June 10, 2011 - Glebe Report

26 Glebe Report June 10, 2011 Glebe Report June 10, 2011 27
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Trustee
Rob
Campbell
OCDSB
SCHOOLS
Strategic Plan
The new plan provides an inspiring
narrative with its four pillars: wellness,
engagement, leadership and learning,
or WELL. Wellness emphasizes
mental health which is in line with the
new mandate from the province under
Bill 177: for us to be responsible for
student wellbeing as well as achievement.
Under engagement, we include
our continued efforts to make the district
accessible to citizens, and under
leadership, continued improvements in
governance. Under learning, we will strive to correlate student achievement
with factors which drive it, through student survey data, as well as to focus on
equity gaps in student achievement. Now above provincial averages in most
Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) scores, we need to focus
on improving the district average by reducing gaps associated with gender,
ESL, special education and poverty.
I would propose that we not focus solely on EQAO but also conceive of
indicators such as arts proficiency. We currently track achievement utilizing
certain indicators, but I am concerned that we do not track income levels.
Underlying the strategic plan will be a Board Improvement Plan (BIP). That
plan will set out more concretely the initiatives under the strategic plan and
performance indicators used to measure our success in achieving our goals.
The BIP then will help guide each school’s improvement plan (SIP).
Budget 2011-12
We are in the throes of passing the budget for next year. The staff recommendation
calls for a $780 million operating budget. It also calls for most of our
reserves to fund permanent spending. I have great difficulty with this and with
increasing transportation overspending.
The overspending and use of our reserves, if left untouched, will result eventually
in a $6 million, then $12 milion, then $18 million deficit to be covered
by cuts elsewhere. If one assumes no new money for education provincially at
this time, additional resources can realistically only come from cuts. Staff are,
in effect, proposing a multi-year budget plan to increase staff in certain areas
and cut in others, but they are presenting only the first year of the plan.
Transportation spending has climbed now to a projected $4 million of overspending
beyond funding. That means that other areas of the budget ante up.
I do not see transportation as essential to school, however it is a market share
item. There is compelling analysis which shows we’re severely underfunded
for transportation by comparison to the local Catholic board. We either need to
achieve funding equity or cut our transportation services in order to not jeopardize
our learning environment.
Before and After Care at Schools
The province is requiring that all sites with all-day kindergarten provide
before and after school care. The current school year affected sites without
existing daycares. As the years proceed however, both all-day kindergarten
and before and after school services provision will be running up against established
daycare providers.
There have recently been meetings at the Board with parents and early childhood
educators from daycares concerned about the future. There are several
issues such as fees, March break and summer child care, quality standards,
etc. Consultation is needed before we declare a preferred model of delivery
– Board run, third party run, or some hybrid. This may happen by mid-fall followed
by staff recommendations in November.
Accommodation
The local area accommodations exercise looking at space, programming
strength, community building and related issues is ongoing. The Community
Working Group (CWG) is sifting through information regarding all scenarios,
looking at numbers. Its recommendations will be tabled in the fall. While the
CWG may decide to have a public open house before the end of June, its recommendations
will only be tabled in the fall. The Board is expected to make a
decision as to what to do by early winter.
The CWG has representatives from seven affected schools and six community
associations. Meetings are public with public Q&A on each agenda. To
interact with the CWG, be sure to contact your school council or community
association.
If you have a suggestion or a concern, or would like to be added to my
e-newsletter list, then please contact me.
Rob Campbell
613-323-7803
rob@ocdsbzone9.ca
www.ocdsb.ca
SCHOOLS
Glebe Cooperative Nursery
School says thank you
BY SEEMA AKHTAR
We had a fabulous time at Spring Fling! and raised over $2,500 for our nursery
school.
We’d like to thank all of our sponsors:
Alex’s Bread and Deli, The Art of Cake, Atelier Pika Ltd., Bloomfields,
Bridgehead, Confidence Booster, David’s Tea, Glebe Emporium, Glebe Spa,
Glebe Trotters, JD Adam Kitchen Co., Kaleidoscope Books, Kathrin Von Dehn
Designs, Life of Pie, Magpie, Mrs. Tiggy Winkles, Naji’s Lebanese Restaurant,
Octopus Books, Oresta, Pedi Pleasures, ReadiSetGo, Starbucks, Studio
B, Thann, Truffle Treasures and Yarn Forward.
All GCNS mums were also treated to the annual mother’s day tea parties at
the nursery school last month. Each class prepared yummy muffins, tea and
beautiful treats for their mums. Lucky us!
Seema Akhtar is the communications chair for the GCNS.
Ready, Set, Go! in the three-legged race
Fun at the Fling!
Hopping along in the sack races!
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PHOTOS: SEEMA AKHTAR
Student vernissage
at Good Morning Preschool
“After-school” students perfect their work for the vernissage.
by Joanne Gallop
With the school-year-end fast approaching, the Creative Arts After School
class is busy organizing its vernissage. This annual showcase is a display of selected
work from the year, and all the students have the opportunity to choose
their favourite pieces to present. “This is a wonderful event, and the students
get to show off their work to family and friends,” says Karen Cameron, director
at Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool (GMCAPS). “They participate
in selecting the final pieces, work with the teachers to set up the presentation
and even help serve refreshments to their guests. It’s great to see them so
involved.”
“It’s an exciting time for the school-age kids,” adds Sandy Bulchack, senior
creative arts teacher. “Many of our projects take weeks to complete, so they
have invested a lot of time and effort into them. It’s fun for the students to
see how people react to their art – and for them to talk about the process and
inspiration behind it. They continue to amaze us with their maturity and enthusiasm.”
The students’ vernissage will take place on June 21 and 23, at 4:30 p.m., at
Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool. It’s a hot ticket and a very busy
evening. If you’d like to join us, get in touch with your favourite “after-school”
artist to add your name to the guest list!
Calling all junior artists. If you’ve got a small creative person at home, there
are still some spaces available in our Creative Arts Kindergarten and Preschool
programs starting in September. These programs take place on weekday afternoons
and there is an optional pick-up and lunch program from both First
Avenue and Mutchmor public schools. Please contact Karen Cameron at good
morningpreschool@gmail.com for enrolment details.
Glebe resident Joanne Gallop is a freelance writer, parent volunteer on the
GMCAPS Board and mom of two enthusiastic creative arts students.
NEW PATIENTS WELCOME
Dr Pierre Isabelle
Dr Mathieu Tremblay
GLEBE DENTAL CENTRE
FIFTH AVENUE COURT-EVENING APPOINTMENTS
OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY
For appointments call 613-234-6405
PHOTO: GERRIAN MACKINNON