Upper Grand District School Board
Business Operations Committee
Minutes
March 18, 2014
The Business Operations Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on
Tuesday, March 18, 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:
Bailey, Borden, Busuttil, Fairbairn, Gohn, Moziar, Schieck, Topping, and Waterston
along with Student Trustees Brown and Dong.
Present from the Administration were Dr. M. C. Rogers, Director of Education, together
with Superintendents Benallick, Lindsay, McDonald, Morrell, Slater, Talbot, and Wright,
Communications Officer McFadzen, Administrative Officer Communications Weidmark,
Executive Officer of Human Resources Rose, Student Success Lead Zen, Planning
Manager Passy, Senior Planner Imm, Operations Officer Scinocca, and Manager of
Operations Veit.
Approval of Agenda
Trustee Topping moved that the agenda be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Waterston moved that the minutes of the meeting of February 11, 2014
be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest
There were no declarations of conflict of interest.
Education Development Charge Policies
Planning Manager Passy advised that the Board commenced the process to replace its
current Education Development Charges (EDCs) By-laws which expire on August 23,
2014. She noted that Ontario Regulation 20/98, under the Education Act, governs
various aspects of education development charges and requires that school boards
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evaluate certain EDC related policies as part of the process of adopting a new EDC bylaw. She presented the report Education Development Charge Policies – Operating
Surpluses and Alternative Accommodation Options which provides an evaluation of the
policies as required. She noted that the review indicated that there are no surplus
operating funds available to acquire school sites, and that there have not been
opportunities for alternative accommodation arrangements. Ms. Passy advised that
there are two upcoming public meetings. These meetings are scheduled for May 21,
2014 and June 18, 2014. The purpose of these meetings is to consider the EDC bylaws for both Wellington County and Dufferin County, which will be considered
independently. Trustees were given clarification for questions raised.
Recommendation # 1
Trustee Schieck moved that:
1.
The report entitled. “Education Development Charge Policies on
Application of Operating Surpluses and Alternative Accommodation
Arrangements”, dated March 18, 2014, be received.
2.
The Upper Grand District School Board has reviewed its operating budget
for the year ending August 31, 2014 for savings that could be applied to
reduce growth-related net education land costs. Such review has
disclosed that there is not a surplus of operating funds available to acquire
school sites. The Board has therefore determined that the amount of the
savings which it proposes to apply to growth-related net education land
costs is nil.
3.
The Board adopt the following statement: “There have not been
opportunities for alternative accommodation arrangements which the
Board considered appropriate during the term of the current EDC by-laws,
and that the Upper Grand District School Board continue to consider
proposed opportunities to implement alternative accommodation
arrangements as they arise in conjunction with Policy 313 - Alternative
Accommodation Options.”
The motion carried.
Wellington North Accommodation Review
Senior Planner Imm advised that, given the outcome of the previous Accommodation
Review and the need to determine whether FDK funding should be spent at Kenilworth
PS, the planning department seeks Board direction on the initiation of an
accommodation review for Wellington North to include Kenilworth PS, Arthur PS, and
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Victoria Cross PS. Ms. Imm presented Report # 1, the first step in initiating the
accommodation review. She advised that two public meetings are scheduled for May
15, 2014, and June 19, 2014, and that Trustee representation will be required for this
accommodation review. Concerns were raised and suggestions made regarding the
communication plan, and what means of communication would work best for the
community to both receive information and enable input.
Recommendation # 2
Trustee Busuttil moved that:
1.
Memo PLN: 14-05 “Wellington North Elementary Accommodation Review
– Report # 1”, dated March 18, 2014 be received.
2.
The Board commence the Wellington North Elementary Accommodation
Review in accordance with Board Policy 305.
The motion carried.
Trustee Determination and Distribution for the Upper Grand District
School Board for 2014
Director Rogers advised that Boards must determine and distribute geographically their
number of Trustee positions by March 31, 2014 and forward their determination and
distribution report by April 3, 2014 to the Minister. She presented the Board with the
option to voluntarily reduce the number of Trustees in the October 2014 election, or
have the number of Trustees remain the same as the November 2010 election. She
also presented the Board with a recommendation with regard to low population areas,
and a recommendation for Trustee distribution.
Recommendation # 3
Trustee Waterston moved that:
1.
The report entitled Trustee Determination and Distribution for the Upper
Grand District School Board for 2014 dated March 7, 2014 be received.
2.
The Upper Grand District School Board elects 10 Trustees, the same
number that were elected to the Board at the 2010 regular election.
3.
The recommended Trustee distribution as outlined in Appendix "A" of the
report entitled Trustee Determination and Distribution for the Upper Grand
District School Board for 2014 dated March 7, 2014 be approved. (The
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attached recommendation is based on approval of the Board resolution
that the number of Trustees remains the same as the 2006 election.)
4.
That no areas in the jurisdiction of the Upper Grand District School Board
be designated as low population areas.
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 fume hood inspections, expenditures of
grant money received for training, and an update on the Emergency Procedures policy
revision.
Recommendation # 4
Trustee Schieck 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 March 18, 2014, noting that there is a Principal named in the report.
Recommendation # 5
Trustee Schieck moved that the report “Resignations and Retirements” dated
March 18, 2014 be received.
The motion carried.
Other Business
Trustee Budget
Trustee Bailey thanked Trustees for their input and work, in his absence, done in the
preparation of the Trustee budget. The Trustee budget was presented, reviewed and
received at the March Program Committee meeting. No objections were received. Mr.
Bailey advised that it will be on the March Board agenda for approval.
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In Camera
Adjournment
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee adjourn at 7:55 p.m. to report to
the Board.
The motion carried.