HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) PUBLIC MEETING #3

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW

COMMITTEE (ARC)

PUBLIC MEETING #3

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary School

Monday September 29, 2008

7 P.M.


AGENDA

Prayer Welcome Introduction of Committee Members Background Hamilton South Accommodation Review

Committee – Options Discussion – Questions Adjournment - 8:30 p.m.


Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee Members

Chair – Jackie Bajus

Superintendent of Education

Trustee – Sergio Manchia

Ward 8

HAMILTON SOUTHACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee Members


Principal – Kevin MacIsaac

Catholic School Council – Allison Mulholland

Parish Representative – Tess Perez

Community Rep. – Judy Hanta


Hamilton East Accommodation Review Committee Members

St. Jerome Catholic Elementary School

Principal – Linda Chittick

Catholic School Council – Daniela DelMonaco

Parish Representative – Tess Perez

Community Rep. – Sam Esposto


In keeping with the following: Education Act s. 8(1)

Ministry of Education Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines – October 31, 2006

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board Policy S. 09

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board shall review its pupil accommodation requirements annually.


Pupil Accommodation Review Policy(S.09)

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board is responsible for providing schools and facilities for its students and for operating and maintaining its schools as effectively and efficiently as possible to support student achievement.


School Board FundingEffects of Declining Enrolment

School boards are funded by the Provincial Government based on actual student enrolment.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is facing the challenges of declining enrolment across the city.

Some schools are not or will not be viable based on declining enrolment.

Grade structures and the reduction of teaching staff make it difficult for the Board to accommodate the needs of all students. (triple grades)


For the Board to sustain and offer appropriate services for program delivery, special education, co-curricular activities, as well as responsible, cost efficient facilities, schools in areas of significant declining enrolment – with lower utilization levels or higher per pupil operating costs, need to be reviewed and considered for possible closure/consolidation.


Comparison of Elementary Enrolment 2000-2007

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

20,566 20,874 20,930 20,745 20,320 20,036 19,725 19,391

+/-

308

+/-

56

+/-

-185

+/-

-425

+/-

-284

+/-

-311

+/-

-334


Enrolment Projections 2005 – 2015(From June, 2008 CN Watson Report)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

20,036 19,725 19,407 19,227 19,109 18,974 18,858 18,768 18,739 18,650 18,564


Board Response to Annual Accommodation Review Report

The Board established 4 Accommodation Review Committees:

Hamilton East Ward 5 Hamilton Central Ward 3, 4 Hamilton West Ward 1, 2 Hamilton South Ward 8


Pupil Accommodation Review Policy(S.09)

A School Valuation Framework shall be conducted on each school under review. The process shall examine each school under review in each of the following areas:

Value of the school to the student Value of the school to the Board Value of the school to the community Value of the school to the local economy


Hamilton-South Accommodation Committee Review Area

The Hamilton-South Accommodation Review Committee completed the School Valuation Frameworks for the 2 schools in Ward 8 currently under review.




School Valuation Frameworks

The School Valuation Frameworks for St. Catherine of Siena and St. Jerome Catholic Elementary Schools were presented at the second Public Meeting held on March 26, 2008.

The revised documents are posted on the Board Web Site. Links can also be found on each of the school’s web pages.

www.hwcdsb.ca


The Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee met on April 7, April 28, May 27 and September 15, 2008 to review the input from Public Meeting #2.

The committee discussed possible options for the two schools under review based on the review of the data.


Committee Discussions

Based on the School Valuation Framework data and community consultation, the committee is proposing 5 options for consideration in order that final recommendations be made to the Director of Education and Board of Trustees.


Committee – Proposed Options

Change of school boundaries Consolidation of the two schools Closure of both schools; building of one

new school Renovations to both schools Expand Hamilton South Accommodation

Review area



Value to Students Academic: Grade 3/6 EQAO results exceed board and

provincial results. Co-Curricular: full compliment of activities. Physical Layout: open concept, 1 closed classroom,

portables, accessible. Gym: single gym, lacks change rooms, no spectator area. Library: open corridor traffic, not quiet reading areas. Computer Resource: good closed classroom area. Special Education: no privacy area for meetings. Front Door: visible by camera/door release. Main Office: not professional setting due to traffic


Value to Students Academic: Grade 3/6 EQAO results meet or exceed board

and/or provincial results. Co-Curricular: full compliment of activities. Physical Layout: open concept, 2 closed classroom,

portables, not fully accessible. Gym: single gym, lacks change rooms, no spectator area. Library: open corridor traffic, no quiet reading areas and little

shelf space. Computer Resource: open to traffic, limited expansion. Special Education: 2 closed areas, no natural light. Front Door: visible by camera/door release; safety concern re:

washroom location. Main Office: distance from entrance and principal’s office.



Value to the Community

St. Catherine of Siena St. Jerome

Annunciation Parish Loss of enrolment to Ridell, Westview, G. Price Community use of gym (540 hrs./yr.) Partners – Gilkson Park, Transway, Ancaster Reformed Church Babysitting course Park nearby 26 parking spaces

Annunciation Parish Loss of enrolment to Westwood, Westview Community use of gym (50 hrs./yr.) Partners – CYO International languages, tutoring Park nearby 88 parking spaces


Value to Local Economy

St. Catherine of Siena St. Jerome

Sobey’s De Jong’s milk program Strip Mall, pizzeria

Big Bear store De Jong’s Milk Program


Value to Board – as of September 15, 2008

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Jerome

Current FTE 177.0 343.5

Current FTE (staff) 21.95 31.57

% of Capacity 100.26%(Capacity – 190)

119%(Capacity – 315)

Cost per pupil $8,067.99 $6,064.14

Staffing Costs $61, 773.83 $62, 571.94

Fiscal Impact $1.6 m $2.7 m

Current Enrolments (2008-2009)

St. Catherine of Siena 193 (177 FTE) 38 Out-of-Boundary

(18 in St. Jerome area) 3 of 8 classes combined

St. Jerome 370 (343.5 FTE) 3 Out-of-Boundary 6 of 16 classes combined



Projected Organization – St. Catherine of Siena

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

Students186

(171 FTE)179

(164 FTE)174

(159 FTE)

Combined Classes 2 of 9 3 of 9 3 of 9

Exclude Out-of-Boundary

175 (162 FTE)

168 (155 FTE)

163 (150 FTE)



Projected Organizations – St. Jerome

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

Students359

(327 FTE)345

(313 FTE)334

(302 FTE)


With SCOS: Out-of-Boundary

372(338 FTE)

358 (324 FTE)

354 (320 FTE)



Projected Organizations ofCombined Schools

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012

Students545

(498 FTE)524

(477 FTE)515

(468 FTE)



OPTION #1: Change of Boundaries

PRO CON COMMENTS

No Loss of jobs, service or ex-curricular Least disruptive May impact enrolment (especially SCOS) Room at SCOS

Impacted schools not part of ARC, especially St. Vincent de Paul, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Corpus Christi Does funding for St. Jerome renovations depend on enrolment? Another move for SCOS students

Growth in Upper Hamilton West, especially Rymal to Mt. Hope No changes to two schools may alleviate overcrowding at St. Thérèse of Lisieux


OPTION #2: Consolidation

PRO CON COMMENTS

Improvements to one school, programs, etc. Salary savings Investigate Child Care Centre

Loss of jobs, special awards, etc. Loss of school identity Staffing Loss of catholic presence Renovation costs Portables SCOS recently downsized

St. Jerome has easy access to parish Review which site is best


OPTION #3: Close 2 Schools Build 1 New School

PRO CON COMMENTS

State of the art facility (eco, physical) One new identity Salary savings Child care centre School spirit Merge communities Decreased operational costs

Loss of jobs, special awards, etc. Medium-sized school (not “small school”) Merge StaffsLoss of catholic presence, 1 less school in Parish Environment land fill costs Image of Catholic school closing beside Public School

Costs for new facility may be less than reno costs Consider proximity to Church Transportation costs Accessibility Both schools have green space


OPTION #4: Renovations to Both Schools

PRO CON COMMENTS

No loss of jobs, extra-curricular Alleviate overcrowding at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Maintain Catholic presence in 2 neighbourhoods St. Jerome enrolment up

Reno costs may surpass estimate Prohibitive costs to renovate and meet standards of newly rejuvenated schools (ex. St. Agnes, St. Luke) SCOS enrolment down

Population growth in Upper Hamilton West Compare costs of renos to building new school


OPTION #5: Expand Hamilton South ARC

PRO CON COMMENTS

Bigger picture of all schools in the area Only 22% of schools reviewed compared to 75-100% in other ARCs Consider reallocation to other schools

Delays renos to St. Jerome May cause moves to other schools Impacts transportation

Speed of new construction “Places to Grow” Include Regina Mundi and Corpus Christi parishes


NEXT STEPS

Committee Meeting – October 20, 2008 Public Meeting #4 – October 27, 2008 Committee Meeting – November 10, 2008 Report is finalized and presented to the Director of

Education for consideration. (Possibly by November 24, 2008)

The Director of Education reviews all information and prepares a report to be presented to the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees will make a decision regarding the

schools under review. (Possible dates : January 6 or January 20, 2009)


Director’s Office:

905-525-2930 - Emilia Rastelli

Superintendent’s Office

905-525-2930 Ext. 2147

Board Web Sitewww.hwcdsb.ca


Documents

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) PUBLIC MEETING #3