Saint John Paul II Boundary Review Initial Staff Report

Saint John Paul II Boundary Review
Initial Staff Report
October 26, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
INTRODUCTION
1
1.1
Goals of the Review
1
BOUNDARY REVIEW PROCESS
2
2.1
Initial Staff Report
2
2.2
Boundary Review Committee
2
2.3
Public Consultation
3
2.4
Recommendations and Approval
3
2.5
Timelines
3
HISTORICAL BOUNDARY CHANGES
3
3.1
East Kitchener Accommodation Review (2007/2008)
3
3.2
Saint John Paul II Boundary Change (2015)
3
ANALYSIS
4
4.1
Saint John Paul II Enrolment
4
4.2
Sub-Area Analysis
5
4.3
Student Distribution
6
4.4
Transportation
6
OPTIONS
8
5.1
Option 1 – Move “B – Idlewood” to St. Daniel School
8
5.2
Option 2 – Move “C – Chicopee” to St. Daniel School
9
RECOMMENDATION
9
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to obtain a decision from the Board of Trustees to proceed
with a boundary review involving Saint John Paul II and St. Daniel schools. The existing
boundaries are shown below.
1.1

Goals of the Review
Reduce enrolment pressure at Saint John Paul II Catholic Elementary School.
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BOUNDARY REVIEW PROCESS
The purpose of a boundary review is to transfer students from one school to another in
order to balance enrolment. In this case, the purpose is to move students from Saint
John Paul II to St. Daniel, effective September 2016. The Ministry of Education
guideline does not apply to boundary reviews and therefore the procedure outlined in
APF008: Pupil Accommodation Review Process is the only applicable policy.
2.1
Initial Staff Report
This report serves as the Initial Staff Report as per the revised APF008: Pupil
Accommodation Review Process. This report includes all relevant background
information and two boundary options for consideration. Once a decision is made by the
Trustees to proceed, a Boundary Review Committee will be formed and the community
will be consulted.
2.2
Boundary Review Committee
The Boundary Review Committee (BRC) will be assembled following a decision to
proceed with a boundary review. The BRC will follow the process outlined in Part A –
Boundary Review of APF008.
The BRC will consist of two parent representatives from each school under review
(Saint John Paul II and St. Daniel), principals of both schools, two Trustees,
superintendent of the affected schools, and the superintendent of Corporate Services.
One parent representative from each school will be selected by the school’s principal
and the other will either be the school’s council chair or a designate.
The role of the BRC is:






To act as the official conduit for information shared between the school board
and the school communities.
Act as a consultation body, providing advice to staff.
Review materials provided by board staff.
Comment and provide suggestions on the boundary option(s) and materials
provided.
Consider the needs of the entire school system and resist advocating for any
particular school or neighbourhood.
Attend public meetings and review public comments.
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Public Consultation
A minimum of one public meeting is required, which will be facilitated by Board staff.
This meeting will be advertised in advance using a variety of methods to ensure all
interested parties are aware.
2.4
Recommendations and Approval
Subsequent to the public consultation process, a Final Staff Report will be completed for
the Board of Trustees’ review. This report will be made public and those interested may
register as delegations to address the Board of Trustees directly. The final decision will
be made by the Board of Trustees.
2.5
Timelines
As outlined in Appendix A, it is proposed that the Boundary Review would begin in
November and end in April 2016. The Board of Trustees’ final decision is tentatively
scheduled for April 25, 2016.
3.0
HISTORICAL BOUNDARY CHANGES
3.1
East Kitchener Accommodation Review (2007/2008)
An accommodation review was conducted during the 2007-2008 school year that
included the following schools: Canadian Martyrs, Notre Dame, St. Anne (K), St. Daniel,
and St. Patrick. The decision involved the closures of Notre Dame and St. Patrick as
well as the opening of Saint John Paul II. There were various boundary changes,
including the movement of the Idlewood area from Notre Dame and the Chicopee area
from St. Anne (K) to Saint John Paul II. Both of these moves were implemented in 2010,
when Saint John Paul II School opened.
3.2
Saint John Paul II Boundary Change (2015)
In June 2015, a decision was made to move the new growth area at the corner of Old
Zeller Drive and Fairway Road from Saint John Paul II to Canadian Martyrs. There were
no students enrolled during the 2014/2015 school year and only two families were
registered for this fall (2015). This area is projected to produce 50-100 students and
therefore moving it to Canadian Martyrs relieves some future pressure from Saint John
Paul II.
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ANALYSIS
4.1
Saint John Paul II Enrolment
Saint John Paul II has a capacity of 611 pupil places. Enrolment is currently 729
(September 2015) and is projected to increase to 856 by 2020.
There are currently 6 portables on site. This is the maximum the site can accommodate
due to the site’s size and configuration. Additional portables would negatively impact the
ability to use the sports fields and playground.
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Sub-Area Analysis
Saint John Paul II’s boundary has
been divided into 3 sub-areas for
further analysis (see map).
A – Grand River South
B – Idlewood
C – Chicopee
The majority of the anticipated
growth is within sub-area A (Grand
River South). Specifically, there are
approximately 347 unbuilt units in
sub-area A (approximately 35-50
students). In contrast, there is no
new development planned for subarea B and there are only 25
unbuilt units in sub-area C
(approximately 2-4 students).
In addition, below are the 10-year
enrolment projections for each subarea. Areas B (Idlewood) and C
(Chicopee) are projected to remain
relatively stable. The majority of enrolment increases are anticipated within sub-area A
(Grand River South).
SUB-AREA
A - Grand River South
B - Idlewood
C - Chicopee
2014 Actual 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
511
555 593 630 653 665 685 688 688 678 668
113
112 110 106 111 111 106 107
98
105 100
55
57
58
62
62
65
65
62
64
62
61
It should also be noted that there are high student yields in all three sub-areas, with
Idlewood being the highest
Sub-Area Boundary WCDSB Student Yield
A
B
C
5 | P a g e Grand River South
Idlewood
Chicopee
0.379
0.461
0.324
4.3
Student Distribution
The below table shows the 2014/2015 student distribution within the 3 sub-areas. These
numbers reflect the number of WCDSB students living in the sub-areas and not
necessarily attending Saint John Paul II school.
Overall, the number of JK students is larger than the number of grade 8 students. As
smaller grade 8 classes graduate and larger JK classes enter, enrolment will increase.
This is one of the main contributing factors to the enrolment growth that is projected.
Sub-Area Boundary
A Grand River South
B Idlewood
C Chicopee
Total
4.4
JK
65
13
6
84
SK Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 4 Gr 5 Gr 6 Gr 7 Gr 8 Total
65
60
55
39
57
48
42
44
36
511
3
17
8
14
10
6
15
14
13
113
7
4
8
5
4
6
3
6
6
55
75
81
71
58
71
60
60
64
55
679
Transportation
The map to the right illustrates
the number of Saint John Paul
II students who are designated
as walkers and bussed
students. As illustrated, the
students living in sub-areas B
(Idlewood) and C (Chicopee)
are currently being bussed to
Saint John Paul II.
The map below illustrates the
1.6km walking webs for St.
Daniel and Saint John Paul II.
A portion of sub-area B
(Idlewood) is within walking
distance to St. Daniel school.
6 | P a g e 7 | P a g e 5.0
OPTIONS
5.1
OPTION 1 – Move “B – Idlewood” to St. Daniel
There are currently 113 students living in sub-area B. This is projected to remain
relatively stable. A portion of the Idlewood sub-area is within walking distance of St.
Daniel.
Based on this option, Saint John Paul II is projected to have 2-6 portables and St.
Daniel is projected to have 6-7 portables. As mentioned earlier, Saint John Paul II
currently has 6 portables on the site which is the maximum it can accommodate. St.
Daniel school is able to accommodate 6-8 portables on the site.
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OPTION 2 – Move “C – Chicopee” to St. Daniel
There are currently 55 students living in sub-area C. This is projected to remain
relatively stable in the future.
Based on this option, Saint John Paul II is projected to have 4-8 portables and St.
Daniel is projected to have 3-5 portables. As mentioned earlier, Saint John Paul II
currently has 6 portables on the site which is the maximum it can accommodate.
6.0
RECOMMENDATION
That the Board of Trustees initiates a boundary review involving Saint John Paul II and
St. Daniel Catholic Elementary Schools with the purpose of reducing enrolment
pressure at Saint John Paul II.
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