LOOKING INWARD APRIL A Planning Framework for Long-Term Facility Provision and System Sustainability in a Time of Changing Demographics

Transcription

1 LOOKING INWARD APRIL 2013 A Planning Framework for Long-Term Facility Provision and System Sustainability in a Time of Changing Demographics

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement... Page 2 Looking Inward... Page 3 Victoria South Family of Schools... Page 11 Victoria North Family of Schools.. Page 15 Northside Family of Schools... Page 20 Riverview Family of Schools. Page 32 Sydney Family of Schools Page 47 New Waterford Family of Schools Page 55 Glace Bay Family of Schools.. Page 62 Specialized Facilities Page 74 Going Forward... Page 75 Appendices.. Page 77 Looking Inward Page 1

3 MISSION STATEMENT The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board fosters a caring, dynamic, and creative environment that provides educational opportunities, promotes a love of learning, respect for others, and challenges all persons to develop their full potential to become confident, versatile, lifelong learners and thinkers. Looking Inward Page 2

4 Looking Inward Introduction The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board is embarking on a planning process which will position the board to meet the long term educational facility requirements for students served by the board. The planning framework for long term facility provision and system sustainability is entitled Looking Inward. The reflection associated with this planning and consultative framework will also examine potential grade level configuration as it relates to service provision. The board will conduct an extensive public consultation process to communicate its perception of the future and to obtain feedback and suggestions for improvement. In response to the public consultation, the board will develop a series of proposals to deal with the impact of declining enrolment on surplus facility space. Consistent with the Families of Schools currently in existence within the region, the board will consult with a number of community groups from across the region to assess scenarios and provide alternative suggestions that are consistent with the fiscal reality for the reconfiguration of school facilities within the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. This planning framework will also include information with respect to the current school capital construction projects that have been submitted to the Department of Education for consideration by the Department. Looking Inward Page 3

5 A Need for Action The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board faces a number of challenges with respect to its primary mandate the delivery of programs and services to students under the jurisdiction of the school board. Among the most significant of these challenges are: a. declining enrolment, b. financial constraints, c. facility refurbishment and/or construction, d. significant policy and planning documents. The impact of these factors on the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board is identified below. At the time of amalgamation the first three factors were in vogue and they continue to impact the ability of the board to satisfy its mandate. The school review process was evoked on several occasions over the past seventeen years resulting in a number of consolidations and closures. a. Declining Enrolment The combined enrolment of the Northside-Victoria and Cape Breton District School Boards at the time of amalgamation was 24,567 students. The current enrolment as of September 30, 2012, is 13,977 students; a drop of 43% over the past 17 years. All areas of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board have and continue to experience enrolment decline. b. Financial Constraints The existing funding formula for the province s school boards is largely driven by enrolments. Approximately 90% of the CBVRSB budget is attributed to per capita funding. During the period from 1999 to 2006 the Nova Scotia Government re-invested in education through the implementation of Learning for Life I and Learning for Life II. This re-investment counterbalanced the loss of teaching and program support staff resulting from enrolment decline. c. Facility Refurbishment and/or Construction In the past as the board responded to declining enrolments and reduced budgets capital maintenance was largely deferred. Aging school facilities lacked ventilation systems, windows and entrance systems were in poor condition, accessibility and security systems were lacking and program spaces such as laboratories, cafeterias, and gymnasiums were lacking or were inadequate. Looking Inward Page 4

6 To address facility requirements, the Province of Nova Scotia instituted a Private Public Partnership Initiative resulting in the construction of 39 schools, seven of which were built for use in the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board (See Appendix l). In addition, the school capital construction program provided funding for 6 new schools (See Appendix 2) and 10 refurbishment projects to date (See Appendix 3). Notwithstanding the closure of 54 schools during the time period from , the impact of declining enrolment has resulted in many existing school facilities being significantly larger than the school population they serve will require. During this mandate the school board will set in place a mechanism for determining the future requirements for retention of the P3 schools operating under its jurisdiction. d. Significant Policy and Planning Documents Several policy and planning documents influence the direction set by school boards as they grapple with many challenges associated with helping students succeed. Significant documents include: 1) Steps to Effective and Sustainable Public Education in Nova Scotia (The Levin Report), 2) Kids and Learning First, 3) The 2012 Strategic Plan of the CBVRSB, 4) The School Capital Construction Submission of the CBVRSB 2012, 5) Property Services Funding 6) Grade Level Configuration, 7) The Budget of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board Looking Inward Page 5

7 1) The Levin Report The report defines five key areas of focus for the province: reducing failure, improving teaching, learning, and assessment, earning school credentials, building public support and engagement, making better use of existing facilities and resources. 2) Kids and Learning First After receiving and accepting The Levin Report, the Department of Education set about constructing a plan to implement the recommendations found in the report. It builds on what is working well and identifies key challenges that must be addressed in an effort to get better results for every student. This plan puts students first, supports effective teaching in every classroom, prepares our youth for good jobs, and strengthens links between schools, parents, and community. 3) The Strategic Plan of School Board The CBVRSB held a number of planning sessions to examine the system environment paying particular attention to the strengths of and challenges to the organization. Four critical issues were identified and these form the core of the new Strategic Plan of the school board. The issues include: Governance, Pathways to Success, Integrated Curriculum/Instruction, Demographic Dynamics. The board recognizes that effective governance will require adoption of a collaborative model where the views of stakeholders in the community are taken into account. Looking Inward provides a vehicle for community input in dealing with facilities required to deliver programs and services to students. Because the decline in enrolment has such a significant impact on the operations of the board, there is an opportunity to seek input and ideas from all stakeholders. In response to Looking Inward students, Looking Inward Page 6

8 teachers, administrators, staff, school advisory councils, and individuals from the communities where schools operate will be called together to share ideas and perspective on ways to best deliver services to a declining number of students under the jurisdiction of the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board. 4) School Capital Construction Report For almost two decades new schools, additions and alterations as well as major school renovation requests from school boards have been channelled through the School Capital Construction Committee. The School Capital Construction Committee was mandated to assess the applications presented by regional school boards and the CSAP and make recommendations to the Department of Education. Given the enrolment decline patterns over many years, the Committee recognized the value in having school boards establish facility review processes to assess the viability of existing facilities, plan for replacement structures, and deal with surplus square footage. From 1995 to 1999 the government instituted a program referred to as Public Private Partnerships (P3) to construct schools in the province of Nova Scotia. This process will come under review during the mandate of this school board as lead time will be required to prepare for decision making with respect to options that exist as the twenty-year leasing arrangement comes up for consideration by Beginning in 2000 the School Capital Construction Committee, based on established criteria, conducted reviews of school board capital requests every two to three years. The criteria have been updated. (See Appendix 4) The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board has benefitted positively through application for new schools, additions and alterations, as well as major renovation initiatives. In 2012 in its submission to the School Capital Construction Committee, the board requested funding for nine capital projects (See Appendix 5). Looking Inward Page 7

9 In December 2012 the Department of Education confirmed funding for several school capital construction projects as submitted by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. Funding was provided as follows: Memorial High School Glace Bay High School Donkin Elementary-Jr. High School 5.52 Million 1.88 Million 1.0 Million Breton Education Centre Study $200, ) Property Service Funding a) Funding Allocation and Expenditure Property service funding is determined on the basis of 75% enrolment and 25% on square footage. Under the current funding formula (Hogg2), property service cost is not completely funded by the DOE. Property service operating budget for 2012/2013: Funding approved: General grant (Appendix 11) $ 14,150,000 Small schools and specialty (Appendix 11) $ 1,510,800 Repairs and renovations (Appendix 11) $ 126,200 P-3 cost recovery $ 2,031,860 $ 17,818,960 Amount funded out of general formula funds: $ 1,382,869 b) Small and Isolated School Funding In accepting the recommendation contained in The Levin Report, the Nova Scotia Government modified the Hogg Funding Formula to support the sustainability of small and isolated rural schools. Looking Inward Page 8

10 For the fiscal periods three small rural schools (Marion Bridge, Boularderie, and Middle River) have been grandfathered making each school eligible for the $150,000 subsidy. Five Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board schools qualify for the isolated school subsidy factor. These schools all qualify for the additional teachers funding and three of the school buildings qualify for the property subsidy (See Appendix 6). School Teacher Subsidy Property Subsidy Baddeck Academy x x Cabot High x x Cape Smokey x North Highlands x Rankin School of the Narrows x x 6) Grade level Configuration The service delivery model utilized by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board has been grades primary-to-six (elementary grades), seven-to-nine (junior high), and grades ten-to-twelve (senior high). While this has been the dominant model, some variations such as primary-to-gradetwelve (e.g. Baddeck, Rankin), grades seven-to-twelve (e.g. Cabot, BEC), and primary-to-nine (e.g. Bridgeport, Donkin, and George D. Lewis) have been utilized to deliver programs and services to students. For more than a decade the regional school boards throughout the province have embraced a grade nine-to-twelve service-delivery model particularly as new facilities were being constructed. The impact of enrolment decline and the budgetary restraints faced by the boards have contributed to renewed interest in exploring this model. In addition the Department of Education in Kids and Learning First has identified grade nine as a critical transition year for students. The Department of Education contends that having more high schools include grade nine-to-twelve students would provide access to larger program spaces, more specialist teachers, and provide ease of access to high school programs such as skilled trades offerings. Looking Inward Page 9

11 In for high school service delivery in Nova Scotia, 81 high schools are configured as follows: Table l Grades Board P -12 Total Annapolis Cape Breton Chignecto-Central CSAP Halifax South Shore Strait Tri-County *Numbers Exclude Adult High Schools and Alternate High Schools 7. The Budget of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board The approved budget for the CBVRSB is reflected in the Final Funding Allocation Sheet (Appendix 11). The allocation provides $133,373,300 comprised of $119,895,000 from the Department of Education and $13,478,300 from the collection of the mandatory education tax as collected by the Municipality of the County of Victoria and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The September 2011 funding enrolment figures for the school year are the numbers used when calculating enrolment driven formulas. In arriving at a balanced budget the school board reduced staff by 75.7 positions, reduced operating cost centers by approximately $564,000 and accounted for budgetary increases in the operating cost centers by approximately $216,000. Looking Inward Page 10

12 VICTORIA SOUTH Baddeck P Rankin P Middle River P-6 22 Looking Inward Page 11

13 VICTORIA SOUTH CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS Baddeck P Total Middle River P Total Rankin School P Total of the Narrows Looking Inward Page 12

14 Victoria-South Family of Schools Current Situation The Victoria-South Family of Schools consists of three school facilities Baddeck Academy, Rankin School of the Narrows, and Middle River Consolidated School. While Boularderie School is situated in Victoria County, its location on Boularderie Island and the community of interest has its students being served in the Northside Family of Schools. School Configuration / Service Area Size Rankin School of the Narrows is a P-12 school constructed in This facility serves students living on the Iona Peninsula, students from Route 223 and Route 216 from Eskasoni to Grand Narrows. The school has 35,000 square feet of space, and 163 students are enrolled for Over a number of years students from Eskasoni First Nation opted to attend school Rankin School of the Narrows. For , 40 Eskasoni First Nations students exercised that option. Baddeck Academy is a P-12 school constructed in 1953 with additions in 1967 and 1978, and it is currently undergoing a major addition and alteration. This facility serves students from Little Narrows and the Inverness County Line at Bucklaw on Route 105, as well as all P-12 south of Cape Smokey including Englishtown and Tarbot and west of the base of Kelley s Mountain. The facility once completed will have 71,567 square feet of space. In , 263 students attend Baddeck Academy. Middle River School was constructed in 1960 and serves a primary-to-grade-6 student population of 22 from Hunter s Mountain to Lake O Law along the Cabot Trail and on both sides of Middle River. The building is 5,348 square feet in size. Middle River School is one of three small rural schools under the jurisdiction of the board that receives the $150,000 property services subsidy under the Hogg Funding Formula. Looking Inward Page 13

15 Scenario 1 As Baddeck Academy is positioned to accommodate all 22 students currently attending Middle River Consolidated School, identify Middle River Consolidated School for inclusion in the School Review Process. Scenario 2 Consistent with the ideology to protect rural schools that benefit from financial resources designed to support sustainability, retain Middle River Consolidated School as a rural community school. Consideration Based on the figures included in the School Review Process, a potential gross saving of $230, would be achieved if the Middle River School were to close. The net saving would be approximately $80, when the small school grant of $150, is factored into the calculation. In the Study Committee s net saving calculation was only $3, based on their review of the figures. In response to the Impact Assessment Report, the School Study Committee put forth a compelling argument for retaining the school. School enrolment is currently 22 students with no appreciable growth or decline in numbers forecasted. Middle River School has been identified for inclusion in the School Review Process in each of the last four school review processes initiated by the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board since amalgamation. On each occasion the decision was made to retain the school. Rankin School of the Narrows For purposes of this facility review and input process, no change in the current operating status of this facility is warranted. Looking Inward Page 14

16 VICTORIA NORTH Cabot Cape Smokey P North Highlands P-6 98 Looking Inward Page 15

17 VICTORIA NORTH CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS CABOT TOTAL CAPE SMOKEY ELEMENTARY P TOTAL NORTH HIGHLANDS P TOTAL Looking Inward Page 16

18 VICTORIA-NORTH FAMILY OF SCHOOLS Current Situation Cabot High School anchors the three schools found north of Smokey. Two hundred (200) grade 7-to-12 students are served in a 46,928 square-foot facility that served 280 students at the time of amalgamation in Cape Smokey Elementary and North Highlands Elementary were constructed as part of the Private Public Partnership. School Configuration / Service Area Size Cape Smokey Elementary opened in 2000 replacing Neil s Harbour, Ingonish Consolidated, and Ingonish Beach. This 30,573 square-foot facility, a sister school to North Highlands Elementary School, served a student population of 184 students in 2000 in single-grade level classes. Today 100 students are served in this P3 facility. This modern, technologically-rich elementary school facility is a valued and frequently utilized community resource. North Highlands Elementary opened in 2000 and replaced Dingwall School and Highlands Consolidated School. Over the past twelve years, the student population has declined by 81 students. Today 98 students attend North Highlands compared to 179 in This modern, technologically-rich elementary school facility is a valued and frequently utilized community resource. Cabot Junior-Senior High School was constructed in Under the former Northside-Victoria amalgamated school board, this facility served all secondary students north of Smokey. The opportunity exists to create Cabot as a P-12 facility similar to the P-12 facilities in Baddeck and Iona. Scenario 3 To reconfigure Cabot Junior-Senior High School into a P-12 facility to serve all students north of Smokey. Scenario 4 Looking Inward Page 17

19 To recommend the retention of both Cape Smokey Elementary School and North Highlands Elementary School as primary-to-grade 6 school facilities as the P3 lease renewal process is considered. This scenario implies the retention of Cabot Junior-Senior High School as the secondary school facility to serve secondary students north of Smokey. Consideration By 2016 the Regional School Boards and the Department of Education will be in position to discuss with the P3 Partners the fate of the existing leases for the seven P3 Schools operating throughout the board. Three options exist: 1. Renew the lease(s) 2. Purchase the P3 facility 3. Relinquish the lease thus returning the facility to the private partner Consistent with Kids and Learning First and the Strategic Plan of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, the Board wishes to engage respective school communities that would potentially be impacted by such discussion to engage in dialogue with respect to scenarios put forth and with respect to recommendations to be made. For more than a decade, elementary students north of Smokey have benefitted from educational experiences in technologically-rich school facilities designed and equipped to provide the Public School Program. Should the communities wish to retain this accepted facility standard for the benefit of students north of Smokey, a strong case will have to be articulated to assist the board in convincing decision makers that retention of these two excellent facilities is in the best interest of all concerned. While both facilities currently enjoy the isolated school financial benefit in the area of staff under the Hogg ll Funding Formula, the square footage allowance is not granted as these facilities are privately owned (See Appendix 6). Looking Inward Page 18

20 Should a recommendation be made to create a single P-12 School at Cabot, a need would exist to identify a school capital construction project to effect the necessary changes to the existing structure to accommodate elementary-age students. Scenario 5 Examine the option of retaining one of the P 3 schools north of Smokey and reconfigure Cabot Junior/Senior High School to a P-12 school to house elementary students from the other P 3 school (either Cape Smokey or North Highlands). Consideration For more than a decade, elementary students north of Smokey have benefitted from educational experiences in technologically rich school facilities designed and equipped to provide the Public School Program. In examining this scenario it would be necessary for the Board to identify the criteria it would use (eg: weather conditions, transportation issues, school scheduling) to select one elementary school over the other for recommended retention when the P 3 schools are up for lease renewal. Including just one of the elementary school student population would negate the need for an expansion of Cabot Junior/Senior High but would still require the acquisition of a capital grant to modify classrooms, washrooms, etc. to house the elementary students. From an operational perspective closure of one of the facilities would reduce the excess square footage of the Board but the financial benefit currently enjoyed by both Cape Smokey and North Highlands under Hogg II would also be lost. The number of staff required to offer programs/services would not change in this scenario. The Board could run a risk of being accused of dividing the community by choosing one elementary school over the other. Looking Inward Page 19

21 NORTHSIDE FAMILY OF SCHOOLS MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Dr. T.L. Sullivan Jr. High Thompson Jr. High Sydney Mines Jr. High Boularderie Elementary P-6 90 Ferrisview Elementary P Jubilee Elementary P Bras d Or Elementary P Seton Elementary P St. Joseph s Elementary P Florence Elementary P Looking Inward Page 20

22 NORTHSIDE FAMILY OF SCHOOLS CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS. MEMORIAL HIGH RG TOTAL Looking Inward Page 21

23 CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS DR. T.L. SULLIVAN JR. HIGH TOTAL THOMPSON JR. HIGH TOTAL SYDNEY MINES JR. HIGH TOTAL Looking Inward Page 22

24 CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS JUBILEE ELEMENTARY P IR TOTAL ST. JOSEPH S P IR TOTAL SETON P IR TOTAL FERRISVIEW P IR TOTAL Looking Inward Page 23

25 CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS BOULARDERIE P IR TOTAL BRAS D OR P IR TOTAL FLORENCE P IR TOTAL Looking Inward Page 24

26 Northside Family of Schools Current Situation & Existing Facility Configuration The Northside Family of Schools is anchored by Memorial High School a 188,562 square-foot facility housing 903 grade students. Memorial High School is the last composite high school left in Nova Scotia. As such it houses the only remaining Vocational Program in the Public School System in Nova Scotia. Three junior high schools serve the student population of the Northside, and they are characterized as follows: School Year Built Sq. Footage Grade Level Enrol. Dr. T.L. Sullivan , Sydney Mines Jr. High Current Enrol , Thompson Jr. High , Both Sydney Mines Junior High and Thompson Junior High are former high schools in Sydney Mines and North Sydney respectively. The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board requested a new junior high school for the Northside in Approval for a new school was granted. Upon review and reflection, the board determined that the student population at the junior high level would remain in the existing junior high schools and a new elementary school would be built in North Sydney. Seven elementary schools comprise the feeder school system for the three junior high schools in the Northside Family of Schools. Four of the seven buildings have been constructed or refurnished in the last twenty years with the three other buildings (Florence, St. Joseph s and Seton) being identified as requiring renovations. Looking Inward Page 25

27 They are characterized as follows: School Year Built Sq. Footage Grade levels Enrol Current Enrolment Boularderie ,500 P * Bras d Or ,200 P Florence 1956/ ,690 P ** Ferrisview ,268 P Seton 1950/ ,884 P *** Jubilee ,851 P * ** *** St. Joseph's 1952/ ,888 P Bras d Or Elementary received students from George s River and Alder Point when those schools closed. Many students from the Mill Creek School closure also attend Bras d Or. Populations of St. Joseph s (NS) and St. Mary s used for enrolment. Populations of Notre Dame and Archibald used for enrolment With the recent announcement of capital funding for Memorial High School, extensive refurbishment will be carried out amounting to 5.22 million dollars. Scenario 6 Reconfigure Memorial High School from a Grade school to a secondary school configuration housing either Grades 9-12 or Grades Should a Grade 9-12 emerge, Grade 7 & 8 students from Sydney Mines and North Sydney would be housed in an existing, renovated facility. Adoption of either secondary model would result in the identification of Sydney Mines Jr. High and Thompson Jr. High for inclusion in a future school review process as per existing legislation. Consideration A look at the grade level configuration currently existing in the 81 high schools throughout the Province of Nova Scotia reveals that less than thirty percent (30%) of schools are configured from Grade (24/81) see Table l. Grade schools were built in the 1950 s and 60's to accommodate the baby boom. With enrolment decline and school consolidation fewer 10 to 12 high schools remain. Looking Inward Page 26

28 The Levin Report challenges school districts to relocate students to nearby schools where space is available; thereby, making effective use of available resources. Kids and Learning First identified Grade 9 as a critical transition year that if rejigged could better prepare students for high school. The document suggests having more high schools include grade 9-12 students as one approach. Memorial High School is positioned to welcome grade 9 students into a grade Were either a 7-12 or 9-12 scenario to be realized in , the projected student enrolment would be as follows: TABLE ll Estimated Enrolment Grade Enrolment Grade Enrolment RG RG The secondary configuration of Grades 6-12 would result in a student population of approximately 1415 students necessitating the addition of a classroom wing of rooms to accommodate the program requirement for junior high students. Scenario 7 Recommend the establishment of a single junior high school to serve the Northside junior high school students. Considerations Notwithstanding cosmetic and some structural improvements to both Thompson Junior High and Sydney Mines Junior High, Operational Services Reports from 2010 identify a number of major deficiencies in these aging buildings electrical, mechanical, and heating upgrades are required at Thompson Junior High. A new elevator, mechanical upgrades, grounds improvements, and additional cosmetic work to the building would be required. Looking Inward Page 27

29 A consulting engineer s report completed for the Operational Services Division of the Cape Breton- Victoria Regional School Board in the fall of 2012 compared the estimated costs of conducting capital repairs on the three existing junior high schools in the Northside Family of Schools with the cost of refurbishing a single existing site (See Appendix 7). Scenario 8 Examine the option of creating a new middle school to serve grade 6-8 students from North Sydney and Sydney Mines and identify Thompson Jr. High and Sydney Mines Jr. High for inclusion in a school review process. Considerations Continuous enrolment decline is now impacting a number of High Schools throughout the Board. Memorial High School in Sydney Mines is positioned to accommodate grade 9 students from all three junior high schools on the Northside. Notwithstanding cosmetic and some structural improvements to both Thompson Jr. High and Sydney Mines Jr. High, Operational Services Reports from 2010 identified a number of deficiencies in these aging buildings. In addition a Consulting Engineers Report completed in the fall of 2012 compared the costs of conducting capital repairs to existing Northside Junior High Schools with the cost of refurbishing a single site. As the board had previously identified a new junior high school construction project and requested a change in the project resulting in a new elementary school for North Sydney (Ferrisview), a strong business case would have to be built to present to the Department of Education for consideration if a new middle school was being requested. Were a new Grade 6-8 school to be constructed such a facility when opened would enable the Board to retain one primary to five elementary school in North Sydney and Sydney Mines respectively. Scenario 9 Examine the option of housing all elementary school children in one of the existing elementary schools serving Sydney Mines. Considerations With a need to determine the future of Jubilee School as a P3 elementary facility to serve students in Sydney Mines and the enunciation of St. Joseph s as a potential school capital construction request, Looking Inward Page 28

30 attention is directed to current and projected elementary school enrolment in the Town of Sydney Mines. In his report, Ben Levin reminds us that efficiencies can be gained by utilizing neighboring facilities to house students thus enabling the impact of declining enrolment to be addressed effectively. In examining this option, educational stakeholders would grapple with a recommendation to retain a P3 School (Jubilee) versus the need for a school capital construction project to refurbish an aging facility (St. Joseph s). Scenario 10 Examine the option of housing all North Sydney elementary students in Ferrisview, thus abandoning the School Capital Construction Project currently before the School Capital Construction Committee for Seton Elementary. Consideration In a recent submission to the School Capital Construction Committee, Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board Staff noted that: Seton Elementary does not have capability to meet the current elementary program requirements. Deficiencies include inadequate computer lab, library space, cafeteria, learning center, sick room, staff room, primary only washroom. Also the 1973 wing is in need of extensive repairs to extend its life. This would include window replacement, ventilation upgrade, accessibility measures, entrance/administration area upgrade, electrical upgrade and site improvements (security, lighting, asphalt). The original 1963 wing is past its useful life and is failing (roofing, windows, flooring, and no ventilation). It is to be demolished to make way for a new addition to meet current program requirements. Looking Inward Page 29

31 Enrolment projections for the next five years suggest that combining the student body under one roof would result in a manageable student population of Such an initiative would negate the capital expenditure of 3.9 million dollars estimated for the proposed Seton Addition and Alteration Project. Ferrisview is equipped to provide the Public School Program as prescribed by the Department of Education in physical spaces appropriate for an elementary school program. Scenario 11 Examine the establishment of school boundaries associated with the Bras d Or Elementary School: a. with a view to rerouting Boularderie Island students attending Bras d Or to Boularderie School; and b. to examine the feasibility of including Florence Elementary School student at Bras d Or Elementary. Considerations Upon closure of the Mill Creek School many students in that catchment area opted to attend Bras d Or Elementary. Students in the Millville Area have the option to attend Bras d Or as well. The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board utilized flexible boundaries when dealing with communities where schools are located and those communities that have lost their community school. The reconstruction of the Boularderie School in 2001 provides an educational setting where the space requirements as articulated in the Design Requirements Manual are present enabling the school to accommodate students. Currently the Boularderie School qualified for the $150,000 Operations Grant under the Education Funding Formula. Bras d Or Elementary School has a capacity of 350 students. Enrolment projections for Bras d Or and Florence for indicated a projected total enrolment of approximately 400. Boundary realignment offers the possibility that those numbers would be fewer than the projected enrolment. Looking Inward Page 30

32 While distinct communities of interest may exist, the potential of this consolidation is worthy of some consideration. Scenario 12 Reconfigure Dr. T.L. Sullivan Junior High School to a P-9 school to include elementary students from Florence and identify Florence Elementary School for inclusion in a school review process. Consideration While Dr. T. L. Sullivan serves several elementary schools (Boularderie, Bras d Or, and Florence) the school is situated on Park Street in Florence. With the inclusion of a scenario to construct a middle school for the Northside (grades 6-8) excess space will continue to exist at Dr. T. L. Sullivan Junior High. An opportunity exists to reconfigure Dr. T. L. Sullivan from a grade 7-9 school to a primary-to-9 facility to house the Florence Elementary School students in addition to grade 7 and 8 students graduating from Bras d Or and Boularderie. Consideration for including Florence in a newly configured P-9 school at Dr. T. L. Sullivan would result in a need to identify Florence Elementary School for inclusion in a future school review process. Looking Inward Page 31

33 RIVERVIEW FAMILY OF SCHOOLS RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL MACLENNAN JR. HIGH MALCOLM MUNROE JR. HIGH Coxheath Elementary P George D. Lewis P-9 Robin Foote Elementary P Mountainview East Bay P (56+57) 230 (192+38) Marion Bridge Elementary P-6 82 Mira Road Elementary P Riverside Elementary P Sydney River Elementary P Looking Inward Page 32

34 RIVERVIEW FAMILY OF SCHOOLS CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS. RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL RG TOTAL Looking Inward Page 33

35 CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS Malcolm Munroe IR TOTAL MacLennan Jr. High TOTAL George D. Lewis P * 8* 9* Total * Statistical Projection for grades 7 through 9 Riverside P IR Total Looking Inward Page 34

36 CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS Mira Road P IR Total Marion Bridge P IR Total Sydney River Elem. P IR Total Looking Inward Page 35

37 CURRENT AND FIVE-YEAR ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS Mountainview-East Bay P IR Total Complex Mountainview East Bay Mountainview East Bay Mountainview East Bay Mountainview East Bay Mountainview East Bay Mountainview East Bay Coxheath Elementary P Total Robin Foote Elem. P Total Looking Inward Page 36

38 Riverview Family of Schools Current Situation & Existing Facility Configuration Riverview High School Riverview High School has historically been the flagship high school for all of Cape Breton County south of the northwest arm of Sydney Harbour, from the Richmond County Line on Routes 4 and 327 and from Louisbourg on Route 22. The facility was constructed as a rural high school in 1950 with additions in 1955, 1969, and Riverview has been undergoing renovations for the past five years with a view to renewing the facility for use by future generations of high school students. This sprawling facility of 128,773 square feet is positioned to handle 900 students. Nine-hundred-sixty-one (961) students attend Riverview High School in Riverview received junior high school graduates from George D. Lewis in Louisbourg, Malcolm Munroe in Sydney River, and MacLennan Junior High in Westmount. Enrolment projections suggest Riverview will receive between 917 as a high and 706 as a low enrolment over the next five years. Projected enrolments relative to space would prohibit Riverview from entertaining the notion of reconfiguring to a grade 9-to-12 school as advocated in Kids and Learning First until after For purposes of this facility review and input process, no change in operating status of this school is warranted. Junior High School Family Members Three junior high schools currently fuel students to Riverview High School. These schools are: a) George D. Lewis b) MacLennan Junior High c) Malcolm Munroe Junior High Looking Inward Page 37

39 a) George D. Lewis This primary-to -grade 9 facility was built in 1968 and has a capacity to accommodate 300 students in 29,465 square feet of space. In , 56 grade primary-to-six students and 57 grade 7-to-9 students attend George D. Lewis School. Enrolment at the junior high level ranges from 15 to 27 in each of grades. While program spaces exist within George D. Lewis, the board will be challenged to provide appropriate levels of teaching staff to provide the Public School Program. Viable options exist with respect to housing current G.D. Lewis students in other board-operated facilities. Changing historical direction for students traveling to attend school could result in increased numbers for G.D. Lewis School. Were such a change to be initiated, inclusion of the school for a school capital construction refurbishment project would be an appropriate consideration. b) MacLennan Junior High This grade 7-9 facility was built in 1966 to serve the junior high school population on the Coxheath/Westmount side of Sydney Harbour. At the time of amalgamation in , this 38,716 square foot facility housed 373 students. For the school year, 133 attend MacLennan. Overall system enrolment decline and the participation of some students in late French Immersion contribute to this decline. This aging facility is in need of refurbishment and a request for capital funding was made to the School Capital Construction Committee in 2002, 2004, and c) Malcolm Munroe Junior High School Malcolm Munroe Junior High School was constructed in 1970 and is a grade 7-9 junior high school located in Sydney River. It serves all elementary feeder schools located on the south side of Sydney Harbour in the former County of Cape Breton. This school also serves as the initial late French Immersion location. Looking Inward Page 38

40 Malcolm Munroe has a capacity for 700 students in a 94,200 square foot facility. In , 571 students are served at Malcolm Munroe Jr. High. Projected enrolment for Malcolm Munroe over the next five years indicates that enrolment will decline by approximately 60 students. Looking Inward Page 39

41 Elementary Feeder Schools for Malcolm Munroe 1. Marion Bridge Elementary This wood frame school was constructed in 1960 with an addition in 1989 now has 11,072 square feet of space. The building which houses grades primary-to six students has 82 students in the school year. In there were 135 students attending Marion Bridge. Specialist subjects such as music, art, and physical education are taught in classroom spaces in the school. No cafeteria or formal library space is included in the facility. Computers and library collections are housed in a classroom space effectively serving the student population. Marion Bridge School was originally considered for inclusion in the Riverside P3 proposal but was retained as a separate entity. Marion Bridge School has been identified for inclusion in school review processes in the past. 2. Riverside Elementary Riverside Elementary is a grade primary-to-grade-six elementary school built in 2000 under the P3 Program. The school has 46,785 square feet of space and houses 170 students. At this level of enrolment, it is housing less than one-half the capacity it was built to house. Enrolment projects for the next five years suggest that student enrolment will range from 160 to 176. The Riverside catchment area included those elementary students in the Albert Bridge, Catalone, and Main-a-Dieu areas being served by the new P3 facility. Looking Inward Page 40

42 3. Mira Road Elementary Mira Road Elementary School is a primary-to-grade-6 school situated on George Street in Sydney. The 18,500 square foot facility has a capacity of 175 students, and for the school year, 137 students attend the facility. The school draws its student population from various housing developments on Rotary Drive, George Street, and from residences along the Louisbourg Highway extending as far as Morrison Road. When the building was constructed in 1977, it occupied a strategic location with relatively easy access and some open space. Since that time the facility has been encroached upon by the construction of the Regional Hospital, establishment of an EHS Office, twinning of Highway 125, and the emergence of numerous commercial establishments. While the building is in good condition for a facility of its age, its location and the location of the student body it serves presents an opportunity to examine its long-term future within the infrastructure requirements of the board. 4. Mountainview-East Bay Complex For administrative purposes the East Bay School and Mountainview Elementary School are considered an educational complex. East Bay Elementary The East Bay Elementary School Building was constructed in It was constructed as a primary-to-grade 9 school with 19,400 square feet of space. It has a capacity of 175 students. With downsizing to a grade primary-to-grade-6 and several school consolidations, the enrolment declined from 143 (104+39) in to 38 in The capacity of the East Bay School was put to the test this past fall when an environmental issue at Mountainview Looking Inward Page 41

43 pressed the smaller facility at East Bay into action hosting all 192 Mountainview students along with the 38 East Bay students for a period of 27 days. Enrolment projections for East Bay for the next five years will range from 38 to 40 students. East Bay School has been identified for inclusion in each of the last four school review processes and on each occasion the decision was made to retain the school. Mountainview Mountainview Elementary School was constructed in 1990 with a capacity for 350 students. This 31,630 square foot facility housed 192 students for the school year. Over the past few years the facility has been impacted by environmental challenges including radon gas and mold. The school board has addressed the environmental concerns. On several occasions since the establishment of the Mountainview/East Bay Complex, the East Bay School has been identified for school review and possible closure. Mountainview as a potential receiving school is positioned to accept the East Bay student enrolment at the Mountainview Elementary School location. 5. Sydney River Elementary School Sydney River Elementary School was constructed in 1970 with an addition in The building capacity is 450 students with 306 students attending in as compared to 424 in There is 46,070 square feet of space at Sydney River Elementary School. Enrolment projections for the next five years suggest that enrolment will remain steady around the 300 pupil level. For purpose of this facility review and input process, no change in operating status of this school is warranted. Looking Inward Page 42