Public input informs Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report

After reviewing and considering public input, Rainbow District School Board’s Executive Council presented the Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report at a Special Board Meeting held on Thursday, November 24, 2016. The report outlines the recommendations of senior staff on the delivery of education in six planning areas. Modified accommodation reviews were approved in Central Sudbury, Espanola, New Sudbury, Valley East, Valley North and West Sudbury on August 30, 2016.

“Regardless of the planning area that we were in, we heard people speak about their schools with passion and with pride,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg who thanked parents/guardians, students, staff and members of the school community for their feedback. “There is tremendous support for Rainbow Schools, which was very rewarding to us.”

“First and foremost, the public asked us to consider the impact of school consolidations on children, families, and communities,” he said. “They also asked us to lease space in schools to keep them open, to right-size school buildings, and to find savings in other areas, not through consolidations.”

Savings that needed to be achieved in the Initial Staff Report were mitigated by higher enrolment at October 31, 2016. Director Blaseg invited the community to continue to be champions for Rainbow Schools and work together to ensure that enrolment remains strong and trends upwards. Enrolment has a significant impact on the annual operating budget.

“In the Final Staff Report, we have balanced the goal to ensure that all students continue to have access to the best programming possible in quality school facilities with the need to reduce surplus space,” he added. “We have focused on our priority of nurturing physical, mental, social and emotional well-being and valuing student, staff, parent/guardian and partner voice while recognizing our fiduciary responsibility of delivering a balanced budget that does not draw on reserves for day-to-day operations.”

The Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding, recommends consolidating eight elementary schools, building two new elementary schools, and revitalizing one elementary school and three secondary schools.

Implementing the recommendations in the Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report would achieve a reduction in operating expenses of $2.2 million annually and would eliminate 1,483 surplus spaces and $31.9 million in capital renewal costs. The Board would be positioned to balance its budget without drawing on reserves by 2019-2020.

In presenting the Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report, Executive Council remains committed to the following:

• Deliver quality programming for students in English and French Immersion
• Expand the implementation of the Grade 7 to 12 model in secondary schools
• Minimize transitions for elementary students
• Balance program options for students with the desire to maintain local schools
• Focus financial resources on programs and services
• Position Rainbow Schools to be schools of choice for students
• Maximize the student experience in Rainbow Schools
• Invite parents and partners to support their local schools through increased student enrolment and lease opportunities
• Revitalize our schools to maintain vibrant and viable learning environments
• Advocate locally and provincially for shared use of space and a flexible funding model

RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE CAPITAL AND ACCOMMODATION
PLAN FINAL STAFF REPORT – NOVEMBER 24, 2016

CENTRAL SUDBURY PLANNING AREA

• Continue offering JK to Grade 8 French Immersion at Alexander Public School
at this time

• Transfer Grade 7&8 students (English and French Immersion)
from Lansdowne Public School to Sudbury Secondary School for September 1, 2018

Subject to Ministry of Education Capital Funding …

• Build a new JK to Grade 6 (English and French Immersion) school on the
Queen Elizabeth II Public School site to accommodate Lansdowne Public School
and Queen Elizabeth II Public School by September 1, 2019

ESPANOLA PLANNING AREA

• Consolidate Webbwood Public School into S. Geiger Public School
by September 1, 2017

NEW SUDBURY PLANNING AREA

• Continue offering JK to Grade 6 at Adamsdale Public School

• Revitalize Lasalle Secondary school to accommodate Grade 7&8 students
from Churchill Public School (English Program) and Carl A. Nesbitt Public School
(French Immersion) for September 1, 2018

Subject to Ministry of Education Capital Funding…

• Revitalize Churchill Public School to accommodate JK to Grade 6 students
from Churchill Public School and Cyril Varney Public School for September 1, 2019

• Build a new French Immersion JK-6 school on an existing school site in New Sudbury to accommodate students from Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, Ernie Checkeris Public School and Westmount Public School for September 1, 2019

VALLEY EAST PLANNING AREA

• Consolidate Grade 7&8 students from Pinecrest Public School
into Confederation Secondary School for September 1, 2017

• Provide JK to Grade 6 at Redwood Acres Public School (currently JK-5)
for September 1, 2017

VALLEY NORTH PLANNING AREA

• Revitalize Chelmsford Valley District Composite School to create a JK to 12 school offering JK to 8 (English and French Immersion) and Grades 9 to 12 (English Program)
for September 1, 2018

• Consolidate Chelmsford Public School into CVDCS building

• Discontinue the French Immersion Program at Levack Public School
for September 1, 2018 (French Immersion students from Levack Public School
will attend the revitalized CVDCS)

• Transfer Grade 7&8 students from Larchwood Public School
to Chelmsford Valley District Composite School for September 1, 2018

• Phase out the French Immersion Program for Grades 9 to 12
at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School beginning September 1, 2017
(no new French Immersion students admitted)

• Extend the French Immersion boundary for Sudbury Secondary School
to accommodate French Immersion students from CVDCS

WEST SUDBURY PLANNING AREA

• Continue offering Grade 7&8 (English and French Immersion) and Grades 9 to 12 (English Program) at Lively District Secondary School

• Continue offering JK to 6 English and French Immersion Program
at Walden Public School

IMPORTANT DATES:

Members of the public will have an opportunity to continue to provide input as the process unfolds.

A Special Board Meeting will be held on Monday, December 12, 2016 for delegations to make presentations on the Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report to the Board of Trustees in accordance with the Board’s governance by-laws, which can be accessed at http://www.rainbowschools.ca/board/policies-and-procedures/delegations

A Special Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 to decide accommodation review outcomes.

The Capital and Accommodation Plan Final Staff Report is available on the Board website at rainbowschools.ca.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.