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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13b COW Report, Phase 2 Area Review/School Closure Study, 14 Dec 1999/.15� OTTAWA - CARLETON DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Report, Committee of the Whole (Phase II Area Review /School Closure Study) TO: Board of Education DATE: 14 December, 1999 A meeting of the Committee of the Whole (Phase II Area Review /School Closure Study) was held this evening commencing at 7:35 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, Andrew Lam, Jim Libbey, Sheryl MacDonald, Pam Morse and Lynn Scott. Trustee Russ Jackson participated via teleconference. Student Representative Russell Ullyat was also in attendance. Staff: James Grieve, Director of Education and Secretary of the Board; Superintendents Rose - Marie Batley, Ross Donaldson and Judy Turriff; Michael Carson, Manager of Facilities and Physical Planning; Maggie Melenhorst, Manager of Communications and Information Services; Joan Melancon, Assistant Secretary of the Board; Phil Dawes, Planner, Facilities and Physical Planning; Robert Giekes, Technician and Bruce Fraser, Committee Coordinator. Approval of Agenda The Chair noted that item 4, Response from School Study Committee was cancelled and item 5(c), delegation from the Ottawa - Carleton Assembly of School Councils would be delayed until the meeting of 15 December 1999. On a motion by Trustee Morse, the agenda was approved as revised. 2. Public Question Period a) Rocio Alonso, L.D. Billings Public School, asked how the Board can afford to fund salary increases and the reclassification of positions in the new agreement. The Director noted that a written response would be provided. b) In response to a query from Laurie Morrison, staff explained that the staff recommendations may result in some split classes due to lower enrolment figures in some grades and that staff have considerable experience in dealing with those situations. C) Samantha Sheel, L.D. Billings Public School, requested information regarding the annual costs of the new agreement with non - affiliated staff. The Director indicated that a written response would be provided, but noted that the agreement is not connected in any way with the issue of school closures. He noted that provincial funding is allocated in specific envelopes and that the two areas are not related. d) In response to a query by Ronan Gourlaouen, L.D. Billings Public School, Phil Dawes reported that the staff recommendation provides for a balanced enrolment throughout Quadrant C. e) In response to a query by Barb Beattie, Superintendent Batley explained that funding is received based on the previous year's average daily enrolment (ADE). The projections used in the April report were based on the September enrolments and adjusted where appropriate. Committee of the Whole (Area Review) - 1 - 14 December 1999 N f) Staff agreed with Renee Pelletier, that the changes in the junior kindergarten program at the former Carleton Board of Education had a significant impact on the projected enrolment figures published in April. g) In response to an inquiry by Julia Konzuk, Le Phare Elementary School, staff noted that the elimination of the single -track immersion program ensures that a balance of programs is available to all students. School staff have experience with both single and dual track programs. h) In response to a query by Peter Konzuk, Le Phare Elementary School, Trustee Graham indicated that planning staff were not directed to present only one recommendation for school closures. Staff confirmed that the calculated savings in the final recommendation are approximately $660,000 annually. i) With respect to a question from George Greene, Rockcliffe Park Public School, Phil Dawes explained that the Early French Immersion boundary change for Rockcliffe Park Public School is a phased -in process which will not affect students currently attending the school. The process should allow sufficient time for a school in Quadrant A to organize an effective Early Immersion Program. D In response to a query from Jack Logan, Henry Munro Middle School, Director Grieve indicated that consultation with other Boards regarding school closures, shared facilities and accommodation issues continues to take place on a monthly basis. k) Staff noted, in response to a query from Linda Bergeron, that major changes to the provincial funding model are not likely and therefore the timing of school closures remains a factor. 1) With respect to an inquiry by Cathy Bailey, staff noted that there would be a significant reduction in transportation requirements resulting from boundary adjustments and that details would be provided. m) Superintendent Batley, in response to a query by David Moen, Le Phare Elementary School, explained that staff reviewed both the test results of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) as well as the School Study Committee's report when considering the impact of closures on the quality of education. Delegations a) Madeleine Pouliot Overbrook Public School Council Madeleine Pouliot presented an overview of the concerns of the Overbrook School Council, noting that small schools such as Overbrook Public School are easily targeted for closure as it results in minimal disruption in the system. She suggested that small schools have a role to play within the system as they contribute to a sense of community as well as being safer for students. She questioned the effect that closing Overbrook will have on the community, as well as the space adjustments that will be required at other schools as result of boundary changes. She submitted that the Board should be examining the program delivery models in every group of schools to avoid costly mistakes and that the Middle French Immersion Program should remain at Overbrook. In conclusion, she encouraged the Board to review the long range implications of closing any school and suggested that more information and more time for consideration is required prior to any decisions being made. In response to a query by Trustee Scott, Ms. Pouliot indicated that a small school would have a population in the range of 200 - 400 students. Committee of the Whole (Area Review) - 2 - 14 December 1999 /I b) Louise Maffett, Chair, Le Phare Elementary School Council Louise Maffet provided comments on the school closure process indicating that the role of the School Study Committee (SSC) requires clarification. She suggested that the SSC be led by a facilitator who would consider the presentations from all groups and report to Trustees. It was also recommended that the consultation process be extended to enable the SSC to offer alternate scenarios and to allow the SSC staff support in order to assess those scenarios. Ms. Maffet noted that the utilization level should have remained constant throughout the entire process and that all quadrants should have been reviewed at the same time due to cross boundary issues. In conclusion, she recommended that Trustees defer the implementation of any decisions for one year. In response to queries from Trustees, Ms. Maffet explained that the facilitator would not be responsible for making recommendations but would facilitate discussion and present a final report to the Board. C) Denise Lepage, Local Design Association Denise Lepage provided comments on the school closure recommendations and suggested that the recommendations should consider the size, condition and physical layout of the schools. Larger schools should be closed and smaller neighbourhood schools, evenly distributed throughout the quadrant, should remain open. She expressed the viewpoint that programs should be consolidated and dual streaming avoided as single stream schools are more effective at delivering English as a Second Language (ESL) and Early French Immersion (EFI) programs. Ms. Lepage recommended that Le Phare remain open due to its good physical condition (W and modular design. She suggested that the actual capacity of the school is underestimated and noted that the school has accommodated over 500 students in the past with only three portables. She reported that a committee representing local architects, interior designers and facility planners is preparing a position paper on school closures to lobby the provincial government. The paper will identify issues resulting from the school closure process such as overcrowding, the impact on suburban neighbourhoods as well as the effectiveness of program delivery. In conclusion, Ms. Lepage recommended that any decisions regarding closures be delayed as additional time is required to review alternative scenarios which may require extending the process if additional schools are considered for closure. In response to a query by Trustee Sheryl MacDonald, Ms. Lepage suggested that smaller schools have less vandalism, lower truancy rates and a higher level of involvement by both students and parents. Ms Lepage noted that the draft review of the position paper is scheduled for 17 January 2000 and that contributions from the Board are welcome. 5. Questions from Trustees In response to trustee queries, staff reported the following: • Critical mass relies on the retention rate of a school and dual track programming allows a balance to be maintained if students change programs. There are programs currently that run effectively with an enrolment of approximately one hundred students. • Staff considered many options and believes that the recommendations allow for equitable access to programs as well as a balanced enrolment throughout Quadrant C. There were a Committee of the Whole (Area Review) - 3 - 14 December 1999 N limited number of permutations available, which eliminated pupil places and achieved the major planning objectives. • Consideration was given to a number of factors including the physical condition of a school, geographic location, student population and program delivery. It was noted that the utilization rate was a major consideration in both the 100% and 90% scenarios. • The 100% and the 90% scenarios will be used in the analysis of the other quadrants. • The review of Quadrant A will involve the same process as used for Quadrant C. • The closure exercise will be combined with a program review. • Single track and dual track schools are staffed in the same manner. • The diverting of students to Quadrant A will not affect the current students but will be a phased in approach. Future accommodation will be available in Quadrant A where required. • The remaining schools and community centres in Quadrant C will be able to accommodate existing and future community use requirements. • Delaying the closures until September 2001 would involve an annual cost of approximately $660,000 plus an additional $440,000 for facility renewal costs. The logistics of the exercise would also be complicated due to the scheduled closings of secondary schools at the same time. • The financing of new schools could be delayed if the Board plans closures based on a 90 - 95% utilization rate. • Queen Elizabeth Public School will require one portable at 100% utilization. During the course of discussion, trustees requested the following information: • The number of English programs with less than 100 students and the number of Immersion programs with a current enrolment of under 120 students. • The net loss or gain of students in Quadrant C that will result from the staff recommendations. • An explanation of the increased enrolment figures for Quadrant C. • The number of schools with triple split classes. • The timeframe when Henry Munro Public School accommodated a JK -8 Grade structure. The Chair thanked the members of the delegations for their informative presentations. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. . Lynn Graham, Chair Committee of the Whole (Area Review) Committee of the Whole (Area Review) - 4 - 14 December 1999