Significant decline in provincial funding triggers accommodation reviews

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, Rainbow District School Board approved modified accommodation reviews for Central Sudbury, Espanola, New Sudbury, Valley East, Valley North and West Sudbury in the 2016-2017 school year. The reviews were approved following the presentation of the Capital and Accommodation Plan Initial Staff Report, which outlined the proposed delivery of education in each of the planning areas.

Rainbow District School Board has been drawing on reserves to balance its budget since 2015-2016 when the Ministry of Education introduced the School Board Efficiencies and Modernization strategy, which resulted in reduced funding.

This loss in revenue, coupled with declining enrolment, has had a significant impact. “There is an immediate need to find more than $3.6 million in annual operating savings to offset the provincial reduction in revenue,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg.

He added: “We must align our expenditures with our revenues for the long-term financial sustainability of the Board. It is essential that we consolidate schools to reduce costs.”

The proposed delivery of education in the six planning areas will eliminate 2,443 surplus spaces and $51.1 million in capital renewal costs as well as achieve permanent savings of $3.5 million annually.

The reviews will be carried out in accordance with Board Policy GOV-15, which states that “Rainbow District School Board is committed to providing an appropriate and equitable range of learning opportunities for students in Rainbow schools. This commitment requires the Board to consider the curriculum, program needs, well-being and student achievement of all students, while also ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.”

The modified accommodation review process that will be followed in the six planning areas will allow the Board to meet Ministry timelines for the spring capital funding application process.

The public will have an opportunity to provide input. There will be a public meeting in each of the planning areas this fall. The Board will also hear delegations as the process unfolds. Final decisions are expected in January 2017.

PROPOSED DELIVERY OF EDUCATION IN THE CAPITAL AND ACCOMMODATION PLAN INITIAL STAFF REPORT

CENTRAL SUDBURY PLANNING AREA

Subject to Ministry of Education Capital Funding…

For September 1, 2019:

• Consolidate Lansdowne Public School into a new JK-8 Queen Elizabeth Public School on the existing Queen Elizabeth site

• Consolidate the Lansdowne JK-6 French Immersion program into Alexander Public School

• Transfer the Grade 7&8 French Immersion students from Lansdowne Public School and Alexander Public School to Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and/or Lockerby Composite School

ESPANOLA PLANNING AREA

For September 1, 2017:

• Consolidate Webbwood Public School into the revitalized A.B. Ellis Public School on the Espanola High School site

NEW SUDBURY PLANNING AREA

Subject to Ministry of Education Capital Funding…

For September 1, 2017:

• Transfer Grade 7&8 students from Churchill Public School to Lasalle Secondary School

For September 1, 2019:

• Renovate Churchill Public School to create a JK-6 school

• Consolidate Adamsdale Public School and Cyril Varney Public School into Churchill Public School

• Build a new French Immersion JK-6 school on the Lasalle Secondary School site

• Consolidate JK-6 students from Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, Ernie Checkeris Public School and Westmount Public School into the new school

• Transfer Grade 7&8 students from Carl A. Nesbitt Public School to Lasalle Secondary School

VALLEY EAST PLANNING AREA

For September 1, 2017:

• Consolidate Grade 7&8 students from Pinecrest Public School into Confederation Secondary School

• Provide JK to Grade 6 at Redwood Acres Public School (currently JK-5)

VALLEY NORTH PLANNING AREA

For September 1, 2017:

• Consolidate Chelmsford Valley District Composite School Grades 9 to 12 into Confederation Secondary School and Sudbury Secondary School (for students in the Azilda area)

For September 1, 2018:

• Revitalize the Chelmsford Valley District Composite School building to create a JK-8 dual track school

• Consolidate Chelmsford Public School and Larchwood Public School into the JK-8 dual track school

• Transfer the French Immersion program from Levack Public School to the JK-8 dual track school

WEST SUDBURY PLANNING AREA

For September 1, 2017:

• Consolidate Lively District Secondary School Grade 9 to 12 (English Program) into Lockerby Composite School and Sudbury Secondary School

• Consolidate Lively District Secondary School Grade 7&8 into Walden Public School

More information about the reviews is available on the Board website at rainbowschools.ca, including the Capital and Accommodation Plan Initial Staff Report, Long-Term Capital Data Reports, Board Policy GOV-15 Student Accommodation and the Ministry of Education Guide to Pupil Accommodation Reviews.

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Media Contact:

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