Upper Grand District School Board
Business Operations Committee
Minutes
May 13, 2014
The Business Operations Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on
Tuesday, May 13, 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, and Topping, 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 Schieck moved that the agenda be approved, moving item # 8 to item #
5, and the remainder renumbered accordingly.
The motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Gohn moved that the minutes of the meeting of April 8, 2014 be
approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest
Trustee Topping declared a conflict of interest with regards to item # 13, Principal/VicePrincipal Appointments and Transfers. She offered to leave the room during this item.
Wellington North Accommodation Review – Staff Report # 2
Senior Planner Imm advised that, in accordance with the Accommodation Review Policy
305, Staff Report # 2 is required to provide information prior to the start of the public
review process. The goals of the Wellington North Elementary Accommodation Review
Business Operations Meeting May 13, 2014
Page 2 of 6
are to determine the future status of Kenilworth PS, and to provide the Board’s Capital
Department with direction on spending with respect to the outstanding full day
kindergarten (FDK) renovation and renewal expenditures. Schools involved in the
review include Arthur PS, Kenilworth PS, and Victoria Cross PS. Staff Report # 2
contains background information, review area profile, school information profiles, class
organization and size, other considerations, facility partnership opportunities, reference
criteria, accommodation options, and next steps. The report contains two options;
option 1 is status quo, and option 2 is to close Kenilworth PS and to reassign JK-6
students to Arthur PS and Victoria Cross PS. The next public meeting is scheduled for
June 17, 2014, (changed from June 19, 2014) and the location is to be determined.
Trustees expressed thanks for the thorough and easy to follow detailed report.
Recommendation # 1
Trustee Fairbairn moved that memo PLN: 14-05 “Wellington North Elementary
Accommodation Review – Staff Report # 2”, dated May 13, 2014, be received as
information.
The motion carried.
10kW MicroFIT Solar PV for Elementary Schools – Update
On January 24, 2012, the Board passed a motion which stated that “Staff be instructed
to proceed with 10kW MicroFIT Solar PV installations at all the Board’s elementary
schools where it is deemed feasible to do so, subject to funds being secured for the
projects”. Operations Officer Scinocca was very pleased to report that, on behalf of his
team, installations have been made at 41 elementary schools which were approved by
the Ontario Power Authority, and full production was achieved in January 2014. The
price at the time, was locked in at 80.2 cents per kWh, the rate used to calculate the
revenue generation for the Board, which, at full production, results in an estimated
annual revenue of $300,00.00. Staff are monitoring consumption and revenue statistics
and a website was developed to enable schools to examine kW generation through the
solar panels. Mr. Scinocca thanked Blair Capling and Jennifer Piercey for their hard
work and dedication with this project. Trustees expressed thanks and congratulations
for a great job done in revenue generation and the completion of the 10kW MicroFIT
Solar PV project.
Recommendation # 2
Trustee Borden moved that the report entitled “10kW MicroFIT Solar PV for
Elementary Schools – Update” (CP:14-01) dated May 13, 2014, be received.
The motion carried.
Business Operations Meeting May 13, 2014
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Education Development Charges Update
Manager of Planning Passy advised that the Board’s current Education Development
Charges (EDC) by-laws will expire on August 23, 2014. She noted that Ameresco
Asset Sustainability undertook the preparation of the required background studies for
the Board’s Wellington County and Dufferin County by-law areas, together with the
Wellington Catholic District School Board. A comprehensive 300 page report was
created, and is available on-line. An executive summary of this report was created and
shared with Trustees. Ms. Passy advised that the analysis indicates a significant
increase in the proposed education development charges, due, primarily to the increase
in site acquisition and site preparation expenditures. The first two joint public meetings
are scheduled for May 21, 2014. The Policy Review meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m.,
followed by the Successor By-Law meeting which will beheld at 7:30 p.m. The third
meeting for Consideration of By-Law Adoption will be held on June 18, 2014, at 7:00
p.m. All three meetings will be held at the Wellington County Offices, 74 Woolwich St.,
Guelph.
Recommendation # 3
Trustee Busuttil moved that report PLN: 14-12 “Education Development Charges
– 2014 Renewal Update” dated May 13, 2014 be received.
The motion carried.
Elementary and Secondary Identified Schools Reports – 2014/15
Manager of Planning Passy advised that the planning department provides a report to
the Board annually which compares projected enrolment figures for the next school year
with the on the ground (OTG) capacity of each school. Schools projected to be
overcapacity or underutilized for the following school year were identified.
Recommendation # 4
Trustee Moziar moved that PLN: 14-07 “Elementary Identified Schools Report 2014/15” dated May 13, 2014 be received.
The motion carried.
Recommendation # 5
Trustee Moziar moved that PLN: 14-08 “Secondary Identified Schools Report –
2014/15” dated May 13, 2014 be received.
The motion carried.
Business Operations Meeting May 13, 2014
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Health and Safety Report
Executive Officer of Human Resources Rose advised that the fume hood inspections
are complete. She advised that the Ministry of Labour arranged three inspections in
elementary schools, and only one order was issued for an eye wash station. She noted
that, within the next two years, in order to be compliant with the Ministry of Labour, the
Health and Safety department plans to assess eye wash station needs in elementary
schools.
Recommendation # 6
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 Rose presented the report Resignations and
Retirements dated May 13, 2014, noting that there are two principals retiring, one
elementary and one secondary.
Recommendation # 7
Trustee Schieck moved that the verbal report on Resignations and Retirements
dated May 13, 2014 be received, with thanks to staff for the many years of
service.
The motion carried.
Other Business
Trustee Bailey shared information from OPSBA which had been emailed to Chairs and
Directors regarding the upcoming Provincial election. OPSBA suggested that boards
hold an education day, where local candidates in local ridings have an opportunity to
speak about public education in Ontario. Mr. Bailey questioned if Trustees wanted to
hold such an event. Trustee Busuttil advised that, for the last election, in 2009, she
contacted the Chamber of Commerce through Advocate for Education. Trustee Borden
advised that he sent an email to OPSBA requesting information on the platforms for
education. Student vote was encouraged and suggested the student Senate promote
and encourage students voting.
Business Operations Meeting May 13, 2014
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In Camera
Principal/Vice-Principal Appointments and Transfers
Director of Education Rogers advised that, due to the retirement of six elementary
principals and one secondary principal, as well as the opening of four new elementary
schools, many principal and vice-principal transfers and appointments were necessary
to ensure appropriate staffing for 2014- 2015. In presenting the report, Dr. Rogers
explained the reasons for each transfer.
Recommendation # 8
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the report entitled “Principal/Vice-Principal
Transfers and Appointments” dated May 6, 2014 be received.
The motion carried.
Resignations and Retirements
Personnel matters
Executive Officer of Human Resources Rose advised that, on April 28, 2014, after
sixteen years of bargaining, a Pay Equity settlement was finally reached for
Educational Assistants. She advised that an order was received over three years ago
from a Review Officer at the Pay Equity Commission, and parties could not agree on a
Pay Equity Plan, and eventually went to Pay Equity Commission. Ms. Rose advised
that there will be retro-active payments that will be paid out as well as a future pay
increase for approximately three percent. She noted that there is a fair amount of work
involved in the implementation of the settlement. Trustee Bailey expressed his thanks
and congratulations, on the settlement, for the epic negotiations, and to staff for an
exemplary job. Ms. Rose expressed her thanks to Mary MacKenzie Mason for her hard
work and dedication and for the upcoming work required for the implementation of the
Pay Equity settlement.
Recommendation # 9
Trustee Bailey moved that the verbal report on Personnel Matters be received.
The motion carried.
Other business – nil report
Business Operations Meeting May 13, 2014
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Adjournment
Trustee Moziar moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:35 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.