There were no surprise revelations at the Rainbow District School Board's special meeting on Feb. 7, as board members voted in favour of all recommendations that were put forth during a Nov. 24, 2016 meeting.
During the meeting last November, many parents were relieved to find out that both Lively District Secondary School and Chelmsford Valley District Composite School would remain open, while others felt sucker punched when it was revealed that there would no longer be a French Immersion program at CVDCS.
The Feb. 7 meeting would bring no twists, as the board voted in favour of closing and consolidating a number of schools as early as this September.
Voting was most unanimously in favour of all motions, with the exception of Trustee Larry Killens, who voted in opposition of each motion. Trustees Judy Kosmerly and Judy Hunda were both in opposition of the motion to consolidate Grade 7 and 8 students from Pinecrest Public School into Confederation Secondary School in September.
Kosmerly's opposition, however, came on the heels of her proposed amendment that the consolidation be delayed until 2018, a motion that was voted down by the board.
Changes are coming to schools in five different areas: Central Sudbury, Espanola, Valley East, Valley North, and New Sudbury, with schools in Valley East and Espanola the first to see consolidation.
The board's accommodation plan will proceed as follows:
Central Sudbury Planning Area:
- Grade 7 & 8 students (English and French Immersion) from Lansdowne Public School will be transferred to Sudbury Secondary School for Sept. 1, 2018.
- A new JK to Grade 6 (English and French Immersion) school will be built on the Queen Elizabeth II Public School site to accommodate Lansdowne Public School and Queen Elizabeth II Public School by Sept. 1, 2019, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding.
Espanola Planning Area:
- Webbwood Public School will be consolidated into S. Geiger Public School for Sept. 1, 2017.
Valley East Planning Area:
- Grade 7&8 students from Pinecrest Public School are to be consolidated into Confederation Secondary School for Sept. 1, 2017.
- Redwood Acres Public School will offer JK to Grade 6 (currently JK-5) for Sept. 1, 2017.
Valley North Planning Area:
- Chelmsford Valley District Composite School will 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 Sept. 1, 2018, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding.
- The French Immersion Program for Grades 9 to 12 will be phased out at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School beginning Sept. 1, 2017 (no new French Immersion students will be admitted).
- The French Immersion boundary for Sudbury Secondary School is to be extended to accommodate French Immersion students from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School beginning Sept. 1, 2017.
New Sudbury Planning Area:
- A new French Immersion JK-6 school is to 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 Sept. 1, 2019, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding.
- 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 Sept. 1, 2019.
- Churchill Public School is to be revitalized to accommodate JK to Grade 6 students from Churchill Public School and Cyril Varney Public School for Sept. 1, 2019, subject to Ministry of Education capital funding.
"This evening represents the culmination of many months of data, dialogue, discussion, and debate," said RDSB board chair Doreen Dewar. "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."
Felicia Fahey is one such parent who provided her share of input throughout the course of the accommodation review, and was less than satisfied since her children will now have to switch to the Catholic School Board to continue their French Immersion education.
"We had a giant open house in January and we registered a bunch of kids to start in French Immersion (at CVDCS) in September and now we're going to have to call those kids back and say that they can't attend a Rainbow District school," said Fahey. "We have children who are already in Grade 7 and 8 who had chosen CVDCS as their high school who are now going to have to move out, and I guarantee none of them are going to choose Sudbury Secondary School."
Fahey says that her children will be attending Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School so that they're able to continue French immersion.
"Our kids are in French Immersion for a reason, because it gives you more opportunity, especially in a bilingual community," said Fahey. "It's about the equal distance away (as Sudbury Secondary) but nobody is going to choose to go into Sudbury."
Dewar said the board is doing its best to ensure that the changes as easy for students as possible.
"In the months ahead, we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for students," said Dewar. "As we move towards implementation, (we) recognize that some of the recommendations that were approved are contingent on funding from the Ministry of Education."
Click below to watch the entire meeting.
