Michael McDonald

The Budget Committee meeting included a land acknowledgement, an opening prayer, and the declaration of conflicts of interest by two trustees regarding specific matters. The committee transitioned into an in-camera session to conduct business and subsequently approved the outcomes of that session before adjourning.

The board approved policies regarding Information and Communications Technology Use and Electronic Monitoring. Additionally, the board approved the issuance of tenders for infrastructure projects, including sewer and road improvements for St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School and pavement reconstruction for St. Patrick School. A motion was passed to rescind previous decisions regarding boundary review changes for Norfolk County Catholic elementary schools. The board also held an in-camera session to discuss business.

The committee reviewed the 2024-2029 Multi-Year Integrated Accessibility Plan and received an update on the status of the 2025 Accessibility Compliance Report. Discussions included a website review for potential content updates, strategies for expanding committee membership to include representatives from Communications, Health & Safety, and secondary school administration, and facilities-related planning concerning signage updates and elevator auditing and planning for two-storey schools.

The meeting focused on the issue of vaping. Presentations were delivered concerning the Board Code of Conduct related to vaping, the legal implications of vaping, and the health effects of vaping. Additionally, the committee discussed various supports and strategies available to families for navigating vaping-related addictions.

The committee discussed upcoming changes to the website and deferred related accessibility content reviews until the autumn. A system-wide logo refresh was announced for September, with a request for further information on how the new branding meets accessibility standards. The committee also clarified terminology regarding facility equipment, such as including lifts in elevator references. Furthermore, the potential inclusion of procurement representation was discussed to support committee goals. The committee reaffirmed its mandate to identify and address various accessibility barriers and agreed to circulate documents in a collaborative format for feedback.