Meetings

Special Public Board Meeting

Monday, May 9, 2022 – Meeting Agenda Package

Committee of the Whole Board Meeting

Monday, May 9, 2022 – Meeting Agenda Package

Public Board Meeting

Monday, May 30, 2022 — Meeting Agenda Package

Highlights

Annual Update of Education Development Charges

Education Development Charges (EDCs) are used to fund the acquisition of school sites and related costs to accommodate growth-related pupil needs. These rates are applied to all new residential and non-residential development, with limited exceptions. The Board’s existing EDC By-law recovers 80% of education land costs from residential development and 20% from non-residential development.

On May 10, 2021, the Board of Trustees approved Education Development Charge By-law (2021) for a term of 5 years with an effective date of June 1, 2021. In response to stakeholder input, the Board also directed staff to annually review land values and provide a report to the Board if land values supported an amendment to the Education Development Charge By-law (2021) to increase residential and non-residential charges.

On May 9, 2022, the Board of Trustees passed a by-law to amend the 2021 EDC by-law to increase the residential and non-residential rates to reflect increasing land values in the Region of Waterloo.

The report is available beginning on page 3 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Extended Day Programs

The Extended Day Program is an integral part of the Early Learning Kindergarten program and is led by registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE). The Extended Day program is funded by parent fees and set on a cost-recovery basis. The Extended Day program is optional for parents and offered by boards only where there is sufficient demand to make the program viable.

Thirty-six schools that were deemed viable for 2021/2022 will continue to be viable for the 2022/2023 school year.

On May 9, 2022, the Board of Trustees agreed to raise the daily base fee by $1.00 per day, to $28.50 per day.

The report is available beginning on page 24 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Learning Innovation and IT Update

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, collaboration and one that inspires all to stretch their thinking, to not only demonstrate their learning, but to work collectively towards continued achievement and personal efficacy.

While the 2021/22 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.

The detailed report presented to the Board of Trustees on May 9, 2022, covered the following key areas:

  • Digital Citizenship Programming
  • Experiential Learning Programming
  • Equity and Technology Governance
  • Global Competency Programming: Leveraging Digital
  • Classroom Technology and Innovation
  • Technology for Parent Engagement
  • Global Competency Programming: Pedagogical Practices
  • A Culture of Innovation: Distributed Leadership Strategies
  • IT Governance
  • IT Key Performance Indicators
  • IT Project and Task Status 2021/22
  • Information Technology Five Year Strategic Plan Schedule

The report is available beginning on page 9 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Math Strategy Update

As well as providing an update with respect to the following listed math priorities, the Math Update also provided detailed information regarding steps currently being taken by WCDSB to continue proactively responding to the changing landscape of education, including:

  • Math Coaching Support (Elementary)
  • Math Professional Learning Opportunities: Reaching Educators Virtually & Digitally (Elem & Sec)
  • Secondary School Update – Preparing for 2021 De-streamed Culture
  • Resource Update: Usership data for Knowledgehook, Mathology.ca & Digital Tools
  • Looking Forward / Next Steps

The report contains many very instructive charts and graphs, that clearly chart the accomplishments, opportunities and ongoing challenges facing the school board.

The goal moving forward is to continue purposefully collaborating across Program Services in order to provide highly- accessible services that are aligned to assist our educators in ‘knowing their learners’ and responding effectively. Prioritizing ‘just-in-time’ support, for all educators, students, and administrators continues to be our collective goal.

The report is available beginning on page 42 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Well-being Update – Safe Schools

Over the 2021-22 school year the WCDSB has been continually focused on student well-being and the strong measures that we could establish to support safe, caring, and inclusive environments. We acknowledge that the pandemic has adversely impacted the overall wellbeing of our students and with intentionality our goal continues to focus on ensuring we are responsive to student needs and the creation of safe and nurturing environments.

We were pleased this year to be able to reinstate some initiatives that had been sidelined due to the pandemic. Our partnership and training with Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) has been re-evaluated and a staged training approach to developing restorative cultures has been developed.

The implementation of data collection with respect to student well-being using the MDI tool was also administered in the 2021/22 school year along with the parent safe school’s climate survey and with reference to bullying, is highlighted in this report.

“Upstream” prevention continues to be a prime motivator, with key areas of focus being:

  • Community Justice Initiatives: Restorative Practices
  • Safe School Ambassador Program
  • Anti-Bullying Week
  • The Umbrella Project
  • Human Trafficking
  • Suicide Prevention and Intervention
  • Student Aware

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

Multi-Year Capital Renewal Plan

As our buildings continue to age, major renovations and repairs are needed to ensure our buildings remain operational, safe, welcoming, and efficient learning spaces for the students, staff, and communities which they support.

The Ministry of Education continues to provide two sources of funding for major repairs and renovations – School Condition Improvement Funding (SCI) and School Renewal Allocation (SRA) Funding.

School Condition Improvement (SCI) is a capital renewal program that allows school boards to revitalize and renew aged building components that have exceeded or will exceed their useful life cycle. The SCI Funding allotment for the 2021-2022 school year totals $6,001,219

School Renewal Allocation (SRA) funding is provided to allow school boards to revitalize and renew aged building systems and components. This allows school boards to undertake capital improvements such adding and/or replacing new ventilation systems, roof replacement and invest in accessibility-related enhancements such as elevators, ramps and electronic door opening systems. In addition, SRA funding allows for maintenance repairs such as painting, and asphalt repairs. There are no restrictions on its use except that the work performed must be capital in nature. For the 2021-2022 school year, School Renewal Allocation Funding totals $4,030,931.

In addition to the annual school renovation and renewal projects, the construction team is actively working on the following projects:

  • Huron Brigadoon elementary school (includes a childcare centre)
  • East Kitchener 7-12 school
  • South East Galt elementary school (joint venture with public board and City of Cambridge)
  • St. Agnes CES addition
  • Baden elementary school (includes a child care centre)
  • Rosenberg CES
  • St. Patrick elementary school (includes a child care centre)

The report is available beginning on page 31 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Energy Conservation Plan

On May 30 2022 the Board of Trustees received the updated Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board has a long history of environmental protection and awareness, and of innovative action toward sustainable operations. The Board’s collective dedication for creating a better future for its students, staff, and community members stems from a deep appreciation of God’s world. 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 2018-2021 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 carrying out 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 36 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

2022 Abridged Long Term Accommodation Plan

A report on enrolment, demographic trends and potential school closures or reviews is required to be presented to the Board of Trustees annually to satisfy the provisions of Board Policy IV 010 – Facilities Accommodations.

Several strategic priorities identified in 2021 were advanced in the past year including:

  • Construction of new Huron-Brigadoon CES
  • Capital funding announced for:

o New Rosenberg CES + child care

o New St. Patrick CES + child care

o New Baden CES + child care

  • Ministry approval to purchase received for:

o New East Kitchener 7-12 site

o New SE Galt CES site

o New Rosenberg CES site

The report is available beginning on page 61 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Special Education Update/Plan

The purpose of the Special Education Update/Plan is to highlight the special education programs and services that are 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.

The report presented on May 30 2020 provides information regarding ongoing staff professional development, and also highlights a number of key successes, including:

  • Tier 3 Reading Intervention
  • Use of Assistive Technology
  • Project SEARCH
  • Decreasing Achievement Gap Between Students on IEP & Those Not on IEP
  • Summer Learning

The report is available beginning on page 76 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Student Trustees Update

Student Trustees Sarah Simoes and Sarah Wilson presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 86 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 Jeanne Gravelle’s report for May 2022 is available on page 89 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Upcoming Board Meetings

Special Public Board Meeting

Monday, June 6, 2022

Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre

Regular Public Board Meeting

Monday, June 13, 2022

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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