Board Meeting Update #120, June 15, 2015

Posted on 06/15/2015

This update provides a summary of the public meeting of Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board held Monday, June 15, 2015 at the Education Centre. It is an unofficial summary of the meeting; official minutes will be approved at the next regular meeting in September 2015.

Presentations

QUINTE REGIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FAIR

Guests were introduced by Cathy Portt, Superintendent of Education. She welcomed students and representatives from the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair, and the Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC).

HPEDSB students who were finalists in the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair progressed to the national Canada Wide Science Fair. Congratulations to students who were awarded medals at the CWSF:

Aiden Haddad, Harry J. Clarke Public School (Destinations Programme) who received a Junior Bronze Medal for the project Pendulum Transportation; and
Meera Moorthy, Harry J. Clarke Public School (Destinations Programme) who received a Junior Bronze Medal for the project A Natural Fertilizer.

Thank you to the following individuals who accompanied the students to the Canada Wide Science Fair:

Jo-Anne Peckham, Co-chair, Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair
Kyla Riedstra-Wiesner, Co-chair, Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair
Scott Berry, Web Master, Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair
Tamara Sayers-Pringle, Chief Judge, Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair & Teacher at Harry J. Clarke Public School

ONTARIO TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS COMPETITION

Recognition was made of secondary school students who represented HPEDSB at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition held in May 2015 in Waterloo, Ontario. Competition areas included welding, carpentry and photography, among others. Congratulations to Abigail Reid, Centennial Secondary School, who received a Bronze Medal for Photography. Thank you Lynne Weinert, Teacher, Centennial Secondary School, who accompanied Abigail on the trip.

PARTNERS IN LEARNING: FAMILY SPACE AND HPEDSB SCHOOLS

Guests were introduced by Cathy Portt, Superintendent of Education. She welcomed representatives from Family Space, Prince Charles School (Belleville) and Prince of Wales Public School. All work together to integrate and coordinate early years programs. These programs provide environments where services can be co-located for the convenience of students and families and to facilitate strong outcomes for early learners.

Thank you to Heather McMaster, Sandy Smith, Marg Thompson and Cassandra Windsor from HPEDSB, and Kelly Allan and Ginny Jones from Family Space for sharing the programs and learning happening in our schools.

Report from Committee of the Whole

This report included:

2015-2020 Internal Audit Plan;
Agreement for the sale of Stirling Primary School and Stirling Junior Public School; and
Agreement for the sale of the Quinte Ballet School property.

Recommendations

2015-2016 Budget

Board members approved the 2015-2016 operating in the amount of $189,189,114 and a capital budget in the amount of $18,555,456.

The 2015-2016 budget continues to support the board's system priorities in service of student achievement while maintaining the fiscal integrity of its operations. While additional work remains to fully address the phase in of Ministry of Education funding changes and ongoing enrolment impact, progress has been made aligning operational costs with available funding.

Consistent with prior years, funding levels for Ontario school boards will continue to reflect local enrolment fluctuations. In the elementary panel, student enrolments are projected to remain stable for 2015-2016 at 10,133 students. In the secondary panel, average daily enrolment is expected to see a further decline of approximately 120 students as the lower enrolments experienced in elementary schools in past years continue to move into the secondary schools. This decline is projected to continue for the next couple of years before it will stabilize. Total projected enrolment for the 2015-2016 school year is 15,090 students, representing 10,133 elementary and 4,480 secondary students.

Date and location of the November Board meeting

Past practise has been to hold one Board meeting at an off-site location in the fall of each year. Board members approved a recommendation to hold its meeting at York River Public School, 132 Newkirk Boulevard, Bancroft, on Monday, November 16, 2015.

2014-2015 Special Education Plan

Following a review by Special Education Services, the 2014-2015 Special Education Plan was presented to Board members for approval. Updates to programs and services were noted in the Summary of Amendments. Board members approved the updated plan.

Textbook/novel approval

The Ministry of Education Curriculum Centre Learning Resources website lists textbooks/novels approved for use in schools by the Minister of Education under the Education Act. HPEDSB Procedure 210: Textbook/Learning Material Selection, Purchase and Approval, sets out expectations for principals and teachers to follow when such materials are not found on the list provided by the Minster, subject to the approval of the Board. Board members approved the book Residential Schools, with the Words and Images of Survivors, for use in Grade 7 - 12. The authors is Larry Loyie, with Wayne K. Spear and Constance Brissenden.

Borrowing resolution

From time to time it necessary to borrow funds to meet current expenditures until the current revenues have been received. An operating line of credit is established which states that the loan must not exceed a given limit at any time. Board members approved a borrowing resolution of up to $14,000,000.

Tender for the demolition of Queen Elizabeth Public School, Trenton

A tender to demolish Queen Elizabeth Public School in Trenton was approved. This is necessary in order for the new school to be constructed. The demolition work will be done by JMX Contracting Inc. The approved amount is $279,000 plus a separate price of $27,000 to construct a temporary access road from Dixon Drive to the demolition site.

Tender for roof replacements at various schools

In 2013, the board entered into contract with TSS Building Science Inc. for them to act as an expert roofing consultant to survey and determine urgent roofing needs. The roofs of all schools were surveyed by TSS and a list of urgently required replacements and repairs was developed. In the summer of 2014 nine schools received roof repairs/replacements.

The following eight schools are scheduled to receive roof repairs/replacements this summer by the contractor and for the amounts indicated below.

Name of school Contractor Amount

Bayside Public School - Dafoe Roofing $282,640

Harry J. Clarke Public School - Dafoe Roofing $ 90,200

North Hastings High School - ICI Roofing $279,700

Park Dale School - Dafoe Roofing $194,720

Prince Charles School (Belleville) - ICI Roofing $ 49,500

Quinte Secondary School - ICI Roofing $154,575

Trenton High School - ICI Roofing $173,325

York River Public School - ICI Roofing $130,500

Capital priority business case: Marmora schools

Board members approved a capital priority business case for an addition and renovations to Marmora Senior Public School be submitted to the Ministry of Education. This project was submitted in prior rounds of capital project funding requests as a replacement school project, and remains a priority for the board in addressing school consolidation and capacity adjustment needs due to enrolment changes.

This new submission consists of the following:

PRIORITY 1: A $3.7 million project for an addition to and renovation of Marmora Senior Public School to create a JK to Grade 8 school on the existing Marmora Senior Public School site. The planned opening date is for the 2017-2018 school year.

REQUEST: $3.2 million in funding from the Ministry of Education for a 133 pupil place addition to the existing Marmora Senior Public School, and for renovation of the remainder of Marmora Senior Public School to create a 303 (total) pupil place school.

Consolidation of the existing JK to Grade 3 program at Earl Prentice Public School and the existing Grade 4 to 8 program at Marmora Senior Public School in the enlarged 303 pupil place Marmora Senior Public School, thereby reducing operating and renewal costs through the use of one building instead of two.
A new addition to include a double-size gym, three elementary classrooms and two Full-day Kindergarten classrooms. Renovations to include converting the existing gym to learning commons/library to support 21st Century learning, and heating and mechanical system upgrades.
Reduction in excess capacity of 78 pupil places.
Estimated building renewal savings of $3.8 million based on identified repair needs at Earl Prentice to 2019.
Projected long-term annual operating savings of $60,000 based on a reduction in operation costs from $221,000 (both schools) to $161,000 (enlarged Marmora Senior Public School).
Board to co-fund $500,000 of project through building renewal funds to support a portion of renovation costs.
This proposal would not require an accommodation review as the Earl Prentice Public School feeds into Marmora Senior Public School. However, HPEDSB would undertake community consultation on its proposed solution.

Information

Calendar of events

A number of district and school events (pdf) are scheduled for the remainder of June 2015.

Upcoming events include the following:

Tuesday, June 16: JK Orientation Night, Frankford Public School, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 18: Quinte Adult Education Graduation, Quinte Secondary School, 4:30 p.m.
Graduations and awards ceremonies at various elementary and secondary schools. Please take a look at the above-noted link for the dates and time.

Report from the Chair