St. Agatha School Closure ReviewARC Working Meeting #2
Thursday October 20, 2016Holy Rosary CES – Library
Agenda• Welcome and Opening Prayer• Chair Opening Comments• Approval of Minutes, Working Meeting # 1• Present School Information Profiles (SIP)• Group Work to analyze SIP and determine if additional data is
required• Present Initial Staff Report (ISR), rationale, demographics, options• Group Work to analyze ISR – understanding of data, options and
boundaries• Discuss Public Meeting # 1 – format, purpose, communication,
survey questions• Next Steps • Closing prayer and adjournment
Opening Prayer
Holy Rosary School - Representatives
Introduction to School Information Profiles (SIPs)
• The following slides will focus on the School Information Profiles(SIPs) for each school – Tab 4 of your binder
• Two questions to focus on:1. What differences are notable when comparing each
SIPs side by side 2. Is there additional information required in the SIPs
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Please follow along and note down important information for each school This information will help you during the group work exercise following the conclusion of the SIPs what differences do you see from the school by school comparisons of SIPs Is there an additional information required in the SIP
School Information Profiles (SIPs)
• Building• Site• Proximity to Students• Parish• Enrolment Factors • Staffing • School Configuration • Programs• Extracurricular Activities • Facility Costs and Projects • Partnerships and Community Use
Building St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Original Construction Year 1955 1958 1989
Additions / Renovation 1962Port-a-pak additions
in 1997 and 2000
1970 1994
Total Number of Classrooms
8(4 permanent & 4
port-a-pakclassrooms)
11 18 (12 permanent &
6 RCM classrooms)
Number of EmptyClassrooms (2015)
2 2 5
On-The Ground Capacity 173(78) 265 447
Gymnasium Size Single Single Double with partition wall
Library Size Not Adequate Adequate Adequate
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Original construction year and additions/renovations St. Agatha was constructed in 1955 and had an addition in 1962. the port-a-pak was added in 1997 and 2000 St. Clement was constructed in 1958 and had an addition in 1970 Holy Rosary was constructed in 1989 and had an addition in 1994 Number of Classrooms St. Agatha has 4 permanent classrooms and 4 Port-a-Pak classrooms. 1 of these rooms are purpose built kindergarten rooms, the remaining 7 rooms are regular. St. Clement has 11 permanent classrooms. 1 of these rooms are purpose built kindergarten rooms, the remaining 10 rooms are regular. Holy Rosary has 12 permanent classrooms and 6 RCM classrooms. 4 of these rooms are purpose built kindergarten rooms, the remaining 14 rooms are regular Number of Empty classrooms St. Agatha has 2 empty classroom St. Clement has 2 empty classroom Holy Rosary has 5 empty classrooms On-The-Ground Capacity St. Agatha has a permanent capacity of 78 pupil places, and with a port-a-pak it has a capacity of 173 students St. Clement has a capacity of 265 students Holy Rosary has a capacity of 447 students Classroom Layout St. Agatha’s classroom layouts consist of permanent walls St. Clements classroom layouts consist of both open concept and permanent walls Holy Rosary classroom layouts consist of permanent walls. Purpose –Built Classrooms – FYI not including kindergarten St. Agatha does not have any purpose built classrooms St. Clement does not have purpose built classrooms Holy Rosary has 3 purpose built classrooms consisting of a science room, a music room, and an Arts room Gymnasium St. Agatha and St. Clement have a single sized gymnasium, whereas Holy Rosary has a double gym with a partition wall All 3 school have change rooms, gym storage and server available. The gym sizes are adequate for St. Agatha and Holy Rosary but not St. Clement. Library St. Agatha’s library is not adequate for the capacity of the school St. Clement’s library is adequate for the capacity of the school Holy Rosary’s library is adequate for the capacity of the school Clear sight lines St. Agatha and Holy Rosary both have clear sight lines inside the school that allow corridors and stairwells to be easily monitored St. Clements does not have clear sight lines as the main entrance cannot be easily monitored from the main office or the principal’s office. Moreover, there is low visibility in corridors and the exists around pods. Accessibility St. Agatha contains steep sloops, the entrances and pathways to entrances are not fully accessible, and lastly the ramp to the gymnasium is not Ontario Building Code compliant. St. Clements does not have accessible entrances, and the school has no elevator, ramp or lifts to get to various levels. Holy Rosary does not have an accessible main entrance, but the school does have an elevator.
Site Aerials Holy Rosary
St. Clement
St. Agatha
Presenter
Presentation Notes
This slide shows aerials of each school site. The red lines are the property lines
Site
St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Site size 1.9 acres (plus 8 acres leased)
3.2 acres 4.9 acres
Playground space (Hard surface, Green
space)
0.22 acres0.76 acres (plus
6.35 acres leased)
0.11 acres1.9 acres
0.52 acres1.83 acres
Parking 24 5 + 32 at the church 53
Bus drop-off On the street On the street On the school site
Additional Portables 1 Up to 6 Up to 6
Potential Additions Not enough space Not enough space Enough space
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Site Size St. Agatha’s site size is 1.9 acres plus we are leasing 8 acres for parkland St. Clements site size is 3.2 acres Holy Rosary site size is 4.9 acres Playground Space St. Agatha has 0.22 acres of hard surfaces play area as well as a total of 7.11 acres of green playground space of which 6.35 acres is leased. St. Clements has 0.11 acres of hard surfaced play area, as well as 1.9 acres of green playground area Holy Rosary has 0.52 acres of hard surfaced play area as well as 1.83 acres of green playground area Site Amenities St. Agatha has a baseketball court, creative play structure, peace garden, and baseball diamond. It does not have parkland adjacent to the school site. St. Clements has a baseball field, baseketball court, 3 creative play structures, a soccer field, and a peace garden. It does not have parkland adjacent to the school site. Holy Rosary has 2 play structures and 3 mini soccer fields. There is parkland adjacent to the school site which has sports fields. Parking St. Agatha has 24 parking spaces on site. St. Clements has 5 parking sports plus an additional 32 at the church site. Holy Rosary has 53 parking spots. Designated bus drop-off area St. Agatha has a designated drop off area off on the street St. Clemnets has a designated drop off area on the street Holy Rosary has a designated drop off area on the school site Site limitations St. Agatha’s owned site is small and the expiration of the playground lease expires in 2019. Moreover the site has steep slopes St. Clements has limitations with its site size as well as its configurations Holy Rosary experiences extreme site slopes downward from the front of the school towards the back of the school Portables St. Agatha could accommodate 1 portable. That being said there is not enough space on the site to accommodate an addition. St. Clements could accommodate for 6 portables. That being said there is not enough space on the site to accommodate an addition if needed. Holy Rosary could accommodate for 6 portables. There is enough space on site to accommodate an addition if needed.
Proximity To Students
• # of students walking • # of students bussed • # of students attending (out of boundary)• # of students in boundary but going out of
boundary
St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Student Walkers 1 105 189
Bussed Students 70 87 61
Bussed Students due to Hazards
15 5 9
Number of students attending the school but
living out of boundary
14 1 35
Number of students living in the boundary but attending
another school
43 3 21
Presenter
Presentation Notes
St. Agatha – 1 student walking, 70 students bussed, 15 of which are bused due to a hazard and 30 of which actually live in a bussed area. 14 students attended St. Agatha that are from out of boundary and 43 students who live in the boundary attend other schools. St Clements – 105 students walk to school, 87 are bussed, 5 of which are due to hazards.1 student attends the school that lives out of the boundary and 3 students attend other schools but reside in the school boundary Holy Rosary – 189 students walk to school, 61 students are bussed, 9 of which are due to hazards. 35 students attend the school but live out of boundary and 21 students attend other schools but live in the boundary.
Parish
St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Affiliated Parish St. Agatha Parish St. Clement’s Church Our Lady of Lourdes
Other Affiliations N/A St. Mary’s in Linwood
N/A
Presenter
Presentation Notes
St. Agatha is affiliated with St. Agatha Parish which is adjacent to the school. No other affiliations exist. St. Clement is affiliated with St. Clement’s Church which is adjacent to the school. St. Mary’s in Linwood is also attended by students at this school. Holy Rosary is affiliated with Our Lady of Lourdes which is 4km from the school. No other affiliations exist
Enrolment Factors St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Student Enrolment (October 31, 2015)
97 198 292
Utilization Rate 56% 75% 65%
Student Yield 0.089 0.208 0.229
Student Yield Trend Declining Stable Declining
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Current enrolment St. Agatha enrolment for October 31, 2015 is 97 students. 56% utilization rate St. Clements enrolment for October 31, 2015 is 198 students. 75% utilization rate Holy rosary enrolment for October 31 2015 is 292. 65% utilization rate Student yield St. Agatha has a student yield of 0.089. the student yield trend is declining. St. Clements has a student yield trend of 0.208. the student yield trend is stable. Holy rosary has a student yield of 0.229. the student yield trend is declining. OTG Gap Analysis 2016 St. Agatha - St. Clement - Holy Rosary -
Staffing • St. Agatha has a total of 13.364 Full-Time
Equivalent staff members • St. Clement has a total of 19.944 Full-Time
Equivalent staff members• Holy Rosary has a total of 26.594 Full-Time
Equivalent staff members
Presenter
Presentation Notes
*Refer to details in table - Ratio required depending on enrolment. Full-Time Principal JK/SK teachers Primary teachers Junior/Intermediate teachers Special education teachers Special Education Assistant French as a second language teacher Planning time teachers Designated ECE Total number of FTE Staff
School Configuration
• All WCDSB Elementary Schools are JK to Grade 8• St. Agatha uses 5 classrooms• St. Clement uses 9 classrooms• Holy Rosary uses 13 classrooms
Presenter
Presentation Notes
currently, all our elementary schools are JK to 8 Refer to school programs and activities table for breakdown of classes
Programs St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Course and program offerings
JK-8FSL 4-8
JK-8FSL 4-8
JK-8FSL 4-8
Co-op placements from secondary
schools
Yes Yes Yes
Others Special programs in place for students with high needs
Placements for EA’s, ECE’s and Teachers
occur
ECO School
Special programs in place for students with high needs
Placements for student teachers
Special programs in place for students with high needs
Placements for EA’s, ECE’s and Teachers
occur
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Course and program offerings, This column would be geared more towards high schools as they have a variety of courses readily available for their students.
Extracurricular Activities St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
Basketball Yes Yes Yes
Volleyball Yes Yes Yes
Softball Yes Yes Yes
Soccer Yes Yes Yes
Cross country Yes No Yes
Track and field Yes Yes Yes
PALS Yes Yes Yes
Choir Yes Yes Yes
Dance Yes Yes Yes
Crafts Yes Yes Yes
Chess/checkers Yes Yes No
Fundraisers Yes Yes Yes
Computers No No Yes
Presenter
Presentation Notes
St. Agatha = Yearbook, social justice, Skills Canada, ECO club, Student council, Mad Science, Forest of reading, St. Clements = Lego robotics, star wars, mad science Holy Rosary= gamers, lego, skills Canada, robots, keyboarding
Facility Costs & Projects St. Agatha St. Clement Holy Rosary
3- year Average Utility Costs $23,983 $29,744 $58,242
5 year Facility Condition Index (FCI)
79.76% 47.79% 12.17%
10 Year FCI 112.99% 66.25% 50.85%
Total spent on major improvements to date
$112,797 $205,020 $595,090
Total projected to spend in next 5 years
*$1,642,020 $4,274,462 $4,656,632
*Please note that the renewal projects shown indicate a 5 year cost which uses the same methodology as the Ministry’s database and would not include some of the additional costs identified by the consultant.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
St. Agatha’s projected cost is based on the permanent component of the building only Port-a-pak is nearing the end of their anticipated life span
Please answer the following question within your designated groups:
1. What differences are notable when comparing each SIPs side by side
2. Is there an additional information required in the SIPs
Initial Staff Report
• Existing Boundaries • Purpose of the Review • School Closure Review Process• Previous Accommodation Reviews Involving St. Agatha • Rationale for this School Closure Review • Other Considerations (Enrolment, Costs, Leased Land)• Baden Area• Proposed Options
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The Initial Staff Report can be found in tab 3 of your binders It was approved by the Board of Trustees on June 20, 2016 I will highlight the key points in the initial staff report, including …
• School Closure Review in accordance with:– Ministry’s 2015 Pupil
Accommodation Review Guideline
– Part B of WCDSB’s APF008 (Pupil Accommodation Review Process)
• Schools Involved:– St. Agatha– St. Clement– Holy Rosary
• Only school considered for closure will be St. Agatha
• Proposed implementation date is September 2017
Presenter
Presentation Notes
This school closure review will follow the Board’s APF008 memorandum which is the Pupil Accommodation Review Process This map shows the existing boundaries for the 3 schools involved The only school considered for closure is St. Agatha with an implementation date proposed to be September 2017
Purpose of the Review• Low enrolment (current and projected)• Sufficient space at Holy Rosary and St. Clement to
accommodate St. Agatha students• St. Agatha has been deemed as prohibitive to repair and no
new capital funding to renovate school• Funding to reduce surplus capacity at Holy Rosary• WCDSB must address facility condition at St. Agatha and
utilization across the three schools:– Through a school closure review, WCDSB is proposing
the closure of St. Agatha
Presenter
Presentation Notes
All 3 schools are currently under capacity and it’s projected that enrolment will continue to decrease in all 3 schools There is sufficient space within Holy Rosary and St. Clement to accommodate all of St. Agatha’s students St. Agatha has been deemed as prohibitive to repair and the Ministry confirmed that there’s no new capital funding available to improve the school The Ministry provided funding to demolish classroom space at Holy Rosary to reduce surplus capacity With that said, the Board must address the facility condition at St. Agatha as well as the low utilization rates across the three schools Therefore, through this school closure review, St. Agatha is proposed for closure
St. Agatha School Closure Review Goals
• The following goals have been determined related to the St. Agatha School Closure Review: – Being faithful to the WCDSB strategic plan, ensure that
decisions are evidence based and responsive. Consolidate St. Agatha Catholic Elementary School into St. Clement and/or Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary Schools.
– Determine attendance boundaries that best meet board-wide accommodation review goals and the priorities of the school communities.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The following goals have been determined for this St. Agatha school closure review ….
Board-wide Accommodation Review Goals
• The following goals relate to every accommodation review:– Provide the highest quality learning environment possible. – Ensure an efficient use of system resources by balancing
enrolment and facilities.– Provide a long term (5 years +) accommodation solution.– Create boundaries that maximize the number of students that can
walk to school.– Provide logical attendance boundaries. – Reduce operating costs. – Develop accommodation options with consideration for Ministry
of Education capital funding formulas and the Board’s Long Term Capital Plan.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The following goals relate to every accommodation review, whether it be for a boundary change or a school closure …
School Closure Review Process • Staff required to complete Initial Staff Report – entire process
structured on this report.• ARC is permitted to suggest other options:
– With supporting rationale– Within scope of the review To meet both sets of goals (St. Agatha School Closure Review
and the Board-wide Accommodation Review)• Board staff are responsible for carrying out the school closure review
process, and making recommendations to the Director of Education and Board of Trustees.
• Two Public meetings are required– To solicit feedback from the community on the options presented
within the initial staff report.– Specific input on boundaries contemplated.
• Following a decision to close a school, a separate committee will be established to address the transition of students and staff.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Staff are required to provide the Board of Trustees an initial staff report which must include a recommended option When the Board of Trustees approved this initial staff report, they were approving the initiation of this school closure review and not staff’s recommended option The entire school closure review process will be structured around the information that’s in this report As mentioned in our first meeting, the ARC’s role is to act as the official conduit for information sharing, to comment on the initial staff report, and to review materials provided by board staff. The ARC is also permitted to suggest other options as long as there is supporting rationale and that the options are within the scope of this review. It also has to meet the goals of the St. Agatha school closure review as well as the Board-wide accommodation goals Two public meetings will be held as required, for the purpose of … Following a decision to close a school, a separate committee would be created for transition planning
Previous Accommodation Reviews Involving St. Agatha
• 2008-2009 West Waterloo Accommodation review – Schools Involved: St. Agatha, Holy Rosary, and St. Nicholas– To alleviate growth pressures at St. Nicholas and deal with surplus capacity
at Holy Rosary– Outcome included boundary changes to all three schools as well as Sir
Edgar Bauer• 2013-2014 Rural West School Closure Review
– Schools Involved: St. Agatha, Holy Rosary, St. Clement, Holy Family, and St. Nicholas.
– To address site size and facility condition issues at St. Agatha, and to examine the long-term sustainability of the schools in this area
– Outcome included relocating some students living in the Baden area from Holy Family to St. Agatha and to seek funding to build a new St. Agatha School within the Township of Wilmot.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
St. Agatha was involved in previous accommodation reviews …
Rationale for this School Closure Review1) Provincial Funding/Policy Changes
• August 2014 – New funding to manage excess capacity (right-sizing)
• March 2015 – New Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline2) Building Condition and Funding for St. Agatha
• 2012 Ministry’s facility condition assessment • $1.98M by 2016 + $513K over next 10 years• Primarily evaluated permanent building
• Ministry confirmed funding would not be provided due to excess space in surrounding schools
• 2016 Consultant’s facility condition assessment • $3,365,957 over next 10 years
3) Funding to “Right-Size” Holy Rosary • March 2015 – Ministry funding to demolish 7 classrooms
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The ministry recommends that schools should be subject to a school closure review once in a 5 year period unless circumstances arise. The initial staff report outlines 3 reasons why the Board id deeming another school closure review necessary
Other Considerations• Enrolment and Utilization
– Excess capacity
56%
75%
65%
Presenter
Presentation Notes
- This graph shows the capacity of each school vs. the 2015 enorlment.
Other Considerations• Student Achievement and Well-Being
– Fewer opportunities for diversity, co-curricular activities, and collaborative learning.
– Fewer opportunities for teaching staff to co-plan.• Operational Costs
– Extra Junior/Intermediate teacher to avoid triple grades. – Closure of St. Agatha would result in reduction of up to 3.5 FTE staff
(annual cost savings of approx. $380,000) and operating costs of approx. $46,000 annually
• Leased Playground – Lease will expire in 2019
• Residential Growth – Very limited growth within boundaries
Baden Area That the Board of Trustees modify the boundaries between St. Agatha Catholic Elementary School and Holy Family Catholic Elementary School effective immediately to re-direct the Baden area that was subject to the 2014 boundary change to Holy Family. All St. Agatha students living in that area (including siblings) would be grandparented to St. Agatha with transportation.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
- Approved June 20, 2016 by the Board of Trustees and change was already implemented this year
Advantages• All students would move to St. Clement• Students would continue attending a
rural school• There would be operating cost savings of
~ $387,000Disadvantages• Students living in Waterloo would be
bussed to St. Clement• St. Clement is part of St. David’s family
of schools• St. Clement may require a portable• Holy Rosary’s low utilization unaffected
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The 1st option proposes to move all St. Agatha students to St. Clement Students would continue attending a rural school Operating cost savings of approximately $387,000 In this option, students living in Waterloo would be bussed to St. Clement even though Holy Rosary is much closer which may not seem logical St. Clement is part of St. David’s family of schools whereas Holy Rosary and St. Agatha feed into Resurrection St. Clement would be over capacity in this option and may require a portable Holy Rosary school would not be affected and therefore continues to have low utilization rates.
Option 2Advantages• All students would move to Holy Rosary• No portables required• Secondary boundaries unaffected• There would be operating cost savings of
~ $379,000Disadvantages• Students bussed to a city school• St. Clement’s low utilization unaffected
The 2nd option proposes to move all St. Agatha students to Holy Rosary, which would improve Holy Rosary’s utilization Since Holy Rosary would remain under capacity, portables would not be required Holy Rosary and St. Agatha both currently feed into Resurrection, so this option would not impact secondary boundaries Operating cost savings of approximately $379,000 Students living in the Townships would be bussed to a city school St. Clement school would not be affected and therefore continues to have low utilization rates.
Option 3Advantages• Improve utilization at both Holy Rosary
and St. Clement• No portables required in the long term• There would be operating cost savings of
~ $426,000Disadvantages• Students divided between two schools• Some students bussed to a city school• St. Clement is part of St. David’s family
of schools2015 2016 PROJ 2017 PROJ 2021 PROJ 2026 PROJ
This option proposes to split the students between St. Clement and Holy Rosary The proposed boundaries are very similar to the ARC’s recommendations during the 2013-2014 review This option is also staff’s recommendation in the initial staff report Although the Board of Trustees approved the initiation of this school closure review, that doesn’t mean that they approved the staff’s recommended option. Option 3 would improve utilization at both Holy Rosary and St. Clement schools No portables would be required and both schools would have excess space to accommodate potential enrolment increases Operating cost savings of approximately $426,000 Students would be divided between two schools rather than move together Some students would be bussed to a city school St. Clement is part of St. David’s family of school whereas Holy Rosary is part of Resurrection’s
Group work
Please answer the following question within your designated groups:
1. What are the pros/cons of option 1?2. What are the pros/cons of option 2?3. What are the pros/cons of option 3? What are other
alternative boundaries?
Public Meeting #1• Date: November 9, 2016• Location: St. Agatha • Time: 4pm-8pm• Format: Open House
– Welcoming table – Area 1: Ministry Guideline, APF008, and Parent’s Guide– Area 2: School Information Profiles – Area 3: Initial Staff Report – Area 4: Feedback (Survey)
• Attendees are free to ask questions in any of the 4 areas• Presentation of ARC Working Meeting #1 to be available
Next Steps
• November 9, 2016: Public Meeting at St. Agatha• Review public feedback• December 7, 2016: ARC Working Meeting 3 in St. Clement
