that it was fair that they be provided with busing for this one year of
transition.
Trustees’ Response to Delegation
At the request of Trustee Busuttil, Mr. D. Cuomo, Manager of Planning explained
the City of Guelph’s Active and Safe Routes to School initiative that is undertaken in
conjunction with the UGDSB, the Wellington Catholic District School Board and the
Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health. Upon request, the group will assist schools
with the development of a walking school bus, and/or evaluate routes children might use
to walk to school and collectively identify anything along the route that needs to be
addressed in order for parents and students to have comfort that the route is safe. The
School Council can initiate a request.
At the request of Trustee Borden, Superintendent Wright reviewed funding for
transportation. She explained that in the last five years, the local Transportation
Consortium has undergone an Efficiency and Effectiveness Review which resulted in
the receipt of a High rating. The Ministry of Education provides funding for
transportation (for consortia with a High rating) matched to the expenses incurred. As a
result, the UGDSB was able to reduce the walking distance for students for the current
year.
Trustee Waterston reported that the number of grade 7 and 8 students who live
between 2.0 km and 3.2 km of Waverley Drive P.S. was previously provided to Dr. Sills.
She also noted that the same standard is in place all over the jurisdiction and that the
walking distance was reduced this year from 4.8 km to 3.2 km. She did not feel that the
circumstances warranted the Board extending busing because there are many others
within the jurisdiction who are walking similar complicated routes.
Recommendation #1
Trustee Waterston moved that this committee recommend to the Board that the
Board not provide additional bus transportation for grade 7 and 8 students from
Ottawa Crescent P.S., Laurine Avenue P.S. and Tytler P.S. who will be attending
Waverley Drive P.S. while King George P.S. is being rebuilt.
The motion carried.
ELEMENTARY IDENTIFED SCHOOLS REPORT – 2011/2012
Mr. D. Cuomo, Manager of Planning, introduced the report entitled “Elementary
Identified Schools Report – 2011-2012,” dated April 12, 2011. In keeping with Board
Policy 305, the report is presented annually to the Board. The projected enrolment
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figures for the next school year were reviewed and compared with the board rated
capacity of each school. The list of schools projected to be overcapacity or underutilized
for the following school year (2011-12) was reviewed and the changes from the
previous year noted.
In keeping with the Ministry mandated Facility Partnerships Policy, the report
indicates that space has been identified in two schools, Tytler P.S. and Grand Valley
and District PS, that could be available for use by suitable community partners. These
are the same two schools identified in last year’s report.
Arising from the Central Guelph Accommodation Review Report, information on
enrolment trends and capacity related to French Immersion in the City of Guelph,
Centre Wellington and Orangeville/Dufferin was included in this report for the first time.
Significant enrolment growth in the FI program was realized across the district over the
past few years and continued growth is included in the projections. It was noted that
determination of FI capacity is problematic as currently the system that is used does not
differentiate between the different types of space, i.e. Regular Track, French Immersion,
Special Education, and Gifted.
Recommendation #2
Trustee Waterston moved that this committee recommend to the Board that the
report, PLN: 11:05, “Elementary Identified School Report – 2011-2012: dated
April 12, 2011 be received.
The motion carried.
2011/2021 DEVELOPMENT AREA SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS
Mr. D. Cuomo, Manager of Planning, introduced and reviewed the report entitled
“2011/2012 Development Area School Assignments,” dated April 12, 2011. It was
explained that each year the current and projected enrolments of holding schools are
reviewed to determine if any Development Area school assignments should be changed
for the upcoming year.
There are no new development areas recommended this year and no areas were
deleted as no new schools are opening in the fall of 2011. The Changed Development
Area School Assignments 2011/12 (Appendix A), the 2011/2012 Development Area
School Assignments Chart (Appendix B), and the Development Area Maps (Appendix
C) were reviewed. Altered development areas were the result of changes from the
Centre Guelph Review, expansion of the Clair Road DA, expansion of Starwood DA and
reassignment of North Fergus DA.
At the request of Trustees, the planning department will investigate the possibility
of reassigning the children in the Clair Road DA to Priory Park instead of Kortright Hills
prior to further consideration of the report.
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Recommendation #3
Trustee Waterston moved that this committee recommend to the Board that
Memo PLN: 11-07, “2011/2012 Development Area School Assignments,” dated
April 12, 2011 be received;
The motion carried.
ROCKWOOD ACCOMMODATION REVIEW OPTIONS
Mr. D. Cuomo, Manager of Planning, introduced and reviewed the report entitled,
“Rockwood Accommodation Review Options,” dated April 12, 2011. It was explained
that despite the completion of a Boundary Review process in 2007, the enrolment
pressures at Rockwood Centennial P.S. were not adequately resolved for the long term.
As a result, Trustees requested that staff present a report in April 2011 suggesting
options for review of accommodation in the Rockwood/Eramosa area. A boundary
review process would be the only review option available for examining accommodation
in Rockwood/Eramosa.
Currently, staff is in the process of updating the Board’s Long Term
Accommodation Plan (LTAP). Within this plan, a long term strategy for
Rockwood/Eramosa will need to be considered as well as a timeframe for the review of
boundaries and programs in Rockwood/Eramosa. The impact of the implementation of
Full Day Kindergarten and the installation of a 1-room Environmental portable on the
school site before the end of this school year also need to be considered.
Recommendation #4
Trustee Cooper moved that this committee recommend to the Board
THAT:
1. memo PLN: 1:08, “Rockwood Accommodation Review Options,” dated April
12, 2011 be received;
2. the long term strategy for accommodation in Rockwood/Eramosa be resolved
through the Board’s Long Term Accommodation Plan which will contemplate
boundary and program changes.
The motion carried.
PRELIMINARY SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER STAFFING FOR 2011-2012
SCHOOL YEAR
Ms. J. L. Rose, Executive Offer of Human Resources, reviewed the memo
entitled, “Preliminary Secondary School Teacher Staffing for 2011-2012 School Year,
dated April 12, 2011. This preliminary information provides staff with an estimate of
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requirements for the 2011-12 school year and sufficient data to move forward in staffing
our secondary schools for the coming year.
Recommendation #5
Trustee Busuttil moved that this committee recommend to the Board
THAT:
1.
the report re “Preliminary Secondary School Teacher Staffing for 20112012 School Year,” dated 2011 04 12 be received;
2.
based on the projected Secondary ADE of 11,463.5 and system needs a
preliminary allocation of Secondary teaching staff for the 2011-2012
school year be set at 760.8 FTE teachers.
The motion carried.
PRELIMINARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER STAFFING FOR 2011-2012
SCHOOL YEAR
Ms. J. L. Rose, Executive Offer of Human Resources, reviewed the memo
entitled, “Preliminary Elementary School Teacher Staffing for 2011-2012 School Year,
dated April 12, 2011. This preliminary information provides staff with an estimate of
requirements for the 2011-12 school year and sufficient data to move forward in staffing
our elementary schools for the coming year.
Recommendation #6
Trustee Bailey moved
THAT:
1.
the report re “Preliminary Elementary School Teacher Staffing for 20112012 School Year,” dated 2011 04 12 be received;
2.
based on the projected Elementary ADE of 19,989 and system needs a
preliminary allocation of Elementary teaching staff for the 2011-2012
school year be set at 1213.7 FTE teachers.
The motion carried
RESIGNATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND RETIREMENTS
Ms. J. L. Rose, Executive Offer of Human Resources, reviewed the memo
“Resignations and Retirements (Appendix A)”, dated April 12, 2011, as circulated at the
meeting.
Recommendation #7
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee recommend to the Board
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THAT:
a)
the report, “Resignations and Retirements” dated April 12, 2011 be
received.
The motion carried.
HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT
Mr. Jim Bowie, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, introduced Michael Jou,
Safety Training Manager, who has recently joined the department. Mr. Jou presented
an overview of the Health and Safety Training initiatives implemented since the
development of the training matrix last year. Gap analysis was undertaken and Job
Hazard Analysis reports were completed for 8 job categories within the Maintenance
Department. He noted that approximately 66 combined recommended training topics
were identified and prioritized by risk level. Training is being scheduled using a
combination of 3rd party (for high risk), in house (for medium risk) and online (for low
risk) training. A stand alone Access Database system for tracking and monitoring
employee training has been developed and was demonstrated for Trustees. The next
step is the planned integration or accident and incident history into the database. The
next groups to be targeted are the head caretakers, custodians and cleaners.
Recommendation #8
Trustee Busuttil moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
verbal report on Health and Safety, be received as information.
The motion carried
OTHER BUSINESS
Visioning Retreat
Trustee Borden updated Trustees on the plan to establish a time when Board
members can meet to spend some time reflecting on issues surrounding their
leadership role as they move forward in their mandate. It is the intention that all
Trustees be available to participate. The following dates were proposed: Tuesday, May
31, 2011 and Tuesday, June 21, 2011 (if required), from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Suggestions for an outside facilitator were requested and should be forwarded to
Trustee Borden or Director Rogers.
IN CAMERA
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ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Bailey moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:00 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried