Meeting Objectives

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

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Meeting Agenda

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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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)

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Area Under Consideration

+11 CRs, 40%

+6-8 CRs, 60%

-6 CRs, 160%

-11 CRs, 143%

+3 CRs, 85% +9-19 CRs, 81%

* Percentages of capacity as of 2016** “CR” = number of surplus (+) or deficit (-) classrooms

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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

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Concept A – Fisher Park JK-8 EFIwith Connaught K-8 ENG

- Fisher Park becomes a balanced JK-8 EFI (draws from Elmdale and Devonshire catchments)- Connaught becomes a JK-8 English with additional 7/8 programming- Elmdale ENG splits to Connaught and Hilson

Strengths/Opportunities Weaknesses/Challenges

Adds equivalent of a “new” K-6 school in Near West

Fisher Park and Connaught slightly top heavy

Top heaviness reduced at Fisher Park Fisher Park yard, school access and security still to be addressed as well as cost of renovations

Adds EFI program where there is demand Safety of crossing Parkdale and Holland

Reduces transitions for many students Are timeframes sufficient for renovations?

Creates a more robust ENG program at Connaught, serving a larger part of the Near West

Is a small 7/8 program at Connaught viable?

Sufficient classrooms are available to meet demand with room for growth – makes use of available space

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Concept B – Cambridge Dual Trackwith small Fisher Park JK-8

- Fisher Park draws from Elmdale and Devonshire catchments, but less from Devonshire- Cambridge becomes dual track JK-6 ENG/EFI (draws from Devonshire and Elgin catchments)- Connaught becomes JK-8 ENG; 7/8 is a feeder school for ENG & ALT- Elmdale ENG splits to Connaught and Hilson

Strengths/Opportunities Weaknesses/ChallengesAdds 2 EFI programs in the Near West Classroom availability is limited at Cambridge and

may not accommodate a full K-6

Increases EFI in Somerset allowing these children to stay in their immediate neighborhood + walkability

Safety of crossing Bronson

Reduces transitions for many students + siblings can remain together

Possibility of squeezing out special education and programs supporting ENG at Cambridge

Creates a more robust ENG program in the Near West

Viability of the 7/8 feeder program at Connaught; Does Summit program stay at Fisher or move to Connaught?

No Ports at Elmdale Suggested change does not alleviate classroom pressure at Elgin

Concern about dual tracking Cambridge

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Concept C – Connaught Dual Trackwith Fisher Park JK- 6 EFI

- Connaught becomes dual track JK-6 ENG/EFI to relieve Devonshire overcrowding- Fisher becomes JK-6 EFI; addition of EFI to relieve Elmdale- Elmdale ENG splits to Connaught and Hilson

Strengths/Opportunities Weaknesses/ChallengesNew JK-6 EFI at Fisher Park relieves stress at ElmdaleCreates new neighbourhood school

Top heavy Fisher Park (i.e. larger 7/8 population compared to JK-6)

Local solution for both Devonshire and Elmdale - two solutions for two schools

Safety of crossing Parkdale and Holland Avenue for some area students

Better balance of EFI across the Near West Does not fully utilize extra space at Fisher Park

Addresses desire for French programming at Connaught

Limited EFI boundary for Connaught, is it sustainable

Some Devonshire JKs can continue at Connaught Fisher renovations required to elementary school (cost, timing)

Gr. 7/8 Status Quo at Fisher Park (current programs remain at Fisher Park)

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Concept D – Connaught ALT JK-8with large Fisher Park JK-8

- Connaught becomes JK-8 ALT- Fisher Park becomes dual track JK-8 EFI/ENG; 7-8 feeder school without Summit- Cambridge becomes dual track JK-6 ENG/EFI

Strengths/Opportunities Weaknesses/Challenges

New ALT JK-8 Program in a dedicated, non-co-located, new facility

Loss of cohesive Summit ALT staff if moved to Connaught, putting the viability as a true ALT program at risk

Improves program availability and program distribution across Near West

Support for new ALT program is unknown – do not know JK-6 demand and unsure of 7/8’s willing to transfer facilities

Provides community based solution for alternative learning

Results of ongoing review of ALT programs expected in September

All programs are robust (class sizes, grade groupings, funding)

Triggers an ARC which would require additional time

Fewer transition points for a greater percentage of children in Near West

Fisher Park yard, school access and security still to be addressed as well as cost of renovations

More balanced Fisher Park Classroom availability is limited at Cambridge and may not accommodate a full JK-6 EFI

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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

Other Concepts Under Consideration cont’d

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

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Next Steps

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

Thank You!

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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