PLANNING DEPARTMENT PLN: 13‐15 April 9, 2013 File Code #: R02 MEMO TO: Martha Rogers, Director of Education FROM: Heather Imm, Senior Planner Jennifer Passy, Manager of Planning
Janice Wright, Superintendent of Finance
RE: New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 Report Classification: INFORMATION BACKGROUND On February 26, 2013 the Board approved PLN:13‐03 “New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review ‐ Report #1” which initiated the boundary review process for the new Settlers Creek elementary school. ISSUE In accordance with the School Boundary Review Procedures Manual (320‐A), Report #2 is to provide: a) Alternative scenarios to address the accommodation issues; b) Staff analysis of the alternative scenarios developed; c) A list of recommended options including justification for the recommendations; d) The proposed timeline for implementation of the Boundary changes; and e) A communication plan. RECOMMENDATION 1. THAT memo PLN: 13‐15 entitled “New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2” be received. RATIONALE See the attached report “New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2”. New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 NEW SETTLERS CREEK JK‐8 RT BOUNDARY REVIEW REPORT #2 Presented to the Business Operations Committee Upper Grand District School Board April 9, 2013 1
New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 1.0
INTRODUCTION The Staff Committee has followed the goals, objectives and constraints of the review which were contained in Report #1 and discussed possible school boundary scenarios. The Staff Committee has also made a link available on the Board’s website to receive correspondence from the public. Table 1 ‐ Goals, Objectives and Constraints GOALS 1. To create a viable JK‐8 boundary for the new Settlers Creek elementary school. OBJECTIVES CONSTRAINTS 1. Develop an attendance area 1. The attendance area boundary needs to be for the new Settlers Creek established to allow time to school that establishes a communicate the boundary viable and sustainable JK‐8 RT program. change to families prior to kindergarten registration and allow for staffing decisions to be made by February 2014 prior to the new school opening. 2. Alleviate the over capacity pressure at East Garafraxa PS and Montgomery Village PS. 3. To maximize the number of students within a safe walking distance to school. 4. To minimize the impact on students where transitions are proposed. 2.0 SETTLERS CREEK DEVELOPMENT AREA (DA) A DA is a geographically distinct area designated by the Board which is not part of any school boundary. Students from these areas are assigned “temporary” accommodation at “holding schools” that have space available. In some cases, students from a DA may continue to be accommodated at a holding school until such time as a new local school is built. In other cases, it may be feasible to eventually incorporate all or a portion of a DA into an existing school’s boundary. Until one or the other of these situations is realized, the Board attempts to maintain the same holding school locations for a particular DA for as long as possible. The Settlers Creek DA was established in 1998/99 and until 2005, JK‐8 students from this DA were assigned to East Garafraxa PS. In 2005, it was determined that the Grade 7/8 students (with an option for younger siblings) from the Settlers Creek DA would be assigned to Montgomery Village PS due to space constraints at East Garafraxa PS. 2
New Settle
ers Creek JK‐8 R
RT Boundary R
Review – Reporrt #2 3.0 EN
NROLMENT B
BACKGROUND 3.1 Ea
ast Garafraxa
a PS The current On the Gro
ound capacityy (OTG) of East Garafraxa PS is 184 pup
pil places. Thee OTG capacity for East Garafraxa PS in 20
014/15 will be
e 167 pupil pllaces as a res ult of propossed interior reenovations to
o accommo
odate FDK. Th
his capacity iss premised on
n the renovattion of three ((3) classroom
ms into two (2) FDK rooms. East Garafraxa PS curre
ently has eigh
ht (8) portables on site as w
well as one (11) decommisssioned portab
ble. The OTG ccapacity doess not include the portabless. The 2012//13 enrolmen
nt at East Garrafraxa PS is 3
322 students. There are ap
pproximatelyy 150 JK‐6 students holding frrom the Settle
ers Creek DA.. With the staart of FDK in 22014, the sch
hool’s enrolm
ment is projectted to increase tto approximately 337 students. Chart 1 indicates bboth the histo
orical and pro
ojected enrolm
ment growth att East Garafraaxa PS assumiing Status Quo. It also shoows the changge in the scho
ool’s capacityy as a result of tthe proposed facility changges to accommodate FDK.. Chart 1 ‐ East Garafraxa PS Historical and P
Projected Statuss Quo Enrolmennt 3.2 Montgomery V
M
Village PS ound capacityy (OTG) of Mo
ontgomery V illage PS is 4998 pupil placees. The OTG The current On the Gro
capacity w
will be 481 pu
upil places forr the 2014/15
5 school year,, as a result o
of proposed in
nterior renovaations to accomm
modate FDK. Montgom
mery Village PSS is currently using five (5)) portables onn site, and haas one (1) deccommissioned
d portable. There are tw
wo (2) additional portabless on site whicch are leased by a private d
daycare proviider. The OTG C
Capacity doess not include the portables, however thhey are used to accommod
date studentss at Montgom
mery Village PSS. 3
New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 The 2012/13 enrolment at Montgomery Village PS is 548 students. There are approximately 80 students holding from the Settlers Creek DA (45 Grade 7 & 8 students, 34 younger siblings). With the start of FDK in 2014, the school’s enrolment is projected to increase to approximately 610 students. Chart 2 indicates both the historical and projected enrolment growth at Montgomery Village PS assuming Status Quo. It also shows the change in the school’s capacity as a result of the proposed facility changes to accommodate FDK. Chart 2 ‐ Montgomery Village PS Historical and Projected Status Quo Enrolment Montgomery Village PS Status Quo Enrolment
700
FDK
Year
600
500
400
300
200
School Capacity
100
0
New residential construction in the Settlers Creek subdivision is nearing completion and there is only one remaining residential development proposed within the Settlers Creek DA. As such, the enrolment projection for both East Garafraxa PS and Montgomery Village PS is projected to remain relatively stable with the exception of the increase related to the start of FDK. 4.0 BOUNDARY SCENARIO Scenario 1 ‐ Staff’s Preferred Scenario 4.1 Since the presentation of Report #1 (PLN: 13‐03)on February 12, 2013, staff has been engaged in scenario development and met with the Boundary Review Committee on two occasions to discuss boundary options for the new school. The committee discussions concluded that there was only one new school boundary scenario which warranted further consideration. The proposed boundary for the new Settlers Creek school is illustrated on Map 1 in Appendix A. The boundary for Scenario 1 is largely coincident with the current boundary of the Settlers Creek DA. The boundary extends from just north of Alder St., southerly to the Orangeville‐Caledon Townline, between B‐
Line (County Rd 23) and Riddell Road. Given the new Settlers Creek school is planned to open in September 2014, the Settlers Creek DA status and holding school assignments to East Garafraxa PS and Montgomery Village PS would remain for the 2013/14 school year. Effective June 30, 2014 the Settlers Creek DA status would be dissolved. 4
New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 4.2 Grandparenting Traditionally, the Board has allowed students entering their Grade 8 year to remain at their current school to finish off their elementary education notwithstanding a boundary change. Students residing in the new school boundary who attend Montgomery Village PS for Grade 7 in 2013/14, would remain at Montgomery Village PS for Grade 8. All JK‐7 students residing in the Settlers Creek school boundary in September 2014 would attend the new school. This would include the younger siblings of Grade 7 & 8 students who attend Montgomery Village PS, and any other Montgomery Village PS students who reside within the Settlers Creek school boundary. By 2015/16, all JK‐8 students within the new Settlers Creek school boundary will attend the new Settlers Creek school. 4.3 Assignment of Gifted Students Gifted instruction in the Upper Grand District School Board is not assigned to a specific school. In Dufferin County, gifted instruction has been accommodated at Princess Elizabeth PS for many years. A report was presented by Board staff to the Program Committee on March 5, 2013 (PLN: 13‐06), which advised of the relocation of Grade 4‐8 Gifted students from Princess Elizabeth PS in 2014/15. Available capacity at the new Settlers Creek school provided an opportunity for the accommodation of the gifted students. A meeting was held with the parents of the gifted students to inform them of the reassignment of gifted instruction to the new Settlers Creek school and feedback was gathered on a grandparenting option for the Grade 7 & 8 gifted students in 2014/15. The majority opinion of parents was that the Grade 4‐8 gifted students remain together and move as a group to the new school in 2014/15. Therefore, the number of gifted students projected to be accommodated at the new Settlers Creek school in 2014 is approximately 55‐60 students. 4.4 Scenario 1 Enrolment Projections Taking into consideration the boundary for Scenario 1 and the relocation of gifted students, Table 2 indicates the projected enrolments of East Garafraxa PS, Montgomery Village PS and the new Settlers Creek school. Table 2 ‐ Enrolment Projections: Scenario 1 School East Garafraxa PS Montgomery Village PS New Settlers Creek school FDK Capacity 2014 2018 2022 167 481 308 175‐200 525‐550 275‐300 125‐150 500‐525 325‐350 125‐150 475‐500 350‐375 The 2014 enrolment projections in Table 2 and Chart 3 have assumed a traditional opening of the new Settlers Creek school as JK‐7. 5
New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 Chart 3 ‐ New Settlers Creek school, Scenario 1 Projections New Settlers Creek school
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
School
Capacity
50
0
Scenario 1 accomplishes the goals and objectives of this review outlined in Table 1 of this report. Scenario 1 will:  alleviate enrolment pressure at both East Garafraxa PS and Montgomery Village PS;  establish a viable JK‐8 program for the new Settlers Creek school and provide a location for the Settlers Creek DA at a local school; and  maximize the number of walkers to the new school as the entire boundary is within 2.4 km to the school (minimum walking distance criteria for Grades 2‐6). 4.5 Transportation Considerations Currently, all of the JK‐6 students in the Settlers Creek DA attending East Garafraxa PS are bussed. The majority of the 7/8 students are within walking distance to Montgomery Village PS. Map 2 in Appendix A outlines the walking limits based on distances from the new Settlers Creek school site. A more complete analysis of the walking route by Staff at Service de transport de Wellington‐
Dufferin Student Transportation Services (STWDSTS) will be necessary prior to January 2014 to refine transportation eligibility to the new Settlers Creek school once the new boundary is confirmed. 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINES If the new Settlers Creek school opens with RT students in JK‐7 in September 2014, this would allow Grade 8 RT students from within this new boundary to graduate from Montgomery Village PS. An alternative to this would be that the new Settlers Creek school would open as JK‐8, and all students from within the boundary would attend effective September 2014. Parent/guardian feedback will be gathered at the Public Information Session to determine whether there is a preference from the community about whether the school opens for RT students as JK‐7 or JK‐8. Regardless of which option is preferred by parents/guardians, all of the Grade 8 RT students that reside within the Settlers Creek boundary, would remain together as a group. Therefore in 2014/15, either all Grade 8 RT students would be grandparented at Montgomery Village PS or all would attend the new 6
New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 Settlers Creek school. 6.0 COMMUNICATION PLAN This Communication Plan focuses on giving the public an opportunity to be fully informed of the scenarios, and to continue to provide input to the Staff Committee.  Report #2 will be presented to the Business Operations Committee on April 9, 2013.  A Public Information Session will be held in the gymnasium at Montgomery Village PS on April 11, 2013 from 7:00‐9:00pm.  A letter will be sent home to parents and guardians of East Garafraxa PS and Montgomery Village PS students, informing them of the release of Report #2 and to solicit attendance at the Public Information Session. The letter will also be shared with the Town of Orangeville.  Newspaper ads for the Public Information Session will be developed and booked.  A media release will be sent to local newspapers, radio and TV stations.  Report #2 will be posted on the Board’s website on April 5, 2013. 
Web pages in the Planning Department section of the Board website will be updated and will include links to the report, letters and other documents as required. 
Information on delegation opportunities will be included with a link to the web page containing delegation requirements. 
The Boundary Review web page is promoted on the home page of the Board’s website, and the home pages of East Garafraxa PS and Montgomery Village PS, with links to the Planning Department web pages. 
The Planning Department web page includes a form that gives community members the opportunity to sign up and receive email alerts when significant new content is added to the site. 
The submission form for receiving community input is included on the website with the response deadline (May 31, 2013). o

This feedback will be shared on the website without attribution. Due to time constraints and staff resources, individual responses cannot be provided. This information will be posted with the form. A PDF version of the comment form, which can be printed and dropped off at East Garafraxa PS, Montgomery Village PS or the Board office will be available. The Public Information Session will provide another vehicle for communication to the community, and an opportunity for the public to provide comments (comment sheets), and discuss the scenarios with staff and the local trustee. A final Communication Plan will be included in the Final Boundary Review Report. 7
New Settlers Creek JK‐8 RT Boundary Review – Report #2 7.0 NEXT STEPS  Public Information Session 


Public Input Deadline Final Boundary Review Report Distribution Business Operations Committee April 11, 2013 Montgomery Village PS, Gymnasium 7:00pm‐9:00pm May 31, 2013 June 7, 2013 June 11, 2013 Staff presentation of Final Boundary Review Report Opportunity for delegations  Board Meeting June 25, 2013 Board Decision related to Final Boundary Review Report Opportunity for delegations Additional opportunities for delegating at Standing Committee and Board meetings include:  April 23, 2013 Board Meeting  May 7, 2013 Program Committee  May 14, 2013 Business Operations Committee  May 28, 2013 Board Meeting  June 4, 2013 Program Committee 8
APPENDIX A MAPS Scenario 1 - Settlers Creek School JK-8 RT Attendance Area
Legend
HUNTER RD
ELDERBER
IL
L
CO
CRES
NE
UR
I AG
A
New
D C Settlers Creek School
SAXON
D
LOYALIST
ST
ST
SH
Montgomery Village ES
ER
WO
Montgomery Village DA
RD
SETTLERS RD
ABBEY RD
BISC AYNE CRE
OD ST
G L ENGARRY
Settlers
Creek Site
ORANGEVILLE
S
SP
ENC
E R AVE
T
CK
H
G
T
MAUDE C
IN
CENTENNIAL RD
AM
ST
ALTHORP DR
DR
BU
CORNWA LL
NORT HAMP TON ST
GA TE
EC
D
M C IR
AN
ENG LAND AVE
AC
DL
O
EAST
GARAFRAXA
PA
L
D RI NG HA
O
L RD
R ID DEL
PL
SA N
ST PAULS
W
BALSAM ST
Westside SS
HILLTO P C RES
East Garafraxa ES
ALDER ST
ST
RAYBURN
RD
BO
D
JK-8 Boundary
ER
OD
COTTONWO
PSON RD
THO M
TR A
Conservation Lands
OL
D
MO NTG OM ERY BLV
E
EK
Remaining Residential
Development Land
RR
DOGW OO D ST
CR
Municipal Boundary
RY ST
Montgomery
Village ES
M IL L
Schools
Map 1
VD
ON
RICHARDS
RD
YOUN G CT
DR
COUNTY ROAD 23
BROOKH
AV
E
U
N
TY
R
A
O
D
0
250
9
10
N
CR
ES
UGDSB Planning Dept., April 2013
CALEDON
DO N TL
CO
NOTE: This map is for reference purposes
only. It is subject to change.
LE
VILL E-CA
MAIN ST
ORANGE
500 m
COUR TN
EY
BLIND LIN
E
PH EA SAN
CR ES
R
E W DR
FA IR VI
EW P L
W ESTMORLAND AV E
H
ES
TO
N
RD
LA
W
AV
EA
ME AD OW
SA
NT
E
CT
ELIZABETH ST
B A N TING
WA
PR
WESTDALE AVE
BIRCH S T
ON CT
INS
CH
DR
S ON C RES
CT
LAVE RTY
EL M AV E
W ST
D
IN
GR E EN LA
AN
ROAD 16
L
ST
COUNTY
PL
IL
P
T
HU
N
COLL EG E A VE
ST
K
PAR
O
T
FITZGERALD ST
CT
G
3.2 km (Gr 7 to 8)
AY
IN
HAN S EN BL V D
DS
NS
N
LI
T DR
2.4 km (Gr 2 to 6)
Credit
Meadows ES
DR
1.6 km (JK to Gr 1)
S CT
KE
A INE
EL
Walking Distance
FER
E D E NWOOD C R E S
JULL CT
MAS ON ST
JE F
CR ES
JK-8 Boundary
FI E LD GA TE D
R
2N D LIN E
Legend
Map 2
AIKEN CR
ES
Settlers Creek School - Walking Limits with Staff's Preferred Scenario
DR
ZINA ST
DR
BROADWAY
T ID
M
EMA N
DR
TR
E
E
AV
C
LA
KE
Y
D IA
CT
NE
DR
ST
DR
MM
CO
ER
ST
OR
C RE
S
RD
MC
N
MA
CE
AM
D
DR
LS
OO
AN
BA
KIT
Montgomery
Village ES
R IC
A PPLETON D R
NW
EM
O
TT
TI D
CO
ST
ST
E
D
AV
OO
GE
FENDLEY RD
OX FORD ST
R ID
HENDERSO N ST
VD
BL
MB
RD
RY
A
ON
NN
W
GW
DO
CA
HA
CT
ER
RB
DE
EL
ROS E ST
ND
CA
ST
RS
EN
RD
RN
HA
V
RA
ST
HUNTER RD
AN
Y
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BR
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CR
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DR
CH
M
AP
R
ER
FE
FE
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CT
OO
B
SE
RE D
T DR
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SW
BE
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NN
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BI S
OW
ORR
CR E S
JA M IN
BE
M
CA
CT
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ER
K
IC
NN
DI
T
LA C
BEN
PAU
ST
K
Westside SS
EW
DR
AR
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C
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ST
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S
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AL
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CO
CT
LIN
LBOU R
NE
N
N
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RD
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HL
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AV
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S
DR
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E
CR
A
MO
JO H
DR
L
PALACE CT
R
R
WI LD D
EL
DR
UL
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PA
M
PL
HA
S
MA
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DR
RY
D
W
NA
CE
U
NT
E
P
ON
S
RD
I
KV
N
RD
P
T
CT
EN C
KAR
K
A RE N
AR
HT
ST
HA
ES
IG
RD
R IC
ON
CR
BR
L
AM
EL
ST
S AN
B U C KI
N GH
DR
DD
RI
Y
E
YN
RR
A
H
LT
P
OR
NK
ES
CA
GA
ES
SPENC ER AVE
A
RG
CR
B IS
ST
EN
A
RB
BU
CR
MO
N
VD
OD
GL
ES
23
CR
AD
OP
DR
RD
DR
TO
BL
LE
LE
BB
RO
D
YR
N
RO
LT
D
OO
GE
IA
RD
Settlers Creek Site
YW
RR
CA
TT
RD
BE
XO
TY
UN
H IL
MA
LD
SE
RS
A
ND
AB
S HERW O
SA
CO
ST
D
IST S T
W
AL
NE
Y
LO
CI
R
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UD
GR
EE
NW
OO
D
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CR
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W
OO
A
DL
ND
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DR
T
UN
YO
G
CT
OR
BRO OK H
AV E N
C R ES
CE
DA
R
MA
PL
IN
ST
A
L IN
E
UGDSB Planning Dept. April 2013
0
AN
G
IL
EV
LE
CA
DO
LE
N
TL
CO
UN
TY
R O AD
1 09
Note: The walking limits shown are
approximate and based entirely on the
walking distance from the school.
Safety/hazard issues may be identified
when the Transportation Consortium
completes a detailed walking route
investigation.
0.25
0.5
1 km