Brantford Accommodation Review St' Pius X School St' Bernard School St' Mary School

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Brantford Accommodation ReviewSt. Pius X
SchoolSt. Bernard SchoolSt. Mary School

• Accommodation Review Committee
• Public Meeting
• December 2, 2009

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• In the scenarios provided by Mr. Kuckyt, 16
  students were considered out of boundary. Were
  these students out of boundary prior to the
  scenario of amalgamation St. Bernard and St. Pius
  X?
• Response
• The status of these students hasnt changed
  under the amalgamation scenario.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Are Colborne Street and Dalhousie Street
  considered a hazard for students and would
  Crossing Guards be provided at busy
  intersections?
• Response
• Colborne Street and Dalhousie Street are not
  considered hazards. The Board would apply to the
  City of Branford for Crossing Guards.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Is the walking distance for students reviewed
  and adjusted for safe travel paths?
• Response
• The distance between the property line of the
  place of residence and the bus stop is calculated
  based on the shortest distance on a safe walking
  route.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Have time frames been established for Bus runs?
  What time will the first loop be picked up and
  dropped off? How long will students be waiting
  for the second run to arrive?
• Response
• No calculations have been made at this time.
  There are other factors that need to be reviewed
  prior to establishing pickup and drop off times.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• How does inclement weather affect the time frame
  of pick-up and drop-off times?
• Response
• We ask that all drives be at their first stop on
  time and we ask that they complete their route in
  a safe manner.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comment
• Concerns were raised with children waiting for
  pick-up in inclement weather conditions.
• Response
• The Transportation Department is currently
  working on a system to maintain communication
  with buses on the road, therefore, providing
  updates to parents and guardians.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Will students be expected to cross King George
  Road to attend either St. Bernard or St. Pius X
  Schools?
• Response
• King George Road is considered a hazard. Any
  student needing to cross King George Road will
  have transportation made available.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• What is the estimated time frame of children
  being dropped off while buses complete the second
  loop?
• Response
• The Transportation Departments goal is 20
  minutes.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Would elementary students be mixed in with
  secondary students?
• Response
• Not in the scenarios provided.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Will students be asked to meet at a designated
  spot for bus pick-up?
• Response
• We do ask students to meet for group pick-up.
  The maximum distance for pick-ups is 0.8
  kilometers.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Has the turnover rate of headship been
  calculated in the enrolment projections?
• Response
• The enrolment projections have been calculated
  through Census reports and historical trends.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Is religion included in the Census?
• Response
• The Federal census in Canada includes
  information on people's religion every ten years,
  with data collected on years ending in 1.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• Where will the students from the Hardy Road
  development attend school?
• Response
• The boundary line for students in the Hardy Road
  area is Sacred Heart School in Paris. An
  enrolment projection from a 300 home development
  is not enough to make a huge impact.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comment
• Concerns were raised regarding influx of growth
  and turnaround and the impact if a school is
  closed. Will it only need to be re-opened in the
  future?
• Response
• The projections provided are based on trends.
  Typically if a trend is showing a decrease in
  enrolment, it will continue to flow in that
  direction.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• How will the Music Program and other extra
  curricular programs at St. Bernard School be
  affected by a possible change in location?
• Response
• Adjustments will be made. The Music Program may
  have to be expanded due to the increase in
  student participation.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comment
• Concerns were raised at the irregularity of
  student outcomes. Can a Valuation Framework be
  completed for the school where students may be
  relocated?
• Response
• The Valuation Framework is a long process. Most
  of the concerns are with regards to the student
  outcomes. EQAO results for the Board have been
  posted on the website for review.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comment
• School representatives from St. Pius X School
  have not been present at the last two public
  meetings. They could be providing valuable
  information for parents who may have to
  amalgamate with them.
• Response
• ARC will ensure that St. Pius X School has
  representatives at the next public meeting.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comment
• Many parents from St. Bernard School do not feel
  there has been adequate consideration for
  building a new school on St. Bernard School land.
  With the addition of the ½ acre the lot size
  would be slightly smaller than the size of Jean
  Vanier Catholic Elementary School. Please provide
  transportation scenarios for relocating St. Pius
  X students to St. Bernard School.

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Transportation Scenario ifNew School constructed
on St. Bernards current location

• Statistics same as previous
• St. Bernards total of 202 students
• 114 Walkers, 48 Bussed, 24 Hazard Bussed, and 16
  Out of Bounds
• St. Pius X total of 136 students
• 34 Walkers, 67 Bussed, 13 Hazard, and 22 Out of
  Bounds

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Contd

• King George Rd is a Hazard Zone, therefore all
  students attending from the former St. Pius
  boundary, less OOB, would require bussing. ADD
  the current bussed students from St. Bernard
  (bussed and hazard) TOTAL OF STUDENTS NEEDING
  TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
• Total all St. Pius existing St. Bernard
• Total ((136-22)(4824)) 186
• Tiers total riders / spots 186/70 2.66
• Therefore would require a total of 3 tiers to
  complete work

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contd

• Impact of selecting current St. Bernards
  location for future school development
• With having to transport fewer students across
  King George Rd, the second tier of the second
  route could be saved. Fixed cost of the route
  would still be required.
• Savings 5.5Km2.68/km188 days 1406

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Question
• To increase the enrolment at St. Mary School
  would the possibility of having flexible
  boundaries be taken into consideration?
• Response
• All of the schools in the area have declining
  enrolment. Flexible boundaries will take away
  students from other schools, forcing another
  school to close.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comments
• Email address should have been established at
  the beginning of the review.

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Questions Public Meeting 3

• Comment
• A recommendation was made to spend the funds
  from an addition to St. Peter School to bus
  students from St. Peter School to St. Mary School.

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Early Learning Program

• Sept 2010 - Jean Vanier
• - St. Michaels Dunnville
• - St. Pius X
• - Sacred Heart Langton
• Sept 2011 - Holy Cross
• - Christ the King
• - St. Patricks Caledonia
• - St. Stephens

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Brantford Enrolment
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St. Johns / St. Bernards
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St. Bernards
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St. Pius X with Soccer Field
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St. Marys Options

• A Status quo
• B Move students to Holy Cross
• C Move to Holy Cross and Christ the King

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St. Pius/St. Bernard Options

• A Status quo
• B Move Bernards students to St. Pius
• C Move St. Pius students to St. Bernards

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ARC Recommendations St. Marys

• A) Move all students to Holy Cross
• B) Move all students to Jean Vanier
• C) Continue to use St. Mary as a school and use
  surplus space for administrative purposes.

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Considerations Option A

• Move to Holy Cross
• Initially will exceed capacity but will be within
  capacity by 2015
• Site is small

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St. Marys Option A Move
Students to Holy Cross

• OR Spending of 400,000 to be determined by
  Committee of School council and Board staff
  (subject to approval of Trustees)

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Other Recommendations
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Considerations Option B

• Move to Jean Vanier
• Initially enough space but may exceed capacity in
  a few years
• Can add 4 classrooms but no funding
• Playground is 3.3 acres for over 400 pupils

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Considerations Option C

• Use Surplus Space for Administration
• Doesnt solve small school issues
• Split classes
• Small JK/SK space
• No green space or gym
• Doesnt help with Boards overall small school
  issues

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ARC RecommendationsSt. Pius/St. Bernard

• A) Move Bernards students to St. Pius
• B) Move St. Pius students to St. Bernards

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St. Pius/St. Bernard A or B
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Other recommendations
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Considerations

• St. Pius
• Larger site
• Better bus drop
• Closer to church
• Closer to center of attendance area

• St. Bernards
• More pupils
• Higher EQAO

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Next Steps

• ARC to meet to further review
• ARC will present final report at a meeting in new
  year