Board Meeting Update #156: June 18, 2018

Posted on 06/18/2018

This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next meeting in September 2018.

Lucille Kyle, Chair of the Board, acknowledged that the meeting is taking place on the land of the Haudenosaunee people.

Character Moment of Reflection

Each Board meeting opens with a Character Moment of Reflection. At Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, Growing with Character is our intentional focus on creating safe, caring, respectful and inclusive learning environments where students develop the foundation for good character. Growing with Character is the foundation of the school board strategic plan. Through Growing with Character, we model, teach and expect demonstrations of our eight character traits which are: caring, cooperation, honesty, humour, integrity, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness.

This evening Jennifer Cobb, Trustee for North Prince Edward County, asked all to reflect on Responsibility: We have a sense of duty to fulfill commitments. We take ownership for our own thoughts and actions. We are reliable and accountable in our words and actions.

Presentation

Kente Public School: Becoming an EcoSchool

Guests from Kente public School were introduced by Superintendent Cathy Portt. Students in Cassie Lyon's Grade 4/5 class care about their community and the environment. They have worked diligently during this school year to become student leaders and environmental stewards.

In response to the question "How can we be green?" examples of the classes' efforts included adopting an eco-culture by learning about and engaging in recycling activities.

The class shared recycling instructions, tips and duties with others through school-wide presentations and classroom visits
Hosting Boomerang Wednesdays was a way to measure and graph the amount of garbage created. The Kindergarten class was awarded the Golden Lunchbox Award
Building a composter for the school and learning how to use it
Creating eco-awareness among the school community through: GOOS (good on one side) boxes to hold paper for reuse, plastic straw awareness, and participation in the Trash Bash, all of which led to the class becoming waste-free
Growing their own food for the school Food for Learning program. This was possible by creating an on-site community garden through assistance from local businesses, public health and community agencies/volunteers

Kente PS Eco Schools

Thank you to students and staff from Kente Public School for presenting about their approach to environmental stewardship at the June Board meeting. Through the leadership of Ms. Lyon's Grade 4/5 class, the school achieved Gold status through EcoSchools.

Congratulations to Kente Public School for being awarded Gold status as a EcoSchool. It is a program that aims to reduce ecological impact, builds environmentally aware communities, and provides a framework for action which the school brings to life.

Thank you to students Kyle Bartlett, Sadie Rosatte-Copeland, Judd Charbonneau, Kallie McCormack, Noah Roy, and teacher Cassie Lyon; curriculum coordinator Teresa Hadley; and principal Annette Huizenga for their presentations this evening.

Report from Committee of the Whole Board

It was stated that three items were discussed in Committee of the Whole Board. These are meetings that are closed to the public as provided by subsection 207 (2) of the Education Act.

filling a vacancy on the Board;
acceptance of an Agreement of Purchase and Sale for Pinecrest Memorial Elementary School; and
meeting of the Public Council of Ontario Directors of Education (PCODE) in September 2018.

Recommendations

2018-2019 Budget

Board members approved the 2018-2019 operating and capital budgets in the amounts of $201,522,739 and $17,808,487, respectively.

HPEDSB is in year two of a three-year Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan (2016-2017 to 2018-2019).This plan, required by the Ministry of Education, contains a number of permanent and non-permanent savings measures that include: consolidating/closing schools; reducing staff; reducing department and school budgets; deferring the replacement of technology; and taking a number of other measures with the goal of obtaining an accumulated surplus of $4,260,605 by the end of 2018-2019. The savings measures for 2018-2019, the last year of the financial recovery plan, total $8.7 million.

In addition, HPEDSB has a Long Term Capital and Accommodation Plan that identifies capital needs and facility requirements to support the student population. Based on that plan, three accommodation reviews were conducted in 2016-2017 and a number of school consolidations were approved. In 2017-2018, three elementary schools were closed as part of approved consolidations. One secondary school and one elementary school are scheduled to close at the end of June 2018.

At the Ministry's request, HPEDSB has submitted monthly financial reports since September 2016, and these reports are used to monitor performance against the Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan. The latest monthly financial report covers the period up to the end of May 31, 2018. Based on this report, the projected in-year surplus for 2017-2018 is now estimated to be $1,566,367 compared to the projected in-year deficit of $224,229 at the time of submission of Revised Estimates earlier this year. The accumulated surplus for Ministry compliance purposes at the end of 2017-2018 is now projected to be $3,037,286.

The most significant components of the Grants for Student Needs funding (from the Ministry of Education) is based on student enrolment. Enrolment projections for the purpose of developing the 2018-2019 budget were calculated based upon input from schools. These projections are shown in the following table.

2017-2018
Revised Estimates

2018-2019
Projections

Projected
Change

Elementary

10,347

10,371

Secondary

4,577

4,532

(45)

Total

14,924

14,903

(21)

A slight increase for elementary enrolment and a decrease for secondary enrolment is forecast. Overall, it is anticipated that the board enrolment will decrease by 21 pupils.

Almost all of the permanent and non-permanent savings measures outlined in the Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan have been implemented in the proposed budget. This incorporates the expected savings from planned school consolidations, including staff reductions, as well as utility cost and maintenance cost savings.

The proposed 2018-2019 budget contains an in-year surplus for compliance purposes of $1,546,019, leading to an accumulated surplus of $4,583,305 by the end of 2018-2019. This budget was developed in accordance with the Strategic Plan, the Multi-Year Financial Recovery Plan, and Ministry regulations and requirements.

Borrowing resolutions

Board members approved six resolutions authorizing the borrowing funds, by way of demand operating credit, in order to meet 2018-2019 expenditures.

Appointment of student trustees for 2018-2019

Board members approved the appointment of Melissa Elliott, North Hastings High School; Ryan Gentle, Trenton High School; and Meera Moorthy, Moira Secondary School, as student trustees, effective August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019. The additional student trustee will represent the Indigenous voice at the Board table. The three student trustees will be part of the Student Senate. The senate will consist of 19 secondary school students representing seven secondary schools for the 2018-2019 school year.

Tender for mechanical replacements at Trenton High School

Board members awarded a tender for mechanical replacements at Trenton High School to Allen Mechanical Inc. in the amount of $548,750. The work will include replacement of various mechanical components, such as terminal heating and cooling units (28 air cooled condensing/evaporator units, 15 unit heaters and 8 unit ventilators).

Tender for electrical and mechanical renewal at Centennial Secondary School

Board members awarded a tender for electrical and mechanical renewal at Centennial Secondary School to Ferguson Electrical Company Ltd. for the amount of $951,460. The work will include replacement of various electrical and mechanical components, such as all electrical panels, switchgear and site services renewal, as well as all mechanical renewal (wallfin/convectors). The project will span over two years.

Tender for electrical and mechanical renewal at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute

Board members awarded a tender for electrical and mechanical renewal at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute to Strong Bros. General Contracting Limited in the amount of $1,289,500. The work will include replacement of various electrical and mechanical components, such as all electrical panels, switchgear and site services renewal, as well as all mechanical renewal (wallfin/convectors). The project will span over two years.

Name for the consolidated Belleville secondary school

Board members approved the name Eastside Secondary School for the consolidated Belleville secondary school, presently known as Moira Secondary School, effective September 1, 2018. The school colours will be purple, grey and black, and the Raven will be the mascot.

Information

Calendar of events

A number of HPEDSB and school events (Pdf) are scheduled for the remainder of June 2018.

Some upcoming student/school events include the following:

June 27 and 28: Secondary school graduation ceremonies at various locations.

Report from the Chair of the Board