9. proposal for forum on role of schools in the community

proposition d’un colloque sur le rôle des écoles dans la communauté

Committee Recommendation

That Council approve the following resolution:

“WHEREAS the City of Ottawa’s draft Official Plan speaks to the importance of schools in communities, but lacks appropriate policies to support these schools;

WHEREAS schools provide important functions beyond the education needs of our children;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Ottawa in co-operation with the area school boards, sponsor a one-day open forum on the importance of schools as community facilities, and their role in support for Smart Growth in Ottawa.”

Recommandation du Comité

Que le Conseil approuve la résolution suivante :

« ATTENDU QUE la version préliminaire du Plan officiel de la Ville d’Ottawa souligne l’importance des écoles dans les communautés, mais ne prévoit pas de politique satisfaisante pour assurer leur soutien;

ATTENDU QUE les écoles assurent des fonctions importantes en plus de répondre aux besoins pédagogiques de nos enfants;

IL EST RÉSOLU QUE la Ville d’Ottawa parrainera, de concert avec les conseils scolaires de la région, un forum d’une journée sur l’importance des écoles en tant qu’établissements communautaires et sur le rôle qu’elles ont à jouer pour favoriser la croissance intelligente à Ottawa. »

Documentation

1. Coordinator, School Boards Liaison Committee report dated 10 February 2003 is immediately attached (ACS2003-CCV-SBL-0002).

2. An Extract of Draft Minutes, 27 February 2003

Report to / Rapport au:

Planning and Development Committee /

Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement

and Council / et au Conseil

10 February 2003 / le 10 février 2003

Submitted by / Soumis par: Anne-Marie Leung, Coordinator / Coordonnatrice

City – School Boards Liaison Committee / Comité de liaison avec

les conseils scolaires de la Ville

Contact / Personne-ressource: Anne-Marie Leung, City – School Boards Liaison Committee Coordinator / Coordonnatrice du Comité de liaison avec les conseils scolaires de la Ville

580-2424, ext. 21385 Anne-Marie.Leung@ottawa.ca

Ref. N°: ACS2003-CCV-SBL-0002

SUBJECT: PROPOSAL FOR FORUM ON ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY

OBJET: PROPOSITION D’UN COLLOQUE SUR LE RÔLE DES ÉCOLES DANS LA COMMUNAUTÉ

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That the Planning and Development Committee recommend Council approve the following resolution:

“WHEREAS the City of Ottawa’s draft Official Plan speaks to the importance of schools in communities, but lacks appropriate policies to support these schools;

WHEREAS schools provide important functions beyond the education needs of our children;

RECOMMANDATION DU COMITÉ

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement recommande au Conseil d’approuver la résolution suivante :

ATTENDU QUE les écoles assurent des fonctions importantes en plus de répondre aux besoins pédagogiques de nos enfants;

BACKGROUND

The City – School Boards Liaison Committee, at its meeting held on 3 February 2003, considered the following 13 January 2003 Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) motion:

“WHEREAS the City of Ottawa demographic projections suggest continued and significant growth for the foreseeable future;

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa has adopted a plan for intensification as its cornerstone for its agenda for smart growth;

WHEREAS the investments required by Ottawa’s taxpayers to provide the infrastructure need to support smart growth will be significant and have a long-term impact on the City;

WHEREAS well placed, well-integrated community schools are needed to complement smart growth and represent an opportunity for significant cost-savings to City taxpayers, as a cost-effective alternative to the City by providing access to these facilities for community and recreational use;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor, city councillors, representatives of the City’s Planning Department, student representatives, and trustees from our coterminous board be invited to attend an open forum discussion on the importance of schools and their role in support of smart growth.”

Following discussion on the OCDSB motion, the City – School Boards Liaison Committee approved the aforementioned resolution.

CONSULTATION

This item will be advertised as part of the City ads appearing in local newspapers the week prior to the Planning and Development Committee meeting at which this item will be considered.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The General Manager of Development Services Department advised that financial costs associated with advertising and running the forum would be covered from existing Operating Budgets.

DISPOSITION

Upon City Council of the Committee’s resolution, staff of the City of Ottawa Development Services Department in co-operation with the area school boards is to sponsor the one-day open forum.

Planning and Development

Committee

Report 46

Extract of Draft Minutes 47

27 february 2003

PROPOSAL FOR FORUM ON ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY

PROPOSITION D’UN COLLOQUE SUR LE RÔLE DES ÉCOLES DANS LA COMMUNAUTÉ

ACS2003-CCV-SBL-0002 Citywide

At the time of consideration of this item Councillor Cullen was hosting another event, but asked that his endorsement of the recommendation be conveyed. The Committee heard from the following delegation:

Brian Tansey, City Centre Coalition / Federation of Citizens, pointed out that connecting City and Schools has come a long way. On the recommendation before Committee, he mentioned that if schools were disappearing, there would not be any schools to make better use of their facilities. He pointed out to the Committee that it was worthwhile for the City to hold such an event. There was a jurisdictional issue, with the Province having jurisdiction, through the Boards; and, the Board provide access for community use. He referred to a situation at Hopewell with the community unable to obtain access on Saturday mornings because the Board was running Language Education classes. Needless to say, an open forum on better integration of the community’s needs would surely help the community and also push the jurisdictional boundary. One specific recommendation he put forward was the need for a 4-5 page well-researched paper written for participants to make better use of that day. It was definitely worthwhile, but required good organization.

Jennifer McKenzie, Co-Chair, Devonshire School Council, was present in support, but left before the item was considered.

The Committee approved the recommendations contained in report dated 10 February 2003.

That the Planning and Development Committee recommend Council approve the following resolution:

“WHEREAS the City of Ottawa’s draft Official Plan speaks to the importance of schools in communities, but lacks appropriate policies to support these schools;

WHEREAS schools provide important functions beyond the education needs of our children;

CARRIED