October 26 to November 5, 2012 In order to protect the identity of all individuals who have submitted correspondence with regard to the
King George JK-8 FI Boundary Review and in keeping with the Municipal Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act, all personal information and/or identifiers have been severed from all
recorded communication (i.e. e-mails and letters) prior to distribution. The intent or message has not
been changed.
October 26, 2012
To any and all this may concern:
I recently attended the information session and would like to provide my comments below.
- Our family is very disappointed with both of the preferred scenarios. We live on Edgehill Dr and
purchased our home 5 years ago specifically because it was within the boundary for Victory Public
School. It will be extremely disappointing news if we are now told our daughter can no longer attend
Victory Public School for the remainder of her primary scholastic time. We live about 3.5 km from
King George and the last thing we are interested in is our daughter having to bus to King George,
when we currently live a few blocks from Victory, our neighbourhood school, and can walk there in 10
mins.
- We currently have our daughter enrolled in French Immersion at Victory. She very much enjoys the
program, but as much as we want her to be a French Immersion student, our family would be faced
with making a very difficult decision of switching her to the English stream. I think it is very unfortunate
that families like ours are being forced to make these decisions which will compromise our children's
education. It is also disappointing to understand that this entire process will very likely have to repeat
itself, as it appears there will be a large quantity of children making the same move from French
Immersion to English, thereby drastically altering all of the current projections.
- I am also concerned how this boundary review will impact the property value of our home. When we
were house searching, we specifically avoided areas in which we would have to bus our children to
school, despite the lower prices of houses in those areas. With this boundary review forcing our house
out of the desirable Victory neighbourhood, we will be facing a much lower property value on our
home. This will result in a very negative impact on our family as we will be faced with the decision of
selling our house and looking for a new home within walking distance to a primary school for our
daughter.
- this process seems to be very rushed and has had very little parent and community input. At the very
least I would like to see this process slowed down to give us, the community, time to present
alternative solutions to the current options. It is rather disheartening that the community has not been
involved from the beginning, but there is still time for you do the right thing and change that.
- As much as I dislike the use of portables, I would much rather see my daughter in a portable at
Victory then being forced to leave her neighbourhood school. In the recent past Victory easily
accommodated up to 400 students through the use of portables. I do not understand why this cannot
be an option in the future.
1 October 26 to November 5, 2012 - I would like to add I was absolutely disgusted with the response of the board when asked the
question what happens in 2017 when King George is projected to be over capacity. The response
was King George is able to have up to 6 portables to accommodate the capacity. It is extremely,
extremely disheartening to think that the board really things the best interests of my child are to leave
her neighbourhood school within walking distance, leave half her friend behind, to be transported to a
relatively large school across town via bus, to be stuck in a portable at that new school. This is
absolutely ridiculous.
- My daughter is currently making use of older children as reading buddies, playground and lunchtime
supervision, and as crossing guards. By removing grades 4,5,6 the younger grades will no longer
have access to these great resources. Very disappointing.
- As an alternative to the plan of moving grades 4,5 and 6 I would like to know if you have
considered a mix of using portables, and only moving grade 6 students. I do believe this would
provide the capacity needed, as well as keeping our children at our neighbourhood school through
Grade 5 at the least.
- Victory just recently went through a boundary change, and now another one. These seem like very
short sighted decisions that are being made. A move needs to be made to move towards a more
sustainable long term decision, without sticking a knife through the middle of our neighbourhood.
Thanks for your time and consideration in reading these comments.
October 26, 2012
from the most recent FAQ:
Q: "Is it possible to increase Victory PS’s capacity by building an addition?" Looks like the answer is
"Yes, but it will cost more".
Q: "Is it possible to increase Victory PS’s capacity through the use of portables?" Looks like the answer
again is "Yes, but it will cost more".
So, my Q: why not just spend the money on what is a better solution?
October 26, 2012
I noticed on your "FAQ" posting you conviently neglected to mention the concern that was raised that
you eliminated all of the low income, rental and subsidized housing from the boundary review. It is
rather concerning that the boundary review includes the high priced housing (that is also closer to king
george) but excludes all of the lower priced housing.
Please explain this.
2 October 26 to November 5, 2012 October 26, 2012
I understand that the first reason for a boundary review is underutilization of a school. If King George
is underutilized, then it should draw students from areas that could benefit from it. Drawing students
away from Victory would not benefit the students, the families, the community, or even Victory School.
Furthermore, it is not necessary to include Victory in a boundary review as it has not been at 110%
percent capacity for the previous 2 years (which Policy 320 describes as the second reason—
overcrowding—for a boundary review).
As parents of a JK FI student at Victory, we are very happy about what going to school at
Victory does. Each morning, parents and children walk to school together. We see other families and
neighbours walking in groups. We are safely escorted across the street by senior student crossing
guards. We learn names very quickly. It is very easy to see how this school is a community centre.
By chopping the FI portion of the school off at grade 3, or cutting out such a large part of the
neighbourhood, the school will fail to provide successfully for the students and the community. It will
cut out buddy programs at the school. It will separate friendships that have developed in the
neighbourhood and at school. It will separate siblings from each other (our next will enter Victory in
2015). It will also force us and other families into cars in the morning, as an alone walk across so
many major roads and the river to King George is simply out of the question for an 8 year old.
We request more time for this boundary review, especially as it is unnecessary for Victory as
described by Policy 320. This will allow the community more time to provide input. It will also prevent
us from making rash decisions as to whether we need to sacrifice out children’s academic future by
pulling them out of FI, or sacrificing so much else in this safe integrated community. In the meantime,
solutions to enrollment pressure such as using portables or removal of grade 6 seem like much more
community and school friendly options.
October 29, 2012
I would hate to see my family separate to go to school. I would hate to break up the community like
this. It would really deflate both of my children's confidence to go to different schools. It would destroy
friendships which can also affect children when they are so fragile and young.
I would rather have my child in a portable and at Victory- her neighbourhood school. I would rather
take her out of French and keep her at Victory. I would rather get rid of Full day Kindergarten and
keep BOTH my kids at Victory together where they belong. The Board cannot possibly have their
numbers right. They have been making the same mistake over and over for the past 30 + years.
Counting heads, projecting numbers, overreacting and sending young ones to different schools all
over Guelph. It is time to think of a better solution- RENOVATE VICTORY! The definition of insanity is
doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Sound familiar?
Let's work together to keep this community school a community school. The Board should work with
the parents to come up with a solution, that works for the children- Not for the Board,
October 29, 2012
Dear Public School Trustee,
I am a parent whose daughter attends Victory Public School. I am concerned by the recent Board
proposals for boundary review. It has been a very top-down process which has neglected the
viewpoints and interests of the community.
3 October 26 to November 5, 2012 The School Board has erroneously paired two problems together; the underutilization of King George
and the over-enrollment of Victory due to Full Day Kindergarten. These are separate issues and should
be treated as such. I do not believe other solutions for dealing with Victory’s issues have been given
enough thought. For example: portables, renovations, even smaller boundary for FI/RT inclusively.
I urge you to reject both current proposals and give time for the Victory community to be part of the
solution of the issue that faces their school. A K-6 community school for both French and English is
clearly in the best interests of the children.
Regards,
October 29, 2012
Dear Upper Grand District School Board Trustees,
I'm writing as a parent of two children currently in SK and grade 2 at Victory Public School. Although I
appreciate the need for a boundary review and the possibility of my children needing to attend
another school there are a few concerns I have with the options and preferred scenario selected for
this boundary review. My first concern is the lack of safe walking route children have to get to the new
school. Currently I live one street over from the school so walking is our norm. Unfortunately even
though the King George is considered walkable for us (2.4km) I do not think it is a safe walk for an 8
year old so my only option will now be to drive my younger child to Victory PS then drive my older
child to King George. From my observation and conversation with other parents the congestion and
amount of traffic will increase at Victory PS and at King George. This will create wait times, parking
challenges and likely concern from the residents near both the schools. Many parents who currently
walk will need to drive due to time constraints on needing to get to work and the fact that they don't
feel it is safe for their children to walk alone. I think a discussion with transportation staff and an
examination of possible increased cars in these neighbourhoods should be a consideration and a
helpful aspect for options presented for this review.
My next concern is that I rely on before and after school care at Victory PS. I understand the new
school has only after school care and that there are a few spaces available but selection is based on a
lottery that you must continue to update each year lending to year to year uncertainty if child care will
be available. The lack of school child care at King George will be a major pressure point for many
parents as many kids in french immersion are currently in Victory PS - before and after school Kids
Club program. I know this is outside the purview of the review but it was not acknowledged in the staff
report and should be as one of the negative impacts of scenario one as grade 4 and 5 students will
still need care.
Thirdly the staff projections seem higher than necessary and without knowing how they came up with
the numbers it is difficult to have a fulsome discussion on possible other scenarios. It would be helpful
for parents and staff to have more time to discuss and understand the projections to be able to
explore other options that would be viable and meet the needs of both schools.
4 October 26 to November 5, 2012 If the projections were higher than need be then more options could be examined e.g. grandfather
current children and limit future enrolment at Victory PS; consider moving just grade 6 students (who
are older and perhaps can more safely find ways to walk or bike to King George school) and a
smaller boundary shift, the current challenges could also be addressed. The current scenario one
seems to be too much with a significant negative impact to the whole neighbourhood and it does
seem possible to develop options that would have a smaller impact to families and children yet still
reduce the enrolment challenges at both schools.
A possible next step could be for staff and parents to have time to do some analysis together and
determine if there are other scenarios/options that can work for everyone. Alternatively based on input
from parents staff may be able to act on some of the suggestions to modify their current analysis and
options. It is clear though, if it would be welcome that there are many parents that would dedicate
their time and expertise to this important initiative.
I appreciate the challenges boundary reviews present and that there are many considerations to
weigh. I want to thank you for your time and commitment to this work.
Best Regards,
October 31, 2012
I think both of these options are an insult to the parent community after enduring the ARC.
Honestly, our children went through many struggles with losing friends and severing
friendships. Some are still struggling two years later (both for students displaced to Paisley
and those still at Victory).
My son is currently in Grade 4 and therefore would move to KG under Scenario 1 for Grade
6. Even though it would only be one year, I would switch my son from FI to English as I do
not feel comfortable with him walking to KG at age 11. And I certainly wouldn't be driving
him daily.
It really is shame that the school board did not listen to the ARC members (the first ARC). It
was clearly brought up during the first ARC that this problem would arise, as there was a
significant increase in FI enrolment, as well as the introduction of Full Day Kindergarten. The
writing was on the wall, the board chose to ignore it and implement a short term bandage to
the problem and now the school is in the same position it was 4 years ago!
Before the Trustees make their decision, I would encouage the Board Staff to survey FI
parents to determine how many would make the switch to English. This community wants a
community school, not a French Immersion school. Have you considered removing FI from
Victory all together?
Thank you,
5 October 26 to November 5, 2012 November 1, 2012
I have confidence that the UGDSB with full knowledge of its resources has studied and reviewed this
matter thoroughly before the two scenarios were put forward. I would support whichever one the
Board elects to proceed with. I was disturbed to get a letter home from the School Council yesterday
which appears to be advancing another proposal. This suggestion does not appear to be supported
by any research or study. Nor does it represent the views of the silent majority of the parents who
support the Board's proposals and therefore chose not to attend the "Parent Meeting" held on October
29th.
November 4, 2011
We agree with the staff recommendation in the report that current Victory Grade 6 students should go
to John McCrae for both Grade 7 and 8, rather than going to John McCrae for 7 and King George
for 8. All Victory parents would agree with that.
Knowing that past decisions on issues in the various review processes have been changed suddenly, it
is crucial to emphasize our support for this recommendation and the importance of the continuity for
students going to one school for grades 7 and 8. Any other option would be unnecessarily disruptive.
We want to confirm this decision that current Victory Grade 6 students will complete both Grades 7
and 8 at John McCrae.
Thanks
November 5, 2012
While I understand the need to reduce enrollment at Victory school, I would prefer that the Board look
at renovations or additional portables first. If cuts to enrollment are ultimatley needed I would only be
fair to move bused students to King George before any other scenario. They are already on a bus,
and they are already separated from their neighbourhood English cohorts. It would be more fair to
move them than others within the walkable Victory neighbourhood. I do not support moving Grade 5
students to King George as they are still too young to be moved from a walkable community
to a big school.
6