STAFF REPORT
March 2, 2000
To: Community Services Committee
From: Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services
Subject:Payment to Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Oues for Child Care space
Purpose:
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The amount of $2.7 million to support increased occupancy costs for child care programs in schools has been included in
the 2000 Children's Services Budget submission. Council has previously approved the payments to the Toronto Catholic
School Board and the Toronto District School Board for recognizing occupancy costs for child care services. The budgeted
amount is sufficient to also cover the agreement with the Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest being
recommended in this report.
The Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest has adopted a policy on payment of rental fees for child care centres
located in their facilities. The estimated costs of this rent based on the Conseil Scolaire's policy is $25,000.00 for the year
2000.
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and concurs with the financial impact statement.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the City make remittances to the Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest at a rate of $10.00 per month per
child under the age of 3.8 enrolled in licensed care spaces operated in their facilities up to an annual payment ceiling of $
25,000;
(2) payment to the Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest up to a ceiling of $ 25,000.00 in respect of
Recommendation (1) be made using an appropriate transfer mechanism as determined by the Commissioner of Community
and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and the City Solicitor;
(3)this report be referred to the Budget Advisory Committee for consideration during the 2000 operating budget process;
and
(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
City Council at its meeting of February 4, 5, and 6, 1998 in considering a report dated January 15, 1998 from the Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer, directed City officials to negotiate an agreement that addresses the city use of school
facilities for child care and recreation purposes.
Further at its meeting of February 2, 3 and 4, 1999 and February 1, 2, and 3, 2000 Council approved payments recognizing
occupancy costs for child care services for the Toronto Catholic School Board and the Toronto District School Board
respectively. Discussions with the Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest were still ongoing at this time.
Comments:
As a result of Bill 160, the provincial government changed the funding formula for school facilities. The Bill established a
grant formula based on a fixed square footage per pupil, times a Province wide square footage allowance for caretaking and
maintenance costs. Because only the space required for educational purposes is funded the school boards must seek to
recover occupancy costs from programs using school facilities. City staff have met with representatives of the Toronto
Catholic School Board, the Toronto District School Board and the Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest to
quantify the amount and type of school space used by child care programs. Agreements with the Toronto Catholic School
Board and the Toronto District School Board have already been approved by Toronto Council.
While the agreements with the Toronto Catholic School Board and Toronto District School Board are reflective of
occupancy costs calculated on a square footage basis, the Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest has
implemented a different approach to cost recovery based on a flat rate of $10.00 per child enrolled per month. There are
four licensed child care programs located in this Board's facilities. The approach used by this Board is financially
advantageous from the City's perspective.
The proposed agreement with the City with respect to child care occupancy costs allows for security of tenure for child care
programs and a rational approach to identifying those schools where enrollment may impact on the future of these
programs. Programs with significant capital investment will have specific security of tenure provisions in their lease
agreements with the Board.
Conclusions:
It is recommended that the City enter into an agreement on the basis outlined in this report to pay for the occupancy costs
for child care programs located in Conseil Scolaire De District Du Centre-Sud-Ouest.
Contact:
Brenda Patterson
Director, Contracted Services Unit
Children's Services Division
Tel.: 392-3319
Email: patterso@csis.csis.csd.metrotor.on.ca
________________________________________________
General Manager of Children's Services
________________________________________________
Commissioner of Community & Neighbourhood Services
