PLANNING DEPARTMENT PLN: 12‐17 June 12, 2012 File Code #: R02 MEMO TO: FROM: Martha Rogers, Director of Education Jennifer Passy, Manager of Planning Heather Imm, Senior Planner Janice Wright, Superintendent of Finance
RE: KING GEORGE JK‐8 FI BOUNDARY REVIEW – Report #1 Report Classification: DECISION BACKGROUND  Decisions from the Centre Guelph Accommodation Review (August 2010) contemplated the need for a JK‐8 FI program to be established in North Guelph. John McCrae was established as an interim holding school for north FI students in grades 7 and 8.  The Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) Capital Plan was approved in principle by Trustees at the September 27, 2011 Board meeting.  King George PS was designated as a holding school at the October 25, 2011 Board meeting as a result of the King George reconsideration of motions from October 26, 2010.  A draft schedule of Boundary Reviews (PLN: 11‐21) was recommended by staff and approved by Trustees at the October 25, 2011 Board meeting.  In the Boundary Reviews schedule, West Guelph was identified for review in 2012/13 school year. The specific schools in West Guelph that are projected to experience enrolment pressure with FDK are Victory PS and Paisley Rd PS in the French Immersion program specifically.  The rationale in the East Guelph Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) Staff’s Proposed Transition Plan (PLN: 11‐
26) identified King George PS as JK‐8 FI centre planned to open in September 2014.  A reconstructed school on the King George PS site is scheduled to open in September 2012. King George will accommodate JK‐6 FI students (JK‐5 FI in 2012/13) as a result of the Edward Johnson Boundary Review decision (January 2012). It will hold Regular Track students from Laurine Ave PS in 2012/13 (ie. those students destined for the new Laurine scheduled to open in 2013). In 2013/14 it will hold Regular Track students from Lee St. (Ken Danby) who are destined to attend the new Lee St school in September 2014. King George PS JK‐8 FI Boundary Review – Report #1 ISSUE Consistent with the recommendations from the Centre Guelph Accommodation Review, King George PS has been identified by Staff as a JK‐8 FI centre effective September 2014. To present Trustees with a report to initiate a boundary review process for the establishment of a JK‐8 FI program at King George PS effective September 2014. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THAT memo PLN: 12‐17 entitled “King George JK‐8 FI Boundary Review ‐Report #1” be received. 2. THAT the Board approves the initiation of a boundary review process to establish the JK‐8 FI boundary for King George PS. 3. THAT Trustees adopt the schedule shown in Appendix B of report PLN: 12‐17, as the proposed timeline for the boundary review process to establish the JK‐8 FI boundary for King George PS. RATIONALE Trustees approved the FDK Capital Plan in principle. The implementation of the plan included the establishment of a JK‐8 FI boundary for King George PS. Starting in September 2012, King George PS will accommodate students in JK‐5 FI as a result of the Edward Johnson Boundary Review. King George PS will also be a “holding school” for East Guelph Regular Track students while new schools are under construction. By September 2014, King George PS will open as a JK‐
8 FI centre. The decision from the Centre Guelph Accommodation Review was to designate John McCrae as an interim holding school for north grades 7/8 students until a viable JK‐8 FI program was established in north Guelph. With FDK, John McCrae is projected to be approximately 150‐200 students over capacity. The King George PS JK‐8 FI boundary will include 7/8 FI students from north Guelph holding at John McCrae PS. The King George PS JK‐8 FI boundary review process provides an opportunity to relieve overcrowding concerns in West Guelph. It is projected that Victory PS will be approximately 100 students over capacity and Paisley will be approximately 80 students over capacity as a result of FDK implementation in 2014. Although both schools have a dual track program, the enrolment pressure projected is a result of the growth in French Immersion. For 2012/13 it is projected that Paisley Rd PS will have three (3) portables and Victory PS will have one (1). FDK will necessitate additional portables at both of these schools; however, these school sites are unfavorable for housing portables. Page 2
King George PS JK‐8 FI Boundary Review – Report #1 Table 1 – Guelph Schools Enrolment Information Current Enrol
School
John McCrae PS
King George PS
Paisley Rd PS
Victory PS
Capacity October 2011
495
580
504
0
499
469
294
272
Projected Enrolment
October 2012
585
415
505
300
October 2013
595
505
515
315
October 2014
675
280
605
365
Utilization
2012
118%
82%
101%
102%
2013
120%
100%
103%
107%
2014
136%
56%
121%
124%
*King George PS is a holding school in 2012/13 and 2013/14. The 2014 enrolment reflects the JK‐6 FI boundary for King George , effective Sept 2012.
Projected enrolments have been rounded to the nearest 5.
The enrolment projected for King George PS in 2012/13 and 2013/14 includes both the FI students and the RT students who are holding. In 2014, the enrolment reflects the King George PS JK‐6 FI boundary resulting from the Edward Johnson Boundary Review process. King George PS has the potential to relieve pressure at John McCrae PS through the reassignment of 7/8 FI students. Given the remaining capacity at King George PS, Staff recognizes that King George PS will only resolve the enrolment pressures at Victory PS. Goals, Objectives and Constraints A component of the proposed process is establishment of the Goals, Objectives and Constraints (GOC). This document is intended to identify the goals of the boundary review, the measurable objectives of the review and the constraints within which these goals and objectives must be realized. The GOC lays the ground rules for the review by providing both targets and limitations for the development of alternative boundary solutions. The Goals, Objectives and Constraints for the King George PS JK‐8 FI Boundary Review are attached as Appendix B. Proposed Process The following process has been organized in accordance with School Boundary Review Procedures Manual 320‐A; 1. Alternative scenarios are to be developed by the Staff Boundary Review Committee and reviewed with local principal(s) and trustees during September and October 2012. 2. The Committee will shortlist scenarios and present to Trustees a second Boundary Review report at the October Business Operations Committee Meeting.  This second report will describe the alternative scenarios considered to address the accommodation issue, the staff analysis of the alternative scenarios and a list of the recommended option(s). 3. A Public Information Session will follow in October where interested persons can get additional information from the Staff Committee and provide feedback (i.e. comment sheets). Page 3
King George PS JK‐8 FI Boundary Review – Report #1 4. A third and final Boundary Review report will be brought to the December Business Operations Committee Meeting.  This report will include a summary of the public input, the final staff recommendation and justification and a timeline for implementation. 5. The public will have opportunities to appear as delegations before the Business Operation Committee or the Board as outlined in Appendix B. Communication Plan The Communications Plan has two goals: 1. Keep the community informed through a variety of channels. 2. Provide ways for people to submit comments. To accomplish these goals, we will:  Present Report #1 to the Business Operations Committee on June 12, 2012. 
Send a letter home to parents and guardians of John McCrae PS, Victory PS and Edward Johnson PS about the upcoming boundary review for King George PS. The letter will provide background information, key dates, and details on how to learn more. 
Create a web page for the King George Boundary Review in the Planning Department section of the Board’s website. The page will summarize the reasons behind the review. It will provide links to reports, resources, memos and other documents. 
Create an online form that gives community members the opportunity to sign up and receive email alerts when significant new content is added. 
Create an online comment submission form. Comments will be considered by the Boundary Review Committee during the development of boundary scenarios. Comments will also be shared publicly on the Board’s website, without names or personally identifying information. Users submitting comments will be informed in advance that it will not be possible to provide individual responses. 
Promote the boundary review web page on the home page of the Board’s website and on the home pages of King George PS, Edward Johnson PS, John McCrae PS, and Victory PS. 
Inform parents about the opportunities for delegations to appear before trustees. 
Write a media release for local newspapers and TV. The release will distributed following the Business Operations Committee on June 12, 2012. 
Provide updates and reminders in school newsletters and on school websites at least once per month, starting in September. 
Send a letter home upon the release of Report #2. A map of the preferred boundary scenario will appear on the reverse side. Page 4
King George PS JK‐8 FI Boundary Review – Report #1 
Prepare and book newspaper advertisements to promote the Public Information Session. 
The second report of the King George School Boundary Review will include a new or revised Communications Plan. Committee Composition Staff Boundary Review Committee (Proposed)  Janice Wright, Superintendent of Finance  Linda Benallick, Superintendent of Schools  Brent McDonald, Superintendent of Schools  Jennifer Passy, Manager of Planning  Heather Imm, Senior Planner  Paul Scinocca, Manager of Capital/Renewal  Reena Anand, Principal King George PS  Ann Charles, Principal Victory PS  Cheryl Vanooteghem, Principal John McCrae PS  Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer‐Communications  Rachel Guthrie, Transportation Technician  Other staff resources as required
Page 5
King George JK‐8 FI Boundary Review – Goals, Objectives & Constraints CONSTRAINTS: 2. The attendance area boundary needs to be established and communicated to affected families in time for staffing for the 2014/15 school year. 3. The King George JK‐8 FI boundary decision will impact South Guelph boundary review considerations.
3. Establish a new 7/8 FI boundary for students graduating from Edward Johnson PS, King George PS and Victory PS. 4. Maximize the number of students within a safe walking distance to school. 5. Minimize the impact on students where transitions are proposed.
1. King George PS site is designed to accommodate a maximum of 6 portables. 1. Develop an attendance area for King George PS that establishes a viable and sustainable JK‐8 FI program. 2. Alter JK‐6 FI boundary or program at Victory PS to ensure enrolment balanced to school capacity.
1. Create a viable and sustainable JK‐8 FI program at King George PS. 2. Accommodate north Guelph 7/8 FI students feeding from Edward Johnson PS, King George PS and Victory PS. 3. Relieve French Immersion enrolment pressure at Victory PS. OBJECTIVES: GOALS: APPENDIX A King George JK‐8 FI Boundary Review – Proposed Timeline APPENDIX B When June 8, 2012 Who School Communities
June 12, 2012 Business Operations Committee
June 12, 2012 School Communities
Committee composition Timeline/Critical Path Communication Plan Letter home re: Boundary Review initiation
Website‐newsletters Prepare and book advertisements June 26, 2012 Board of Trustees Board Meeting ‐ Decision on Report #1
*opportunity for delegations
June 13 – October 5, 2012 Boundary Review Staff Committee
Alternative scenario development Scenario analysis
Review scenarios with local Principal(s)/Trustees
October 12, 2012 Trustees & School Communities
Boundary Review Report #2 Distribution
October 16, 2012 October 18, 2012 Business Operations Committee
*opportunity for delegations School Communities
Presentation of Boundary Review Report #2 for Information Alternative scenarios Staff analysis of alternative scenarios
Recommended option(s) Communication Plan Public Information Session Provide First & Second Boundary Review Reports Presentation of Preferred Alternative
Q&A
Comment Sheets
October 19 ‐ December 11, 2012 Boundary Review Staff Committee
Consideration of Input from Public Development of final staff recommendation
October 30, 2012 Board Meeting
November 27, 2012 Board of Trustees *opportunity for delegations Board of Trustees *opportunity for delegations Board Meeting
November 30, 2012 School Communities
Final date for public input December 7, 2012 Trustees & School Communities
Final Boundary Review Report Distribution
Business Operations Committee
Presentation of Final Boundary Review Report
Consideration of Final Boundary Review Report Summary of Info from 1st & 2nd reports
Summary of public input Final Staff recommendation & justification
Timeline for implementation Critical Path Communication Plan December 11, 2012 *opportunity for delegations December 18, 2012 Board of Trustees *opportunity for delegations
What
Letter home regarding Boundary Review
Notice up on School websites Presentation of Boundary Review Report #1 for Decision Background Information Goals, Objectives, Constraints Board Meeting ‐ Decision related to Final Boundary Review Report Note: There are additional delegation opportunities at Standing Committees & Board Meetings June 26‐Dec 18/12.