Community Planning and Facility Partnerships Meeting – May 28
HWDSB is holding a virtual meeting to hear from community partners looking to commit long-
term to available classroom spaces to benefit students and the community. The purpose of the meeting is to outline partnership details and hear proposals from our community partners on ideas for shared space.
The meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 28 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. For organizations who wish to attend and/or present, please RSVP to [email protected] and confirm your attendance by completing the Application Form.
Click here to view the Meeting Presentation.
Click here to learn more on the Facility Partnerships webpage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is community planning and facility partnerships?
The community planning process allows boards to share planning information with community
partners so that they may have enough time to respond to the presented opportunities. These
opportunities may include:
- participation in a facility partnership
- contribution to land-use or green space/park plans
- the opportunity to co-build when considering building a new school or undertaking a
significant addition or renovation
This information sharing allows school boards to work with their community partners to the benefit of boards, students and the community, and to optimize the use of public assets owned by school boards. The community planning process provides opportunities to reduce facility costs and/or improve educational experiences for students.
What organizations qualify for facility partnerships?
Before entering into a facility partnership, there is a need to determine the expectations for the
partnering organization and how it aligns with HWDSB’s strategic directions. Partnerships must be appropriate for the school setting and not compromise student achievement strategies. For instance, organizations that provide competing education services such as tutoring services, JK-12 private schools, private colleges, and credit offering entities that are not government funded are not eligible partners. Above all, the health and safety of students must be protected.
Does a facility partnership mean that organizations can use board facilities at no cost?
Facility partnerships operate on a cost-recovery basis. Facility partners at a minimum will pay the full cost of operating their space, unless otherwise decided upon by the Board of Trustees. The fees
charged to partners should cover the operations and capital cost, including administrative costs and property taxes (if applicable), to the board for the space occupied by the partner. Additional costs to perform minor renovations to protect student safety, provide appropriate washrooms, and otherwise make the space suitable for use by facility partners will be at the expense of the partner.
How do community groups signal their interest in partnering at an HWDSB facility?
Interested partners are invited to fill out an Application Form. The form includes the
reason for the organization’s interest in partnering with HWDSB, the nature of the service, and how much space the organization requires. The forms will be reviewed by the Manager of Planning, Accommodation and Rentals.
Updated on Tuesday, May 07, 2024.