Update on Western Area Review
The Western Area Accommodation Committee appreciates comments you have about TWO NEW options given to the committee for review.
These options keep the EFI program at Lakeview PS while introducing an EFI program at Bells Corners PS (Option #1) or at Bayshore PS (Option #2). A third option was looked at, D.A. Moodie Intermediate School becoming a Grade JK-8 school, but this option did not meet the criteria set out on page 2 of the attached PDF.
This same request for feedback will be distributed to the Lakeview PS, Bells Corners PS, Bayshore PS and D.A. Moodie IS families for feedback. Families should only complete one survey if you have children in more than one of these schools.
Please provide any comments on these alternatives to Jen Nielsen at jen.nielsen08@gmail.com before Tuesday, December 20, 2016.
The Details
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) has provided two new options that affect the original proposals for changes for Lakeview Public School, Bells Corners Public School, and Bayshore Public School. Details of the following two new options can be found in the attached PDF on pages 3 and 4. Option #2 has more support from the OCDSB staff because it addresses the OCDSB criteria of “consolidation of program”.
Option #1 – Introduction of Early French Immersion (EFI) at Bells Corners Public School [Note: this option is not seriously considered as it does not align with the criteria]
- Bells Corners PS becomes a JK-6 ENG, EFI, and MFI triple track
school with some boundary changes;
- This change would be introduced slowly, starting with JK-1 in the
first year and adding one grade per year, with JK-6 being reached in 2022;
- This is expected to reduce Lakeview PS’s 363 students to 325
students, in 2017 (Lakeview PS would still be 13% above capacity). This
expected number of students at Bells Corners PS in 2017 would be
approximately (26% below capacity); and
- In 2022, when Bells Corners PS has all grades JK-6 ENG, EFI and MFI tracks, Lakeview PS would have 301 students (Lakeview PS would still be 5% over capacity) and Bells Corners PS would have 402 students (18% under capacity), while Bayshore PS would be 51% under capacity.
Option #1 has the potential to split children from the same family between Lakeview PS and Bells Corners PS. Students who are already in the EFI program at Lakeview PS would stay at Lakeview PS, even though their younger siblings would end up starting the EFI program at Bells Corners PS.
Option #2 – Introduction of Early French Immersion at Bayshore Public School [this option is more closely aligned with the evaluation criteria from the Board and has support from the parent representatives]
- Bayshore PS would become a JK-6 ENG and EFI dual track school with the EFI boundary the same as its current ENG boundary;
- This change would be introduced slowly, starting with JK-1 in the
first year and adding one grade per year, with JK-6 being reached in 2022;
- In 2017, this will reduce Lakeview PS’s 363 students to 308 students (Lakeview PS would still be 7% above capacity). This expected number of students at Bayshore PS in 2017 would be approximately 375 (37% below capacity); and
- In 2022, when Bayshore PS has all grades JK-6 ENG and EFI, Lakeview PS would have 260 students (Lakeview PS would be 10% under capacity) and Bayshore PS would have 423 students (29% under capacity), while Bells Corners PS would be 36% under capacity.
Option #2 has the potential to split children from the same family between Lakeview PS and Bayshore PS. Students who are already in the EFI program at Lakeview PS would stay at Lakeview PS, even though their younger siblings would end up starting the EFI program at Bayshore PS.
Timeline
- December 6, 2016: Last scheduled Advisory Committee meeting was held
- 20 December 2016: We have received your comments based on the information in this e-mail
- 23 December 2016: Consolidated comments about the Alternative
Options #1 and #2 sent by us to OCDSB staff
- 10 January 2017: Last Public meeting
- 27 January 2017: Final report released for Board consideration
- 13 February 2017: Committee of the Whole will discuss the
recommendations
- 01 March 2017: Final Board decision
Thanks for your comments.
Sincerely,
Jen Nielsen
Thank-you to everyone who filled out the BCPS/LPS Western Area Review Survey. We have now closed the survey and the summary results can be found below. The results have been passed on to the Western Area Review Committee for the Bell Family of Schools for inclusion in their discussions.