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Halton Catholic District School Board Georgetown Catholic Elementary Schools Advisory School Boundary Review Committee (SBRC) Interim Report November 4, 2015 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this Interim Report is to provide information to the Georgetown Catholic Elementary Advisory School Boundary Review Committee (SBRC) and community, on the school attendance boundary options that were presented to the SBRC at the first meeting on October 14th, 2015 at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School and the second meeting that occurred on October 28th, 2015, at St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School. The interim school attendance boundary options consider all Catholic elementary schools in Georgetown, and takes into consideration the future accommodation and programing needs of elementary students. Please note that St. Joseph CES in the Acton Community was not considered in these options due to its distance to the Georgetown Community Schools. It is proposed that the Board approved option will be implemented and in effect for September 2016 school year. This Interim Report outlines the three (3) potential school attendance boundary options which will be presented to the school communities for their input at the upcoming Community Consultation Meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on November 5, 2015 at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School (online pre-registration required to attend, accessed via www.hcdsb.org). 2. DISCUSSION Background

1) The decision to undergo a boundary review process in the Georgetown Community was first

approved by the Board on June 18, 2013 in response to anticipated enrolment pressures and as an initiative to prepare for the introduction of Georgetown West Catholic Elementary School. The Ministry did not approve the required funding for the school at that time, and the boundary review process was placed on hold.

2) On January 17, 2015, Board staff was informed that the Town of Halton Hills had allocated commercial water towards residential purposes to begin the process of finalizing the South Georgetown Secondary Plan. In light of this, it was deemed necessary to re-initiate the boundary review process to accommodate for the anticipated growth. Prior to establishing the Advisory SBRC, Senior Staff determined that the boundary review should be delayed to September 2015 in light of upcoming Ministry Capital Requests and the uncertainty in the French Immersion Programs at the Board.

3) The Georgetown Catholic Elementary School Boundary Review process was re-initiated in September 2015. Board staff updated enrolment projections with September 2015 enrolment

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numbers for the three affected elementary schools. The Options that were developed were based on not including the new Georgetown West Catholic Elementary School (if the Ministry were to fund the project, adjustments could be made). Board staff developed eleven (11) options to present to the School Boundary Review Committee.

4) The Georgetown Catholic Elementary School Boundary Review Committee (SBRC) was established in September 2015. Two (2) representatives (parents/school representatives) and one alternate from each of the Georgetown Catholic elementary schools were asked to sit on this Committee to ensure openness, fairness and transparency in the Boundary Review process.

5) The SBRC’s first meeting was held on October 14, 2015 at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic

Elementary School. The Committee requested staff to introduce a new option for consideration to be brought forward to the October 28, 2015 meeting.

6) Based on the SBRC’s recommendation, a second meeting was held on October 28, 2015 at St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School to finalize which options were to be presented at the Community Consultation Meeting on November 5, 2015.

The Georgetown Catholic Elementary SBRC school representatives: Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School Angela Richardson Karen Hill Felicia Fenlong (alternate) St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School Janet O’Hearn Joanne Wilson Corina Sibley (alternate) St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School Frank Sirianni Ellen Faraone Nelia Raposo-DeSousa (alternate) St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School Marie Paterson Karen Truyens Lisa Beagle (alternate) Board Staff Tim Overholt Superintendent of Education Lorrie Naar Superintendent of Education Giacomo Corbacio Superintendent, Facility Management Services Frederick Thibeault Administrator, Planning Services Superintendent Overholt is the Chair of the Advisory SBRC.

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October 14, 2015 – Georgetown Catholic Elementary SBRC Meeting #1 The purpose of this meeting was to outline the requirements of the ‘School Boundary Review Process’ (Policy I-29) for the SBRC (Appendix A), and to identify preferred school attendance boundary options that will be presented to the greater school communities at the upcoming Community Consultation Meeting on November 5, 2015.

As per School Boundary Review Policy I-29, the SBRC also confirmed the following six criteria to be used in evaluating school attendance boundary options:

1. Optimizing the use of existing school facilities, while ensuring that pupils are accommodated to the extent possible, in permanent school facilities that are within their enrolment capacity;

2. Minimizing the use of portable classrooms whenever possible, except during the establishment phases of new communities and throughout the peak enrolment phases of schools;

3. To the extent possible, minimizing school boundary adjustments, thereby ensuring that said boundaries remain stable, over a minimal five-year period;

4. To the extent possible and in accordance with Board policy, optimize the cost-effective use of school transportation;

5. Ensuring that a cost- effective range of program delivery, responding to pupil needs, is achieved through the optimum distribution of school enrolment;

6. To the extent possible, give due consideration to the concept of a community of associated schools and where feasible, give consideration to a Catholic School community in which school boundaries will substantially match Catholic Parish boundaries.

The SBRC were instructed that decisions will be made on a consensus basis rather than voting basis and that the Committee’s purpose is to provide a recommendation(s) to the Board, in which the Board will make the ultimate school boundary decision, which is anticipated for the January 19, 2016 Regular Board Meeting. Delegations from the community will also be permitted at the aforementioned meeting. Notification would be provided in December to the wider community advising of the process to submit Delegations.

The SBRC members were asked to communicate their information with their respective School Councils in order to ensure that the School Councils are regularly updated regarding the discussions and progress of the SBRC’s work. Community updates will be forwarded to parents through their home school which will include information on the SBRC activities. This information will also be posted on the Board’s website for the wider community to access.

Senior Staff presented a total of eleven (11) Boundary Options to the Advisory SBRC. Of the eleven, three were shortlisted as candidates for the Community Consultation Meeting, and include Options 3, 9, and 9A. An additional option, referred to as Option 9B, was requested by one of the SBRC committee members. The SBRC requested that a second meeting be held to review the four options. The below table summarizes the selected options.

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YES Option best meets criteria and will move

forward

MAYBE Need more Information about this

option

NO Option fails to meet criteria and has

been removed for further consideration

Option 3 Option 9A Option 1 Option 9 Option 9B Option 2 Option 3A Option 4 Option 5 Option 6 Option 7 Option 8

Minutes of the October 14, 2015 Georgetown Catholic Elementary SBRC Meeting have been attached as Appendix B.

October 28, 2015 – Georgetown Catholic Elementary SBRC Meeting #2 The purpose of this meeting was to review the shortlisted options from the previous meeting, review the twelfth option submitted by the SBRC, and discuss the format of the upcoming Community Consultation Meeting.

After reviewing the four (4) options, the SBRC committee and Board staff deliberated that Option 3, 9, and 9B should be presented to the community (as shown in the table below).

YES Option best meets criteria and will move

forward



Option 3 Option 9A Option 9 Option 9B

Minutes of the October 28th, 2015 Georgetown Catholic Elementary SBRC Meeting have been attached as Appendix C.

(Upcoming) November 5, 2015 – SBRC Community Consultation Meeting

Board staff have generated corresponding student enrolment projections and school attendance boundary maps for each respective option and will present each of the three (3) options at the meeting.

The three (3) options to be discussed are described below:

Status Quo

Current boundaries remain the same.

1. St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School will continue to face significant enrolment pressures, soon to be exacerbated by new development activity in South

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Georgetown, and will not be able to accommodate additional portables without significant investments in retrofitting the site.

2. Holy Cross will continue to see declining enrolments, leaving surplus classrooms underutilized.

3. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School is anticipated to have stable enrolment, sustained by new development growth.

4. St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School enrolment is anticipated to be sustained by special programing.

Option 1

1. Redirect patch U77 from St. Catherine of Alexandria CES to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School.

2. Redirect patches U74, V74 & V71 from St. Catherine of Alexandria CES to St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School.

Option 2

1. Redirect patch U79 from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School.

2. Redirect patch U77 from St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School.

3. Redirect patch W75 from Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School.

4. Redirect patches U74, V74 & V71 from St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School to St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School.

Option 3

1. Redirect patch U79 from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School.

2. Redirect patch U77 from St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School.

3. Split patches V78 and W80 into two segments, where the divide would be made along Mountainview Road North.

4. Redirect patches V78B, W75, and W80B from Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School.

5. Redirect patches U74, V74 & V71 from St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School to St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School.

Upon review of the community feedback, a Final Report including recommendations will be prepared and submitted to the Board at the January 5, 2016 Board Meeting. The community will have the opportunity to delegate to the Board regarding the SBRC Final Report at the January 19, 2016 Board Meeting. It is

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anticipated that the Board will consider the SBRC recommendations and any delegation information, and establish the new school attendance boundaries for the Georgetown Catholic Elementary Schools at the January 19, 2016 Regular Board Meeting. Changes to the school attendance boundaries are anticipated to take effect for September 2016. SBRC Milestone Dates

Completed: Board approves Georgetown Elementary Schools Boundary Review Process June 18, 2013 Inaugural Advisory SBRC Meeting October 14, 2015 Second Advisory SBRC Meeting October 28, 2015 SBRC Interim Report Posted on Board Website November 4, 2015 Upcoming: Community Consultation Meeting at Christ the King CSS November 5, 2015 Community Comments & Feedback are due November 26, 2015 SBRC reviews Options & Community Input December 10, 2015 SBRC Final Report posted on website December 17, 2015 SBRC Final Report & Recommendations presented to the Board January 5, 2016 Board receives Delegations & approves new secondary school boundaries January 19, 2016

OPERATING POLICY HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOUNDARY Operating Policy: I-29 REVIEW PROCESS Date: June 18, 2002 Amended: May 20, 2003

APPROVED - May 20, 2003 Page 1 of 3

PURPOSE To provide direction in the establishment of School Boundaries for schools within the jurisdiction of the Halton Catholic District School Board. APPLICATION AND SCOPE

This policy applies to the review process for the establishment of all boundaries for the schools under the jurisdiction of the Halton Catholic District School Board. PRINCIPLES

The HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD:

• Recognizes its legislated right and responsibility for the establishment of school boundaries for all of its schools.

• Endorses and welcomes the input of members of the individual Catholic school community into the School Boundary Review Process.

• Recognizes and approves of the current School Boundary Review Process which meets the criteria for: Optimizing the use of existing school facilities, while ensuring that pupils are

accommodated to the extent possible, in permanent school facilities that are within their enrolment capacities;

Minimizing the use of portable classrooms whenever possible, excepting during the establishment phases of new communities and throughout the peak enrolment phases of schools;

To the extent possible, minimizing school boundary adjustments, thereby ensuring

that said boundaries remain stable, over a minimal five-year period; To the extent possible and in accordance with Board policy, optimize the cost-

effective use of school transportation; Ensuring that a cost-effective range of program delivery, responding to pupil needs,

is achieved through the optimum distribution of school enrolment; To the extent possible, give due consideration to the concept of a community of

associated schools and where feasible, give consideration to a Catholic school community in which school boundaries will substantially match Catholic parish boundaries.

APPENDIX A



REQUIREMENTS

• An annual update of enrolment and review of accommodations is to be conducted for every school.

• On the basis of the annual review, the Board is presented with a list, for approval, of

those schools needing to undertake the appropriate boundary review process.

• School communities on the approved Board list are informed, employing the Board’s Website, as well as through community-wide notifications in the local press. A letter from the Board will be released to the school Principal and Council Chair one week prior to any press notice.

• School communities on the approved Board list are provided with details, as well as a flow chart, with respect to the Board’s process for boundary reviews.

• Chairs of Catholic school councils, whose schools are on the approved Board list, are requested to appoint representatives to join the School Boundary Review Committee. The number of representatives per school is to be made in consultation with the Board and local school council chairs. School community, Board staff and appropriate senior administration officials of the Board are members of the committee. Board staff and appropriate senior administration officials are non-voting members on the committee.

• A public consultation meeting is to be held, allowing for community participation.

• Trustees are invited to attend committee and community consultation session meetings as observers.

• Catholic School Councils and community representatives are full participants in the review and decision-making processes, while liaising with their respective school councils.

• Criteria for decision-making on boundary issues is as per this Board policy (see Principles).

• Prior to the Community Consultation Process, an interim report with recommendations is presented to the Board as information. It will contain all information to be presented at a Public Consultation Meeting.

• At the Public Consultation Meeting, an open house is held wherein all scenarios and interim recommendations are posted and discussed.

• The School Boundary Review Committee’s preferred recommendations are presented during the public meeting, following the open house.



• At the Public Consultation Meeting, the community is invited to provide input to the

School Boundary Review Committee via written comments and other electronic means of communication, as appropriate.

• Following the Public Consultation Meeting, if the School Boundary Review Committee revises its interim recommendations, a public information meeting shall then be held.

• The final report is proposed by the School Boundary Review Committee to the Board. A minority report, if applicable, is to be included with the final recommendations.

• Through the schools, information is forwarded to members of the affected Catholic

school community, advising of the School Boundary Review Committee’s final recommendations with a date at which such recommendations will be presented to the Board and advising the community of its right to delegate to the Board.

• The report outlining the final recommendations must be presented to the Board at least two weeks previous to the meeting at which a decision is expected.

• The final recommendations are presented to the Board for approval.

• All approved delegations around a particular boundary issue will be heard exclusively at one meeting.

• The Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the recommendations of the School Boundary Review Committee. The Board has the final decision-making authority on all boundary issues.

• Board staff informs the affected community of the final Board-approved recommendations.

DISTRIBUTION: Board Members, Administration, Principals, Vice Principals, Staff, School Council Chairs, Clergy Authorized by: ................................................................................ Chair of the Board

REQUIREMENTS (continued)

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APPENDIX B

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http://www.hcdsb.org/Board/Policies/PoliciesProcedures/I-29%20School%20Boundary%20Review%20Process.pdf

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mailto:[email protected]

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MEETING MINUTES Georgetown (Halton Hills) Catholic Elementary School Boundary Review Committee Meeting #2

HELD Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. St. Brigid Catholic Elementary School Library IN ATTENDANCE Board Staff Tim Overholt Superintendent of Education Lorrie Naar Superintendent of Education Giacomo Corbacio Superintendent, Facility Management Services Frederick Thibeault Administrator, Planning Services Ryan Merrick Administrator, Operations and Maintenance Janine Neuman Administrative Assistant, School Services Parent Representatives HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Angela Richardson Karen Hill ST. BRIGID CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Janet O’Hearn Joanne Wilson ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Frank Sirianni Ellen Faraone ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Karen Truyens Lisa Beagle (alternate) OPENING PRAYER The meeting opened with a prayer led by Superintendent Overholt. WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS Superintendent Overholt welcomed all parent volunteers to the committee, followed by introductions of the attendees. The meeting format and agenda were discussed.

APPENDIX C

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APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 14, 2015 MEETING MINUTES The advisory committee unanimously approved the Meeting Minutes from the Inaugural Advisory SBRC Meeting, which was held on October 14, 2015 at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Elementary School. BOUNDARY REVIEW CRITERIA – FULL TEXT Superintendent Overholt provided a detailed overview of the full text version of the Boundary Review Criteria, as it appears in Policy I-29 School Boundary Review Process:

Optimizing the use of existing school facilities, while ensuring that pupils are accommodated to the extent possible, in permanent school facilities that are within their enrolment capacities;

Minimizing the use of portable classrooms whenever possible, excepting during the establishment phases of new communities and throughout the peak enrolment phases of schools;

To the extent possible, minimizing school boundary adjustments, thereby ensuring that said boundaries remain stable, over a minimal five-year period;

To the extent possible and in accordance with Board policy, optimize the cost-effective use of school transportation;

Ensuring that a cost-effective range of program delivery, responding to pupil needs, is achieved through the optimum distribution of school enrolment;

To the extent possible, give due consideration to the concept of a community of associated schools and where feasible, give consideration to a Catholic school community in which

REVIEW OF CURRENT BOUNDARIES Frederick Thibeault, Administrator, Planning Services, provided a review of the current Georgetown elementary school boundaries and current student enrolment at each Georgetown elementary school. The Advisory Committee was shown current enrolment trends and how they are projected to impact each Georgetown elementary school over the next 10 years if no boundary review was implemented. REVIEW OF SCHOOL BOUNDARY OPTIONS (4) Frederick Thibeault, Administrator, Planning Services, reviewed Option 3, Option 9, Option 9A and Option 9B, and answered questions from committee members. Maps demonstrating a 1.6km walk distance from each of the schools were also presented to committee members. The Advisory Committee reached consensus that Option 9A is not viable and should not be presented at the Community Consultation Meeting. Option 9A is not viable because it requires 3 to 4 portable classrooms to accommodate enrolment, and does not maximize the use of underutilized space at Holy Cross CES. Based on this, the Advisory Committee came to a final consensus, which is as follows:

YES Option best meets criteria and will move forward



Option 3 Option 9A Option 9 Option 9B

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COMMUNICATION PLAN Frederick Thibeault, Administrator, Planning Services, discussed the HCDSB’s Georgetown Catholic Elementary School Boundary Review Communication Plan in detail. Advisory SBRC members were provided with full text communication messages. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION MEETING FORMAT Frederick Thibeault, Administrator, Planning Services, explained the format for the upcoming Community Consultation Meeting, which will be held at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School on November 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The Community Consultation Meeting format was explained as follows:

Board Staff will present the criteria and proposed options to the group of attendees Attendees are grouped in four areas to review each of the options Members of the Advisory Committee are present at each table to answer questions regarding the options Attendees have about 30 minutes (10 minutes per option) for this “Dotmocracy” process Attendees will gather back for some concluding remarks

The “Dotmocracy” process was explained as follows:

Attendees will have the chance to write down their comments for each option Attendees will have the chance to agree with a comment by placing a sticker beside it Attendees will have the opportunity to pick the option they feel is the best by placing a sticker beside it

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SURVEY Frederick Thibeault, Administrator, Planning Services, explained that parents and community members who are not able to attend the Community Consultation Meeting will be able to provide their input via an online feedback survey. The feedback survey will be available on the Board’s website on November 6, 2015. NEXT STEPS & MILESTONE DATES Frederick Thibeault, Administrator, Planning Services, discussed the dates for the Advisory SBRC activity.

Board approves Georgetown Elementary Schools Boundary Review Process…..… June 18, 2013 Inaugural Advisory SBRC Meeting………………………………………………......... October 14, 2015 Second Advisory SBRC Meeting ………………..….………………………………… October 28, 2015 SBRC Interim Report Posted on Board Website……………………………………… November 4, 2015 Community Consultation Meeting at Christ the King CSS……………………………. November 5, 2015 Feedback Survey is live on our website ……………………………………………... November 6, 2015 Community Comments & Feedback are due…………………………………………. November 26, 2015 SBRC reviews Options & Community Input…………………………………………… December 10, 2015 SBRC Final Report posted on website………………………………………………… December 17, 2015 SBRC Final Report & Recommendations presented to the Board…………………… January 5, 2016 Board receives Delegations & approves new elementary school boundaries…….... January 19, 2016

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Board Staff invited the Advisory Committee to attend the January 5 and January 19 Board meetings. It was asked that Advisory Committee members who are interested in attending a Board meeting please notify Janine Neuman, Administrative Assistant, via email at [email protected], so that adequate space can be reserved. All presentation documents, Board reports, meeting minutes, boundary maps, enrolment forecasts and other school boundary information will be available on the Board’s website: www.hcdsb.org > Schools > School Boundary Reviews > Georgetown Elementary Schools If Advisory Committee members have any questions they are encouraged to contact Janine Neuman, Administrative Assistant, via email: [email protected] NEXT MEETING Community Consultation Meeting Christ the King Catholic Secondary School November 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:15 P.M.

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