November 2014

Proposal for School Closure and Consolidation – Pennfield Elementary

SCHOOL SUSTAINABILITY REVIEWS and

SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS The Anglophone South District Education Council (DEC) will host a series of Public Consultations as per Provincial Policy 409 Multi-Year School Infrastructure Planning to study the sustainability of five schools: St. Patrick’s School, Seawood School, Havelock School, Lorne Middle School and Pennfield Elementary School.

Under Policy 409, the DEC will be holding two public information sessions at each school subject to the review. We will be holding initial meetings at each of the five schools to deliver the proposal to the public. The initial meetings are to allow the DEC and staff to explain the process involved in a Policy 409 review, present the proposal and be available to answer questions about the process.

A second meeting at each school will be scheduled at a later date to allow the public an opportunity to ask questions about the proposal, voice their concerns and provide feedback to the review.

The first series of meetings are scheduled as follows: Wednesday, November 5 St. Patrick’s School (at Havelock School) 7:00 pm Monday, November 10 Seawood School 7:00 pm Monday, November 17 Havelock School 7:00 pm Tuesday, November 18 Lorne Middle School 7:00 pm Monday, November 24 Pennfield Elementary School 7:00 pm Everyone is welcome to attend, and encouraged to do so. Throughout this process, written feedback can be submitted via email to: asds.schoolreview@gnb.ca or you may send a letter to the attention of Robert Fowler, Chair, District Education Council, 490 Woodward Avenue, Saint John, NB E2K 5N3.

DEC meeting, October 8, 2014 – motion was made on Pennfield School:

“ Council direct the Superintendent to inform Minister Rousselle that we intend to study School Sustainability for Pennfield School. This will allow us under the department’s Policy 409 – Multi Year School Infrastructure Planning – to begin the public consultation process to gather community and stakeholder input to the recommendation.”

 

District Education Council (DEC) Priorities:

6.4.2 A DEC must consider the following criteria when studying a school’s sustainability. This list does not preclude a DEC from considering other factors relevant to their local circumstances.

1. Low/declining enrolments: 2. Health and Safety: 3. Quality of Education Programs and Services: 4. Transportation: 5. Finances: 6. Impact on the local community: 7. Impact on other schools: 8. Economic development:

Policy 409 – Section 6.4 Determining a School’s Sustainability

6.5.3 The DEC will ensure that affected persons:

are provided with information relevant to the proposal; have adequate time to consider the information

provided; and, have adequate time and opportunity to make a

presentation to the DEC (i.e. let their views be known either in writing or orally) and are heard impartially at an open DEC meeting.

Policy 409 – Section 6.5 Public Consultation on School’s Sustainability

6.5.4 There will be a minimum of three public DEC meetings on the possible closure – one meeting to inform the school community of the DECs’ intention and the steps to be followed, a second meeting to provide the opportunity to make a presentation (in writing or orally) and a final meeting to provide the public with the results of the consultation, including an account of the factors considered, as per section 6.4 of this policy, and resulting recommendation being submitted to the Minister.

Policy 409 – Section 6.5 Public Consultation on School’s Sustainability

6.6.1 A DEC will inform the Minister in writing of a recommendation to close a school, following the public consultation process.

6.6.3 The Minister shall normally respond to a recommendation to close a school within a period of time no less than 30 days and not exceeding 60 days.

Policy 409 – Section 6.6Ministerial Approval of a School Closure

K-5 school built in 1950 Enrolment declined by 44% since 1997 59 students enrolled as of Sept. 2014 Max capacity for Pennfield is 94 students Pennfield does not have a gym Pennfield is not handicapped accessible Pennfield has green space, a playground and a playfield Parking around the school is sufficient Pennfield does not have a cafeteria

Pennfield Elementary - Background

2000 - 86 2008 – 67 2002 – 99 2010 – 64 2004 – 79 2011 – 70 2006 – 61 2013 – 58

Class composition: 4 classes 1 K&1 1 grade 2 1 grade 2 & 3 1 grade 4 & 5

Pennfield Enrolment (K-4–now K-5)

STAFFING: Description FTE’s (Full Time Equivalents) Teacher FTE’s 5.60* Clerical Staff

.86 Custodial

.53 Ed. Assistant (EA)

1.00

Total 7.99

* (including admin., guidance, music, phys. ed., etc.)

Pennfield Staffing

Project Cost Fire prevention (2000, 05, 06) $29,016 Building interior – building security (2006) 1,755 Heating and ventilation – boiler upgrade (2009) 23,549 Site improvement - entrance (2012) 5,099

Total $59,419

Pennfield Elementary Capital Improvement Projects Completed

Project Cost Building envelope – exterior windows and doors $150,000 Building envelope – roof replacement

200,000 Water supply and sewer – bathroom upgrade 175,000

Total $525,000

Pennfield Elementary Capital Improvement Projects Required

Light & power $ 6,303 Heating fuel 5,011 Minor repairs 6,382 Garbage removal 2,270 Snowplowing 4,000 Total $23,966

Pennfield Elementary Annual Operating Costs 2013/14:

Black’s Harbour is 10 kms from Pennfield Black’s Harbour has excess capacity Has large gym, playground, cafeteria and auditorium School is fully accessible including the bathrooms No major capital investment would be required School is in excellent shape for the year Significant improvements have been made to Black’s

since 2000 $1.7 million in total including new exterior link being

completed now

Proposal: Close Pennfield and move students to Black’s Harbour

Proposed Boundary for Black's Harbour

The following slides list many of the programs and activities offered at Black’s Harbour. This is intended to provide families information about Black’s Harbour. The District recognizes that many programs and activities are offered by the staff and partners at Pennfield Elementary as well.  

Black’s Harbour School

K-6 school built in 1950 Enrolment peaked in 2000, dropped 46% since then Max capacity of Black’s Harbour is 346 Extra large gym (intramurals, after school rentals every night of the week

other than when construction is happening) Playground in excellent shape and great location Large cafeteria (Chartwells serving hot lunches every day) Auditorium (capacity for 250 people) Computer lab (desk tops, lap tops, net books, i-pads, etc.) Music room (with class sets of musical instruments and piano) Community Room for in-school and after-school programming Smartboards and FM systems in every classroom New Bathrooms (2013) - fully accessible Addition of a link and elevator between the buildings (completion date Feb

2015) Complete accessibility

Black’s Harbour K - 6 - Background

Community Schools Program Part-time community school coordinator Backpack Program (providing food to homes on weekends) School Supply Program ( for those in need) Daily Breakfast Program for all students (serves cereal, milk, juice, fresh fruit, yogurt, granola

bars, etc.) In-school Mentoring Program through Big Brothers Big Sisters (with both adult and teen

mentors) After School Enrichment Clubs [examples: Lego Club, Cooking Club, Kids Zumba, Art Club,

Girls Circle, Game-On, Knitting Club,Board Games Club, etc.) Clothing Closet (gently used items for all to access, new coats, new boots and new mittens

stocked each year) Healthy Snacks (morning, recess, noon, and throughout the day)Student Leadership Student Led Clubs (noon hour clubs): Confidence Club, Bully Busters, Sports Club, Writing

Club, Art Club Playground Pals BHS Monthly Video Awards (celebrating academic achievement, improvement, attendance,

honorable mentions, recognitions, etc.) Student morning announcements, school dances Assist in community/H&S events (projects like Remembrance Day, Spring Fair, etc.)

Black’s Harbour School Activities and Support Programs

STAFFING: Description FTE’s (Full Time Equivalents) Teacher FTE’s 8.30* Clerical Staff

1.00 Custodial

2.00 Ed. Assistant (EA)

6.00 Library Assistant

.15

Total 17.45

* (including admin., guidance, music, phys. ed., etc.)

Black’s Harbour Staffing

Project Cost Building envelope – foundation wall & slab (2000) $ 43,532 Building envelope – exterior windows (2000, 01) 145,277 Building envelope – siding (2001, 02, 03) 197,940 Site improvement (2002) 6,944 Site access (2003, 04) 220,975 Building envelope – exterior doors (2003, 04) 41,404 Building interior – building security (2006) 21,215 Roof replacement (2009) 102,266 Water supply & sewer – washroom upgrade (2012, 13) 272,773 Interior accessibility – elevator (2103) 22,797 Building envelope – exterior link (2014) estimate 650,000

Total $1,725,123

Black’s Harbour Capital Improvement Projects Completed

Project Cost Building Interior – Cafeteria upgrade

$250,000

Black’s Harbour Capital Improvement Projects Required

Light & power $58,156 Minor repairs 9,676 Garbage removal 3,086 Water and Sewage 7,332 Snowplowing 7,216 Total $85,466

Black’s Harbour Annual Operating Costs 2013/14:

Pictures of Black’s Harbour School

Thank You for Attending! Next meeting date – Jan. 13, 2015 This presentation will be posted to ASD-S website

at: http://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-S/Written feedback can be submitted: via email to asds.schoolreview@gnb.ca 0r send a letter to the attention of: Robert

Fowler, Chair District Education Council 490 Woodward Avenue Saint John, NB E2K 5N3