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HAMILTON EAST ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

HAMILTON EAST ACCOMMODATION REVIEW

COMMITTEE (ARC)

PUBLIC MEETING #3

St. David Catholic Elementary School

Thursday January 24, 2008

7 P.M.


AGENDA

Prayer Welcome Introduction of Committee Members Background Hamilton East Accommodation Review

Committee – Options Discussion – Questions Adjournment - 8:30 p.m.


Hamilton East Accommodation Review Committee Members

Chair – Patricia Amos

Superintendent of Education

Trustee – Linda DiBartolomeo

Ward 5



St. David

Principal – Sandra Scime

Catholic School Council – Ralph Urciuoli

St. Eugene Parish – Maxine Whitehead

Incarnation Parish – Kerry Dwyer-Mitchell

Community Rep. – Luisa Butera



St. Christopher

Principal – Loretta Ferro

Catholic School Council – John Zimmerman

St. John the Baptist Parish – Terri Persaud

Community Rep. – Bill MacIntosh



St. Luke

Principal – Marcelo DeAngelisCatholic School Council – Anita Thompson

St. Luke Parish – Lucienne Rowan

Community Rep. – Marco Fortino


In keeping with the following: Education Act s. 8(1)

Ministry of Education Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines – October 31, 2006

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board Policy S. 09

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board shall review its pupil accommodation requirements annually.


Pupil Accommodation Review Policy(S.09)

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board is responsible for providing schools and facilities for its students and for operating and maintaining its schools as effectively and efficiently as possible to support student achievement.


School Board FundingEffects of Declining Enrolment

School boards are funded by the Provincial Government based on actual student enrolment.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is facing the challenges of declining enrolment across the city.

Some schools are not or will not be viable based on declining enrolment.

Grade structures and the reduction of teaching staff make it difficult for the Board to accommodate the needs of all students. (triple grades)


For the Board to sustain and offer appropriate services for program delivery, special education, co-curricular activities, as well as responsible, cost efficient facilities, schools in areas of significant declining enrolment – with lower utilization levels or higher per pupil operating costs, need to be reviewed and considered for possible closure/consolidation.


Comparison of Elementary Enrolment 2000-2007

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

20,566 20,874 20,930 20,745 20,320 20,036 19,725 19,391

+/-

308

+/-

56

+/-

-185

+/-

-425

+/-

-284

+/-

-311

+/-

-334


Enrolment Projections 2005 – 2015(From March 2, 2007 Board Report)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

20,036 19,725 19,407 19,227 19,109 18,974 18,858 18,768 18,739 18,650 18,564


Board Response to Annual Accommodation Review Report

The Board established 4 Accommodation Review Committees:

Hamilton East Ward 5 Hamilton Central Ward 3, 4 Hamilton West Ward 1, 2 Hamilton South Ward 8


Pupil Accommodation Review Policy(S.09)

A School Valuation Framework shall be conducted on each school under review. The process shall examine each school under review in each of the following areas:

Value of the school to the student Value of the school to the Board Value of the school to the community Value of the school to the local economy


Hamilton-East Accommodation Committee Review Area

The Hamilton-East Accommodation Review Committee completed the School Valuation Frameworks for the 3 schools in Ward 5 currently under review.

St. Christopher St. David St. Luke


School Valuation Frameworks

The School Valuation Frameworks for St. Christopher, St. David and St. Luke Catholic Elementary School were presented at the second Public Meeting held on November 29, 2007.

The documents are posted on the Board Web Site. Links can also be found on each of the school’s web pages.

www.hwcdsb.ca


The Hamilton East Accommodation Review Committee met on January 9, 2008 to review the input from Public Meeting #2.

The committee discussed possible options for the three schools under review based on the review of the data.


Committee Discussions

Based on the School Valuation Framework data and community consultation, the committee is recommending that St. David and St. Luke not be recommended to the Director of Education and Board of Trustees for possible consolidation or closure.


St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School

Based on the School Valuation Framework and input from the Public Meetings, the committee understands that St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School may need to be considered for possible consolidation or closure.


St. Christopher Catholic Elementary SchoolValue to Students The school offers a range of academic and co-curricular

programs. The school is adjacent to parkland including a play structure

and a sports park. The school is close to museums, libraries and historical

sites. The school has experienced declining enrolment and the

long term enrolment projections indicate a continued decline. Current enrolment 103 or 97 FTE students.

Twenty-one students at St. Christopher are currently “out of boundary” students.

Triple grades are likely in the next school year and thereafter.

EQAO assessment results – below provincial standard, however it is based on a small number of students writing the assessment.


Value to the Community

Only Catholic school in the Rosedale community. Close knit community with strong community ties as

evidenced by the 40th anniversary re-union celebration. Community supports each other in times of difficulty as

evidenced by the recent death of a student. School located next to park land and green space Good traffic flow Children can walk to school Parents can walk to the school to volunteer Rosedale Public School is a JK-Grade 5 school Pastor from St. John the Baptist Parish visits the school

frequently.


Value to Local Economy

Use of local Pizzaria for school lunches.

Families shop at the local Barn grocery store, Shopper’s Drug Mart, local convenience stores. Although this would continue as families still live in the neighbourhood, it may affect other families moving into the neighbourhood if there is no Catholic School. This could have an effect on real estate and possibly on the local economy.


Value to Board

Offers a Catholic presence in the Rosedale community.

Cost to operate is significantly higher than other two schools in the review area

St. Christopher $11, 150 per student St. David $6, 375.43 per student St. Luke $5, 920.94 per student

From the school year 2008-2009 onward, the cost to operate St. Christopher would increase based on the lower number of full time equivalent students and the increasing long term renewal costs.


St. Christopher Catholic Elementary Projected Enrolment 2008-2009 School

95 students or 89 FTE (full time equivalent)

In September 2008-2009, based on current enrolment there would be 17 out of boundary students at St. Christopher.

Actual in-boundary students would be 72 students or 66 FTE


2008-2009 St. Christopher Enrolment Including 17 Out of Boundary Students

JK 6 (projected)

K 6

Grade 1 8

Grade 2 5

Grade 3 8

Grade 4 9 Total Enrolment

Grade 5 12 95

Grade 6 13 89FTE

Grade 7 19

Grade 8 9


St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School

If the school were to remain open in 2008-2009 the classroom teaching staff would decline to 3.5 or 4 classes resulting in triple grade combinations.


Option # 1 2008-2009 Including Out of Boundary Students

JK/K Grade 1 14 students – triple grades( 6 JK in am with 8 grade 1, 6 K in pm with 8 grade 1 )

Grade 2, 3, 4 22 students – triple grades

Grade 5/6 25 students - 2 grades

Grade 7/8 28 students – 2 grades

Total classroom teaching staff = 4


Challenges

60 % of the students would be in triple grades

100% of students in combined classes

Difficult to cover the large range of learning expectations in triple grades / multiple subjects

Lack of grade level staff for teacher planning/mentoring

Difficulty for supervision, co-curricular activities due to reduced staff


Option #2

JK/K = Possible 12 students

Grade 1, 2, 3 = 21 students



Total classroom teaching staff = 3.5


Challenges

100 % of students in triple grades

Fewer staff available for teaching, co-curricular activities and supervision.


2009-2010St. Christopher – Including Out of Boundary Students

JK 6K 6Grade 1 6Grade 2 8Grade 3 5Grade 4 8Grade 5 9Grade 6 12Grade 7 13Grade 8 19Enrolment 92 or 86 FTE



JK / K / Grade 1 / Grade 2 = 20

(6 JK come in am 6 grade 1 and 8 grade 2

6 K come in pm with 6 grade 1 and 8 grade 2)

Grade 3 / 4 / 5/ 6 = 30

Grade 6/7/8 = 25


Challenges

70 % of classes - 4 grade combinations: JK/K/Grade 1/Grade 2 Grade 3/4/5/6/

30% of classes - triple grade Grade 6/7/8

Difficult to teach broad range of curriculum

Less teaching staff for supervision, co-curricular, teacher planning/mentoring



JK 6K 6Grade 1 6Grade 2 6Grade 3 8Grade 4 5Grade 5 8Grade 6 9Grade 7 12Grade 8 13Enrolment 79 or 73 FTE


2010-1011

JK / K / Grade 1 / Grade 2 = 18

Grade 3/4/5/6 30

Grade 7/8 25


The committee discussed the possibility of boundary changes to increase the enrolment at St. Christopher.

This option did not present itself as a viable option to the committee given that all the schools in the immediate area are also under review due to the significant decline in enrolment in the entire lower east and central Hamilton area.


Other Options for Consideration

If it is determined that St. Christopher’s Catholic Elementary School should be recommended to the Director of Education and to the Board of Trustees for consolidation or closure the committee discussed the following options:


That all current students living in the St. Christopher school boundary, as well as all current out of boundary students be allowed to register at St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School for 2008-2009.

That parents currently living in the boundary of St. Eugene Catholic Elementary school but attending St. Christopher be given the option of attending St. John the Baptist or St. Eugene Catholic Elementary Schools for 2008-2009.

That parents be surveyed regarding possible options for school enrolment for 2008-2009.

That the current bussing allocations of 1.2 Km for JK and K and 1.6 Km for Grade 1-8 remain in effect if possible (Transportation Consortium Review)


Possible Consolidation with St. John the Baptist 2008-2009

If all the current in-boundary as well as out of boundary students enrolled in St. John the Baptist school for September 2008 the following is the possible classroom organization based on current numbers:


Consolidation of St. John the Baptist and St. Christopher’s entire student body including out of boundary students.

JK 20JK/K 20K 20Grade 1 20Grade ½ 20 (14 + 6)Grade 2 19Grade 3 19Grade 3 19Grade 4 30Grade 4/5 29 ((15 + 14)Grade 5 32Grade 6 27Grade 7 29Grade 7 30Grade 8 25Grade 8 25


School enrolment 384 or 369 FTE

No triple grades

13 of the 16 classes are straight grades 3 of the 16 classes are combined

No cross divisional combined classes

Straight classes for Grade 3 and 6 (EQAO)

15.5 classroom teachers

Greater opportunities for teacher collaboration/planning/mentoring

More teachers for supervision and co-curricular activities


Possible savings Current annual operational costs of

St. Christopher = approximately $40,000 for utilities, maintenance, snow removal and grass cutting.

Elimination of long term renewal costs $1,240,000.00

Costs of staff salaries = $800,000 – 1 million dollars per year

Additional Costs Transportation –approx. $45,000.00


NEXT STEPS

Committee Meeting – February 7, 2008 Public Meeting #4 – February 20, 2008 Committee Meeting - TBD The Hamilton East Accommodation Review Committee

finalizes their report and presents it to the Director of Education for his consideration. (Possibly by March 25, 2008)

The Director of Education reviews all information and prepares a report to be presented to the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees will make a decision regarding the

schools under review. (Possible dates : April 1 or May 6, 2008)


Director’s Office:

905-525-2930 - Emilia Rastelli

Superintendent’s Office

905-525-2930 Ext. 2203

Board Web Sitewww.hwcdsb.ca

hamilton east accommodation review committee hamilton east accommodation review committee (arc)...

Documents

hamilton east ward

hamilton south ward

hamilton west ward

hamilton central ward

school valuation framework

enrolment projections

actual student enrolment

special education