Questions• Do we need further consultation on our capital plan for

the peninsula?

• What should the scope of the consultation be?

• Are we limiting the consultation to the three schools we are discussing here tonight or should the consultation be expanded to include the entire peninsula?

• What are the options we should consider?

Questions• When does renovating a school become an expenditure

rather than a long-term investment?

• What are the criteria we should use for developing a consensus on what is best for the education of our students in this community?

• What direction do you want me to take back to the Board as a result of our consultation?

Chronology• January 9, 2002 – Department of Education asks for revised

Capital Construction list by February 15.

• February 26, 2002 – New Capital list approved by the HRSB forwarded to the Department of Education.

• June 12, 2003 – Education Minister announces that the province will build three new schools in the HRSB.

• November 15, 2004 – DOE asks the HRSB to confirm current priority list and prepare a list of any new needs.

• December 22, 2004 – Board approves new priority list and forwards to the DOE.

• July 2005 – DOE requests additional information from the HRSB on proposed Capital projects.

• August 3, 2005 – Revised submission forwarded to the DOE for information.

• September 28, 2005 – HRSB approves Capital Project submission by a recorded vote of 9 to 4.

• November 29, 2006 – HRSB motion directs the Superintendent to consult with the SACs.

Chronology

• All 8 school boards submit requests

• Provincial committee reviews each request and prioritizes based on four criteria:

– Condition of the existing building

– Capacity of existing infrastructure

– Existing capacity to accommodate core programs

– Efficiencies a project may create.

New schools

Inglis Street Elementary

• Built in 1962

• Capacity Range: 366 to 428

• Current Enrolment: 192

LeMarchant-St. Thomas

• Built in 1923 and 1930. Renovation in 1958

• Capacity Range: 339 to 397

• Current Enrolment: 301

Saint Mary’s

• Built in 1950

• Capacity Range – 156 to 168

• Current Enrolment – 132

HRM Regional Plan

• Directs growth to areas with existing infrastructure

• 25% of anticipated growth directed to Halifax Peninsula and Downtown Dartmouth

• Attract younger families into the area.

• An attribute of attracting this cohort is existing neighbourhood schools.

HRM Regional Plan

• Concerns– Average household expected to decrease from

1.91 persons to 1.86 persons

– Lack of affordable housing on Halifax Peninsula.

– Differences between HRSB and HRM plans

School Size• Smaller versus Larger?

• Is there an Optimal School Size?

• Educators recommend many things– About 300 to 500 for Elementary

• Positive Student Outcomes influenced by– Teacher Quality– Parental Income and School Involvement– School Building itself

School BuildingCharacteristics

• School Age

• Higher achievement in Modern schools

• More positive student attitudes toward school– Higher self-esteem– More prosocial behaviour– Increased feelings of comfort and security– Better attendance

Questions• Do we need further consultation on our capital plan for

the peninsula?

• What should the scope of the consultation be?

• Are we limiting the consultation to the three schools we are discussing here tonight or should the consultation be expanded to include the entire peninsula?

Questions

• What are the options we should consider?

– New South End School to replace three schools– A renovation to one or more of the existing schools– Replace one or more of the existing schools with new

facilities– Are there other options?

Questions• When does renovating a school become an expenditure

rather than a long-term investment?

• What are the criteria we should use for developing a consensus on what is best for the education of our students in this community?

• What direction do you want me to take back to the Board as a result of our consultation?

• Any other Questions or Comments?

Thank You!