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POLICY STATEMENT

School boards are required to prepare a Five-Year Capital Plan annually.

RATIONALE

The School Act stipulates that "A board must, when required by the minister, prepare and submit to the minister a capital plan." This policy identifies the timelines and procedures regarding the capital plan submission.

LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS

Under the authority of Section 142 (1) of the School Act:

142 (1) A board must, when required by the minister, prepare and submit to the minister a capital plan.

POLICY

The Five-Year Capital Plan must be submitted to the Funding Department on a date each year as specified by the Minister.

A Board of Education's Five-Year Capital Plan should reflect a strategy for balancing the supply of existing facilities with both current and projected enrolment demands, and the rejuvenation of existing facilities within a school district.

The Five-Year Capital Plans from all school districts are used to develop an overall Provincial Capital Plan for the next capital budget year.

The Provincial Capital Plan is developed on the basis of established ranking criteria and anticipated future funding levels.

PROCEDURES

Plans and supporting documentation shall be submitted as per the Capital Plan Instructions and the Capital Plan Allowances, Rates and Costing Factors Supplement, sent each spring to all school districts by the Funding Department.

Upon receipt of a school district's Five-Year Capital Plan, a Planning Officer in the Funding Department is responsible for:

• evaluating the Plan, as to its completeness
• ensuring proposed projects are eligible for capital funding
• ensuring all required supporting documentation for each eligible capital project has been submitted
• ranking each eligible project in accordance with the current Ministry Ranking Criteria

Individual capital projects involving school facilities will be reviewed to determine ability to meet current and future needs, including:

• new schools and additions
• replacement or rebuilt schools
• renovations to extend building life.

Where necessary, adjustments will be made by the Planning Officer in consultation with the school district to ensure projects comply with current Ministry building unit rates, area entitlements, and cost estimates for site development, consultant's fees, and equipment allowances.

An 'Echo Report' indicating Ministry ranking of eligible capital projects and any proposed changes will be sent to the Board of Education.