St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) Accommodation Review Committee Public Meeting

1. St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) Accommodation Review Committee Public Meeting St. Jude’sCatholic Elementary School, IngersollSeptember 24, 2013

2. Background • On October 22, 2012, the Board received the report, Update Report on Schools with Low Enrolment and/or Under-Utilization. The Board approved the following recommendation: That an ARC (Accommodation Review Committee) be established to study the possible closure of St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) and consolidation with St. David (Dorchester), and St. Jude’s (Ingersoll) and make final recommendations to Trustees by February 24, 2014.

3. Purpose of the ARC ARC Mandate To analyze School Information Profiles, relevant Administrative reports, consider alternatives and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees that meet the educational and accommodation objectives of the London District Catholic School Board. Throughout the process, the ARC will ensure that opportunity is provided for public input.

4. Timeline Step 1 Administration will prepare a Preliminary Administrative Report (February 1, 2013); Step 2 Establishment of St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) ARC (byFebruary 28, 2013);

5. Timeline Step 3 Minimum of four (4) Public Meetings to be held by the ARC to receive input (April toOctober, 2013); Step 4 ARC and Administration each to submit separate final recommendations to the Board (November, 2013);

6. Timeline Step 5 Board to make final decision regarding St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) review area (February 24, 2014).

8. ARC Review Process • Administration will provide a Terms of Reference describing the ARC’s mandate, review process, and Reference Criteria; • ARC will review School Information Profiles provided by Administration and modify, if necessary; • ARC will review each school to understand how well each school meets the accommodation objectives and the Reference Criteria, according to the following framework: • - Value to the student • - Value to the LDCSB • - Value to the community • - Value to the local economy

9. ARC Review Process • The final School Information Profiles and the Reference Criteria will provide the basis for discussion and analysis of accommodation options. • The ARC may create alternative accommodation options in addition to those provided by Administration in the Preliminary Administrative Report.

10. Purpose of Preliminary Administrative Report • To provide an analysis of enrolments (current and future), capacity review, academic and educational services at review area schools (Part I); • To present accommodation options (Part II); • To provide an Administrative analysis of all options (Part III), and, • To assist stakeholders in providing input to the ARC (Part IV).

11. Key Accommodation Review Issues • St. Joseph’s has significantly low enrolment (i.e. current and projected enrolment is less than 100 ADE) and is operating significantly below its permanent capacity, and, • St. David and St. Jude’s have a surplus in pupil places (both current and projected), and are located within a reasonable distance from St. Joseph’s.

12. St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) Review Area

13. Enrolment vs. Capacity

14. St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) Review Area (St. Joseph’s, St. David, and St. Jude’s) 2011 Utilization - Enrolment vs. Capacity

15. St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) Review Area (St. Joseph’s, St. David, and St. Jude’s) 2016 Utilization - Enrolment vs. Capacity

16. St. Joseph’s October 2012 Enrolment by Grade

18. Option 1Close St. Joseph’s effective June 2014.Consolidate St. Joseph’s students at St. David effective September 2014.

20. Option 2Close St. Joseph’s effective June 2014.Consolidate St. Joseph’s students at St. Jude’s effective September 2014.

22. Option 3Close St. Joseph’s effective June 2014.Consolidate St. Joseph’s students residing west of 17th Line and 19th Line at St. David and consolidate St. Joseph’s students residing east of 17th Line and 19th Line at St. Jude’s,effective September 2014

24. Analysis of Accommodation Impact • All options will affect approximately 48 St. Joseph’s students in 2014. • All options are viable from an accommodation perspective given sufficient excess capacity exists at St. David and St. Jude’s. • Option 2 would minimize the impact of closure by consolidating all St. Joseph’s students at St. Jude’s, and would not result in splitting St. David as an elementary feeder school to Regina Mundi College as Options 1 and 3 would.

25. Analysis of Financial Impact • All options will result in the need for 2 additional buses, at an estimated annual cost of approximately $70,000. • No costs are anticipated for portable relocations/operations since sufficient surplus capacity exists at St. David and St. Jude’s. • In 2011/2012, there was a shortfall at St. Joseph’s ($5,378) when comparing revenues and expenditures for school administration and operations. • This gap in funding at St. Joseph’s is expected to grow as enrolment declines throughout the forecast period.

26. Public Input • All documentation, reports, ARC meeting minutes, and related materials will be posted to the Board’s website at www.ldcsb.on.ca (click on the ARC link to access St. Joseph’s (Thamesford) ARC website). Please check the website regularly for updates. • An input form is available for comments or questions via the ARC website or input may be submitted directly to: arc@office.ldcsb.on.ca.

27. Next Steps • Next Public Meeting: October 9, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School, commencing at 7:00p.m. • Following the public consultation period, ARC and Administration each to submit final recommendations to the Board (November 2013). • Board to make a final decision on ARC and Administration recommendations (February 24, 2014).