Board Meeting: May 27, 2025
The Board Meeting for the Ottawa-Carleton District School took place on May 27, 2025. Staff brought forward 1 report with 1 recommendation, and a Trustee brought forward a Notice of Motion for discussion.
Coming out of the Policy Review Committee, I voted in favour of the recommendations in Report 25-029, Rescission of Policy P.054 HS Workplace Safety Insurance Act. The policy at hand was developed in 1998 and revisited 5 years later as part of the cyclical policy review. The policy has not been reviewed, and changes were not necessary since 2003. As of today, all school boards in Ontario are legally obligated to comply with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, which renders this policy redundant since the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has not gone beyond any legislated requirements. The recommendations were carried.
I voted against of the Notice of Motion on the Summer Learning Program. This motion aims to rescind a 2016 Board decision that created a continuing obligation to operate a Summer Learning Program with specific operational requirements. The rationale is that the program contributes to the Board’s annual financial deficit, there is a need for a shift in the Board’s financial situation requiring greater fiscal restraint, and should the District choose, it can still offer the Summer Learning Program if this motion is rescinded. During the discussion, I asked the following questions and made the following comments:
Question (timestamp: 1:47:19): Is this motion required for staff to recommend cutting this program? Could it not be included in the budget recommendations to propose rescinding this program so it could be cut?
Answer: It could be brought simultaneously, but the intent was to address this before the budget came in whole. It has come to us as a Board because it would prevent staff from bringing any significant changes or proposals to adjust the Summer Learning Program.
Comments (timestamp: 2:06:12): I agree with some of the sentiment of what my colleagues have previously said. I feel like I need more information on what programming offerings are possible before I support a motion that leaves this program in an uncertain state. We were previously asked at a budget meeting what our priorities are in the budget this year, as the province tightens our purse strings, and I do not want to see cuts in the special education portfolio; I think it is the right thing to offer programming like.
The recommendations were carried. Please note, although this motion passed, this has zero impact on the current Summer Learning Program scheduled for Summer 2025.
Please note, that the opinions expressed here are entirely my own and do not reflect an official position of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board of Trustees. Please note answers from staff are paraphrased, the recording can be found here if you would like to watch the entire meeting. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using my contact form here.
Key links
Video for the Board Meeting on May 27, 2025
Agenda for the Board Meeting on May 27, 2025
Report 25-029, Rescission of Policy P.054 HS Workplace Safety Insurance Act
Notice of Motion on the Summer Learning Program
