anglophone west school district education council sustainability study – millville elementary...

Anglophone West School District Education

CouncilSustainability Study – Millville Elementary School

Executive Summary and Appendix to Superintendent Monitoring Report ASD-W-EL7

January 28, 2016

Executive Summary

• The Sustainability Study for Millville Elementary School was initiated by a motion of the District Education Council (DEC) on May 21, 2015, at the regularly scheduled public DEC meeting. The Council, Superintendent and relevant staff coordinated the study that followed the process as outlined in Provincial Policy 409: Multi-year School Infrastructure Planning, Sections 6.4 and 6.5.

• Millville Elementary School is considered a “triggered school” due to its enrolment of less than 100 students.

Executive Summary

• This process included three public meetings, formal correspondence with parents, communications with district staff, opportunities to meet with stakeholders, electronic communication, and an overall willingness to share information publically throughout the study. The public meetings were well attended by DEC and the Councilors also spent time in working sessions with staff to learn more about the school scenario. The DEC had access to relevant documentation.

• The public consultation and communications were respectful throughout the study and stakeholders from the community were engaged in the process.

Executive Summary

• The three possible outcomes were described to those who participated in the study, including the possibility of:• A DEC vote for Status Quo• A DEC vote to recommend investment in the school to repair it• A DEC vote to recommend closing the school and moving the students to

another location for their schooling

• Recommendations from above would go to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

• If there was a vote to recommend closure of the school, it was understood that the options included:• Move the students to Nackawic Elementary School• Move the students to Nackawic Middle School in combination with the

students from Nackawic Elementary School, pending the results of the Nackawic Study

Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness

• The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development was informed of the intention to study Millville Elementary School, in writing on May 26, 2015.

• The Superintendent wrote formally to parents of Millville Elementary School six times between May, 2015 and January, 2016, the duration of the study. These letters kept the parent population and others stakeholders apprised of the study process.

• A formal timeline was also provided to the parent population and stakeholders.

• Each of these documents are available publically and are a part of the final report (submitted to the Minister if Status Quo is not the outcome).

Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness

• Documentation (requested and otherwise developed) that provided relevant information about Millville Elementary School (and some neighboring schools) was shared publically. A number of these documents are a part of the final report.

• These documents were used as a basis for study by DEC members and as a catalyst for conversation.

Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting

#1

• The first public meeting in this study was held at Millville Elementary School on October 6, 2015. Approximately 30 members of the community attended.

• The Superintendent presented the sustainability study process as well as pertinent information as outlined in Section 6.4.4 of Policy 409.

• This presentation, an agenda, notes for the meeting and an audio file of the meeting were made public through a district website section dedicated to the study.


#1

• Enrolment and Functional Capacity• September 30, 2015, enrolment of Millville Elementary

School (MES) is listed at 29 students. These students make up 3 classes (K-2, 3, 4-5). Nackawic Elementary School (NES) has 208 students and Nackawic Middle School (NMS) has 147 students, as of September 30, 2015. Enrolment at MES is projected to decline.

• Projected enrolment of the two scenarios would see MES+NES at 231 and MES+NES+NMS at 365, for 2016-17.

• NES could accommodate the students from MES without changing the main structure of the building. NMS could accommodate the students from MES and NES with a temporary addition (modular classroom(s)) or permanent addition.


#1

• Enrolment and Functional Capacity• Current Functional Capacities of 30.2% (MES), 66.7% (NES)

and 29.8% (NMS) would become 74.0% for MES+NES and 82.6% for MES+NES+NMS), based on enrolment projections.

• NOTE: Some numbers used throughout the study were from September, 2014 enrolment where other numbers used were from September, 2015; this was due to the timing of the presentation and document creation.

• NOTE: Currently, 17* students from the Millville catchment area attend Nackawic Elementary School through an approved request for transfer; 7* of these students are enrolled in French Immersion. (*numbers changed from earlier data)


#1

• Health and Safety and Building Assessment• Built in 1949, with a major addition in the late 1950s.• Building is safe and in acceptable condition, with

varying levels of conditions for specific parts of the building.

• $836 900 estimated for capital improvement projects, including big-ticket items such as a ventilation system and a lift.

• There are 11 capital improvement projects listed, with one being a priority-1, six being a priority-2 and four being a priority-3. Priority-1 is considered most urgent.


#1

• Educational Programs and Services• Millville Elementary School has consistently performed well

in the Provincial Grade 2 Reading Assessment, sitting at 83.3% appropriate level or above in 2015.

• 5 of the past 6 years, MES has performed above the district and provincial average, including scores of 100% successful in 2010 to 2012.

• Grade 4 Reading and Grade 5 Numeracy Provincial Results were traditionally above or at par with district and provincial averages when this assessment was in place.

• There is a professional and quality staff and administration at MES that serves student learning very well.


#1

• Educational Programs and Services• The class sizes are small and combined,

including the only 3 grade level combination in the district.

• There is not a full-sized gymnasium.• Many extra opportunities are available to the

students with thanks to innovative staff and support from the community.

• Students provided a variety of feedback through Tell Them From Me Surveys (Grades 4 and 5) and in the Public Consultation Meeting #2.


#1

• Transportation• A move to Nackawic would require an extra

23-26 minutes on the bus, for most.• The longest drive would be approximately 65

minutes (currently 42 minutes in to school and 27 minutes out to home), with an earliest pick-up of 7:20AM (currently 7:11AM) and a latest drop-off of 4:00PM (currently 2:42PM).

• The average bus ride would be 45 minutes.


#1• Finances

• MES utility costs are estimated at $31.29 per square meter (average is $29.20 for elementary schools) and $957.00 per student (average is $480.35 per student).

• Projected savings should MES move to NES would be $271 732 annually, with a one time capital avoidance of $836 900 and no real one time cost anticipated.

• Projected savings should MES move to NMS with NES would be $440 126 annually, with a one time capital avoidance of $1 116 900 (two buildings closing) and a one time anticipated cost of $118 700 (building/grounds modifications and without modular classrooms, sub-dividing a larger room) to $253 700 (building/grounds modifications and one modular classroom) to several hundred thousand dollars more if a permanent expansion is suggested.

• It is noted that these projections included enrolment as is (with the out of catchment students) and for priority 1, 2 and 3 capital projects.


#1

• Impact on the Local Community• A move to Nackawic would require further travel for

parents with respect to their involvement in the school; some parents may travel to Nackawic for work.

• School is said to be the heart of the community, with a new section to the playground area; it is the only school in the village.

• Recent community events (fires) have seen discouraging losses to important infrastructure.

• A strong sense of community in relation to the school is evident.


#1• Impact on Other Schools

• Nackawic Elementary School could welcome Millville Elementary School students seamlessly and with open arms; 17 students from Millville catchment area currently attend Nackawic Elementary School already.

• Nackawic Middle School would require considerable facility upgrades to accommodate new students from Nackawic Elementary School and Millville Elementary School and would lose their new relationships with community use of schools agreements.

• In all three schools, there are professional and caring staff who would help ease any transition that may occur.

• Economic Development• Millville is an incorporated Village with Mayor and Council; the Mayor was

active in the sustainability study.• There are a variety of small business, service groups and churches in the

community.• The potential of new families moving to Millville as a result of the proposed

Sisson Mine Project was presented.


#2

• The second public meeting in this study was held at Millville Elementary School on December 1, 2015. Approximately 50 members of the community attended.

• Leadership from the PSSC, the Village Council, and the community presented to the public, district staff and the DEC. These presentations touched on the eight criteria outline in Policy 409. Students also presented. Letters of support for status quo and videos were also shared. In fact, the overall theme of the evening was to encourage a vote for status quo. Major concerns centered around loss of the school as the heart of the community, increased time on the bus, loss of small class sizes and loss of the opportunity to learn in their own community elementary school. The presentations also focused on the many successes at the school, including strong academic results, good community relationships and a building that was in satisfactory condition. The community expressed a concern for decreased economic viability should the school close.

• These presentations, an agenda, notes for the meeting and an audio file of the meeting were made public through a district website section dedicated to the study. They are all included in the final report.

Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Opportunities to

Engage• Stakeholders within the community were engaged in a variety of ways.• PSSC leadership played an active role in communication with the district and

organization of relevant feedback to district staff and the Council.• An online discussion board was active and regularly monitored; a transcript of

the conversation is included in the final report. The discussion board was located on an active website specific to the study and home to the relevant documentation now taking shape in the form of a final report. This report will remain public.

• Letters, emails and phone calls were also suitable means of communication outside the public meetings.

• The superintendent offered to meet with PSSC and Village Council as a part of engagement in the study.

• Advertisements regarding the study and meetings were placed in the local newspapers.

• Posters regarding the study and meetings were placed in strategic locations in the Community of Millville.

Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public

Meeting #3• The third public meeting in this study is being held at Fredericton High School tonight

(January 28, 2016). Approximately ___ members of the public are present, represented communities related to four sustainability studies.

• This presentation serves as an executive summary and closing comments leading up to discussion by Council and a subsequent motion and vote on the study.

• This presentation, an agenda, and the superintendent monitoring report will be included on our district website section dedicated to the study. They will all be included in the final report. The official minutes for the meeting and an audio file of the meeting will be made public, as per the monthly routine. The minutes will be sent to the Minister, as required and once approved.

• The Chair will write to Minister Serge Rousselle with the motion and indicating status quo if voting for option 1, or

• The Chair will write to Minister Rousselle with the motion, the recommendation and the accompanying information package if voting for Option 2 (Requesting Investment for Repairs) or Option 3 (Requesting Approval for Closure).

• The Superintendent will write to the Parents/Guardians of the students at Millville Elementary School with the conclusion of the study.

DEC Reflections and Considerations

• DEC Members took time to review documents and ask many questions of the Superintendent.

• DEC met in a number of working sessions to continue the conversations and reflect on the information.

• DEC Members would, on occasion, contact the Superintendent with questions related to the sustainability study.

Minister’s Responsibilities

• If a closure is recommended by the DEC, Minister Rousselle will review the report and assess it for procedural fairness.

• The Minister will need to reach a conclusion on the recommendation in a time frame of no less than 30 days and no longer than 60 days, as per Policy 409.

• Upon confirmation of the conclusion from the Minister, the Superintendent will write to the parents/guardians and staff at Millville Elementary School.

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