Trustees make decision on accommodation of students in six planning areas

Rainbow District School Board trustees made a decision regarding the accommodation of students in six planning areas during a Special Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. The decision brings to a close accommodation reviews in Central Sudbury, Espanola, New Sudbury, Valley East, Valley North and West Sudbury.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our students, staff, parents and guardians, members of the public and all our partners in education who provided their input,” said Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “There was a tremendous level of engagement throughout this important process. People spoke about their schools with passion and with pride, which was very rewarding to us. We appreciate their feedback and our students appreciate their support.”

She added: “In the months ahead, we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for students as we move towards implementation, recognizing, of course, that some of the recommendations that were approved are contingent on funding from the Ministry of Education.”

Rainbow District School Board trustees approved the following motions:

Central Sudbury Planning Area

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

• That a new JK to Grade 6 (English and French Immersion) school be built on the Queen Elizabeth II Public School site to accommodate Lansdowne Public School and Queen Elizabeth II Public School by September 1, 2019, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding

Espanola Planning Area

That Webbwood Public School be consolidated into S. Geiger Public School for September 1, 2017

New Sudbury Planning Area

• That a new French Immersion JK-6 school be built on an existing school site in New Sudbury to accommodate students from Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, Ernie Checkeris Public School and Westmount Avenue Public School for September 1, 2019, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding

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

• That Churchill Public School be revitalized to accommodate JK to Grade 6 students from Churchill Public School and Cyril Varney Public School for September 1, 2019, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding

Valley East Planning Area

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

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

Valley North Planning Area

• That Chelmsford Valley District Composite School be retrofitted 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

• That Chelmsford Public School be consolidated into the Chelmsford Valley District Composite School building for September 1, 2018

• That the French Immersion Program at Levack Public School be discontinued for September 1, 2018 (French Immersion students from Levack Public School will attend the revitalized Chelmsford Valley District Composite School)

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

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

• That the French Immersion boundary for Sudbury Secondary School be extended to accommodate French Immersion students from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School beginning September 1, 2017

The recommendations that were approved, when fully implemented, will 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 with a small draw on reserves by 2019-2020.

The recommendations, some of which are subject to Ministry of Education capital funding, include…

The consolidation of eight elementary schools:
• Carl A. Nesbitt Public School
• Chelmsford Public School
• Cyril Varney Public School
• Ernie Checkeris Public School
• Lansdowne Public School
• Pinecrest Public School
• Webbwood Public School
• Westmount Avenue Public School

The building of two elementary schools:
• a new Queen Elizabeth II Public School, JK to Grade 6, English and French Immersion
• a new French Immersion school, JK to Grade 6, in New Sudbury

The revitalization of one elementary school:
• Churchill Public School, JK to Grade 6, English

The revitalization of three secondary schools:
• Chelmsford Valley District Composite School JK to Grade 8 English and French Immersion, and Grade 9 to 12 English
• Confederation Secondary School Grade 7&8 English, and Grade 9 to 12 English and French Immersion
• Lasalle Secondary School, Grade 7 to 12 English and French Immersion

Information about the accommodation reviews is available online here.

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Media Contact:

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