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Letter from the RPPS School Council Executive

to the RPPS Parent Community

Update - Council Meeting moved to Library

May 4th, 2012

Dear Parents,

On behalf of the School Council Executive, I am very pleased to advise you that we have developed a plan, in collaboration with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and our community partners, to address the financial issues that have been facing the Rockcliffe Park Public School Council.  In developing this plan, the Executive was guided by the following objectives:  
  • Pay off creditors and debts owing;
  • Provide continuity of programs and services provided by School Council for the remainder of the 2011-12 school year;
  • Minimize the burden to future School Councils and RPPS parents for debt repayment;
  • Mitigate the risk of future losses by improving financial practices; and
  • Foster the rebuilding of trust relationships in our community, among parents, volunteers and service providers, and to maintain the vibrant volunteerism in the RPPS school community.
The School Council will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, at 7 p.m. in the school library, to discuss the plan with the school community.

With the assistance of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), all outstanding liabilities have been resolved, including the debt owed to the Betty Hyde Cooperative Nursery School. The after-school Homework Club will continue to operate for the balance of the school year.  

Under the plan, the School Council would use its funds to pay for the continuation of the daily milk and Friday pizza programs for the balance of the school year (through June 2012). This will be possible with the use of funds that are annually designated to the Council through revenues raised by the Rockcliffe Park Book Fair.  This will be one of the decisions the Executive will have to consider at the Council meeting on May 8th.

The cost of the June 2012 Grade Six class trip has been paid by the school, and the trip will continue as in past years.  Under the plan, the School Council would repay the cost of the trip by June 2013.

Going forward, the School Council would manage its funds through an account held through the school.  This would provide liability insurance to the Council, mitigating the risk of future losses.  In addition, greater clarity will be sought regarding the relationship between the Book Fair and the School Council to mitigate any possible legal or financial risk.

At the meeting, the Council Executive will vote on two proposed motions:
  • A motion to ensure that School Council finances be managed through a school council account, held at the school and managed through the OCDSB’s financial system;
  • A motion to provide payment of any outstanding liabilities and the continuity of the milk and pizza programs for the 2011-2012 school year as the top financial priority of the Council, and that these expenditures take priority over any previously planned activities, projects or programs not yet funded.
The School Council Executive is appreciative of the support and the patience of the school community and our partners as we worked to resolve this issue.  Special thanks are extended to our parent volunteers who continued to commit their time and talent to the many activities that happen in our school.  Special thanks are also extended to Principal Marianne Harvey, Vice Principal Deb Woods and the RPPS staff, who have been so supportive of the Council and so committed to keeping our students focused on learning during this challenging period.

We are optimistic that we can continue to build on the support that has been expressed in the community and that we can work together to move beyond this very unfortunate situation. In that spirit, we invite you to attend the next regularly scheduled RPPS Council meeting on Tuesday, May 8th. In addition to the business noted in this letter, the meeting will include the regular business of School Council, as well as updates on our busy calendar of events as we enter the last two months of the school year. The full agenda for the meeting is posted here.

Thank you very much for your continued support.

Elise Zarkadas
President, RPPS Council

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