Elgin Street Public School Proposed Changes for September 2016

Public Consultation Meeting #2 Information Package

Wednesday January 20, 2016 7:00 p.m.

Gymnasium Viscount Alexander Public School 55 Mann Avenue

Elgin Street Public School – Proposed Changes for September 2016

Summary of Public Input Received

All comment sheets submitted to staff at the January 6th Public Information Meeting and all input received further to that meeting via email, fax or regular mail, has been made available to Trustees, in original form.

Considerable community input has been received in response to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) proposal prepared in order to respond to accommodation issues being experienced at Elgin Street Public School.

MAIN THEMES

There were some common themes included in the submissions received and or heard at the meeting on January 6th. Four main areas of input are listed below – staff has provided some additional information related to each:

i) Should the proposal be recommended to Board, could staff please consider providing siblings of current Elgin Street PS EFI students residing in Old Ottawa East (to be directed to Viscount Alexander PS) and in the Rideau Gardens option area (to be directed to Hopewell PS only) an option to also attend Elgin Street PS.

Although the number of students involved is likely quite small, any additional students directed to Elgin Street PS will have some impact in the future. Under the proposal the school’s enrolment is projected to decrease to 290 students in 2016 and its building utilization rate to 114.2%.

While this decrease would alleviate current pressures, enrolment would still be relatively high in comparison with historical levels experienced at the school. As indicated in the January 6th information package, staff also has some concerns that the actual enrolment at Elgin Street PS in 2016 may be a bit higher than projected due to some students in early grades making different program choices than they typically have in the past. This could result in an increase in EFI numbers and lessen the relief sought through the proposal.

ii) The changes proposed do not account for the longer-term pressures that schools will face in five years’ time – when will a larger comprehensive accommodation review for Centretown and surrounding areas take place and what is the vision?

Could we not put a temporary accommodation measure in place to alleviate pressure at the school for September 2016 and immediately initiate a larger review which would implement changes for September 2017 instead? – this process feels rushed and will not last long enough.

Staff is of the opinion that this proposal does put into place a vision for Centretown schools, one which recognizes the positives which come from a consolidation of program enrolments at local-area schools. The proposal alleviates the significant pressures facing Elgin Street PS currently, results in strong English program enrolment at Centennial PS, better balances enrolment between schools, and makes better use of available local space.

Under the proposal, all four schools involved are projected to have utilization rates above 100% by the 2020-2021 school year. In order to resolve this circumstance, finding additional instructional space within Centretown and surrounding area is necessary. This might take the form of an addition to a school (e.g., Viscount Alexander PS), the rebuilding and right-sizing of a school (e.g., Elgin Street PS), or the opening up of formerly unavailable instructional space (e.g., the former McNabb Park PS or Lady Evelyn Alternative School). Any of the above paths to additional instructional space would take significant time to achieve. The former McNabb Park PS building has accommodated the Richard Pfaff Secondary Alternate program for 15 plus years and consideration of the relocation of these students would be an issue. Despite being a capital priority of the Board for a number of years, to date the Ministry has not funded an addition to Viscount Alexander PS. Including process, funding, and construction, the rebuilding of Elgin Street PS would likely require a five-year timeline. Entering into an accommodation review without having additional space available would likely result in similar building utilization rates in five years’ time, however, with considerably more student movement and a larger number of smaller enrolment programs.

A temporary measure such as the relocation of kindergarten students from Elgin Street PS to Centennial PS could be implemented in order to alleviate pressures for September 2016. This would permit the Board to immediately enter into a larger accommodation review. The question is whether, without an assurance of additional future space, this would result in a plan preferable to that contained in the current proposal. iii) Considerable input has been received supporting the notion that the pressures currently experienced by Elgin Street PS need to be addressed for September 2016 and that the proposed changes create a logical plan for area schools moving forward in the medium term (better use of available local space and creation of a stronger English program for area English students at Centennial PS). Some of the support was predicated upon a larger accommodation review taking place in the future.

As indicated earlier, staff believe the proposed changes make sense given the circumstances we are in with pressures at Elgin Street PS and the reality that a longer-term solution (should enrolments continue to come in similar to 2014 and 2015) needs to include more instructional space.

We are optimistic that the proposed changes will stabilize Elgin Street PS in the medium term, create a stronger consolidated English program enrolment at Centennial PS, and make better use of available local area instructional space.

Although change is always difficult for students and families, we are committed to working closely with Principals and school communities in an effort to ease transitions for September. iv) The proposal serves to convert Elgin Street Public School to a single-track Early French Immersion program school – this will remove diversity from the school that the community values, decrease the ability for students to walk to school, and also result in a hardship for parents who will have to travel further.

There is no doubt that dual-track English and EFI schools provide a number of advantages. Local access to core programs of the Board is an important planning consideration. The ability for students and families to walk to their community school helps foster strong learning environments.

A dual-track English and EFI program has been the starting point for OCDSB elementary school planning for many years.

The increasing challenge over the past ten plus years is how that can be achieved with shrinking English program enrolments. Parents are continuing to choose immersion programming in greater and greater numbers. In fact, two new large (600 plus pupil places) elementary schools which are being built in suburban growth areas of the City will open their doors in September 2016 as single-track EFI schools.

Dual-track schools generally result in the need for more teaching staff and therefore more classroom space. This can be important when a dual-track program is accommodated in a smaller school building with a limited ability to place portables on site. The small size of English program enrolments in these schools can also serve to create triple-grade split classes for students.

All of the above variables are at play at Elgin Street PS and within Centretown as a whole.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/QUESTIONS

o Concern regarding why we are sending students to a school with three portables from a school with two portables. How is this better?

o Did the Board consider redirecting students to elementary schools ( and First Avenue Public School) located in the Glebe as part of this process?

o Can we not consider purchasing the vacant lot adjacent to Elgin Street Public School in order to relocate parking lot and place additional portables on to the site? If not that, then could portables be placed on that portion of the property which fronts on to Elgin Street?

o Something has to be done – pressures on the common areas of the school and high class sizes are not good for children.

o Concern regarding peer and/or sibling separation under proposal. o How will the number of homerooms be affected? How will this proposal reduce the number required?

o What model is being used to determine projected enrolments in the information package?

o What about the potential for students from the Oblate development. Are they accounted for in projected enrolments?

o The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is the city’s English language public school board – why is it not doing more to support its English program in an effort to increase enrolments? Is this a Human Rights violation?

o Elgin Street Public School was part of the recently completed Near West accommodation review – the working committee report included a recommendation that ‘the Board support a further accommodation review of the Centretown area – goals should include maintaining programming important to these communities as well as assessing the desirability of adding EFI programming.’

o The Board is not following its own accommodation policy – this process does not fall under the exemption whereby if less than 50 % of a school’s enrolment is moved, then an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) process does not have to be followed – these changes impact the entire school community and should follow an ARC process.

o Families have invested in a Centretown life and for those that live in Old Ottawa East, the river and the Queensway are not seen as barriers to being part of the Elgin Street Public School community at large. o Keep status quo for 2016. People don’t want to change the composition of their community and would be willing to put up with inconvenience in order to allow a longer term review to be undertaken. o Concern that ENG already feel like second class! What about the effects on those that might have to change from the EFI program to the ENG program. This could be a more difficult transition with having to change schools. Material should be translated. o Those that are affected most by the proposal to redirect ENG students are possibly those not heard from, due to language barrier. Concern about a process that possibly doesn’t inform all. o By redirecting the ENG program, the walkability factor is lost and reduces the role of the school as a community hub. o Supports the proposal with a view that moving the ENG is a one-time move versus the temporary relocation of JK/SK’s that requires more shifts over time. A longer term view is needed. o Suggests that it is no surprise that the JK numbers have increased. Believes that while Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) was available at other schools, parents used that path for their children in the years before FDK at Elgin Street Public School. o Look for more options; don’t settle for a ‘quick-fix’. o Are there any rooms available at the Jack Purcell Community Centre? o Elgin Street Public School is the ENG student’s community  Centennial Public School is not! Is there an after-school program at Centennial, how will the students get to Jack Purcell after-school care? o The new location places added constraints of daily routines and reduces valued family time. Will switch my children to EFI program. o Old Ottawa East area has been subject of redirection during previous reviews! Why not keep families in our community by opening up Lady Evelyn to EFI. o Longer term review should also include Grade 7-8 students. o As a temporary measure, could JK’s go to Franco-Jeunesse? o Worry that those that are proposing relocating the JK/SK temporarily are doing so unfairly, as the parents of these future students are unaware of the proposal. o Will Old Ottawa East Grade 7-8 students still attend Glashan Public School? o Have all groups possibly affected by the proposal been consulted? o Long term proposal should include a rebuild on the school site, funded by the Board, City of Ottawa and a developer. It could include a mixed use building with a school on lower levels and office space etc. on upper levels. Students could be accommodated at McNabb during construction. o Limit student registration to 254 capacity with priority to siblings. o Why not add EFI to Cambridge, Centennial and Lady Evelyn. This would address the shortage of EFI space in Centretown.

o If a longer term review is undertaken, then numbers should be accurate and views will be heard.

o What about the impact of the new 50/50 immersion proposal in kindergarten? o Suggests that this consultation has been inadequate without proper timing due to labour unrest in the fall, holiday season and a need to get things done for February.

o Capital investment should be the priority in order to meet the needs of the downtown community. Need a long-term and sustainable option. The proposal is a band-aid.

o At an ENG parent meeting held by Trustee Braunovan, translation opportunity was available for those present. A feeling of frustration with many believing ‘the decision is already made’. Feelings included being forced out of the school in order to make room for future new JK students.

o We need a temporary option for September 2016, with no permanent removal of students before a full review is complete. This should include Centretown, Dalhousie area and Old Ottawa East with a look at using available facilities to the best of their ability.

o Looks like OCDSB is trying to by-pass a full process and should be held accountable for outcome. The school’s spirit and culture has already been impacted by the proposal (divisive).

o Suggested that approximately 50% of the ENG population parents are ESL.

o Included in two recent working group accommodation reports to Board that a larger review should be undertaken for the Centretown area. It is warranted now!

‘ELGIN STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL - PROPOSED CHANGES FOR SEPTEMBER 2016’ After hearing from members of the public at the consultation meeting on January 6th and reviewing submitted input, staff continues to believe that the proposed changes make good sense and will provide the area with some measure of stability in the medium term. Should the proposed changes be approved by Board, staff will continue to monitor enrolments at Elgin Street PS, and local area schools in general. We have seen significant increases over the past two school years. Those are assumed to continue across the next five years. If that is the case, then a future accommodation review which takes in a number of adjacent neighborhoods and includes a mandate for additional instructional space would need to take place. This type of review may not be needed, however, should enrolments come in lower than expected. In either case, it is staff’s opinion that the changes contained within the proposal will not adversely impact future planning decisions, as a single-track model with Centretown proper as its geographic base is a strong foundation to work from.

REVISIONS to Siblings Residing in Old Ottawa East and Rideau Gardens Optional Area Given the small number of students involved, staff is recommending that a revision to the proposal be included which would permit siblings of current (attending the school in 2015- 2016) Elgin Street PS EFI students residing in Old Ottawa East (to be directed to Viscount Alexander PS) and in the Rideau Gardens option area (to be directed to Hopewell PS only) an option to also attend Elgin Street PS. This option would be limited to those siblings born in 2016 or earlier. It is estimated that this would result in one or two additional students at the school per year. The provision of the option recognizes that Elgin Street PS will continue to offer an EFI program and that the accommodation impact on the school is very limited. Staff would like to thank the community for all of their valued input regarding the efforts to address the accommodation pressures experienced by Elgin Street PS. Although a challenging and difficult process for all involved, we appreciate the time you have taken and the honest feedback you have provided.

NEXT STEPS Staff will prepare a recommendation report which will be presented to the Board’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday February 16th 2016. That meeting will include an opportunity for delegations from the public and Trustee debate regarding the recommendations. The report will be posted to the Board’s website prior to the meeting date. A final decision by Board regarding the study recommendations is scheduled to take place on Tuesday February 23rd 2016. These two meetings will be held at the Board offices at 133 Greenbank Road. Although parents and community members are encouraged to provide their input tonight, feedback can continue to be submitted throughout the rest of the process. All correspondence received will be shared in its original form with Trustees. Comments and/or questions may be sent in via the following: Email: [email protected] Fax: 613-820-6968

Mail: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Elgin Street Public School Proposed Changes 2016 Planning Department 133 Greenbank Road Ottawa ON K2H 6L3

Additional information and updates regarding the study process can be found on the Board’s website (www.ocdsb.ca) under: Quick Links/ Elgin Street Public School Proposed Changes 2016 or at: http://www.ocdsb.ca/sch/Consultation/Pages/Elgin-Street-Public-School.aspx