WCDSB Board Meeting Bulletin — June 2023
Meetings
Special Public Board Meeting
Monday, June 5, 2023 — Meeting Agenda Package
Special Public Board Meeting
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 — Meeting Agenda Package
Regular Public Board Meeting
Monday, June 12, 2023 — Meeting Agenda Package
Highlights
2023-24 School Year Budget
The 2023-24 School Year Budget was presented on Monday, June 5, 2023 and approved on Monday, June 12, 2023.
Quick Facts
> The overall budget is as follows:
- Total Operating: $338.5 M — ($26.6 M change from 2022-23)
- Total Capital: $22.8 M — ($1.1 M change from 2022-23)
- Total Operating & Capital: $361.4 M — ($27.7 M change from 2022-23)
> As always, budget decisions are guided by the key priorities captured in the following plans:
- Multi-Year Strategic Plan
- Board Improvement and Equity Plan
- Long Term Accommodation Plan
- Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan
- Information Technology Strategic Plan
> Key funding areas of the operating budget include:
- Learning Services — $233.4 M
- Special Education – $43.2 M
- School Operations & Maintenance — $29.2 M
- Student Transportation — $9.5 M
- Adult & Continuing Education — $10.9M
- Board Administration — $12.1M
The proposed budget is aligned with the three pillars of the Board’s 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan:
- Awaken to Belong;
- Ignite to Believe; and,
- Strengthen to Become.
The budget contains provisions for:
- Improving math scores;
- Identifying and helping students who struggle to read;
- Implementing programs in secondary schools that support greater levels of student achievement and higher graduation rates;
- Investing in technology for grade 9 students to better support their learning;
- Programming that supports Indigenous students;
- Mental health programs; and,
- Healthy and clean facilities.
The Budget Book is available via this link: BUDGET BOOK
Kitchener / Wilmot Trustee Vacancy
On May 24, 2023 the Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Kitchener / Wilmot Trustee Wendy Ashby.
The vacant seat is one of four seats allotted by population to Kitchener/Wilmot.
Under Section 221 of the Education Act, the Board of Trustees has two options via which to fill the vacancy:
- Hold a by-election “in the same manner as an election of the board.”
- “Appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy within 90 days after the office becomes vacant.”
The most recent Trustee elections were held on October 24, 2022 – just over seven months ago.
As part of the democratic process, eight candidates put their names forward for election as a Trustee representing Kitchener / Wilmot.
Recognizing an election has very recently been held – and in order to honour the votes of the Kitchener/Wilmot constituents who voted in that election — the Board of Trustees voted on June 6, 2023 to fill the remainder of the term by appointing Julie Molenaar – who was the first runner-up.
Trustee Molenaar was sworn in on Monday, June 12, 2023.
Wellness – Guarding Minds at Work
On February 27, 2023, WCDSB staff shared with the Board of Trustees the findings from the Guarding Minds at Work survey that was completed in the fall of 2022.
In response to those findings staff have initiated the following activities:
> As part of our Administrative Services through our EAP Provider, Homewood Health, the WCDSB can access up to six (6) professional development sessions on a variety of topics each year. Between May and June, presentations on the following topics have been or will be available to all staff:
- The Science of Happiness
- The Art of Relaxation
- Managing Time and Energy
- Improving Workplace Communications
> The development of a Wellness Advisory Committee will be completed by the end of June, 2023.
The report is available beginning on page 13 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Multi-year Strategic Plan (MYSP) Report
The Education Act requires school boards to develop multi-year plans that are 3 years or more in scope. The multi-year plan provides focus and direction to the board to achieve the Ministry of Education’s goals but just as importantly, the vision of the board.
The multi-year plan is aimed at achieving the Ministry’s goals of increased student achievement and well-being, equity of achievement and opportunity for all students, as well as increased public confidence.
In December of 2022 the Board accepted the 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan. As the plan was developed it was informed by a stakeholder survey administered in the spring of 2022, along with feedback from administrators in the fall of 2022. Within that work was found stakeholder feedback regarding our previously identified Mission, Vision, Beliefs. There was a high affirmation rate for each and thus it was identified at that time that those would remain constant and provide a foundational framework for the new strategic plan.
Informed by the work and MYSP survey of the spring of 2022 and several conversations throughout the fall of 2022, the Director and senior staff worked to identify both new Strategic Directions and corresponding goals for each of the three pillars.
The MYSP was created using an accountability framework and will monitor our progress using evidence-based indicators. One of the key considerations for the MYSP is to have a through-line across all WCDSB plans (i.e., Pastoral Plan, Board Improvement and Equity Plan (BIEP), School Improvement and Equity Plan (SIEP), Mental Health & Well-Being Strategy.
The 2022-2025 Multi-Year Strategic Plan has strategic goals within three pillars: Awaken to Belong, Ignite to Believe, and Strengthen to Become. Each of the three pillars has a goal for students, staff and for our parents, families, and community. The goals are written to ensure that every stakeholder can see themselves in this plan, without exerting complete control over every outcome.
The creation of the 2022-2025 MYSP utilized evidence-based practices. As such, many of the indicators have or are being designed from scratch to provide information directly correlated to the specific goal. The majority of the indicators are currently being administered or have just been administered. In the past we have taken time each spring to review all goals and indicators for the past year.
Moving forward the school board will be publishing the list of indicators in September 2023 and updating them monthly so that they are dynamic — allowing stakeholders to have ready access throughout the school year.
The report is available beginning on page 38 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 Tracey Weiler’s report for June 2023 is available on page 29 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Student Trustees Update
Student Trustees Chloe Armstrong and Anika Fejerpataky presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 46 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Upcoming Board Meetings
Committee of the Whole Board Meeting
Monday, September 11, 2023: Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
Regular Public Board Meeting
Monday, September 25, 2023: 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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