VIDEO: Highlights from the October 23 Upper Canada District School Board of Trustees Meeting

Full details on presentations, reports, and discussions can be found in the agenda or reviewed in the recorded broadcast. 

Brockville – Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

Full Video of Board Meeting Below:

Key items discussed in the public session are as follows:

Math Action Plan

Amanda Nieman, UCDSB Principal of Teaching and Learning presented to the board of trustees the Math Achievement Action Plan for 2024-25. This presentation follows a request from the Ministry of Education that all system math teams request an “endorsement” from their respective Board of Trustees.

Nieman reminded trustees that although schools from across the province have been selected to receive additional support in math and EQAO, the UCDSB continues to support all schools. She also noted that there is continued funding for system staff to support staff and students, as well as digital tools to support student’s practice of math concepts.

Nieman described various aspects of the Action Plan, including an updated math assessment tool, the continued use of the UCDSB Professional Learning Plan for Grades 3-9, the distribution of EQAO resource packs, and the implementation of various digital tools to support student learning in math such as Knowledgehook and MathUP Classroom.

Trustees passed a motion endorsing the plan as presented. The plan will now be submitted to the Ministry of Education.

Capital Update

Jeremy Hobbs, UCDSB Executive Superintendent of Business Services gave an update to the Board on the status of major capital projects, as well as capital priorities submissions for 2024.

Hobbs reported that all school boards receive capital funding annually to support wholesale replacements and ‘betterments’ to existing facilities. Hobbs referred to various examples of regular school renewal projects including roofing and window replacements, gym floor refinishing, and signage.

The Ministry of Education has signalled that uncommitted renewal funds will expire at the end of 2025-26. Due to this, UCDSB Design and Construction staff are attempting to significantly accelerate investments in school facilities to approximately $50M per year for 2024-25 and 2025-26 in response to tightening Ministry of Education requirements. These projects range from roofs to signage to more comprehensive system strategies for improving ventilation and air conditioning.

In addition to regular capital funding to support school renewal projects, from time to time the Ministry of Education allows boards to submit proposals for major capital projects including new builds, additions, and major renovations. Hobbs reported that the only outstanding capital priorities project with committed funding is the new secondary school in Cornwall, with significant progress having been made recently on land acquisition and design.

Staff continue to propose new school builds and additions and have submitted four major projects for Ministry consideration with an approximate total value of $116M, including a proposed change in direction for Maynard Public School and Wellington PS, which would see a new school to replace both facilities on land provided by the Augusta Township.

2024-25 Financial Forecast 1

Jeremy Hobbs, UCDSB Executive Superintendent of Business Services presented the first financial forecast of 2024-25 to the board of trustees. The 2024-25 budget, which was approved by trustees on June 5, 2024, projected revenues of $447.0M and expenses of $446.6M for compliance purposes, resulting in a projected year-end surplus of $0.4M for compliance purposes.

Hobbs reported that this first financial forecast projects revenues of $458.4 and expenses of $458.0 for compliance purposes, resulting in no change to the projected in-year surplus of $0.4 for compliance purposes.

Hobbs cautioned that despite no change in the projected in-year surplus, significant changes have occurred in the levels of funding and related expenses since trustees passed the 2024-25 budget in June. The largest drivers of revenue updates were government-funded labour benchmark changes, a small enrolment increase across the system, and additional in-year revenues of $0.7M from Responsive Education Programs (REP) funding that were not known at the time the budget was approved. He noted that these additional revenue sources are largely offset by corresponding expenses, however.

The next formal forecast of the financial results for 2024-25 will be provided in January 2025.