Orleans Wood / Terry FoxOrleans Wood / Terry FoxPublic Information SessionPublic Information Session

Education Options for ParentsEducation Options for Parents

5 November, 20095 November, 2009

AgendaAgenda

Background - what are we trying to Background - what are we trying to fix?fix?

Options considered Options considered RecommendationRecommendation Next StepsNext Steps Discussion/QuestionsDiscussion/Questions

IntroductionIntroduction

Review was initiated by OCSDB Review was initiated by OCSDB following discussions between Terry Fox following discussions between Terry Fox (TF) and Orleans Woods (OW) School (TF) and Orleans Woods (OW) School CouncilsCouncils

““Root cause” of concern was declining Root cause” of concern was declining enrolment at both schools, especially in enrolment at both schools, especially in core English Program where triple grade core English Program where triple grade splits are a very real possibility and splits are a very real possibility and double splits are common. double splits are common.

BackgroundBackground

Declining enrolment at both schools due Declining enrolment at both schools due to demographic changesto demographic changes Schools are located in a mature communitySchools are located in a mature community Families are having less childrenFamilies are having less children Competition from other school boardsCompetition from other school boards Regeneration is occurring, but not likely to Regeneration is occurring, but not likely to

change numberschange numbers Decline stabilized but minimal growth likelyDecline stabilized but minimal growth likely

Background - demographicsBackground - demographicsOrleans Wood/Terry Fox Study Area

4-13 Year Old Population History & Projections

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Year

4-1

3 Y

ea

r O

ld P

op

ula

tio

n

4-13 Pop History 4-13 Pop Projection

Orleans Wood JK-6 Boundary Area 4-13 Year Old Population History & Projections

500

700

900

1100

1300

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Year

4-1

3 Y

ea

r O

ld P

op

ula

tio

n

4-13 Pop History 4-13 Pop Projection

Terry Fox JK-6 Boundary Area 4-13 Year Old Population History & Projections

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Year

4-1

3 Y

ea

r O

ld P

op

ula

tio

n

4-13 Pop History 4-13 Pop Projection

Background – effect on Background – effect on programsprograms

Triple Grade Splits at TF narrowly averted Triple Grade Splits at TF narrowly averted and likely to occur in near futureand likely to occur in near future

Average class sizes are the lowest in Average class sizes are the lowest in OCDSBOCDSB

TF English has 9.1 students/grade (lowest)TF English has 9.1 students/grade (lowest) TF EFI has 11.5 students/grade (lowest)TF EFI has 11.5 students/grade (lowest) OW Eng has 14.7 students/grade - 11OW Eng has 14.7 students/grade - 11thth smallest smallest

(of 54)(of 54) OW EFI has 17.3 students/grade - 6OW EFI has 17.3 students/grade - 6thth smallest (of smallest (of

86)86)

ConsiderationsConsiderations Neither school has the ability to absorb the Neither school has the ability to absorb the

other’s populationother’s population A full Accommodation Review Consultation A full Accommodation Review Consultation

(ARC) would likely involve entire east end (ARC) would likely involve entire east end district.district. This may not be a priority for OCDSBThis may not be a priority for OCDSB Process (if started today) would take at least Process (if started today) would take at least

18 months, likely much longer. 18 months, likely much longer. No change before Fall 2012 at the earliestNo change before Fall 2012 at the earliest

Ontario’s Full Day Kindergarten initiative Ontario’s Full Day Kindergarten initiative means near-term closures unlikely means near-term closures unlikely

Potential OptionsPotential OptionsThe Working Group examined four The Working Group examined four

options:options: Consolidation of TF and OWConsolidation of TF and OW Status Quo Status Quo Restructuring of ProgramsRestructuring of Programs

““Parallel Programs”Parallel Programs” OW (EFI JK – Gr 6)OW (EFI JK – Gr 6) TF (Eng JK – Gr 6, Eng and EFI Gr 7 - 8)TF (Eng JK – Gr 6, Eng and EFI Gr 7 - 8)

““Dual Track Grade Restructuring”Dual Track Grade Restructuring” OW (JK – Gr 3), TF (Gr 4 – Gr 8)OW (JK – Gr 3), TF (Gr 4 – Gr 8)

ConsolidationConsolidationProsPros:: Keeps kids in Keeps kids in

communitycommunity Better transition to Better transition to

Cairine Wilson Cairine Wilson (no “bleeding” to St. (no “bleeding” to St.

Matthews)Matthews)

Cons:Cons: Neither school has Neither school has

capacity to absorb capacity to absorb other without major other without major capital investmentcapital investment

Competing priorities Competing priorities for OCDSB – study for OCDSB – study may not be initiated may not be initiated soon. soon.

Would take at least Would take at least two years to study, two years to study, longer to implement longer to implement even if started now.even if started now.

Status QuoStatus Quo

Pros:Pros: No change is goodNo change is good

Cons:Cons: Triple Grade splits Triple Grade splits

remain a possibilityremain a possibility Children may have same Children may have same

teacher multiple years teacher multiple years (maybe good, maybe (maybe good, maybe not)not)

Double-grade splits Double-grade splits remain (8 at TF, 9 at OW remain (8 at TF, 9 at OW in 2010)in 2010)

What would it look like?What would it look like?

Using 2010 projected enrolment statistics and Using 2010 projected enrolment statistics and existing staffing allocations, the footprint would existing staffing allocations, the footprint would be as follows:be as follows:

““Parallel Programs”Parallel Programs”

OW to become EFI CentreOW to become EFI Centre Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6

Terry Fox to become Core English Terry Fox to become Core English CentreCentre Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6

Terry Fox maintains Grade 7, 8 Terry Fox maintains Grade 7, 8 programs for both streamsprograms for both streams

““Parallel Programs”Parallel Programs”

Pros:Pros: Core structure of school Core structure of school

unchangedunchanged Siblings (potentially) Siblings (potentially)

spend longer togetherspend longer together Mentoring program Mentoring program

remainsremains Split grades greatly Split grades greatly

reduced (from 17 to 4)reduced (from 17 to 4) Should prevent triple-Should prevent triple-

splitssplits

Cons: Cons: Children who move Children who move

from EFI to English from EFI to English programs must programs must change schoolschange schools

Smaller combined Smaller combined peer groups at each peer groups at each grade levelgrade level

What does it look like?What does it look like?

Using 2010 projected enrolment statistics and Using 2010 projected enrolment statistics and existing staffing allocations, the footprint would existing staffing allocations, the footprint would be as follows:be as follows:

““Dual Track Grade Dual Track Grade Restructuring”Restructuring” OW to offer both programsOW to offer both programs

Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 Terry Fox to offer both programsTerry Fox to offer both programs

Grade 4 to Grade 8Grade 4 to Grade 8

Note: Note: Grade 3 / 4 split was chosen as it is the pedagogical Grade 3 / 4 split was chosen as it is the pedagogical transition transition between primary and junior grades and is viewed between primary and junior grades and is viewed as the most as the most appropriate and logical point to do so. appropriate and logical point to do so.

Dual Track Grade Dual Track Grade RestructuringRestructuring

Pros:Pros: Concentrated staff Concentrated staff

resources (more teachers resources (more teachers at each grade)at each grade)

Greatly reduces double Greatly reduces double splits (from 17 to 4)splits (from 17 to 4)

Should prevent triple splitsShould prevent triple splits Transition from EFI to Transition from EFI to

English less damagingEnglish less damaging Should reduce “bleed” to Should reduce “bleed” to

St. Matthews in Gr. 7St. Matthews in Gr. 7

Cons:Cons: Siblings change Siblings change

schools sooner schools sooner Loss of mentoring Loss of mentoring

programprogram

What would it look like?What would it look like?

Using 2010 projected enrolment statistics and Using 2010 projected enrolment statistics and existing staffing allocations, the footprint would existing staffing allocations, the footprint would be as follows:be as follows:

Terry Fox School Council Terry Fox School Council RecommendationRecommendation Each family will have a different perspective Each family will have a different perspective

on what is the best option.on what is the best option. TF School Council took a global perspective, TF School Council took a global perspective,

examining what made sense for the entire examining what made sense for the entire school.school.

The The Dual Track K to 3 (OW) and 4-8 (TF) Dual Track K to 3 (OW) and 4-8 (TF) Option is recommended.Option is recommended.

Parents must decide what is best for their Parents must decide what is best for their children and provide constructive feedback children and provide constructive feedback to the Board on their preferences.to the Board on their preferences.

Orleans Wood School Orleans Wood School Council Council

Next StepsNext Steps Discussion tonightDiscussion tonight 6 – 19 Nov – Community Feedback6 – 19 Nov – Community Feedback 9 Dec – Business Services Committee9 Dec – Business Services Committee Jan – Presentation to BoardJan – Presentation to Board Jan – Decision communicated to publicJan – Decision communicated to public Transition Work (if required) put in Transition Work (if required) put in

actionaction Sep 2010 – Implementation (if required)Sep 2010 – Implementation (if required)

DiscussionDiscussion