Committee of the Whole: September 12, 2023
The Committee of the Whole meeting for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board took place on September 12, 2023. Staff brought forward four reports with three recommendations for discussion.
Report 23-048, Riverside South Attendance Boundary brought forward the opening grade structure, program offering and attendance boundary for a new secondary school located in the Riverside South community in Gloucester. During the discussion, I asked staff the following (timestamp 1:12:45):
Question: Once the boundaries are confirmed for the new Riverside South school, how are we planning on informing parents and children who are going to be enrolled early and are expecting to be going to a new school?
Answer: When we get good lead time, we are well practiced in getting out to the communities with good communication. This was also a really well-attended community consultation. There is also the chance with growing communities that someone new may be moving into the community, but all of the schools will be given information to go home to parents.
I voted in favour of the recommendations in the report for the Riverside South Attendance Boundary. The recommendations were carried and are expected to be voted on at the next board meeting.
I voted in favour of the recommendation in Report 23-061 for the New Findlay Creek Elementary School Study Consultation Plan. The recommendations outline the consultation plan and timeline for the New Findlay Creek Elementary School as attached in Appendix D to Report No. 23-061. The recommendations were carried and are expected to be voted on at the next board meeting.
I voted in favour of the motion that the Chair write to the Minister of Education, requesting updates to air quality standards and guidance for public school buildings to support schools in creating the safest possible learning environments and dedicated capital and operating funding envelopes for reducing the spread of illness in schools and that the Director present a report to the Board of Directors, prior to the end of 2023 on ventilation-related investments, challenge and opportunities and other opportunities related to reducing respiratory viruses in schools. The motion passed and is expected to be voted on at the next board meeting.
The Committee also discussed Report No. 23-039 on Student Suspensions for the 2021 to 2022 School Year. The information in the report is an important component of District-level monitoring efforts to eliminate barriers and biases in disciplinary practices and create safe spaces for students to learn. District-level results also provide important context against which school-level efforts can be measured.
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 Committee of the Whole on September 12, 2023
Agenda for the Committee of the Whole on September 12, 2023
Report 23-048, Riverside South Attendance Boundary
Report 23-061, New Findlay Creek Elementary School Study - Consultation Plan Approval
Notice of Motion, Re: Air Quality Standards and Guidance for Public School Buildings
Report 23-039, Student Suspensions
Appendix A: Suspension Summary for 2021 to 2022
