Eastern School District School Organization Plan Public Presentation

1. Eastern School DistrictSchool Organization PlanPublic Presentation Bluefield Family of Schools Feb. 12, 2009

2. Impact of Declining Enrollment • Eastern School District 20012008 15,173 13,111 6 Years – Loss of 2,000

3. Impact of Declining Enrollment • 20 elementary schools have lost between 30% and 50% of students in the past decade • 10 schools with 90 or fewer students • 35 of our schools will lose students in the next decade • 14 will lose up to 25% more of their students

4. 20012008% Change Bluefield 850 844 -- Englewood 239 187 -22% Central Queens 264 182 -31% Gulf Shore 331 218 -34% East Wiltshire 581 556 -4% Westwood 435 408 -6% Eliot River 439 411 -6%

5. 20082013% Change Bluefield 844 657 -22% Englewood 187 172 -8% Central Queens 182 211 +16% Gulf Shore 218 203 -7% East Wiltshire 556 528 -5% Westwood 408 403 -- Eliot River 411 441 +7%

6. How has this development impacted our students? • 1. The breadth and depth of specialist programming • Physical Education • Music • Resource-based learning • French

7. 2. The scope of student support services • Guidance • Special Education • Resource • Reading Recovery

8. 3. Teaching – Learning Process • Teachers “stretched” across grades • Teachers “stretched” across subject areas • Teacher isolation • Lack of administrative direction and support

9. 4. Student Diversity • Children’s social and emotional development may be affected by split classes and soon, triple-graded classes

10. Why are we concerned about these factors? • PEI’s performance on Canadian tests of reading, math and science • 2005 ESD survey of all teachers • Results of 2007/2008 provincial tests of grade 3 reading comprehension and writing, grade 6 reading comprehension, grade 9 mathematics

11. Why are we concerned about these factors? (Cont’d) • Significant number of our grade 3 boys not reading at grade level • Significant gaps in our students’ grade 3 writing skills • Significant gaps in mathematics skills of our grade 9 students • About 1/3 of our students struggling with some aspect of the curriculum

12. Why are we concerned about these factors? (Cont’d) • Any child not reading at grade level by the end of grade 3 is clearly at risk • Any student finishing high school with poorly developed reading, writing and/or mathematical skills will find it difficult to gain entry and complete a post-secondary program (university, college, apprenticeship, other training) • Any student entering labour market directly without these skills will have trouble finding and keeping meaningful employment

13. Standards are rising • Typical adult student without high school credential • Step 1 – Complete GED • Step 2 – Then acquire further skills • 521 – 621 English/math/science • Foundation Program at Holland College

14. What should we do? • Focus on the teaching – learning process • Emphasize structured and explicit teaching methods aimed at specific skill development in reading, writing and mathematics

15. What is the best way to do it? • At least 2 teachers per grade • Single graded classrooms • 15-20 students grade 1-3, 20-25 students grade 4-6 • Strong student support and specialist programs • Within grade teacher collaboration and administrative leadership and support

16. Bluefield Schools • Westwood – 408 students – Grades 1-3 • Soon to be K-3

17. Bluefield Schools • Englewood – 187 students: • Grades 7-9 (58 students) • Gulf Shore – 218 students: • Grades 7-9 (71 students)