Burlington parents could soon be asked whether they need before- and after-school care at their child's school, and whether they can get it. The Halton District School Board, which runs Burlington's public schools, votes on the idea Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The motion comes from Robbie Brydon, trustee for Burlington Wards 1 and 2. It would commit the board to surveying staff, students and parents at least once every two years. Ontario's Bill 101 removed the requirement for school boards to run these school climate surveys, which ask people how they feel about life at school, Brydon's report says.
The next survey would ask elementary parents whether they need before- and after-school care at their school, and whether they could get it. Some schools have significant waitlists for that care, according to the report, and some parents have said their choice of school board, whether their child starts kindergarten or even their job depends on whether a spot is available.
The public board would also work with the Halton Catholic District School Board, which runs the region's Catholic schools, to line up the core parts of their questionnaires. The motion would mean the board keeps paying for the surveys as it has in the past.
Brydon first brought the motion to the board's Oct. 20 Committee of the Whole meeting, where all trustees discuss items before a formal vote. The decision lands in the board's final weeks: the current trustees were elected in October 2022 and serve until November 2026.
Tuesday's meeting runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the J.W. Singleton Education Centre, 2050 Guelph Line. It will also be livestreamed on hdsb.ca and the board's YouTube channel.
