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There are several areas of expertise addressed under this discipline, including long term Capital Plans, business cases for Priority Capital Projects, priority capital expenditure assessments (including priority capital renewal projects), developing system-wide program strategies, undertaking community profile studies, demographic studies, fiscal impact analyses and/or assistance with the Ontario Ministry’s Capital Liquidity Template and web-based capital planning tools. Each type of assignment is geared towards assisting a school board in its efforts to provide inspirational learning environments, operate the board’s schools in a cost-effective manner and explore opportunities to revitalize its programs and facilities. These studies examine and address a number of key capital planning issues, including:
- Examining demographic and enrolment trends related to changes in school-age population, migration, birth rates, headship rates, grade structure levels, apportionment, etc., as input to the preparation of by school, by grade 15-year enrolment projections (including changes that would potentially result from the introduction of new Provincial programs)
- Creating program opportunities to enhance the educational credentials of students - program initiatives that will support emerging employment markets and sustain a viable local economy
- Undertaking an assessment of long term program and accommodation needs for the board, including program, facility and property amenities, utilization of schools given projected enrolment, community use and opportunities for community partnerships
- Examining capital expenditure priorities (i.e. including facility renewal needs) given financial constraints
- Examining ways to create system-wide programs that are reflective of stakeholders expectations of a 21st century learning environment
- Preparing detailed business cases in support of capital funding requests related to growth schools, program enhancements, Prohibitive-to-Repair, consolidate/replacement strategies, etc.
- Assessing the impact of projected enrolment trends on school board staffing needs
- Undertaking a fiscal impact assessment of the cost to operate (heat, light and clean) and renew schools, and to provide staffing resources and transportation services for students
- Estimating the potential number of surplus classroom spaces and making recommendations in respect of program enhancements, attendance boundary adjustments, school closures, consolidate/replace strategies, etc.
- Determining the availability of capital funding sources and providing assistance to school boards in updating the Province’s Capital Liquidity Template
Since 1991, Watson & Associates has undertaken a significant number of school board capital and financing studies on behalf of school boards throughout Ontario. In addition, we are regularly asked to make presentations, conduct workshops and present papers on a variety of topics related to school board capital and financing issues throughout Ontario and beyond. The firm has been pre-eminent in the development of methodological approaches and frameworks for addressing individual school board capital needs. We advocate on behalf of our clients to ensure that the board’s long term capital funding needs are met. This includes initiating discussions respecting strategies that each board can employ that would serve to enhance the student learning environment. This firm is dedicated to promoting extensive consultation with all stakeholders who have an interest in a quality education in Ontario.
The Government of Ontario continues to seek ways to improve student achievement in the belief that this is a key determinant in long term economic prosperity. Watson & Associates supports this policy initiative and is an advocate for school boards across Ontario in promoting program and facility improvements. Through our extensive on-going research, we develop creative solutions that reflect board-specific accommodation and capital financing strategies for our clients.
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