Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, April 22, for their regular Board of Trustees meeting. Trustees and senior staff joined the meeting by teleconference to ensure social distancing, however full audio was broadcasted live.
2020-2021 Preliminary Budget Surplus/Deficit Analysis:
Staff presented trustees with a preliminary analysis of 2020-2021 budget figures, projecting a surplus/deficit range between a $1.2 million deficit and a surplus of $2.8 million. The initial projection is based on 2019-20 Grants for Student Needs funding, as well as other assumptions such as secondary funding based on a student-teacher ratio of 23:1. Key considerations that could impact the final number include: changes to student enrolment, potential financial impacts of ongoing labour negotiations, economic conditions, Special Incidence Portion funding, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board liability, and the 2020-21 Grants for Student Needs.
Ongoing UCDSB Response to COVID-19 Pandemic:
Staff updated trustees on board efforts to manage the impact of COVID-19 on our system. Efforts have included: the publication of weekly learning activities and resources to supplement lessons and activities from classroom teachers; and an ongoing program to lend more than 3,000 board computers and other devices to families needing them for distant learning. Other measures have included: clear, concise communication with the public; ongoing coordination with local public health agencies; distributing personal protective equipment supplies from our board to two local hospitals; and the opening of four emergency childcare centres at UCDSB schools to serve children of front-line workers.
Student Trustee Report:
Student Trustee Colten Kelford reported on the results of recent Student Trustee Elections for the 2020-21 school year. In accordance to changes to the Education Act, and under a new process recently adopted by trustees and the Student Senate, two student trustees were elected.
Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute student Tain Hughes and Tagwi Secondary School student Jordan Evans will be the new student representatives at the UCDSB Board of Trustees, and co-chair Student Senate meetings. Hughes and Evans will begin their Term of Office on August 1. Under the revised governance system for the Student Senate, a Student Senate representative from the Board’s Indigenous Student Leadership (iLead) program, will be in attendance at each Senate meeting.
