10/6/1998 - Special Board Meetingr THAMES VALLEY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING,1998 OCTOBER 06
The Board meets in special session on the above date in the Board Room at the
Education Centre at 8:00 p.m. The following are in attendance:
H.Wice,Chairperson
P.Smith
P.Jaffa
R.Vaughan
C.Nurse
also:
J.Laughlin
P. Askey
S.Westaway
P.Gryseels
B.Greene
G. Murphy
P.Schuyler
G.Hart
J.Hunter
J.Bennett
A.White
G.Jazey
P.Mennill
R.Trahan
R. Murray
D.Stewart
S.Peters
W.Brock
M.Metras
J.Thorpe
G.Treble
J.McKenzie
R.Wilson
A. Hogg
86*A.No conflicts of interest were declared.
A motion,by Metras and Bennett to reopen the Issue of School
Accommodation/Capacity,in accordance with the Board's Bylaw 6.6.1,Is adopted
by a two'thirds vote.
REPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
Coiporate Planning and Communications
87-A.Update on School Accommodation/Capacity
Recommendations:
(a)That the followingmotion,approved by the Board,1998 September 22, Item
77-A,be rescinded:
That the Senior Administration be directed to prepare a Draft
Elementary and Secondary School Accommodation Plan in
accordance with the School Accommodation and Facility
Organizational Procedures,to be presented for Information to the
Board at its meeting of 1998 October 27 to allowfor subsequent
public Input.
1998 October 06...225
(b) That,consistent withthe School Accommodation and Facilit/Organization
Policyand Procedures,the Senior Administration present a report on 1998
October 27 recommending the establishment of one or more Elementary
School Area Accommodation Study Committees that will be responsible for
reporting recommendations to the Board not later than 1999 March 01,and
provide an opportunity for public input.
Report
The purpose of this report is to provide trustees with an update on School
Accommodation and Capacity Issues resulting from the release of data by
the Ministry of Education and Trainingon 1998 September 29.
The following issues were identified and detailed information provided:
•school occupancy rates
-overcrowding In some areas and vacant space in other areas
- future new pupil place requirements
•need to operate facilities with efficiency
- no new pupil place grants, for the Board
Itwas noted that inorder toqualifyfornew pupilplace grants,the Board must
be at 100%capacity across the district.The Ministry of Education and
Trairiing are usingSeptember 1997 data at thistime,to determineschool
occupancy and school capacity.The Administration are using data based on
current information and are working with Principals to verify the data.
Ministryconfirmation of the amended data will then be obtained.
The Ministry requires Boards to submit a list of areas in question by 1998
October 30.The Ministry's deadline to remove schools from the Board's
Inventory is 1998 December 31.
Rather than listing schools that may be closed based solely on occupancy
rates,the Board is currently searching for local solutions based on the
following factors:
-Program Equity
-Neighbourhood/Community Schools
•Connection amongst Facility Renewal Grant, Facility Operating Grant and
New Pupil Place Grant
•Occupancy Rates
-Alternatives to Funding New Construction
-Transportation
-Renovations
-Support Staff Implications
-Rate and Distribution of Growth
Several options were considered and rejected.The Board agreed to plan
school accommodation based upon local needs,local solutions,as follows:
1998 October 06...226
- to become part of an annual planning process within existing Board
policies and procedures;
• not to be driven by the Ministry's deadline of 1998 December 31;
• Administration to IdentifyArea Study Committees by 1998 October 27;
- Area Study Committees to report recommendations no later than 1999
March 01;
•recommendations may include boundary adjustments,school
reorganization or school closures.
In accordance with the School Accommodation and Facility Organization
Procedures,2.3.1(c), the following rationale was established:
-student needs come first
-students will have access to public education facilities
- JK-8 is a preferred elementary organizational structure
-Nelghbouttiood/communlty schools are Important
-students need access to gym and library facilities
- the organizational configuration In a community should attempt to
minimize student relocation
•the entering into joint ventures is encouraged
- there needs to be recognition ofthe Impactof provincial occupancy data
-the needs of adult learners should be considered
•operating efficiencies need to be optimized
A motion by Hunter and Vaughan to amend recommendation 2 by adding the word
"Secondar^to the section ...Elementary School Area Accommodation Study
Committees...,is defeated.
The report is received and the recommendations are adopted on motion of Stewart and
Hart.
ADJOURNMENT
The meetingadjourns at 9:40 p.m.on jPQ^nof Peters and Jaffe.
CONFIRMED: