Proposed South Guelph FI boundary changes outlined in new report
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2013
GUELPH, Ontario — The second report of the New South Guelph JK-8 FI Centre Boundary Review has been posted to the Upper Grand District School Board website, in advance of the presentation to trustees on Tuesday, January 15 and at a public information session on Wednesday, January 16.
In August the board revealed plans to construct a new 449-pupil elementary school on Zaduk Place, with a target opening of September 2014. The boundary review will establish the school’s attendance area as a JK-8 French Immersion (FI) centre.
Goals of the review include the creation of a viable and sustainable JK-8 FI program in South Guelph, and to relieve enrolment pressure at John McCrae PS, Fred A. Hamilton PS and Paisley Road PS. Enrolment is on the rise due to growth in the FI program, and the implementation of Full Day Kindergarten (FDK).
Report #2 of the Boundary Review includes two shortlisted scenarios, with the second one selected as “staff’s preferred.” The scenarios have a few features in common:
- Boundary changes or grade shifts take effect September 2014.
- Grade 7/8 FI students residing within the new boundaries for Paisley Road PS and John McCrae PS will attend John McCrae.
- Grade 7/8 FI students residing within the new boundaries for F.A. Hamilton would graduate to the new South Guelph school, joining the 7/8 students there.
- The JK-6 FI boundary area map for the new South Guelph school is identical in each scenario. It is bounded by Stone Road East, Gordon Street and Clair Road East and includes some rural areas east of Victoria Road South.
In a table comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two scenarios, the creation of “rational geographic FI boundaries” is listed as an advantage to Scenario 2, as it does a better job of sending students to schools they live closer to. Maps of the scenarios appear in an appendix to the report.
Both scenarios propose shifting Grades 4-6 FI students from Paisley Road to John McCrae PS, but the second scenario also includes a boundary change that would additionally reassign some JK-3 students from Paisley to McCrae. To minimize the impact on younger students, a transition area bounded by Edinburgh Road North, London Road and the Speed River has been identified. Students from this transition area who attend JK to Grade 2 at Paisley Road in 2013-2014 may remain at the school. These students also have the option of attending John McCrae, as do any older siblings. New JK-6 FI students in the transition area do not have options, and are assigned to John McCrae.
Projected enrolment at Paisley Road will be approximately 600 students following the implementation of FDK in 2014. Although the on-the-ground (OTG) capacity of Paisley Road will be 493 pupil places in 2014 (building, excluding portables), the report explains that as a dual track JK-6 school the “effective capacity” will be approximately 440 students.
At John McCrae PS, the recently completed King George FI JK-8 Boundary Review will remove some Grade 7/8 students in 2014 and 2015, freeing up some space. However, the introduction of FDK at John McCrae in 2014 brings additional pressure to the school, bringing the projected enrolment to 650 students in a building with 495 pupil places. The opening of the new school on Zaduk Place in 2014 allows John McCrae to handle FDK and FI growth, and provides an opportunity to relieve Paisley Road PS.
Fred A. Hamilton PS implemented FDK this year, and over the last two years has welcomed kindergarten classes that have been double the size of graduating classes. The current OTG capacity of the school is 294 pupil places, not including an 8-room portapak that is nearing the end of its lifespan. Planning Department staff are projecting continued growth at F.A. Hamilton through to 2021, but the changes proposed in Scenario 2 give it a school population more closely aligned to its OTG capacity.
These are the next steps for the South Guelph boundary review:
- Report #2 will be presented to the Business Operations Committee on January 15, 2013.
- Public Information Session at John McCrae PS on January 16, 2013, from 7 to 9 p.m.
- Report #3 (Final) will be distributed on March 8, 2013, with presentation to the Business Operations on March 19.
- Final decision to be made at regular board meeting on March 26, 2013.
Parents are welcome to speak to trustees as a delegation at Standing Committee and Board meetings. Available dates and instructions are posted on the boundary review’s web page.
The staff boundary review committee also welcomes input through an online feedback form, and encourages parents to stay informed by subscribing to email alerts of website updates. Visit www.ugdsb.ca/sgbr.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext. 725
[email protected]
Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext. 544
[email protected]
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