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Board Meeting Highlights – June 25, 2012
Trustees have approved a balanced Operating Budget for the 2012-2013 school year, calling for revenues and expenditures of $230,118,975. It includes a draw on accumulated surplus of
$99,200. Trustees made some adjustments at a special budget meeting which included the reinstatement of some monies for school budgets and cuts in a number of other areas. Chair Phil Squire said although the budget has been passed, there is no cause for celebration because it has been a difficult process. The estimates will now be submitted to the Ministry of Education.
In other news:
LDCSB schools are back in the Red Feather Football Tournament. A report to the Board of Trustees said that as the outpouring of public attention has indicated, there is great support for the continuation of the London District Catholic School Board at the United Way Football event. To that end, Administration has worked with the Thames Valley Regional Athletics and additional games have been scheduled for teams within the LDCSB. The report said that concerns still exists about sufficient staff available to supervise, the potential additional costs to school budget for supply coverage and whether the required staff will be available in order to have staff on buses to and from the games. Parental permissions forms for all students attending will need to be received for the first time. Student councils will be involved and students will be reminded of their code of conduct.
The Board has approved the annual Special Education Plan and Report. The plan was approved earlier by the Special Education Advisory Committee. The Special Education Plan and Report, 137 pages in all, details the Board’s special education programs and services and coordination of services with other Ministries. It is an accountability tool that details how the board ensures exceptional students receive the best education possible in accordance with legislation and Ministry policy.
A smoking area for students at Regina Mundi has been given another year due to the risk to student safety from traffic on Wellington Road South. A designed student “smoking area” was established on CEC property – an exemption is supported by the London and Middlesex Health Unit. The RMC school community uses a variety of strategies to reduce and prevent smoking by students. The school administration, staff, Catholic School Council and Safe and Healthy Schools Committee will continue to provide and monitor student engagement and cessation programs for smokers. Administration will provide a status report by June of 2013.
Jacob Squire, a Grade 10 student at Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School and 2011-12 representative on the Minister's Student Advisory Committee (MSAC) gave a presentation on his experiences for the year - highlighted by a forum for students at Mother Teresa with politicians from all levels of government.
Trustees gave a big thank you to Student Trustee Jacob Chouinard, who completed his term at the end of the Board meeting. (Pictured with Director de Rond and Chair Squire) Blake VanBerlo, from Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School, has been selected by his peers to represent them as the Student Trustee for the next school year.
The Arts are alive and well in our schools! Mary Holmes presented a Year End Report on the State of the Arts and Modern Languages as a wrap-up to this year, and to the 8 years she has spent in the role of Coordinator of Arts and Modern Languages.
Highlights include:
- Community partnerships with Museum London and others: MAAC and Museum School
- Most Schools produce successful Annual Shows/Musicals and have purchased Tech. Equipment
- The ARTS contribute to MOST SCHOOL EVENTS and LITURGIES
- And Annual Events/Celebrations and Field Trips have been established to celebrate the talents and artistic expression of our students.
