1 / 16

Meeting Objectives

Meeting Objectives. 1. Meeting participants will : * Have a clear understanding of the accommodation review process * Have a clear understanding of the main concepts being deliberated

josiah
Download Presentation

Meeting Objectives

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Meeting Objectives 1 Meeting participants will: * Have a clear understanding of the accommodation review process * Have a clear understanding of the main concepts being deliberated * Have a chance to provide feedback on those concepts with the understanding that their comments will inform the Working Group’s future discussions

  2. Meeting Agenda 2 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. * Overview of meeting objectives, process and agenda * Accommodation Review structure, decision-making process, timelines * Overview of four(4) main Concepts currently being discussed by the Working Group * Q & A for clarification 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. * Feedback sessions in cafeteria

  3. Working Group & Consultation Process • Working Group (WG) comprised of representatives of area schools and local community associations • supported by Board Staff, Trustee and two(2) Superintendents • Two Community Association co-chairs (Amanda Farris, Stefan Matiation) • Weekly meetings since March • Consultation Process: • The WG has identified four primary concepts for public consultation today • The purpose of tonight’s consultation is to present these concepts, gather community feedback, answer questions and provide you with resources for future feedback • The WG will present its final recommendations directly to the Board in October 2013 • Board Staff will present their own recommendations to the Board in October 2013 • Board will make its decision in November 2013 (to be implemented for 2014 school year)

  4. Working Group Mandate The WG will: Strive to achieve a set of recommendations that will support the objective of alleviating the capacity issues at Devonshire and Elmdale Public Schools while providing students with local access to programs and balanced enrolments across study area schools Focus on solutions that will provide for at least five years of accommodation stability, minimize or eliminate the use of portables, support walkability and neighbourhood schools, and make the most effective use of District facilities involved in the area study Have regard for the implementation of Board-wide Full Day Kindergarten.

  5. Working Group Guiding Principles Re-balance community school populations Re-allocate space to match program demand Ensure a community-based solution, using community schools Increase programming options across the Near West Maximize walkability and safe access to the greatest degree possible; minimize busing Work within the Board’s preferred, where possible grade groupings: JK – 6, JK – 8, 7 – 12, 9 – 12

  6. Key Challenges Demand for Early French Immersion (EFI) programs exceeds capacity of Elmdale and Devonshire Declining enrolment in Core English (ENG) programs at Elmdale, Connaught, Cambridge; need to make ENG more robust Balance of programs across Near West leaves some areas with gaps - no EFI in Dalhousie; no Middle French Immersion (MFI) in Hintonburg; no K-6 Alternative (ALT) between Churchill and Lady Evelyn Small schools means no perfect balance possible Variables at play: relying on projections; other reviews underway or are imminent (ALT; Far West; Special Education; Centretown) Pros and cons to single vs. dual track (specialization and reduced marginalization vs. ease of family transitions; siblings together)

  7. Area Under Consideration +6-8 CRs, 60% -6 CRs, 160% +11 CRs, 40% +3 CRs, 85% +9-19 CRs, 81% -11 CRs, 143% * Percentages of capacity as of 2016 ** “CR” = number of surplus (+) or deficit (-) classrooms

  8. Lessons Learned Surplus (+) or deficit (-) of classrooms is the best indicator of available space in area schools Percentages of maximum capacity of each school does not tell the space story Classrooms that are not already used as homerooms are considered “available” Classrooms may need to be re-purposed to serve as homerooms Enrolment numbers fluctuate from year to year, need to ensure cushion for future growth Expected intensification of Near West; uncertainty of projecting future enrolment Demand for EFI programming places pressure on schools that currently offer the program No easily identifiable infrastructure available to provide relief Pressure is in the west, but the available space is located throughout the boundary Difficult to balance enrolments since schools are in close proximity to each other and have limited space

  9. Concept A – Fisher Park JK-8 EFIwith Connaught K-8 ENG Outcome: Devonshire: 3 free classrooms Elmdale: all portables removed, 85% Connaught: 0 free classrooms Fisher Park: 3-13 free classrooms Cambridge: 6-8 free classrooms Hilson: 2 free classrooms

  10. Concept B – Cambridge Dual Trackwith small Fisher Park JK-8 Outcome: Devonshire: 3 free classrooms Elmdale: all portables removed, Connaught: 0 free classrooms Fisher Park: 3-13 free classrooms Cambridge: 0 free classrooms Hilson: 2 free classrooms

  11. Concept C – Connaught Dual Trackwith Fisher Park JK- 6 EFI Outcome: Devonshire: 2/3 free classrooms Elmdale: 0 free classrooms Connaught: 4 classrooms over Fisher Park: 9 free classrooms Cambridge: 1 free classroom Hilson: 3 free classrooms

  12. Concept D – Connaught ALT JK-8with large Fisher Park JK-8 Outcome: numbers are soft; unclear how many Connaught children would choose to stay; Board Staff currently running numbers

  13. Other Concepts Under Consideration • Hilson becomes JK-6 ENG/EFI taking Elmdale overflow, Connaught becomes ENG/MFI taking Hilson MFI, Cambridge becomes ENG/EFI taking Devonshire overflow • Connaught becomes JK-6 ENG/EFI taking Devonshire and Elmdale, FP becomes 5-8 taking Devonshire and Elmdale 5 & 6s • Connaught becomes EFI only; FP adds JK-6 EFI/ENG dual track, or, Connaught ENG redirected to Cambridge, Centennial and Hilson • Connaught becomes dual track ENG/EFI taking Devonshire overflow and Elmdale keeps all portables

  14. Other Concepts Under Consideration cont’d 14 • Fisher becomes JK-8 EFI, ALT, G-EFI, Connaught becomes JK-8 ENG with junior seed ALT program, Cambridge gets JK-3 seed EFI in addition to retaining ENG or ALT could be swapped for MFI. • Concept C variations could include: - an introduction of a JK-6 EFI program at Cambridge (phase-in starting JK-3), - Elmdale becomes JK-3 and Fisher adds 4-6, or - Elmdale keeps portables

  15. Next Steps Thank You! The WG will consider the feedback that is provided tonight and will continue to develop and evaluate concepts and scenarios In September, we will return to update you on our work and to seek additional feedback In October, we will finalize our recommendations and submit them for the Board’s consideration Board staff will submit their own recommendations to the Board The Board of Trustees is the decision-maker Board Staff along with Community input will develop implementation strategies

  16. Where to Find Additional Information • A video of tonight’s presentation will be available on youtube and on some websites of Community Associations (e.g., www.chnaottawa.ca) • Tonight’s power point presentation and other documents can be found at http://www.ocdsb.ca/Pages/FeedbackNews_NearWestAccommodationReview.aspx • If you want to share your feedback, express concerns or share your ideas with the WG you may do so at any time by emailing us at NearWestReviewPublicComments@ocdsb.ca

More Related