UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
BUSINESS OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
September 10, 2013
The Business Operations Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met
on Tuesday, September 10, 2013, in the Board Room at 500 Victoria Road North,
Guelph, Ontario commencing at 7:00 p.m.
Trustee Waterston, Chair, presided and the following Trustees were present:
Bailey, Borden, Busuttil, Cooper, Fairbairn, Gohn, Moziar, Schieck, and Topping, along
with Student Trustees Brown and Dong.
Present from the Administration were Director of Education, Dr. M. Rogers,
Superintendents Benallick, McDonald, Lindsay, Morrell, Slater, and Wright; C.
Zen,Student Success Lead; M. McFadzen, Communications Officer; M. Weidmark,
Administrative Officer, Communications; J.L. Rose, Executive Officer of Human
Resources; J. Passy, Manager of Planning; P. Scinocca, Operations Officer; H. Imm,
Senior Planner, C. VanOoteghem, Principal of Program; S. Bender, H. Galoska, L. Beal,
Curriculum Leaders.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Trustee Bailey moved that the agenda be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the minutes of the previous meeting, held June 11,
2013 be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There were no conflicts of interest.
Business Operations Committee Minutes, September 10, 2013
2
OPEN SESSION
NEW ROCKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOUNDARY REVIEW – REPORT #1
Ms. Heather Imm, Senior Planner, introduced and reviewed the report entitled,
“New Rockwood Elementary School Boundary Review – Report #1,” dated September
10, 2013. Ms. Imm provided background information leading to the initiation of the
process to confirm the boundary and grade configuration of the new school, Rockwood
Centennial PS, Eramosa PS and Brisbane PS.
The feasibility of establishing a French Immersion (FI) program in Rockwood will
be determined and FI registration will take place in Rockwood in early October 2013 to
allow parents to confirm their intention to have their children attend the start of a JK/SK
and Grade 1 program. Should the FI registration levels support the start of an FI
program in September 2014, it will be necessary for an FI boundary and school location
to be identified. A potential FI program in Rockwood could have enrolment implications
at Brisbane PS, Erin PS and Erin DHS.
The Goals, Objectives and Constraints, details of the Proposed Process, the
Communication Plan, and the Proposed Timeline (Appendix A) were presented.
Recommendation #1
Trustee Cooper moved THAT:
1. Memo PLN:13-22 entitled “New Rockwood Elementary School Boundary
Review – Report #1,” be received.
2. The Board approves the initiation of a boundary review process for the new
Rockwood Elementary School.
3. Trustees adopt the schedule shown in Appendix A of report PLN: 13-22, as
the proposed timeline for the boundary review process necessary to establish
the boundary for the new Rockwood Elementary school.
The motion carried.
PONSONBY PS BOUNDARY REVIEW – REPORT #1
Ms. Jennifer Passy, Manager of Planning, introduced and reviewed the report
entitled, “Ponsonby PS Boundary Review – Report #1,” dated September 10, 2013. Ms.
Passy provided background information noting that the updated Full Day Kindergarten
Capital Plan approved in principle on June 26, 2012 identified a renovation of two
existing classrooms at Ponsonby PS to accommodate FDK for September 2012.
Projected enrolment for the catchment area indicates the school will exceed capacity
within the next two years with the introduction of FDK as well as residential
development in the south west quadrant of Elora. The review will create a viable
boundary or grade structure for Ponsonby PS. Elora PS is included in the review as
grade 6 students from Ponsonby PS graduate to Elora PS for grades 7 and 8.
Business Operations Committee Minutes, September 10, 2013
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The Goals, Objectives and Constraints, details of the Proposed Process, the
Communication Plan, and the Proposed Timeline (Appendix A) were presented.
Recommendation #2
Trustee Gohn moved THAT:
4. Memo PLN:13-24 entitled “Ponsonby PS Boundary Review – Report #1,”, be
received.
5. The Board approves the initiation of a boundary review process for Ponsonby
PS.
6. Trustees adopt the schedule shown in Appendix A of report PLN: 13-24, as
the proposed timeline for the boundary review process necessary to establish
the boundary for Ponsonby PS.
The motion carried.
RESIGNATIONS AND RETIREMENTS
Ms. J. L. Rose, Executive Officer Human Resources, introduced and reviewed
the report “Resignations and Retirements (Appendix A and B)”, dated September 10,
2013, as distributed at the meeting.
Recommendation #3
Trustee Schieck acknowledged the long service employees and moved that the
report, Resignations and Retirements (Appendix A and B) dated September 10,
2013, be received.
The motion carried.
HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT
Ms. Jennifer Rose, Executive Officer Human Resources, provided a verbal
Health and Safety Report. Staff have undertaken a comprehensive review and provided
feedback on a draft of an on-line training program to be used across the province for
technology and science providing shop specific safety and hazard training. In addition,
support was provided for the summer school science program at J.F. Ross. A
defibrillator program was developed and a list of defibrillators across the jurisdiction was
compiled, including their locations and expiry dates. The Ministry of labour will be
visiting all school boards again this fall with a focus on science and technology
classrooms. A refresher session is being presented to principals at the State of the
System session being held September 12, 2013 to prepare them for the return Ministry
visits.
Business Operations Committee Minutes, September 10, 2013
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Recommendation #4
Trustee Gohn moved that the verbal Health and Safety Report as presented by
Ms. Jennifer Rose, Executive Officer Human Resources, be received.
The motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
High Needs Amount
Dr. Martha Rogers, Director of Education, distributed a summary of the per pupil
high needs amount for each school board in the province. The provincial per pupil
amount is $635.76 while the UGDSB per pupil amount is $365.38, one of the five lowest
in the province. Dr. Rogers explained that funds were frozen approximately ten years
ago with the elimination of the ISA4 claims process. A small group of Directors have
met out of concerns around the inequity resulting from the use of an outdated funding
formula. The Directors agreed to raise the issue with their respective Boards and
advise members of CODE and the Deputy Minister. A teleconference is being held to
determine next steps. It is understood that there is no new funding available. In
response to questions Trustees were assured that children with high needs are having
their needs met through the Special Education Budget that far exceeds the allocation
received.
Recommendation #5
Trustee Schieck moved that the verbal “High Needs Amount” report be received.
The motion carried.
IN CAMERA
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Moziar moved that this Committee adjourn at 10:05 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.