Policy #470.0, Education Development Charges: Alternative Arrangements for School Facilities

Application

Policy #470.0, Education Development Charges: Alternative Arrangements for School Facilities ensures that the York Region District School Board considers alternative arrangements for the accommodation of elementary and secondary school pupils to the usual arrangement under which a school site is acquired and a standalone school is built.

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Stakeholder Groups with Responsibilities Under this Policy

  • Board of Trustees
  • Director of Education
  • Associate Directors of Education
  • Superintendents
  • Business/Finance Services
  • Planning Services

 

Relationship to Board Priorities

This policy supports the priority of stewardship of Board resources in the Multi-Year Plan by “demonstrating professionalism and accountability for high standards of practice in all Board operations” and “enhancing confidence in public education by increasing civic engagement”.

This policy supports the priority of enhancing relationships with staff, students, parents and our communities as per the Director’s Annual Plan by “enhancing job-embedded professional exchange and development in alignment with student and staff needs and the Board’s renewed goals”.

 


It is the expectation of the York Region District School Board that all employees, students and persons invited to or visiting Board property, or partaking/volunteering in Board or school-sponsored events and activities, will respect the policies and procedures of the Board.


 

 

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Board Policy #470.0 Education Development Charges: Alternative Arrangements for School Facilities

 

1. Background

  1. A number of legislative provisions encourage school boards to consider alternative arrangements for the accommodation of elementary and secondary school pupils to the usual arrangement under which a school site is acquired and a stand-alone school is built on it.

  2. Ontario Regulation 20/98, Education Development Charges - General provides that the education development charge background study contain:

    1.  A statement of the Board's policy concerning possible arrangements with municipalities, school boards or other persons or bodies in the public or private sector, including arrangements of a long-term or co-operative nature, which would provide accommodation for the new elementary school pupils and new secondary school pupils estimated under paragraph three of section seven, without imposing education development charges, or with a reduction in such charges.

    2.  If a previous education development charge background study completed by the Board included a statement under paragraph six, a statement of how the policy referred to in the statement was implemented and, if it was not implemented, an explanation of why it was not implemented.

  3. Regulation 193/10, Restricted Purposes Revenues permits a school board to utilize proceeds of sales, leases and other dispositions of real property, in certain circumstances, for the acquisition of school sites and school buildings, among other things.

  4. Section 110.1 of the Municipal Act authorizes municipalities and school boards to enter into arrangements under which they can provide for exemptions from taxation for municipal and school purposes of land or a portion of it that is "entirely occupied and used or intended for use for a service or function that may be provided by a "school board" or municipality". It also authorizes an exemption to be given from municipal and education development charges in certain circumstances.

  5. The Board recognizes that alternative arrangements can provide an opportunity to improve service delivery and peak enrolment capacity, reduce duplication of public facilities, maximize the effective use of available dollars, and reduce site size requirements. These include a variety of acquisition strategies such as forward buying, options, purchases, lease buy-back, site exchanges and joint venture partnerships.

  6. The Board's record demonstrates this commitment through projects such as:

  • Newmarket High School and Theatre (1996);

  • Westmount Collegiate Institute, Multi-Use Project (1996);

  • Black River Public School, Multi-Use Project (1996);

  • Red Maple Public School, Multi-Use Project (2003);

  • Richmond Green Secondary School and Municipal Library (2005); and

  • Phoebe Gilman Public School, Multi-Use Project (2013).

 

2. Direction

The Board will consider possible arrangements with municipalities, school boards or other persons or bodies in the public or private sector, including arrangements of a long-term or cooperative nature, which would provide accommodation for the new elementary school pupils and new secondary school pupils who are resident pupils of the Board, subject to the requirements set out below.

 

3. Requirements

  1. The arrangement must be cost effective and advantageous for the Board compared to other possible arrangements including an acquisition of a school site and the construction of a free-standing building.

  2. The arrangement shall comply with any guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education.

  3. The Board may enter into lease arrangements respecting school facilities intended to be used to accommodate peak enrolment, but shall not enter into such arrangements respecting school facilities that are necessary to accommodate long-term enrolment unless the arrangements could result in ownership at the Board's discretion.

  4. The Board shall retain sufficient governance authority over the facility to ensure that it is able to deliver the appropriate educational program to its pupils, and to ensure that its identity, ambience and integrity are preserved.

  5. The facility shall have a separate entrance with the school name on the exterior of the school easily visible from the street.

 

Policy History

Approved 1999

Revised 2004

Revised 2010

Working Document June 2014 Revised April 2015