WCDSB Board Meeting Bulletin -- February 2023

Meetings

Committee of the Whole Board Meeting

Monday, February 6, 2023 – Meeting Agenda Package

Regular Public Board Meeting

Monday, February 27, 2023 — Meeting Agenda Package

Highlights

Early Years Report

On February 6, 2023 the Board of Trustees received a report providing information and updates with respect to the early years partnerships across Waterloo Region and the Kindergarten program, as we all work together to support the growth and development of students through the pedagogical approaches outlined in The Kindergarten Program 2016 and the How Does Learning Happen? document.

Specifically, the report covers:

The Kindergarten Program: Play-based and Inquiry Learning
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Faith, Self-Regulation and Well-Being
Assessment and Evaluation
Supporting the Transition into Kindergarten

The report is available beginning on page 7 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Extended Day Update

The WCDSB’s Extended Day Program is an integral part of the Early Learning Kindergarten program and is led by Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs). The program is funded by parent fees and set on a cost-recovery model. It is optional for parents and offered by boards where there is sufficient demand to make the program viable at individual school sites.

The WCDSB Extended Day Programs will be licensed with the Ministry of Education (Licensed Child Care Programs) with a target date of September 2023. Upon receipt of licensing, the program will be eligible to participate in the CWELCC (Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care) program.

The Extended Day Program was not viable at seven schools for the 2022-2023 school year. A program is deemed non-viable if it has less than ten students enrolled.

Holy Rosary CES, Waterloo
John Sweeney CES, Kitchener
Gregory CES, Cambridge
Luke CES, Waterloo
Margaret CES, Cambridge
Augustine CES, Cambridge
John CES, Kitchener

The Board’s 36 remaining elementary were deemed viable.

In coming months, current student ratios of 1:15 will be adjusted to 1:13. Staff working in WCDSB Extended Day programs will be trained in Standard First Aid/CPR-Level C. Additional training dates have been booked to ensure all CUPE members are given the opportunity to be trained.

Additionally, food handling training and recertification for all licensed classrooms and the ECE supervisors will begin and an additional ECE Supervisor will be hired to support the implementation of licensing requirements for September 2023.

The report is available beginning on page 13 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) Annual Update

The General Manager of STSWR presents an annual report to the Board of Trustees summarizing the activities, initiatives, performance metrics, and future plans of the organization.

The 2021-22 school year was an eventful year for STSWR, given the priority placed on increased cleaning of buses between runs, bus driver shortages and absences, fluctuating costs of fuel, and disruption to the information system used by STSWR to plan and manage routes.

Key 2021-22 Highlights:

Safety

Increased the number school buses with seatbelts to 27 as part of a multi-year seatbelt implementation plan
Delivered school bus safety training to students using newly developed on-line modules given in-person training was not possible
Continued roll-out of the ‘Drive to 5’ program to reduce traffic around schools, improve pedestrian safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide an opportunity for physical exercise for students
Worked with municipalities to implement pedestrian safety-related improvements around our schools
Developed new kindergarten pickup and drop off routines to improve safety

Operations

Average ride time – 13 minutes one way
Customer surveys reveal an overall satisfaction rate of 4.07 out of 5.
38,000 individuals with students attending schools in the Region are signed up for late bus notifications
Driver shortages and absences caused 192 interruptions to service (bus later than 50 minutes) • Fuel increases caused a financial shortfall of $1.3M as compared to the 2021-22 budget. Funds will be transferred by the province to offset this shortfall

Major priorities for 2022-23 include:

Bus driver attraction and retention
Expanding the number of buses with seatbelts
STSWR in partnership with bus operators will pilot a new style of stop arm on buses. This stop arm is larger, longer, stronger, and more prominent. The intent is to increase visibility of the arm for motorists and also provide a physical barrier to driving by while students are exiting the bus.

The report is available beginning on page 20 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Guarding Minds Update

In spring 2021, the WCDSB administered its Workforce Census in response to the Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan (2017) and the Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum 165 issued February 2021. Collecting this data was also a priority in the WCDSB’s 3-year Pastoral Plan.

The goal of this Workforce Census was to assess diversity at the Board, identify gaps in representation, and to develop strategies to ensure this Board is an equitable and healthy environment for all staff regardless of one’s background or status.

Based on the data from our respondents, Executive Council made 10 recommendations. These were presented at the October 25, 2022 Board of Trustees meeting. One of the recommendations was as follows:

“We recommend administering the Guarding Minds at Work Survey (i.e., the complete scan) yearly, except during census years. We recommend the first administration of the complete scan take place in Fall 2022. The Guarding Minds at Work survey was open for completion by all staff from October 24, 2022 and closed on November 14, 2022”.

Results of the Guarding Minds at Work survey have been shared with stakeholders (i.e., Administrators, Association Chairs/Co-Chairs and Union Presidents/Vice Presidents). Each stakeholder group has been engaged to undertake an initiative in response to the survey results. A Board-wide committee will be established to develop school-based initiatives in response to the survey results. The Superintendent of Human Resources will work with the HRS team, the Equity team and other stakeholders to develop a central strategy to support employee wellness.

The report is available beginning on page 23 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

2023-2024 Budget Estimates Update

As the annual school year budget planning process rolls out, management presents a monthly update to the Board of Trustees detailing the progress made to date. The second such update was presented on February 27.

As always, the flow and pace of budget planning is largely dependent upon the date of release of the Grants for Student Needs (GSNs) by the government. Consequently, board management may need to alter timelines depending on the timing and content of Ministry of Education budget announcements.

The report is available beginning on page 26 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

School Naming: Huron Brigadoon

The selection of a school name is a significant step in the process of establishing a new school community. Within a Catholic school community, the school’s name is intended to forge a connection with a saint or other significant Catholic individual or tradition, whose gifts/meaning will provide a focus for the school and kindle a unique identity and spiritual bond for the students and staff.

The process for naming schools is outlined in APF013 — Naming of Schools & Dedications Within Board Facilities.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is excited to open its newest school in September 2023 in the Huron Brigadoon neighbourhood. It will welcome students from the boundaries of St. Kateri CES, Blessed Sacrament CES, Our Lady of Grace CES, and John Sweeney CES.

Via a public survey which ran from February 3 to 12, 2023, stakeholders were invited to provide input on the names of four Saints who were vetted for consideration based on their attributes and virtues, ones that we would endeavor to see represented in our WCDSB students and a model for our school. Approval of the Saint names for consideration was granted by his excellency, Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

A total of 368 responses were received, with solid representation from parents, students and staff.

The virtues that were drawn from the historical context and contributions of each of each saint were as follows:

St. Andre Bessette: Perseverance, determination, strength, inclusivity and kindness and a strong devotion to faith.

St. Anselm: Personifies great courage and outstanding scholarship.

St. Catherine of Siena: Care for others, advocacy for the rights of women, the poor and the vulnerable.

St. Josephine Bakhita: Resilience, advocacy for the rights of women and children, faithfulness, forgiveness, and hope.

The top three names in order of preference based on stakeholder input were:

Josephine Bakhita
Catherine of Siena
Andre Bessette

When correlating the results of the survey, St. Josephine Bakhita was most often named as a first choice.

On February 27, 2023 the naming committee recommended the new school be named St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Elementary School.

(Sculpture: “Let the Oppressed Go Free” by Timothy P. Schmalz)

The report is available beginning on page 43 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 February 2023 is available on page 55 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 51 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package

Upcoming Board Meetings

Committee of the Whole Board Meeting

Monday, March 6, 2023 — Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre