Accommodation Review Committee Presentation January 29, 2009

Accommodation Review Committee PresentationJanuary 29, 2009

Smaller Schools Have it All!

Introduction◦ Agenda◦ Presentation Team

Value to Student Value to Community Value to School Board Value to Local Economy Closing Arguments & Summary

Saving Our Elementary Schools


Registered Social Worker Two Children in Elementary School

Administrative Assistant Two Children in Elementary School

Civil/Environmental Engineer Four Children in School System


Algoma (Essar) Steel Employee One Child in Elementary School

Secondary Education One Child in Elementary School



Principals/secretaries/custodians know each child and their parents

Strong sense of family in smaller elementary schools

Small schools ease the transition of children that come from both healthy and broken homes

Children are more valued and are not lost in big schools


Proposed model of consolidating elementary school will decrease a child’s learning time due to increased travel

Children eat lunch at their desks which allows senior students to lead by example and gain leadership skills

Smaller schools have adequate play areas to play sports

Smaller schools have gyms and stages that satisfy the needs of the children

Smaller schools currently provide the required learning environment as would a large school (violin\piano\choir instruction is happening)


Smaller schools reduce the intimidation factor for a small child

Neighbourhood schools allow for greater participation amongst students that live in close proximity to each other

Bigger schools…means…bigger classes… multiple classes and separation of classmates (friends) at the same grade level

Withdrawn children participate less in larger schools

Transition from home to large school is difficult for a child’s growth


Smaller schools can be expanded if necessary

Smaller schools are being effectively utilized:◦ St. Ann’s - 140 to 189 student forecast - 193 capacity (70-98%)◦ St. Bernadette – 250 student forecast - 343 capacity (73%)◦ St. Pius x – 160 to 194 student forecast - 228 capacity (70 -

85%)

Maintaining the smaller neighbourhood school model allows for a community growth without stressing infrastructures


Smaller schools are all one floor …compact … barrier free

Students with special needs are better served in a small school setting (less pedestrian traffic, smaller distances to travel, more parental involvement, more peaceful, less intimidating)


Smaller schools allow for greater inter-city competition (ie. Robotics, Sports, Choir)

Dances…family socials…and graduations have been successfully held in existing schools

Breakfast/lunch programs can easily be accommodated within existing schools


Approximately 15 to 35 percent fewer students need to be bussed to school with smaller schools. This promotes healthier future generations

Consolidating elementary schools will require the busing of more students over longer distances

Annual travel costs and expense are considerably higher for consolidated schools for both the school board and parents (over $80,000/year)


Proposed model to consolidate schools will increase traffic and parking concerns…for parents, teachers and children

Proposed consolidation of schools will increase the number of buses and intimidate young children making it very stressful for children, staff and parents

Smaller schools have separate smaller drop off/pick up areas and as such, have less dangers and concerns as opposed to bus bay

Existing transportation model reduces carbon footprint and is a model for sustainability


Consolidating elementary schools may potentially increase bullying incidences and the creation of cliques or gang mentality

Smaller schools are easier to manage and control bullying

Children feel safer and are more relaxed in smaller settings

Smaller schools have sufficient security, yet a larger school would have greater vulnerable areas

Current playgrounds are and have always been large enough...SAFE…and manageable for playing

The Super School Model instills an impersonal atmosphere for all children instead of the current home like atmosphere we have.



Consolidation will decrease parent involvement and increase parent apathy

Neighbourhood children have an opportunity to play at their local schools instead of on the road. Without these schools…WHERE WILL THE CHILDREN PLAY?

The community utilizes smaller gyms for practices and social events

Parents have greater opportunity for their children to walk or ride their bikes to school rather than having to rely on the bus


Smaller gyms serve as meeting places for neighbourhoods and community use (Neighbourhood Watch)

St. Ann’s is the only HSCDSB elementary school servicing the central part of the community (fort creek area). This is a developing area, with a proposed large subdivision being built in North Street/Sackville area.

Citizens stay, return and/or relocate to the Sault for quality of life and a sense of community



NOTE: This should not be an evaluation criteria! We are here for the children…not the school board.

The value of these elementary schools…is not based on the school board’s wants! It’s based on effectively servicing our children’s…our community’s…and our future needs

Why are we closing schools when they are not

Prohibitive To Repair (PTR) and being fully utilized

Capital savings will be lost in annual transportation cost increases


Currently the board has access to funds to improve learning environments and upgrade existing schools

Demographics change over time with returning citizens and immigration

Smaller model has worked for 80+ years…and continues to work!


None of the three elementary schools are Prohibitive To Repair (PTR)!!!

Smaller schools meet and exceed the acceptable provincial standards. Parents would not have our children in schools which did not meet these standards

Demolition of intact, useful and beneficial schools is a complete waste of our taxpayer’s money

Smaller schools can be easily upgraded for a fraction of the costs



Smaller elementary schools serves the neighbourhoods

Smaller schools create communities within our city

Supports lower income families that want to participate in their children’s education

Real estate will depreciate with consolidation

Increased vandalism and crime may due to reduction of playgrounds


Note: Not included in evaluation CONSOLIDATION will INCREASE the POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK of

individuals, as there will be a greater opportunity for young children to acquire germs, diseases, and viruses (I.E., head lice)

SMALL CHILDREN prone to allergies (i.e., peanuts, perfume, etc.) will be at a GREATER RISK for contact with such aggravators which can cause death. PARENTS of immuno-suppressed CHILDREN will be more concerned about their CHILDREN’S HEALTH and WELFARE

CONSOLIDATION may also INCREASE the amount of SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM due to the greater potential for being sick

CONSOLIDATION will still require additional washrooms and upgrades



VALUE TO STUDENT - YES!◦ SUPPORTS - YES!◦ LEARNING ENVIRONMENT - YES!◦ LEARNING EXPERIENCE - YES!◦ FUTURE ADDITIONS - YES!◦ ACCESSIBILITY - YES!◦ SPECIAL PROGRAM/STUDENT PARTICIPATION -

YES!◦ TRANSPORTATION - YES!◦ SAFETY - YES!◦ HEALTH (NOT INCLUDED IN VALUATION) - YES!


VALUE TO COMMUNITY - YES!

VALUE TO SCHOOL BOARD - YES!

VALUE TO LOCAL ECONOMY - YES!

PLUS...VALUE TO SUSTAINABILITYCARBON FOOTPRINT/GREENHOUSE GASSES - YES!

PLUS...VALUE OF OUR TAX DOLLAR - YES!


Larger school settings are appropriate for large cities as there is greater population density within their service area.

The Sault is a Northern Sustainable Community for which this model does not apply!


WHAT MORE does the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) NEED to realize that THERE is TRUE VALUE in MAINTAINING OUR SCHOOLS?

I would ask the ARC, trustees and Superintendent to remember that we the parents of St. Ann students chose this school for our children. (Bigger is not always better)

It is not the building that make the school but the people (staff, volunteers and children) and we are blessed at St Ann


In the words of High School Musical …STICK TO THE STATUS QUONo, no, noStick to the stuff you knowIt is better by far To keep things as they are Don't mess with the flow, no noStick to the status quo!!!!!

THINK OF OUR CHILDREN! THINK OF OUR FUTURE!LET’S KEEP OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS!

WE ARE SAULT STE. MARIE! WE ARE NOT TORONTO!

Documents

Accommodation Review Committee Presentation January 29, 2009