Why A New Public High School for

Stittsville is Needed NOW!

“I have lived in the area of Stittsville since 1999. These discussions were going on then

with city counsellors and school boards. I really didn't pay much attention because I

really thought high school was so far off for my newborn son that a school would

definitely be built…. He will be done high school in 2 years

and [there’s] no school. 16 years ago and still nothing done…”

- Kathy

Historical Context • Stittsville is growing rapidly and one of the

fastest growing communities in Ontario • Stittsville residents have been asking for a

public high school for over 20 years • The need for a new high school in Stittsville was

first formally identified by the OCDSB in 2006 • Some new areas of Stittsville are being re-zoned

to Kanata schools that are already over crowded

‘Stittsville Public High School Now’ Community Survey

• Designed and administered by volunteer committee

• Over 1,700 respondents completed it – Excellent sample size (5% margin of error & 95% CI) – Broad representation of neighborhoods – Normal distribution of religious affiliation

• Distribution: – Used a convenience sample primarily based on Shad

Qadri’s email distribution list of 4,400+ subscribers – Also social media and some school council email

lists

Stittsville Residents Say: “We need a public high school!”

• 90% (1,679) of respondents strongly agree/ agree there is a need for a new public high school in Stittsville

5

Strongly Agree 80%

Agree 10%

Neither 4%

Disagree 2%

Strongly Disagree

4%

Students are Leaving the OCDSB

• If no public high school within Stittsville, 56% (962) will send their children to Sacred Heart – 80% respondents currently

in English public system – In 2014-15, Sacred Heart

is 105% over-capacity with 6 portables

– OCSB is planning a third HS in Stittsville post-2021

0 500 1000 1500

South Carleton HighSchool

Sacred Heart CatholicHigh School

New French CatholicHigh School

Holy Trinity CatholicHigh School

Other

Students are Leaving the OCDSB

• Almost 22% of yes/no respondents have already switched their child(ren) from public to Catholic schools

Yes 22%

No 78%

Residents are Frustrated with

Current Situation

• 58% (1,078) strongly agree/agree that they have considered switching school boards due to no public HS

Strongly Agree 35%

Agree 23%

Neither 15%

Disagree 11%

Strongly Disagree

16%

• Over 50% (936) strongly agree/agree they feel they had/will have no choice but to switch to Catholic board due to proximity

Residents are Involved in THIS Community

• Over 85% (1,414) say that “Proximity to Home” is somewhat or very important in selecting a high school

• Over 79% (1,308) say that having a “Community Hub” within a new school infrastructure is somewhat important or very important in selecting a high school

A New Stittsville Public High School will be almost Instantly Viable

• 73% (1,248) say their child(ren) will attend a public high school in Stittsville if a new one exists when they need one

• 12% (208) do not yet know

10

Yes 73%

No 15%

Do not know 12%

A New Stittsville Public High School will be almost Instantly Viable

• Stittsville public school data (2014) indicates a projected public high school population of: – 853 by 2019 – 919 by 2024

• This does NOT include: – new housing developments in the fastest growing

community in Ottawa, growing to 75,000 by 2025; OR

– students who switch boards, are over-crowding other schools, and would go to public HS

Stittsville Needs a Public High School Now!

• Only community of our size in Ontario without a public high school

• Addresses immediate and future needs of Stittsville given the booming population

• Potential to address additional expansion needs for A.Y. Jackson and West Carleton high schools which are also seeking capital funding

• It would address over-crowding at Sacred Heart • It would keep students in the public system!

Questions: info@stittsvillepublichighschoolnow.com www.stittsvillepublichighschoolnow.com @sphs_now https://www.facebook.com/publichsnow

BACKUP/REFERENCE SLIDES

Historical Context

• Stittsville is growing rapidly and is now one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario

– Population trends: 2006: 18,950; 2015: approx. 30,000 and projected for 2025: 75,000

• Stittsville residents have been asking for a public high school for over 20 years

– Stittsville has one public school option – South Carleton that is over 15 km away in another town

– Over 600 Stittsville students travel by bus 1.5 hour each day to/from South Carleton – there are no public transportation options

– Given the lack of options, many families are switching to the Catholic School Board BUT their preference is to remain with OCDSB

• The need for a new high school in Stittsville was first formally identified by the OCDSB in 2006

– OCDSB ranked it as a #9 priority in 2011; it dropped to #13 by 2012; moved up to #4 by 2013; and is currently #2

• Some new areas of Stittsville are being re-zoned to Kanata schools that are already over crowded

Eligible Project Categories

• Projects eligible for funding consideration for this round of Capital Priorities program must meet certain criteria, including: – Accommodation Pressure

• Projects to accommodate pupils where enrolment is currently or is projected to persistently exceed capacity at a school or within a group of schools, and students are currently housed in non-permanent space (e.g. portables).

• Ministry of Education (May 26, 2015) (emphasis added)

Development and Zoning in Stittsville

Survey Methodology Overview

• Survey designed and administered by volunteer community members

• Over 1,700 respondents – Almost 70% were parents of

school-age children – Broad representation from

people in neighborhoods across Stittsville

– Normal distribution of religious denominations - 35% reported no religious affiliation

• Stringent in extrapolation of data to Stittsville population – For a population of 30,000,

with margin of error of +/- 3% and confidence level of 95%, need a sample size of 1,030

• Used a convenience sample including Shad Qadri’s news distribution list of 6,000 subscribers

• Also distributed via – Social media: Facebook and

Twitter – Stittsville Public High School

Now mailing list – Emails from schools including

ALC, SPS, and South Carleton – Attempted to distribute to

Catholic schools, but refused to send or did not respond

18

Residents are Frustrated with Current Situation

• Almost 28% strongly agree/agree they

considered moving out of Stittsville to be closer to public high school

Please select the option below that best describes you:

Where do you currently direct your education tax dollars?

To what extent do you agree:

n=1539

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

There is a need for a new public high school inStittsville

I would direct my tax dollars to Ottawa-CarletonDistrict School Board if there was a new public high…

I have considered moving out of Stittsville in order tobe closer to a public high school

I have considered switching school boards becausethere is no public high school in the Stittsville…

I felt I had no choice/will have no choice but to switchmy child to the catholic school board because of…

4%

9%

24%

17%

17%

2%

5%

23%

11%

11%

4%

10%

26%

15%

22%

10%

8%

15%

23%

19%

80%

67%

13%

35%

31%

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree Strongly Agree

I have switched my child(ren) from the public board to the catholic school board

If there is no public high school within the Stittsville community where do you plan to send your child(ren)?

Will your child attend a public high school in Stittsville if a new one exists when your child starts high school?