Merivale Area South of Baseline Elementary Accommodation Study

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Merivale Area South of Baseline Elementary
Accommodation Study
Merivale ARC
Accommodation
Review
Committee
(ARC)
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Merivale ARC
Why an ARC for the Merivale Area ?

• Sir Winston Churchill PS will lose about ½ of its
  600 students to the new Barrhaven high school in
  September 2009

• Carleton Heights PS and McGregor Easson PS have
  low enrolment making program viability an issue
  for students

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Merivale ARC
What Schools are Involved ?
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Merivale ARC
ARC Participation

• Volunteer parent reps. from all schools involved

• Principals from all schools involved

• Volunteer Community reps.

• Every meeting was open to the public

Supporting roles

• Professional Facilitator

• OCDSB Planning Staff

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Merivale ARC
Timelines

• Board Approval to proceed with study April 2008

• Formation of ARC June 2008

• ARC public meetings Sept 2008 to June 2009

• ARC Open House April 1, 2009

• Public Input/Feedback April 1 to May 8, 2009

• ARC Report to Trustees June 15, 2009

• Staff Report to Trustees Oct. 15, 2009

• Delegations to Trustees Nov. 23, 2009

• Decision Dec. 15, 2009

• Implementation Sept. 2010

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Merivale ARC
The Valuation Framework

• Value to the Student

- 40

• Value to the School Board

- 30

• Value to the Community

- 25
- 5

• Value to the Local Economy

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Merivale ARC
Guiding Principles Developed by Merivale ARC

• Sustainable solution

• Close one or two schools

• Minimal disruption to students

• Look into additional programming

• MFI program in the area

• Consider dual track schools

• No triple track schools

• Keep divisions together

• Space for daycare facilities in schools

• Maximize value to students and community

• Maximize community use of schools

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Merivale ARC
Scenarios Presented At the Open House

• Scenario 0 Status Quo

• Scenario 1 McGregor Easson and Carleton Heights
  Amalgamate

• Scenario 2 Merivale and Sir Winston Churchill
  Amalgamate as 7-12

• Scenario 3 Sir Winston Churchill and Parkwood
  Hills Amalgamate as JK - 8

• Scenario 4 Meadowlands adds Early French
  Immersion

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Public Input re McGregor Easson / Carleton
Heights
Merivale ARC

• General support for amalgamation

• Community is strongly divided about which
  location to amalgamate to

• Changes would be desirable to either building to
  adequately house the combined student body

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Public Input reSir Winston / Parkwood Hills /
Merivale
Merivale ARC

• Amalgamation of Parkwood Hills/Sir Winston
  received few comments, mostly in support

• Feedback on Merivale as 7-12 divided between
  support and opposition

• Little feedback on making Merivale 7-12

• Concern over program viability at Merivale

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Merivale ARC
Other Public Input

• Adding EFI to Meadowlands received a moderate
  amount of comments, all positive

• Overwhelming support to above all maintain
  existing childcare

• Strong support to have childcare available at all
  primary schools

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Merivale ARC
Recommendations

• McGregor Easson and Carleton Heights amalgamate
  as JK - 6

• Sir Winston Churchill and Parkwood Hills
  amalgamate as JK8 EFI added at Meadowlands

• Child care spaces be made available at all
  schools with primary grades

• Middle French Immersion program is established at
  McGregor Easson/Carleton Heights or Century

• OCDSB takes a lead role to make change easier

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Recommendation 1 McGregor Easson and Carleton
Heights
Merivale ARC

• McGregor Easson and Carleton Heights amalgamate

• 3 steps

• Locate initially at Carleton Heights

• Analyze further for final location of school
  (cost of renovations, availability of
  childcare)

• Finalize for occupation.

• Grade 7 and 8 at Carleton Heights move to
  Fielding Drive

• Childcare maintain or increase number of spaces
  currently available at Carleton Heights

• Special education Board staff determine best
  locations

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Recommendation 2 Sir Winston Churchill and
Parkwood Hills
Merivale ARC

• Sir Winston Churchill and Parkwood Hills
  amalgamate as JK-8 school in the current Sir
  Winston building

• Childcare maintain number of spaces currently
  available at Parkwood Hills

• Early French Immersion is added to Meadowlands
  EFI students in Meadowlands catchment area move
  to Meadowlands (block move)

• Maintain programming for grade 7/8 students at
  Sir Winston Churchill

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Recommendation 3 Child Care Spaces at
Elementary Schools
Merivale ARC

• Have childcare spaces available at all primary
  grade schools

• Maintain or increase number of childcare spaces
  in Merivale ARC area

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Recommendation 4 Middle French Immersion
Merivale ARC

• Offer Middle French Immersion programme in
  Merivale ARC area

• Site options

• McGregor Easson / Carleton Heights amalgamated
  site

• Century

• OCDSB staff to decide on site

• Consider location of 7/8 MFI program when
  selecting site

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Recommendation 5 Making Change Easier
Merivale ARC

• OCDSB must take the lead in creating a smooth
  transition

• Ensure effective communication

• Ensure sufficient communication

• Inform and educate parents

• Address perceptions e.g. closure versus
  amalgamation

• Recognize, address emotional needs

• Establish joint transition committee

• Offer joint activities

• Work with parents and students

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Merivale ARC
In Summary

• McGregor Easson and Carleton Heights amalgamate

• Sir Winston and Parkwood Hills amalgamate

• Early French Immersion at Meadowlands

• Middle French Immersion

• Childcare

• Make Change Easier

• Remember our Guiding Principles

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Merivale Area South of Baseline Elementary
Accommodation Study
Merivale ARC