Background
In March 2015, the Ministry of Education released the new Pupil Accommodation Guideline. The guideline requires all school boards in Ontario to develop or revise their Pupil Accommodation Review policy. The Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline sets expectations for all school boards on managing and reviewing underutilized school space, including potential school closures, and for the greater coordination and sharing of planning related information between school boards and other community partners.
In response to the requirements outlined in the Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board approved its current amended Policy 6.51 Pupil Accommodation Review on October 27, 2015.
Commencement of East Credit Mississauga
Pupil Accommodation Review
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is committed to providing quality education to students through programs and facilities that support academic achievement and well-being and to ensuing effective stewardship of the resources of the Board. In accordance with Policy 6.51 – Pupil Accommodation Review, all facilities of the Board are part of an on-going review to identify the most effective pupil accommodation review arrangements for the delivery of all elementary and secondary programs.
The East Credit Education Service Area has been identified in the Long Term Accommodation Plan as being significantly under capacity in 2015-16 with forecasted continued enrolment decline in the coming years, necessitating a Pupil Accommodation Review.
At the Regular Board Meeting on November 24, 2015, the Board of Trustees approved the commencement of the East Credit Mississauga Pupil Accommodation Review Process.
The schools that make up the East Credit Mississauga Review area are as follows:
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Elementary School
- St. Bernadette Elementary School
- St. Dunstan Elementary School
- St. Gertrude Elementary School
- St. Gregory Elementary School
- St. Herbert Elementary School
- St. Raymond Elementary School
- St. Valentine Elementary School
The inclusion of the above-noted schools in an accommodation review process does not mean that it will close. Accommodation reviews are designed to look at a grouping of schools to determine the best solution for everyone involved in the process. While the initial staff report may contain a proposed option that impacts these schools, the final decision by the Board to move forward with a recommendation will not take place until after the consultation period.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to review the following documents to gain a better understanding of the Pupil Accommodation Review Process and how they can provide their feedback and input.
- Initial Staff Report to the Board – November 24/15
o Map 1 – Status Quo
o Map 2 – Option 1 – Staff Preferred Option
o Map 3 – Option 2
o Map 4 – Option 3 - School Information Profiles:
o Appendix 1 – Our Lady of Good Voyage Elementary School
o Appendix 2 – St. Bernadette Elementary School
o Appendix 3 – St. Dunstan Elementary School
o Appendix 4 – St. Gertrude Elementary School
o Appendix 5 – St. Gregory Elementary School
o Appendix 6 – St. Herbert Elementary School
o Appendix 7 – St. Raymond Elementary School
o Appendix 8 – St. Valentine Elementary School - Policy Information
o Appendix 9 – 6.51 Pupil Accommodation Review Policy
o Appendix 10 – Terms of Reference
Additional Information
- Letter to Parents and Guardians – November 26, 2015
- Q and A
- General Administrative Procedures
- 2013 Long Term Accommodation Plan
Public consultation is at the heart of the accommodation review process. A minimum of two public meetings are to be held by the Accommodation Review Committee, as well as a number of additional working group meetings. The goal is to engage a wide range of school and community groups to participate in the consultation in order to gather feedback on the proposed accommodation options, developed by staff, to present to the board of trustees for their consideration. Committee members include principals, parents and Board planning staff.
Important Dates
- November 24, 2015
Board of Trustee Approval to Commence Pupil Accommodation Review Process - January 20, 2016
Public Meeting #1 – St. Joseph Secondary School - January-March 2016
ARC Committee Meetings – Dates to be Determined - March 2016
Public Meeting #2 – Date and Location TBD - April 26, 2016
Interim Staff Report for Information Only – Regular Board Meeting - May 9, 2016
Delegation Night –Administration and Finance Committee Meeting - May 24, 2016
Final Recommendation Report – Regular Board Meeting
Accommodation Review Committee (ARC)
The ARC is an advisory committee established by the Board that represents the school(s) involved in a pupil accommodation review and acts as the conduit for information shared between the Board and the school communities. All committee meetings are open to the public and materials such as meeting dates, agendas, minutes and all information shared with ARC members are available through this website.
As per Ministry Guidelines, the final decision regarding the future of a school or group of schools rests solely with the Board of Trustees.
Ministry of Education Documentation
The following documents and website are also available for review and reference:
- Ministry of Education Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines
- Ministry of Education School Board Efficiencies and Modernization Consultation Summary
- Ministry of Education Website
For more information on Pupil Accommodation Reviews please direct all inquiries to: PARinfo@dpcdsb.org