HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 Report 11-173 Fall Staffing Full-day Kindergarten
27 September 2010
Report No. 11-173 to the Board
RE: Fall Staffing Full-Day Kindergarten
ORIGINATORS:
Jennifer Adams, Director of Education and Secretary of the Board
Walter Piovesan, Associate Director
Janice McCoy, Superintendent of Human Resources
Michael Carson, Superintendent of Facilities
PURPOSE:
1.To seek approval for the addition of five full-day kindergarten classes to address large class sizes.
BACKGROUND:
2.As part of the year 2 implementation of full-day kindergarten, the OCDSB has 75* classes across 35
schools. Of these, 71 classes represent the initial allocation approved by the Ministry for year 2
implementation, and an additional four classes were approved by the Board on June 14, 2011 to address
large class sizes.
*This does no
last year and which is continuing with funding from Aboriginal and Urban Priorities funding.
3.In terms of class size, there is no hard cap for full-day kindergarten classes, which are excluded from the
a system average of
26:1, which results in a student to adult average ratio of 13:1.
4.On June 14, 2011, the Board amended a previously adopted motion by adding the following parts E and
F:
E.That where enrolment projections for full-day kindergarten classes indicate larger class
sizes which may adversely impact student learning, the Director of Education may request
the Board consider the creation and funding of classes beyond the total provincial funding;
and
F.That the Board authorize the use of the designated reserve fund of $600,00 in the 2011-
2012 budget to fund an additional 4.0 full-day kindergarten classes and related program
costs.
STATUS
:
5. As of September 19, 2011, the total enrolment in the full-day kindergarten program was 2005, as
compared with the projected enrolment as of the March staffing approval of 1846. Based on applying
the system average of 26:1, the reported enrolment would generate a total of 78 classes.
6. Staff has been monitoring the class sizes in each of the sites with full-day kindergarten and, in particular
large classes with enrolment over 30 students, or where there are multiple classes in a school, where the
average enrolment is more than 30. In addition to the enrolment, staff has considered other factors that
will impact on the learning experience of the students, including the nature of the students and the level
of need.
7. Based on this review, staff has identified several sites with large class sizes where an
additional class should be added:
(a) Robert Hopkins Public School: The school currently has three full-day classes, one SK Early
French Immersion (EFI) class of 26 students and two English classes of 35 and 36 students,
respectively. Adding an English class would allow the class size average to be reduced from its
current 35.5 to 23.67.
(b) North Gower Public School: The school currently has two full-day kindergarten classes of 34
and 33 respectively. Adding a third class would allow the class size average to be reduced from
its current 33.5 to 22.33.
(c) General Vanier Public School: The school currently has 2 full-day kindergarten classes of 29
and 34, respectively. Adding a third class (JK/SK) would allow the class size average to be
reduced from its current 31.5 to 21.
(d) Featherston Public School: The school currently has 2 English full-day kindergarten classes of
31 students each. Adding a third class would allow the class size average in the English
program to be reduced from its current to 20.67.
(e) Pinecrest Public School: The school currently has 2 full-day kindergarten classes of 31 and 32,
respectively. Adding a third class would allow the class size average to be reduced from its
current 31.5 to 21.
8.All full-day kindergarten classes are staffed with one full-time ECE and one classroom teacher.
CONSULTATION:
9.The decision to recommend the five additional classes was based on consultation with, and input from,
school principals, Superintendents of Instruction, and central staff in Human Resources, Planning and
Finance. The principals and Superintendents of Instruction have received multiple calls from parents
concerned about the large class sizes at these schools.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
10. The additional cost of adding five full-day kindergarten classes will be approximately $450,000. It is
unlikely that there will be additional funding available from the Ministry to fund these classes.
11. Senior staff will be reviewing current operating budgets to find opportunities to fund these additional
classrooms from within the 2011-2012 operating budget, or, one year end for 2010-11 is finalized, seek
Board approval to use surplus funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended THAT staff be authorized to establish up to five additional full-day kindergarten
classes to address large class size situations.
Jennifer Adams Janice McCoy
Director of Education and Secretary of the Board Superintendent of Human Resources