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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11b COW Report, 19 Oct 20007- OTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Report, Committee of the Whole (Public) (Area Review /School Closures (Inside the Greenbelt)) TO: Board of Education DATE: 19 October, 2000 The 17 October Committee of the Whole (Area Review /School Closure Study (Inside the Greenbelt)) continued this evening in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, Ontario, commencing at 6:30 pm in the Board Room, 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean, with Trustee Lynn Graham in the Chair, and the following in attendance: Trustees Cynthia Bled, Albert Chambers, Alex Getty, Patty Anne Hill, Russ Jackson, Andrew Lam, Jim Libbey, Norm MacDonald (by phone), Sheryl MacDonald, Pam Morse and Lynn Scott. Staff. Director of Education and Secretary of the Board James Grieve; Superintendents Rose -Marie Batley, Ross Donaldson Judith Hoye, Dan Mason, Barbara Stollery and Judy Turriff; Manager of Facilities and Physical Planning, Michael Carson; Manager, Physical Facilities/Design & Construction, Kathleen Lausman; Assistant Secretary of the Board, Joan Melancon; Manager, Communications and Information Services, Maggie Melenhorst; Policy and Planning Advisor, Janice Sargent; Planners Estelle Butler, Marc Labelle, Janet Sauriol and Mark Smith; Planning Technician, Ian Baxter; A/V Technician, Robert Giekes and Committee Coordinator, Bruce Fraser. The Chair noted that the meeting was a continuation of the 17 October 2000 meeting of Committee of the Whole. Trustee Libbey advised that a response to the Board's request to the Minister of Education for an extension to the 31 December deadline had been received. He noted that the letter was non - committal regarding the extension and that efforts to follow up with the Minister by telephone are continuing. The Chair called a ten - minute recess to review the responses provided in Release No. 6 that was distributed at the meeting. Trustees agreed that a question period would follow the break to allow each trustee up to five minutes to ask questions of staff. Trustee Questions In response to query by Trustee Chambers, staff advised that an analysis of a buffer factor should be completed by the end of the week. Michael Carson addressed the OCASC analysis of grants for new pupil places noting that the disposal of the Brook Lane, Borden and McNabb sites would initially generate annual revenue of approximately $669,000. He advised that it would be unlikely that this revenue would be sustainable for 25 years in the absence of additional school closures. In response to trustee queries regarding the disparities between staff's assessment of facilities and some community assessments, staff advised that facility assessments are being developed for OCDSB buildings based on a similar assessment process used by a number of major organizations. The assessment of a building's condition is based on a number of factors such as the age of a facility, the life expectancy and the age of components within the facility. Staff must take a long -term approach to building maintenance and be aware of the demands that will be placed on a facility over a 25 -year period. In response to a query by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, staff advised that current enrolment data should be received on 31 October for validation by the Admissions Department. It is expected that final data will be available to trustees by the end of November or early December. In response to trustee queries, staff advised that the use of the new pupil place grants would be a trustee decision based on the long -term accommodation plan. The funds that would result from the recommended school Committee of the Whole (Public) - 1 - 19 October 2000 closures would be approximately $3.6 million annually in new pupil place grants and an additional saving of approximately $3.2 million in annual operating costs. 2. Trustee Deliberations Trustee Scott moved the following staff recommendations, with the understanding that each part of the recommendation would be debated and voted on separately: THAT Trustees approve the following school closures, program and boundary adjustments, to take effect September 2001: A. THAT no schools be closed in the Alta Vista/Canterbury family of schools at this time. B. THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved for the Central family of schools: B(I) Close Elgin Street P.S., effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect JK -6 ENG program students from Elgin's attendance area to York Street Public School; (ii) Redirect SK -5 EFI program students from Elgin's attendance area to Centennial Public School; and (iii) Redirect LLD program students from Centennial to Cambridge Street Public School. B(2) Close Mutchmor P.S., effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect JK -6 ENG program students from Mutchmor's attendance area to First Avenue Public School; (ii) Redirect ENG congregated Gifted program students from Mutchmor to Hopewell Avenue Public School; and (iii) Redirect EFI congregated gifted program students from First Avenue to Lady Evelyn School. C. THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved for the East family of schools: C(1) Close Overbrook P.S., effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect JK -6 ENG program students from Overbrook's attendance area to Queen Mary Street Public School; and (ii) Redirect Grades 4 -6 MFI program students from Overbrook's attendance area to Queen Elizabeth Public School. C(2) Close Lamira Dow Billings ES, effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect JK ENG, SK -5 EFI program students from L.D. Billing's attendance area to Robert Hopkins Public School; and a choice of (ii) or (iii) (ii) Redirect Pineview SK -5 EFI program students from L.D. Billing's attendance area to Le Phare Elementary School; or (iii) Redirect Cardinal Heights/Beacon Hill south SK -5 EFI program students from L.D. Billing's attendance area to Le Phare Elementary School. D. THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved for the Far West/ Bell's Corners family of schools: Committee of the Whole (Public) - 2 - 19 October 2000 9. D(1) Close Grant School, effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Designate Bayshore School as the JK -6 Alternative program school for the Far West/Bell's Corners family of schools; (ii) Redirect Grant JK -6 Alternative program students residing within the Far West/Bell's Corners family to Bayshore School; (iii) Repatriate Grant JK -6 Alternative program students residing outside of the Far (iii) West/Bell's Corners family to their home families, where the Alternative program is available. Where the Alternative program is not available within the (iv) home families, existing Grant students may complete their program at Bayshore; (iv) Redirect Bayshore K -5 EFI program students to Lakeview School; (v) Repatriate "out of boundary" Bayshore EFI program students to their home schools /families; (vi) Allow Bayshore JK ENG program students who will be registering in the Lakeview SK EFI program the following year to attend the Lakeview JK ENG program; and (vii) Direct staff to review the accommodation requirements for the Adult ESL program currently located at Bayshore School and report back to Board with a recommendation for the accommodation of this program, to begin in the 2001/02 school year. E. THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved for the Near West family of schools: E(1) Close Devonshire School, effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect Devonshire K -6 EFI program students residing west of the CPR tracks to Connaught School; (ii) Accommodate Devonshire K -6 EFI program students residing east of the CPR tracks at Centennial School, within the Central family of schools (see Central family recommendations); (iii) Redirect Devonshire JK ENG program students to the JK -6 ENG program school for their area, based on the JK -6 ENG program boundaries; (iv) Repatriate "out of boundary" Devonshire students to their home schools /families; and (v) Relocate the Connaught congregated Special Education program to Fisher Park School, effective September 2001. E(2) Close Elmdale School, effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect Elmdale JK -6 ENG program students residing west of the CPR tracks to Fisher Park School; (ii) Accommodate Elmdale JK -6 ENG program students residing east of the CPR . tracks at Cambridge Street School, within the Central family of schools (see Central family recommendations); (iii) Redirect Elmdale K -6 EFI program students to Hilson School; (iv) Repatriate "out of boundary" Elmdale students to their home schools /families; and (v) Relocate the Hilson congregated Special Education program to Fisher Park School, effective September 2001. F. THAT no schools be closed in the Queensway South/Knoxdale family of schools at this time and the following boundary adjustments be made: (i) That the pupils in the Qualicum /Graham Park community be directed to Christie for JK -6 ENG effective September 2001; and (ii) That grade 5 pupils in the 2000/2001 school year from the Qualicum/Graham Park area currently attending Briargreen be permitted to remain at Briargreen for September 2001. Committee of the Whole (Public) - 3 - 19 October 2000 G. THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved in the South East family of schools: G(1) Close General Vanier, effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Relocate General Vanier JK -3 ENG program students and Special Education programs to Bayview; and (ii) Relocate Bayview Grade 4 EFI program students to Fielding Drive. G(2) That a boundary study and possible adjustments for Blossom Park PS, Elizabeth Park PS, Greely ES, Manotick PS and Sawmill Creek ES be completed by the end of January 2001 for implementation in September 2001. H. THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved for the South West family of schools: H(1) That Merivale PS be closed effective upon the opening of the new elementary school in Longfields/Davidson Heights with the following program and student relocations: (i) That Merivale's student body residing north of Fallowfield Road be redirected to Meadowlands for JK -6 ENG and to Parkwood Hills for SK -6 EFI; and (ii) That the Centrepointe East community be directed to Manordale for SK -6 EFI, coincident with the closure of Merivale PS and opening of the new elementary school in Longfields/Davidson Heights community. In speaking to the motion, Trustee Scott remarked that the Board is facing a very difficult financial situation and is under a great deal of scrutiny. School closures are very difficult and each part of the motion deserves attention and consideration. The recommendations will provide partial relief to the financial situation and allow access to funds for new pupil places, as well as required maintenance for schools in growth areas outside the Greenbelt. Trustee Chambers moved in amendment THAT the first line of the recommendation be revised to read as follows: THAT subject to a review by the Board at the first full Board meeting or a Special Board meeting called for that purpose in December 2000, to evaluate the results of the Region's projections, trustees approve the following school closures, program and boundary adjustments, to take effect September, 2001. Trustee Chambers remarked that the Board should have an opportunity to consider the new demographics before finalizing the school closure decisions. Trustees raised a number of procedural questions regarding the proposed amendment and the Assistant Secretary, Joan Melancon advised that a conditional motion is in order under the Board's By -laws. The "subject to" clause means that the Board would be reviewing the recommendations in conjunction with the new demographic information but no changes to closures approved by the Board would be automatic. A motion would still be required in order to reconsider a closure decision previously adopted by the Board. Trustees speaking in support of the amendment noted that the substance of the amendment is to validate the current demographic information. The Board had recently written to the Minister of Education requesting additional time in order that the new demographic projections could be considered. This amendment would allow for the information to be considered prior to the Board finalizing any school closure decisions. Trustees speaking against the motion expressed the view that the process has taken approximately two years and that a deferral of the decisions would be unfair as the incoming Board would be required to take responsibility for the process. Several trustees expressed the opinion that the amendment is redundant and simply Committee of the Whole (Public) - 4 - 19 October 2000 confuses the issue as a motion of reconsideration could be brought forward any time prior to the results of the previous vote substantially being put into effect. Trustee Morse moved in sub - amendment THAT "the first full Board meeting" be revised to read "the 18 December 2000 Board meeting." In response to a trustee query regarding the impact of a delay on staff workload, staff advised that the preparation required for the disposition of properties is not substantial, but that there may be a significant amount of work to incorporate the new projections into the families of schools. The sub - amendment was carried. The amendment was carried. Alta Vista/Canterbga Family Of Schools A. THAT no schools be closed in the Alta VistalCanterbury family of schools at this time. The recommendation was carried. Central Family Of Schools B) THAT the following closures and related boundary and program adjustments be approved for the Central family of schools: B(1) Close Elgin Street P.S., effective September 2001 with the following program and student relocations: (i) Redirect JK -6 ENG program students from Elgin's attendance area to York Street Public School; (ii) Redirect SK -5 EFI program students from Elgin's attendance area to Centennial Public School; and (iii) Redirect LLD program students from Centennial to Cambridge Street Public School. In speaking to the motion, Trustee Chambers expressed the view that the recommendations overload central schools and will discourage families from staying or relocating into the core of the city resulting in a significant change to the population mix of the downtown core. Trustee Hill moved to defer the closure of Elgin Street PS for a two year period. In speaking to the deferral, Trustee Hill explained that the motion would provide an opportunity to facilitate an increase in enrolment by encouraging families living outside of the area, but who work in the area, to enrol their children in Elgin Street PS. The motion to defer was defeated. Trustee Chambers moved to defer Part B(1) of the motion and direct staff to bring forward, at the earliest opportunity, for the required community consultation two additional closure options. On a point of order by Trustee Morse, the motion to defer was ruled out of order, as a deferral had been previously defeated. Speaking to the main motion, Trustee Chambers outlined two alternative closure options for the Central and Near West families of schools. He expressed the view that the alternatives provide better program delivery, maintain walking distances in most cases, reduce student disruption and leave the downtown core with a strong contingency of schools. An amendment by Trustee Scott THAT parts B(1) (i) (ii) and (iii) be subject to further review depending on the Board's decision on the rest of school closures, was accepted as friendly. Committee of the Whole (Public) - 5 - 19 October 2000 Trustees speaking in support of the motion expressed the view that decisions on school closures must be made to help the Board deal with a difficult financial situation and that it is unlikely that parents living in the suburbs would bring their children into the core to attend school. Trustees speaking against the motion expressed support for maintaining Elgin Street PS as an important part of the local community and noted that the school closure review is not an exercise to only generate money for schools outside of the Greenbelt. In wrap up, Trustee Scott noted that it is not just a school money issue but rather a complex budget issue involving a $23 million funding shortage. The motion to close Elgin Street PS was defeated. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 p.m. to continue on Monday, 23 October 2000. Lynn Graham, Chair Committee of the Whole (Public) /baf Committee of the Whole (Public) - 6 - 19 October 2000