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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 COW Public 05 December 2011 Minutes Report 1 Public REPORT NO. 1, SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (PUBLIC) New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review DATE: 05 December 2011 A special meeting of the Committee of the Whole (Public) was held this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, Ontario, commencing at 7:30 p.m. with Trustee Bronwyn Funiciello in the chair and the following trustees also in attendance: Donna Blackburn, Rob Campbell, Cathy Curry (electronic communication), Mark Fisher, Katie Holtzhauer (electronic communication), Theresa Kavanagh, Jennifer McKenzie, Lynn Scott, Shirley Seward and John Shea. STAFF: Director of Education and Secretary of the Board, Jennifer Adams; Associate Director of Education, Walter Piovesan; Superintendent of Instruction, Peter Gamwell; Manager of Planning, Karyn Carty Ostafichuk; Manager of Board Services, Monica Ceschia; Planners, Ian Baxter and Lisa Gowans; Communications Coordinator, Sharlene Hunter; Audio Visual Specialist, John MacKinnon; and Board Committee/Coordinator, Sue Baker. 1. Call to Order Chair Funiciello called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by Trustee Shea, THAT the agenda be approved. - Carried - 3. Public Question Period a. Christina Thiele Christina Thiele queried the number of students in Grade 6 at Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School, Berrigan Elementary School, and Farley Mowat Public School who would move to Grade 7 at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School over the next five years. She submitted that the flow of students would increase over time and if an extension to Longfields- Davidson Heights Secondary School is not a capital priority for the Board, then students would need to be bussed out of the community as there would be no place else for them to go. Manager Ostafichuk advised that staff is projecting an average of 300 students entering Grade 7 next year, 370 students in 2013, 360 student in 2014, 323 students in 2015 and 300 students in 2016. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 1 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review b. Ravinder Minhas Ravinder Minhas expressed concern about compliance with Canada Labour Code standards with regard to the number of employees and students using Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School facilities, including exits and washrooms, if an extension to the school was not constructed. She asked about the maximum capacity of the school, including portables, and whether the Board has a contingency plan for the school if funding for an extension was not approved. Manager Ostafichuk advised that ratios for the number of occupants to washrooms and exits are established in building and fire codes. She noted that Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School has sufficient facilities to accommodate more occupants than its original stated capacity, and it also has an oversized gymnasium. She noted that the province is well aware of the overcrowding issues in Barrhaven, and staff believes a good business case can be made for an addition to the school. c. Vicki Cunliffe Vicki Cunliffe, speaking about the transition of students from Barrhaven Public School to the new Chapman Mills elementary school, inquired whether there would be a requirement for portables at either the former Parkwood Hills Public School or the new Chapman Mills elementary school, and, if so, how would children be better served than if they remained at Barrhaven Public School. Manager Ostafichuk advised that there would likely be a couple of portables required at the former Parkwood Hills Public School. She noted the benefits of forming the new Chapman Mills elementary school at the beginning of the school year at the Parkwood Hills site, and that the number of portables would be considerably fewer than would be required at Barrhaven Public School. With regard to the requirement for portables at the new Chapman Mills elementary school, Manager Ostafichuk added that portables are not foreseen at the present time, but it is anticipated that they would be required in the future. 4. Delegations a. Taz Mawji and Lauralee Comeau, Co-chairs, Longfields-Davidsons Heights Secondary School Taz Mawji and Lauralee Comeau, Co-chairs, Longfields-Davidsons Heights Secondary School (LDHSS), expressed their support for the staff recommendation outlined in Report 11-189 to make the construction of an addition to LDHSS a capital priority. They noted that LDHSS is currently over capacity and has 10 portables on site. Present attendance records in feeder schools indicate that over 300 students would enter the school in September 2012. Ms Mawji submitted that with a projected utilization rate of approximately 131 percent in 2012, rising to 141 percent in 2013, and 152 percent in 2014, the school, including 24 portables onsite, would exceed its capacity. Ms Mawji and Ms Comeau noted that a neighbouring secondary school operated by a coterminous board has added an extension and does not have any portables onsite. They suggested that students may opt to move to the other school board if LDHSS was not expanded. Noting the number of new homes built in Barrhaven over the past 9 years and planned for the Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 2 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review future, they submitted that additional school facilities are required at LDHSS. The presenters urged trustees to approve the recommendations in the staff report. Trustee Shea thanked Ms Mawji and Ms Comeau for their presentation and asked whether the school council had explored the option of converting LDHSS into a grade 9-12 school. Ms Comeau expressed the opinion that if students leave the school in Grade 7 to attend a school operated by a coterminous board, they would not return to LDHSS for Grade 9. She estimated that if the students are moved out the area, the school would lose approximately 40 students per year to the coterminous board. In response to a query from Trustee McKenzie, Ms Mawji advised that they based their projected enrolment numbers on the approximately 1,000 new homes slated to be built in the neighbourhood over the next six to eight years. She noted that the number of students in grades 4 and 5 are increasing and LDHSS is an attractive option for parents looking for a grade 7-12 school. Trustee Campbell asked the presenters if they had considered the possibility of constructing an additional secondary school rather than building an addition to LDHSS. Ms Comeau expressed the opinion that while another school is required, obtaining funding and constructing a new secondary school would take considerably more time than building an addition to LDHSS. She noted that building plans and the land for an addition are already in place and the need for additional space in the next two years is immediate. b. Lisa Hopkyns, Stonebridge Community Association, re Keeping the Community Together Lisa Hopkyns submitted that the Stonebridge Community Association is deeply concerned about the staff recommendations in Report 11-189 regarding the new Chapman Mills Elementary School and grade structures in the South Nepean Area. She expressed the opinion that the principle of keeping communities together is being ignored in regards to the Stonebridge community, and that the community does not view Jockvale Road as a physical boundary for the division of attendance areas between East and West Stonebridge. She added that Stonebridge East has a declining elementary population and only 84 students would be directed from that area to the new Chapman Mills elementary school next year. Ms Hopkyns urged the Board members to find a solution that does not divide the Stonebridge community and allows the students to remain at Barrhaven Public School with their friends and relatives. Trustee Fisher thanked Ms Hopkyns for her presentation and asked her how she derived her enrolment projections. Ms Hopkyns advised that her projections for Stonebridge East were calculated by visiting the school and daycare centres in the area and counting students. She stated that, in her opinion, the staff projections did not consider the demographics of the area, the price of homes, and the average age of homeowners in Stonebridge East. She submitted that Stonebridge West has younger children and is almost completely developed. 4. Report 11-189, New Chapman Mills Elementary School Review of Boundaries, Programs and Grade Structures in South Nepean, Staff Recommendation Your Committee had before it report 11-189 seeking approval of attendance boundary, and grade structure for the new Chapman Mills elementary school to be opened in South Nepean as well the revised attendance boundaries and grade structures for existing area elementary schools in association with the opening of the new Chapman Mills elementary school. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 3 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review Chair Funiciello noted that staff had presented report 11-189 at the Committee of the Whole (Public) New Chapman Mills/Barrhaven Area Review meeting of 14 November 2011. Moved by Trustee Blackburn, A. THAT attendance boundaries and programs for the new Chapman Mills elementary school be approved as per Appendix 5 of Report No. 11-189, with the school formed in September 2012 with a JK to 4 grade structure, advancing to JK to 5 for September 2013. B. THAT effective September 2012, the new Chapman Mills elementary school be accommodated temporarily at the former Parkwood Hills Public School site on Tiverton Drive until the new Chapman Mills elementary school building is completed. C. THAT the grade structures at Barrhaven Public School and Cedarview Middle School temporarily become JK-4 and 5-8 for the school years 2012-2013, 2013- 2014, and 2014-2015. D. THAT revised attendance boundaries for Barrhaven Public School, Farley Mowat Public School, Jockvale Elementary School, Mary Honeywell Elementary School and Cedarview Middle School be approved as per Appendix 6 of Report No. 11-189, effective September 2012. E. THAT revised attendance boundaries for John McCrae Secondary School and Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School be approved as per Appendix 7 of Report No. 11-189. F. THAT current Barrhaven Public School JK to 3 students (2011-2012) residing in the Half Moon Bay boundary area remain at Barrhaven Public School and that their siblings be given a one-time option to choose to attend that school. G. THAT current Barrhaven Public School JK to 3 students (2011-2012) residing in the Barrhaven Mews boundary area remain at Barrhaven Public School and that their siblings be given a one-time option to choose to attend that school. H. THAT current Barrhaven Public School grade 4 students (2011-2012) residing in the Half Moon Bay, Barrhaven Mews, Stonebridge East, and Hearts Desire boundary areas be directed to Cedarview Middle School for grade 5. I. THAT preferred busing be provided to those students attending the new Chapman Mills elementary school while it is temporarily accommodated at the former Parkwood Hills Public School site on Tiverton Drive. J. THAT busing be provided to and from existing childcare locations for those students whose existing childcare arrangement will no longer be within their arrangement is made for that student within their designated school attendance boundary or until the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 4 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review K. THAT an addition to Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School be made a capital priority and that preliminary design and site work be commenced. L. THAT a new elementary school in the Half Moon Bay portion of South Nepean be reconfirmed as a capital priority in order to ensure that funding is provided in a fashion which would permit a 2015 planned opening. M. THAT staff examine the feasibility of introducing the Full-Day Kindergarten program at the new Chapman Mills elementary school for September 2013, one year earlier than currently scheduled. Trustee Blackburn introduced the motion and thanked the members of the working group and staff for their time and effort on the New Chapman Mills/Barrhaven Area Review. She noted that it has taken considerable time to conduct the area review and she urged her fellow trustees to support all of the proposed recommendations. Staff responded to a number of queries from trustees and the following points were noted: With regard to the recommended boundaries for John McCrae Secondary School, students residing in Half Moon Bay would continue to have the option to attend either John McCrae Secondary School or South Carleton High School. If most students in this area opted to attend John McCrae Secondary School then the school may experience overcrowding and the boundaries may need to be re-evaluated at some point in the future; The cost of opening the former Parkwood Hills Public School is approximately $200,000 and includes portables, communication systems, and WiFi installation; The benefits of forming the new Chapman Mills elementary school in September 2012 at the former Parkwood Hills Public School site include the establishment of a learning community at the beginning of the school year with staff in place for the entire year, and time for students to get to know each other before moving into the new school. Additional portables would be required to accommodate these students if they were to remain at Farley Mowat Public School and Barrhaven Public School; The Board reviews its capital priorities on an annual basis prior to budget discussions; While many schools across the district would prefer to implement Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK) earlier than scheduled, staff is recommending that the feasibility of introducing FDK at the new Chapman Mills elementary school one year earlier than scheduled be examined in the context of all FDK goals throughout the district and as part of the allocation of provincial capital funding for year four of FDK implementation; The success of the recommendations depends on the opening of a new school in Half Moon Bay in 2015 and the construction of an addition to Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School. The province is aware that OCDSB is a growth board, without surplus pupil places, and the need for new schools in Barrhaven is acute; Original student enrolment projections for the Stonebridge community were based on subdivision development plans with housing types that were originally planned for the community but not actually constructed. Staff is confident that current projections for the next two years are accurate and conservative; Jockvale Road, while not a community boundary, is considered by staff to be a reasonable school boundary. Based on enrolment projections, it is not feasible to Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 5 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review accommodate East and West Stonebridge elementary students at one school in the longer term; Permitting students who currently reside in Half Moon Bay to remain at Barrhaven Public School while directing new Half Moon Bay residents to Jockvale Elementary School would alleviate some of the overcrowding at Barrhaven Public School until a new school is constructed in Half Moon Bay in 2015; The OCDSB owns a secondary school site in Riverside South and, with a new bridge under construction that would link Riverside South and Barrhaven, it may be possible to direct some Barrhaven secondary school students to Riverside South when a new secondary school is constructed in that community; Staff is recommending that transportation be provided to and from existing childcare locations for those students whose existing childcare arrangement will no longer be irect result of proposed boundary changes until new childcare arrangements are made or until June 2013; The former Parkwood Hills Public School is unable to accommodate Full-Day Kindergarten; and Reconfirming a new elementary school in Half Moon Bay as a capital priority reflects the desire of the working group to continue to stress the requirement for capital funding. Moved in amendment by Trustee Scott, boundary for John McCrae Secondary School to be the same as that for Cedarview Speaking in support of her amendment, Trustee Scott submitted that elementary and middle school students residing on Lockmaster Crescent and the north side of Bankfield Road currently attend Manotick Public School and Rideau Valley Middle School and consider themselves to be part of the Manotick community. Noting that parents in this area have previously inquired about the possibility of having their children attend South Carleton High School, she contended that these students should be permitted to remain with their cohort and attend South Carleton High School rather than continue to be directed to John McCrae Secondary School in Barrhaven. In response to queries, Manager Ostafichuk confirmed that most high school students residing in Manotick are directed to South Carleton High School. At the present time there are approximately six to eight students, none of whom are currently attending John McCrae Secondary School, residing in this small, predominantly rural area. Moved in sub-amendment by Trustee Campbell, Secondary School attendance boundary area south of Barnsdale Road and east of Prince of Wales Drive an option area between John McCrae Secondary School and South Carleton High School. Trustee Campbell noted that, because consultation with potentially affected residents in the area has not taken place and residents may be anticipating attending John McCrae Secondary School, providing an option to attend either secondary school would permit them to follow their cohort to South Carleton High School if they wished to do so. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 6 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review In response to a query from Trustee Shea regarding the potential for increased transportation costs if some students opted for South Carleton High School while others in the area opted for John McCrae Secondary School, Manager Ostafichuk advised that the status quo provides busing from the area to John McCrae Secondary School, and existing yellow school buses travelling from Manotick to South Carleton High School could accommodate additional students from this area. Moved in sub-amendment by Trustee Campbell, hn McCrae Secondary School attendance boundary area south of Barnsdale Road and east of Prince of Wales Drive an option area between John McCrae Secondary School and South - Carried In response to queries, Manager Ostafichuk advised that staff plans to present a report in the spring seeking approval for minor boundary changes to deal with growth. She added that these boundary amendments do not typically impact current students and consultation is either not required, or very minimal on a site-by-site basis. Trustee Scott reiterated the desire to allow cohorts to stay together wherever possible, particularly if they have been together since Kindergarten to Grade 8. Given the potentially low number of students who would be impacted, and the concerns about overcrowding at John McCrae Secondary School, she submitted that any redirection to South Carleton High School would be helpful. Moved in amendment by Trustee Scott, he John McCrae Secondary School attendance boundary area south of Barnsdale Road and east of Prince of Wales Drive an option area between John McCrae Secondary School and South Carleton High - Carried Some trustees expressed concern about Part K of the motion, to make an addition to Longfields- Davidson Heights Secondary School a capital priority, without having an opportunity to review the or to consider other options. In response to queries, Manager Ostafichuk advised that an addition to Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School was planned for, and incorporated into, the original design and site plan but not constructed at the time due to funding constraints. The addition of 12 classrooms is expected to cost approximately $5 million and a business case for capital priorities has not yet been submitted to the Ministry of Education. Submitting a business case for the LDHSS addition at this time would not impact business cases already submitted for other capital priorities, but it would identify this project as one that needs to go forward sooner rather than later. There are currently 10 portables at LDHSS and the site plan allows for 24 portables in total. It may be possible to submit a site plan control application to permit additional portables. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 7 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review Moved in amendment by Trustee Seward, THAT consideration be given to Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School as a capital priority in the context of a review of the overall capital priorities already submitted to the province at the next regular Board meeting. In response to a request from the Chair for staff comment, Director Adams advised that it would not be possible for staff to present a comprehensive capital plan in time for a review at the next Board meeting. Manager Ostafichuk advised that including LDHSS as a capital priority at this time would signal to the Ministry of Education that a resolution to urgent overcrowding problems in Barrhaven hinges on an addition to LDHSS and a new elementary school in Half Moon Bay. Approval of Part K of the motion would authorize staff to prepare a business case for the addition to LDHSS. With the consent of the Committee, Trustee Seward withdrew her amendment. Staff responded to a number of trustee queries and the following points were noted: The Ministry of Education considers capital priorities on a year-to-year basis, and not by school board priority rankings; Adding the extension of LDHSS as a capital priority would not displace another OCDSB priority project but rather signal it as an additional urgently-needed facility; Staff considers an addition to LDHSS to be a prudent long-term accommodation solution; Portables would still be required at LDHSS t The comprehensive capital priorities plan would not be ready for review until March or April of 2012; and Capital funding for the new Chapman Mills elementary school includes an allocation for Full- Day Kindergarten space. Staff is recommending the examination of the feasibility of introducing FDK in September 2013, one year earlier than currently scheduled, and in the context of the overall cost of FDK implementation at other sites. Moved in amendment by Trustee Campbell, -Davidson Heights Secondary School be discussed in the 2011-2012 consideration of OCDSB capital Trustee Campbell expressed the opinion that waiting until March or April 2012 for a comprehensive review and discussion of the Boards capital priorities would not significantly impact the short-term resolution to school accommodation problems in Barrhaven. Committee members speaking in favour of the amendment expressed the following opinions: It is not anticipated that the province would provide capital funding for any projects other than Full-Day Kindergarten implementation; It is possible that an addition to LDHSS would displace or bump previously identified capital priorities; and None of the other parts of the recommendation hinge on the building of an addition to LDHSS. Committee members opposed to the amendment expressed the following opinions: The working group, members of the public and staff have spent six to eight months working on scenarios to address enrolment pressures in Barrhaven; Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 8 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review Staff has advised that an addition to LDHSS is required to solve some of the accommodation problems; Because these accommodation problems did not exist five years ago and an addition to LDHSS was not identified as a capital priority at that time does not mean that it should be ignored now; Adding an LDHSS addition as a capital priority identifies the urgent need for provincial funding to address accommodation problems without displacing a previously identified capital priority; Adding an LDHSS addition as a capital priority would be similar to approving additions to schools in the Glebe/Centretown/Old Ottawa South and/or Kanata; and s required, but it should not hold up this particular project. In wrap-up, Trustee Campbell acknowledged that the Barrhaven area is growing and in dire need of capital funding; however, he expressed reservations about increasing the capacity of LDHSS to 1,700 students. He expressed the opinion that provincial budget difficulties are likely to continue for several years and the Board should be cautious about identifying additional capital priorities without having had an opportunity to review and discuss all of its capital priorities. He submitted that a delay of a few months to allow a comprehensive review to take place would not be problematic. Moved in amendment by Trustee Campbell, -Davidson Heights Secondary School be discussed in the 2011-2012 consideration of OCDSB capital - Defeated Trustee Seward urged the Committee to approve all parts of the recommendation. In response to a query from Trustee Fisher, Manager Ostafichuk advised that staff considered the option of allowing Junior and Senior Kindergarten students residing in Stonebridge East to remain at Barrhaven Public School until September 2013; however, this option would require at least a couple of additional portables at both Farley Mowat Public School and Barrhaven Public School, which already have 19 and 17 portables respectively. She noted that the benefits of organizing the new Chapman Mills elementary school at Parkwood Hills in September 2012 with the inclusion of kindergarten students, outweigh the disruption of a mid-year move. In wrap-up, Trustee Blackburn thanked all trustees for a fulsome discussion and urged them to support all parts of the recommendation. At the request of Trustee McKenzie, separate votes were held on Part K and Part M of the motion. Moved by Trustee Blackburn, A. THAT attendance boundaries and programs for the new Chapman Mills elementary school be approved as per Appendix 5 of Report No. 11-189, with the school formed in September 2012 with a JK to 4 grade structure, advancing to JK to 5 for September 2013. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 9 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review B. THAT effective September 2012, the new Chapman Mills elementary school be accommodated temporarily at the former Parkwood Hills Public School site on Tiverton Drive until the new Chapman Mills elementary school building is completed. C. THAT the grade structures at Barrhaven Public School and Cedarview Middle School temporarily become JK-4 and 5-8 for the school years 2012- 2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015. D. THAT revised attendance boundaries for Barrhaven Public School, Farley Mowat Public School, Jockvale Elementary School, Mary Honeywell Elementary School and Cedarview Middle School be approved as per Appendix 6 of Report No. 11-189, effective September 2012. E. THAT revised attendance boundaries for John McCrae Secondary School and Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School be approved as per Appendix 7 of Report No. 11-189, subject to making the John McCrae Secondary School attendance boundary area south of Barnsdale Road and east of Prince of Wales Drive an option area between John McCrae Secondary School and South Carleton High School. F. THAT current Barrhaven Public School JK to 3 students (2011-2012) residing in the Half Moon Bay boundary area remain at Barrhaven Public School and that their siblings be given a one-time option to choose to attend that school. G. THAT current Barrhaven Public School JK to 3 students (2011-2012) residing in the Barrhaven Mews boundary area remain at Barrhaven Public School and that their siblings be given a one-time option to choose to attend that school. H. THAT current Barrhaven Public School grade 4 students (2011-2012) residing in the Half Moon Bay, Barrhaven Mews, Stonebridge East, and Hearts Desire boundary areas be directed to Cedarview Middle School for grade 5. I. THAT preferred busing be provided to those students attending the new Chapman Mills elementary school while it is temporarily accommodated at the former Parkwood Hills Public School site on Tiverton Drive. J. THAT busing be provided to and from existing childcare locations for those students whose existing childcare arrangement will no longer be within their ndary changes, until such time as a new childcare arrangement is made for that student within their designated school attendance boundary or until the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 10 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review L. THAT a new elementary school in the Half Moon Bay portion of South Nepean be reconfirmed as a capital priority in order to ensure that funding is provided in a fashion which would permit a 2015 planned opening. - Carried K. THAT an addition to Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School be made a capital priority and that preliminary design and site work be commenced. - Carried M. THAT staff examine the feasibility of introducing the Full-Day Kindergarten program at the new Chapman Mills elementary school for September 2013, one year earlier than currently scheduled. - Carried 6. New Business There was no new business. 7. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:03 p.m. Jennifer Adams Bronwyn Funiciello, Chair, Director of Education and Committee of the Whole (Public) Secretary of the Board Special Committee of the Whole (Public) - 11 - 05 December 2011 New Chapman Mills/South Nepean Area Review