Upper Grand District School Board
Business Operations Committee
Minutes
February 11, 2014
The Business Operations Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on
Tuesday, February 11, 2014, in the Board Room at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph,
Ontario commencing at 7:00 p.m.
The Chairperson, Trustee Cooper presided, and the following Trustees were present:
Borden, Busuttil, Fairbairn, Gohn, Moziar, Schieck, Topping, and Waterston along with
Student Trustees Brown and Dong. Trustee Bailey attended via teleconference.
Present from the Administration were Dr. M. C. Rogers, Director of Education, together
with Superintendents Benallick, Lindsay, McDonald, Slater, Talbot, and Wright,
Communications Officer McFadzen, Administrative Officer Communications Weidmark,
Executive Officer of Human Resources Rose, Student Success Lead Zen, Operations
Officer Scinocca, Manager of Facilities and Contracts Takacs, and Manager of
Operations Veit.
Approval of Agenda
Trustee Schieck moved that the agenda be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Waterston moved that the minutes of the meeting of January 14, 2104
be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest
There were no declarations of conflict of interest.
Final Report of the Environmental Management Committee
Student Success Lead Zen, together with Superintendent Lindsay, presented the Final
Report of the Environmental Education Management Committee, dated January 22,
2014. This report contains 8 recommendations, the first of which was passed at the
Business Operations Meeting February 11, 2014
Page 2 of 4
January 28th, 2014 Board meeting, and the remainder of the recommendations as
contained in the report (numbers 2 – 8) were discussed in detail. Rationale was
provided for each proposed recommendation.
Trustee Schieck took the Chair to enable Trustee Cooper to speak to this item.
A discussion ensued including financial implications, cost savings, requirements of the
Ontario Energy Act, the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator position and
respective cost implications, current energy reduction projects, culture changes
required, and future trends and changes required to sustain the direction and goals for
the Board as outlined in the report. Trustees thanked staff for the very thorough and
positive report and for the involvement of all stakeholders including students, staff,
Trustees, community, and administration.
Recommendation # 1
Trustee Cooper moved that:
1.
The staged environmental sustainability action plan 2014-2019 be
approved.
2.
An aligned priority regarding environmental stewardship and sustainability
be established within the UGDSB's overall strategic plan.
3.
The creation of an Environmental Sustainability Coordinator position for a
three-year renewable term, be approved in principle, subject to budget
prioritization.
4.
The UGDSB use the approved environmental sustainability vision, where
possible, as one of the lenses for Board decisions and on-going review of
Board policies.
5.
The Environmental Education and Management Committee continue in
the role to monitor, guide and amend the Board action plan as required.
6.
The Environmental Education and Management Committee submit an
annual report of progress to the UGDSB.
7.
The environmental sustainability action plan 2014-2019 be updated and
revised as necessary.
The motion carried.
Trustee Cooper took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.
Business Operations Meeting February 11, 2014
Page 3 of 4
Interim Report of Board Strategic Planning Committee
In compliance with the Ministry of Education requirement that a current strategic plan be
in place in each school Board, a committee was developed and commenced work in the
fall of 2013. The committee consisted of Co-Chairs Trustee Busuttil and David Walpole,
three other Trustees, the Director, Superintendents, Principals, parent representatives,
and Board staff. Mr. Walpole presented the Interim Report of the Board Strategic
Planning Committee for information, as well as for approval to move forward to the next
phase to obtain input from the boarder community.
Recommendation # 2
Trustee Moziar moved that:
1.
The report entitled "Interim Report of the Board Strategic Planning
Committee” dated February 6, 2014 be received.
2.
The materials presented as the draft strategic directions be approved for
consultation in the school and the broader community.
The motion carried.
Health and Safety Report
Executive Officer of Human Resources Rose provided an update on the Health and
Safety initiatives currently underway including training with custodians on advancement
to head caretakers, fuel hood checks and inspections, emergency procedures and
technological safety. She also reported that the Board recently received a report from
School Boards Cooperative which reviewed WSIB claims which indicated that this
Board has an effective return to work program, and the cost of claims, over the past five
years, has continued to be below boards of similar size.
Recommendation # 3
Trustee Gohn moved that the verbal report on Health and Safety be received,
with thanks.
The motion carried.
Resignations and Retirements
Executive Officer of Human Resources presented the report Resignations and
Retirements dated February 11, 2014.
Business Operations Meeting February 11, 2014
Page 4 of 4
Recommendation # 4
Trustee Schieck moved that the report “Resignations and Retirements” dated
January 14, 2014 be received.
The motion carried.
Other Business
Alternate Student Learning Programming
Director Rogers advised that there are several parents who have expressed an interest
in the development of a program to address alternative education programming for
elementary students. She noted that if such a program were developed, it would need
to follow all legislative requirements, as well as policies and practices of the Board.
Accommodation would need to fit into existing spaces in our school system. It was
suggested that this issue be referred to the Learning Choices Committee. Trustees
supported the principle of developing alternative learning options for elementary
students.
Recommendation # 5
Trustee Busuttil moved that the Board direct the Learning Choices Committee to
develop and communicate the process for the establishment of alternative
regional learning choices programs.
The motion carried.