The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s 2023-24 School Year Budget was presented on Monday, June 5, 2023 and approved on Monday, June 12, 2023.

The Budget Book is available via this link: BUDGET BOOK

Quick Facts

> The overall budget is as follows:

• Total Operating: $338.5 M — ($26.6 M change from 2022-23)
• Total Capital: $22.8 M — ($1.1 M change from 2022-23)
• Total Operating & Capital: $361.4 M — ($27.7 M change from 2022-23)

> As always, budget decisions are guided by the key priorities captured in the following plans:

• Multi-Year Strategic Plan
• Board Improvement and Equity Plan
• Long Term Accommodation Plan
• Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan
• Information Technology Strategic Plan

> Key funding areas of the operating budget include:

• Learning Services — $233.4 M
• Special Education – $43.2 M
• School Operations & Maintenance — $29.2 M
• Student Transportation — $9.5 M
• Adult & Continuing Education — $10.9M
• Board Administration — $12.1M

The proposed budget is aligned with the three pillars of the Board’s 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan:

• Awaken to Belong;
• Ignite to Believe; and,
• Strengthen to Become.

The budget contains provisions for:

• Improving math scores;
• Identifying and helping students who struggle to read;
• Implementing programs in secondary schools that support greater levels of student achievement and higher graduation rates;
• Investing in technology for grade 9 students to better support their learning;
• Programming that supports Indigenous students;
• Mental health programs; and,
• Healthy and clean facilities.

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The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, June 12, 2023 at the Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre.

Agenda:

Public Board Meeting

Other Information:

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)

Environment Canada continues to issue a Special Air Quality Statement that covers all of Ontario, including Waterloo Region.

In Waterloo Region the forecast for Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) levels for June 8, are forecast to be High Risk (7 to 8).  The government of Canada’s Air Quality Health Index Message is below as per a high-risk index.

As a precaution, to ensure student safety, the WCDSB Elementary Regional Track & Field event scheduled for today, Thursday, June 8^th, is cancelled.

Plans regarding the rescheduling of this event will be communicated as soon as confirmed.

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement that covers all of Ontario, including Waterloo Region.

Smoke plumes from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec may result in deteriorating air quality in our Region through most of the week. Wildfire smoke can be harmful to a person’s health, especially those with pre-existing conditions. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour and region to region.

In Waterloo Region the forecast for Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) levels for today – June 7 – are forecast to be High Risk (7).

The government of Canada’s Air Quality Health Index Message is below as per a high-risk index.

As a precaution, to ensure student safety, the WCDSB Elementary Regional Track & Field event scheduled for today, Wed. Jun 7^th, is cancelled. Plans regarding the possible rescheduling of this event will be communicated as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support and flexibility to ensure the safety of our students.

Waterloo Region, ON – Trustees of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board have received the Board’s $361.4 million 2023-24 school year budget.

The budget vote is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, June 12, 2023.

Quick Facts

> The overall budget is as follows:

• Total Operating: $338.5 M — ($26.6 M change from 2022-23)
• Total Capital: $22.8 M — ($1.1 M change from 2022-23)
• Total Operating & Capital: $361.4 M — ($27.7 M change from 2022-23)

BUDGET BOOK

> As always, budget decisions are guided by the key priorities captured in the following plans:

• Multi-Year Strategic Plan
• Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement
• Long Term Accommodation Plan
• Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan
• Information Technology Strategic Plan

> Key funding areas of the operating budget include:

• Learning Services — $233.4 M
• Special Education – $43.2 M
• School Operations & Maintenance — $29.2 M
• Student Transportation — $9.5 M
• Adult & Continuing Education — $10.9M
• Board Administration — $12.1M

The proposed budget is aligned with the three pillars of the Board’s 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan:

• Awaken to Belong;
• Ignite to Believe; and,
• Strengthen to Become.

The budget contains provisions for:

• Improving math scores;
• Identifying and helping students who struggle to read;
• Implementing programs in secondary schools that support greater levels of student achievement and higher graduation rates;
• Investing in technology for grade 9 students to better support their learning;
• Programming that supports Indigenous students;
• Mental health programs; and,
• Healthy and clean facilities.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and five adult education facilities serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 186-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre.

The purpose of this Special Public Board Meeting is to receive the proposed 2023-24 school year budget.

Agenda:

Public Board Meeting

Other Information:

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)

Meetings

Committee of the Whole Board Meeting

Monday, May 1, 2023 – Meeting Agenda Package

Special Public Board Meeting

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 — Meeting Agenda Package

Regular Public Board Meeting

Monday, May 29, 2023 — Meeting Agenda Package

Highlights

Long Term Accommodation Plan Presentation

The Long-Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) is a complete multi-year plan that focuses on planning for student accommodation. The LTAP also provides an update on enrolment and demographic trends as they relate to future accommodation initiatives and provides a listing of strategic initiatives including potential boundary reviews, new schools, and additions / renovations.

Overall, enrolment is projected to increase significantly in both the elementary and secondary panels over the next 10 years – rising in the elementary school panel from 17,646 this year to 24,194 in 2032-33 and in the secondary school panel from 25,250 to 36,312.

Highlights of the LTAP include:

• Five new schools.
• Five additions and / or renovations.
• Required boundary reviews across the Region to create attendance areas for new schools and address capacity issues.
• Staff are actively working to acquire school sites or are reserving sites in plans of subdivision to meet the board’s needs.
• There are no planned school closures.

The report is available beginning on page 17 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Innovation / IT Board Report

Innovation, strategic information technology (IT) planning and accelerated technological progress have precipitated a strong culture shift at the Waterloo Catholic District school board to become one known for its keen focus on student centered design, deep learning, and transferable skills, inspiring all to stretch their thinking — to not only demonstrate their learning, but to work collectively towards continued achievement and personal efficacy.

While the post-COVID 2022-23 school year has continued to present novel challenges, we have maintained a strong lens of adaptability while continuing to ensure that strong pedagogical practices are targeted and focused, yet flexible, to meet the needs of all students, families, and staff.

Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion ensures all decisions are made with intentionality as we focus on our underserved students recognizing that students’ identities and circumstances outside of school shape their learning needs. Additionally, our advancements in innovation and IT governance have directed our strategic planning to ensure our ever-changing digital landscape is cloaked with attention to digital citizenship, cyber-awareness and a commitment to ensuring safe learning environments virtually and otherwise for all students, staff and families.

The report covers the following key areas:

• Information Technology 5 Year Strategic Plan: 2023-2028
• Digital Literacy & Citizenship Programming
• Experiential Learning Programming
• Equity and Technology Governance
• Global Competency Programming: Leveraging Digital
• Classroom Technology and Innovation
• Global Competency Programming: Pedagogical Practices
• Building Thinking Classrooms and Innovative Learning Environments
• A Culture of Innovation: Distributed Leadership Strategies

The report is available beginning on page 101 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Final Math Strategy Update

On May 1, 2023 the Board of Trustees received the final Math Strategy Update of the year.

The highly detailed report provided an update and details with respect to the following:

1. Highlights of Grade 9, MTH1W and Grade 10 Courses, MPM2D & MFM2P
2. Elementary Math Coaching Summary 2022-23
3. Sept. 2 Math PD Day Report (ELE. & SEC.)
4. Elementary Math Professional Learning Opportunities
5. Digital Tools/Resource Update
6. Secondary Priorities

The report is available beginning on page 145 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Energy Conservation Plan

Broader Public Sector organizations are required to prepare and publish a 5 year Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan (ECDMP). The report presented on May 29, 2023 provides WCDSB’s plan which outlines strategies and budgets to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Also included in the report are the results of prior years’ savings initiatives.

The WCDSB Energy Conservation and Demand Management Report is written to satisfy legislative requirements as they relate to energy conservation, local commitments made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), a need to address budget pressures and the current state of our environment, supporting the creation of a sustainable future for younger generations, and in the context of the requirements contained in the 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan.

WCDSB is actively addressing long-term sustainability in the following key areas:

Energy & Water Conservation

> Through energy audits, capital renewal programs, monitoring local consumption, and conducting repairs and preventative maintenance on equipment.

Purchasing & Waste

> Through contractual terms and conditions with vendors, social procurement programs, waste audits, recycling, and composting programs, and raising awareness around waste with students and staff.

Buildings & Grounds

> Through tree-planting for shading and greenhouse gas reduction, eco-friendly turf management, repairs and maintenance, and monitoring and managing building controls for
efficiency.

Food & Drink

> Through education and awareness programs in the curriculum delivered to students, modelling desirable behaviours, and through administrative procedures providing guidelines to schools on healthy options during food days.

Inclusion & Participation

> Through encouraging both students and staff to be proactive in supporting ethical actions, providing training to all on EDI, being mindful of others, and acting in alignment with Catholic
teachings.

Local Well-Being

> Through receiving feedback from students and staff, designing programs to increase physical and mental wellness while at school / work, providing central resources and materials to support wellness, and identifying and training staff experts as wellness champions.

This is in keeping with the guidance of Pope Francis in his historic encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home as well as WCDSB’s own mission and vision.

The report is available beginning on page 27 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Resignation of Trustee Wendy Ashby / Trustee Replacement

The Board of Trustees formally accepted the resignation of Kitchener/Wilmot Trustee Wendy Ashby at a Special Public Board Meeting held on May 24, 2023. The Board also rescinded its previous motion to hire an outside consultant to investigate the allegation of a breach of the Code of Conduct and to close the Code of Conduct investigation.

Under Section 221 of the Education Act, the Board of Trustees is limited to two options via which to fill the vacant Kitchener/Wilmot seat (the vacant seat is one of four seats allotted to Kitchener/Wilmot):

2. Hold a by-election “in the same manner as an election of the board.”
3. “Appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy within 90 days after the office becomes vacant.”

On May 29, 2023, the Board of Trustees voted against holding a by-election.

A decision on the preferred appointment process remains pending.

Special Education Update/Plan

The purpose of this report is to highlight the special education programs and services provided by the WCDSB in accordance with legislation and ministry policy on Special Education, as well as to provide an update on the Strategic Goals of the MYSP as they relate to Special Education.

This past year a key focus has been on ensuring that Special Education protocols are being followed regarding the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process.

In an effort to be in line with the provincial IEP average as well as ensuring we are being equitable to all students we have made it a priority to self-audit both existing IEPs as well as new IEPs and proposed modifications and accommodations. This intentional IEP review is in line with the recommendations outlined in the Right to Read Report as well as the Ministry’s directive regarding de-streaming and programming for students at the appropriate grade level expectations when possible.

In tandem with this, a Special Education Staff Development plan is being implemented to build capacity, skills and knowledge for all in-school staff to ensure that high quality programs and services are developed and implemented for our students. This training complies with legislation and ministry policy on special education and is connected to the Student Services
logic models. Chosen topics are reflective of Ministry directives and employee voice via feedback forms and direct requests from in-school staff (e.g., Administrators, Special Education Teachers, Support Staff, etc.) and needs as identified via collaborative team member “reason for referral”.

The report is available beginning on page 60 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Board Chair’s Update

Each month, the Chair of the Board reports on the activities of the Board of Trustees. Chair Tracey Weiler’s report for May 2023 is available on page 20 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Student Trustees Update

Student Trustees Chloe Armstrong and Anika Fejerpataky presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 70 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Upcoming Board Meetings

Special Public Board Meeting – Budget Presentation

Monday, June 5, 2023 — Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre

Regular Public Board Meeting

Monday, June 12, 2023 — Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and four adult education facilities, serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary, and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 186-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.

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The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. — Monday, May 29, 2023 at the Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre.

Agenda:

Public Board Meeting

Other Information:

General Information About WCDSB Board Meetings

Information About the Board of Trustees

(Note: Agenda files can be large. If you are experiencing issues downloading a file, right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…”.)