davisville junior public school / spectrum alternative...

Davisville Junior Public School / Spectrum Alternative Senior School

Parent Community Meeting

26 September 2017

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Presentation Outline

• 7:00 p.m. Welcome and Introductions

• 7:05 p.m. New Replacement School • Project Status - what has happened over the summer?

• Project Approvals & Design Development

• Relocation of DAVISVILLE/SPECTRUM during construction

• 7:25 p.m. Review of Transportation Strategies for Bussing

• 7:50 p.m. Next Steps

• 8:00 p.m. Questions & Answers for Consideration

• 8:45 p.m. Final Thoughts and Next Steps

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Davisville Jr PS /Spectrum Alternative Sr School – Parent Meeting 26 Sep 2017

Welcome and Introductions

• Shona Farrelly, Principal • Cécile Robertson, Vice Principal • Shelley Laskin, Trustee, Ward 11 • Ian Allison, Superintendent of Schools, Learning Network 2 • Sal Beltrano, Manager, Capital Projects Office, Construction

Project Office • Tom Schloessin, Architectural Coordinator, Design Services

Architectural/Structural • Reshma Kalifullah, Assistant Manager, Student Transportation

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Brief Historical Context • In 2012, the TDSB Board approved the plans to redevelop

the Davisville/Spectrum property involving: • A Surplus Declaration of .98 acres of the school property for

residential development. This land disposition would fund the construction of a new 668 pupil placement school;

• The continued operation of the existing school during the construction of the new replacement school.

• With the announcement of funding from the Ministry of Education for the new replacement school in late 2015, the need to redevelop the school property no longer was required.

• Design has gone from integrated with development to a stand alone school on the site.

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Purpose of Today

• After reviewing potential operations on-site during construction with the community in meetings last school year, staff are making a recommendation to relocate the school during construction in response to site conditions and program constraints anticipated as the TDSB constructs a replacement school on the Davisville/Spectrum property – facilities staff are here to discuss.

• These issues are the result of ongoing and sustained student population growth that will continue to pressure the existing school during this interim construction period.

• The new school will be built to accommodate 731 pupil spaces

• In 2012 there was no “holding solution” – but in March 2017, TDSB Board approved the strategy to maintain the closed Vaughan Road Academy to serve as a ‘holding school’ to address upcoming accommodation planning in various parts of the TDSB – transportation staff are here to discuss transportation strategies.

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Purpose Cont’d The restriction on site utilization will place additional pressures on school function and has led to the following Staff and School Community concerns:

• The school population continues to grow. Overcrowding in undersized spaces currently impacts student behaviour and school programming. There will be no outdoor play or athletic space on school grounds for the duration of construction.

• Increased reliance on existing interior space for new loaded classrooms will result in the loss of dedicated spaces for special programs – music, physical education and after-school activities.

• There continue to be concerns about the facility condition of the school – already high on the Facility Condition Index (FCI) list. The increased use of the building will require maintenance and improvement expenditure that is not warranted.

• There is a concern for overcrowding and there would not be adequate space for marshalling at arrival/dismissal. With the hoarding required to keep the students, staff and community safe during the build, there simply is not adequate exterior school space.

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Purpose Cont’d This has led staff to review relocation options for Davisville/Spectrum during construction. The advantages to relocating Davisville/Spectrum during construction are as follows:

• The proximity of an active school and a construction site will be removed. As a result the possible risk of a construction incident impacting the safety of students, staff and the public is eliminated;

• The ability to address repair and maintenance issues on the existing building will be constrained by the hoarding and new construction;

• The risk of scheduling delays (complaints) and site constraint issues associated with the operation of an elementary school next to the construction site is removed;

• The clearing of the Davisville/Spectrum site prior to construction of the replacement school will permit the most efficient construction environment free of physical obstructions which should result in lower construction costs and reduced scheduling impacts; and

• The removal of the existing Davisville/Spectrum facility during construction of the Replacement School will reduce the duration of construction on the school site by one full year, allowing the completion of the new playgrounds at the same time as the completion of the new school.

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Davisville/Spectrum Replacement School– Site Overview

View of New School – From NE Corner

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View of New School – From SE Corner

Site Access & Vehicle Circulation: Aug, 2017 • One – way access & southbound traffic

only from Millwood rd. • Internal turn-around for car exit – below

grade parking

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Tree Planting – Millwood Rd.

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Davisville/Spectrum Replacement School – Shared Use Condition

Summary of Conditions – anticipated if the school remains on site during construction

CONSTRUCTION AREA

Open pedestrian access

Parent and bus drop-off/pick-up

Emergency exit to sidewalk

New access for 68 Davisville (as per Easement Agreement)

Construction access from Davisville

Emergency exit to sidewalk

18 – 32 ft.

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Vaughan Road Academy – Site Overview

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Vaughan Road Academy – Site Overview

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Vaughan Road Academy – Site Improvements

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Vaughan Road Academy – Ground Floor

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Vaughan Road Academy – Basement Floor

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Vaughan Road Academy – Second Floor

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Vaughan Road Academy – Third Floor

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Toronto Student Transportation Group Proposal for Davisville Busing in 2018-19

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Vaughan Road Academy – Bussing Scenario

How we started • Conducted a study of Proposed Relocation for Davisville to Vaughan Road

Academy. The 561 students requiring bus service translates into 10 vehicles (at approx. 55 pupils per vehicle)

• Currently Davisville shares a French Immersion 72 passenger shared with John Fisher servicing the Thorncliffe Park and area south east of the school which we will make a dedicated bus for Davisville only next year

• Looked initially for two locations suitable for bus loading and unloading and created two stop locations at the local parks, one on the east side of Yonge Street and one on the west

• All buses will be one pick up point to the common drop off location at Vaughan Road Academy

• In addition whatever needs there are for special education students will be addressed, as they are currently, with 18 passenger vans

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Where Are We Now?

• Analysis showed need for 2 vehicles west side of Yonge where approx. 100 students resided

• East side was where the bulk of the students resided and would require 7 vehicles to transport the approx. 400 students

• We selected June Rowlands Park and Oriole Park initially for all buses

• We have since learned that June Rowlands Park may only accommodate two buses so five other buses will be relocated to other potential locations which can accommodate the necessary space required

• Several additional sites are currently being assessed as potential stops

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Frequently Asked Questions 1. Can you add more stops or move the proposed stops? Absolutely - we are very

open to suggestions 2. Will there be buses for before and after school programs? Yes 3. Will the buses be arriving at different times at the pick up locations? We will be

evaluating the need for that as well 4. Will students be assigned to particular routes? We are evaluating the pros and

cons of doing that. 5. What happens if a student gets sick at school and has to go home will a bus

pick them up? As in any TDSB school it would be the parent’s responsibility to pick he/she up

6. What is the criteria for cancelling a bus in bad weather? There is an inclement weather policy

7. Will there be monitors on the buses? It is not provided currently on any routes 8. How is bullying on the buses managed? Each carrier trains their drivers to

report any behavioural issues or safety concerns with documentation to the school which the students attend

9. Will my child require a car seat? Students travelling on passenger vehicles (not yellow school buses) who are less than 40 pounds require a car seat.

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School Bus Safety • 3 programs that we offer to schools in regard to school bus safety-

Buster the school bus safety program that occurs during safety week in October, School Bus safety program that is during the school year, Kindergarten Orientation program that is offered in May/June for new Kindergarten students. • Buster is an interactive entertaining program that includes a remote

control school bus that interacts with the students as an MC • School bus Safety Program is provided by Stock Transportation and

includes a video and direct exposure to the safety needs in riding a school bus

• Kindergarten Orientation Program provides training for both parents and children and a boarding experience on an actual bus on site

• The best resource for safety information is the www.torontoschoolbus.org website

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http://www.torontoschoolbus.org/

Bussing Updates

• As we look ahead to the next school year, the Toronto Student Transportation Group is pleased to announce the launch of the new transportation portal available at www.torontoschoolbus.org.

• The transportation portal allows you to look up your child’s

transportation information and subscribe to the late bus notification system so that emails are delivered directly to your inbox when the school bus carrier has posted the route as late in the late bus portal.

• To access the transportation portal, please visit

www.torontoschoolbus.org and select the ‘Parent’ link in the top right hand corner of page. From there, you can create an account, look up your child’s specific transportation information, and subscribe to the late bus notification.


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http://www.torontoschoolbus.org

http://www.torontoschoolbus.org/

Next Steps

• Continue to respond to questions from parents and develop bussing scenario in more detail.

• Continue to update the parent community.

• Meet again after the Board meeting (October 18) to share information.

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Questions

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Thank you!

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Davisville Jr PS/ Spectrum Alternative Sr School- Parent Meeting 26 Sep 2017

davisville junior public school / spectrum alternative...

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