How do we support public education in mature neighbourhoods? Today, and 20 years from now?

RECOMMENDATION (PASSED UNANIMOUSLY)

That after the Board articulates a set of principles to guide capital and accommodation planning, the Administration develop and implement a District infrastructure strategy that identifies timelines and goals to provide high quality learning opportunities, respond to community needs, address the deferred maintenance deficit, and right size district space to efficiently meet short-term and long-term needs. That this recommendation replaces the motions approved on March 13, April 10, and September 11 2012.

This effectively means that no school closure recommendation will be coming forward from the administration in the 2012-2013 school year and instead the district will shift their attention to developing a long-term plan that they can bring back to the board in the new year.

I’ll post more thoughts on this at a later time, but right now I would urge you to check out the moratorium committee reports, the work the board has been doing in this area, and my previous writings on this subject. You can click here or search by tags on the right hand side of the page.

Community Gathering to strategize about schools in mature neighbourhoods: http://www.michaeljanz.ca/2011/04/ward-gathering-recap-celebrating-our-communities-and-our-neighbourhood-schools/

Are School Trustees Urban Planners? – http://www.michaeljanz.ca/2012/02/are-school-trustees-urban-planners/

To fully examine the work we are doing to try and support schools, and our growing infrastructure pressures,  please take a few minutes and read the research done through our school closure moratorium committee process. To see the information reports on the causes of closures, check out presentations on:

• 1. Urban Growth Patterns
• 2.Aging School Buildings and Infrastructure Deficit
• 3. Instructional and PO&M Funding
• 4. District Enrolment Trends
• 5. Space Utilization
• 6. Alternative Programs and Open Boundaries
• 7. Leasing
• 8. Concluding public forum
• http://www.epsb.ca/trustees/ClosureMoratorium.shtml

By administration numbers, our infrastructure costs outpace our revenues by $34.4 Million. Those costs are then paid for out of our operational budget (classroom dollars.) In some cases, there are very good reasons to do this (For example, keeping a small school open serving a high-needs population, or maintaining our commitment to choice in an area with limited educational opportunities.)

Plant Operation and Maintenance

Annual revenue $66.0 million & IMR funding $14.5 = Total $80.5 Million

2010/11 audited costs

Custodial $37.9 + Maintenance $25.2 +Utilities $24.3 + IMR 12.3 + Facilities Admin $9.6 + Amortization $5.0 = Total $114.3 Million