April 09, 1999 - Glebe Report

23 Glebe Report April 9 1999 NEWS
Ottawa-Carleton District
School Board trustee report
OCDSB 1999-2000 BUDGET
(SEPTEMBER 1 TO AUGUST 31)
Trustees have ratified a
budget of $520.5 million for the
school year beginning in September.
All education funding comes
from the province and the OCDSB
faces a decline in revenues of 15
per cent over five years. For the
coming school year (year two of
the five), the board identified
$15.7 million in reductions by:
eliminating some teaching
positions at both the elementary
and secondary levels; provincially
mandated average class
sizes will be maintained, but the
board will have less flexibility in
staffing schools and in finding
replacement teachers
elhninating transportation
from Grade 7 to OAC for all students
who live in the urban transit
area (exceptions include students
who are financially disadvantaged
and some special education
students); this is a major
policy change for students in the
former Carleton Board of Education
reducing program materials
and school supplies; central department
and school budgets will
be cut and families will be asked
to pay for items such as pencils,
pens and notebooks for elementary
students
'using working fund reserves
(unspent operating funds from.
the previous year) for program
purposes; these are not capital
reserves
The combination of these decisions
has allowed the board to
limit the reductions in Special
Education to $3.2 million (the
original budget proposal was $7.2
million) and keep the English as a
Second language program un-
changed. I know these programs
are of particular importance to
parents and school councils and I
am relieved that we found some
savings elsewhere in the budget.
Thanks to the Glebe Collegiate
school council for taking a leadership
role in opposing ESL cuts.
Additions to the budget include
an increase in funds for information
technology, secondary school
reform and custodial support for
schools.
The provincial government's
level of education funding is inadequate
and many of the allocations
in the various grant categories
do not respond to needs in
our community. Further downsizing
will continue to have a
negative effect on the quality of
our public education system in
Ottawa-Carleton.
COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS
Trustees have approved a new
agreement between the OCDSB and
the municipalities across Ottawa-
Carleton for the use of each others'
indoor facilities. If approved
by the municipalities, the agreement
is to take effect in September
1999. For groups wanting to
use school facilities, the agreement
requires users, such as
community centres, community
associations, and youth groups
By
Lynn
Graham
(e.g. Guides, Scouts, cadets and
sports teams) to pay $7 per hour
for the use of schools after 4 p.m.
and on weekends. There are two
exceptions: OCDSB groups (e.g.
school councils) will not be
charged a fee; and private, revenue-generating
users will continue
to pay between $25 and $41
per hour, depending on the day(s)
booked. For school groups wanting
to book municipal facilities,
the agreement requires OCDSB
payment to the municipalities of
$7 per hour.
It is unfortunate that the formal,
reciprocal agreement currently
in place between the
school board and the City of Ottawa
can no longer be continued.
However, patterns of use have
changed over the years and the
school board can no longer subsidize
the community use of
schools. Youth groups are certainly
going to be affected by this
change as they have been paying
$1 per hour for school facilities
during the week. The provincial
funding formula does not provide
funds for the use of schools outside
normal school hours and the
OCDSB must focus on regular day
school operations.
If you have any questions regarding
the policy or would like
to book school facilities, please
call the Community Use of Schools
office at 239-2540.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
Five schools are being closed
(Confederation, Crichton Alternative,
McNabb, Queensway and
Whitehaven) and the OCDSB may
have to close another 15 schools
in order to qualify for funds for
new school construction in highgrowth
areas outside the Greenbelt.
The Minister of Education
and Training is reviewing the
school accommodation situation
in Ottawa-Carleton and I hope the
funding formula will be modified
to allow schools to operate at 90
per cent capacity and to allow
schools to rent out surplus space
(without penalty) to adult education
and new child care groups.
These adjustments would significantly
reduce the number of
school closures in the downtown
core. To date, there has been no
announcement from Queen's Park.
For information on the OCDSB,
check the web site at
www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca or call the
automated information line at
596-8222.
I hope to hear from you.
Lynn Graham, Ottawa-
Carleton District School Board,
133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, ON,
K2H 6L3. Tel: 730-3366.
Fax: 730-3589. E-mail:
lynn_graham@ocdsb.edu.on.ca
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