Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review Final Report

Transcription

1 Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review Final Report Produced by the Southwest Kitchener ARC February 2009

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND INFORMATION NORTHERN AREA SOUTHERN AREA PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE # PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE # PREFERRED OPTION CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: EXISTING BOUNDARIES... 1 FIGURE 2: HISTORIC ENROLMENT NORTHERN AREA... 2 FIGURE 3: HISTORIC ENROLMENT SOUTHERN AREA... 3 FIGURE 4: DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY... 4 FIGURE 5: PHASE FIGURE 6: PHASE APPENDIX A BOUNDARY OPTIONS PRESENTED AT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE #1 APPENDIX B BOUNDARY OPTIONS PRESENTED AT PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE #2

3 1.0 Introduction A boundary review was initiated in September for Southwest Kitchener involving six Catholic elementary schools: Blessed Kateri, Blessed Sacrament, John Sweeney, Monsignor Haller, Our Lady of Grace, and St. Timothy. The study area and existing boundaries for these schools are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: Existing Boundaries An Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) was formed in accordance with APF008 to develop and assess boundary alternatives. The committee consisted of two Trustees, the superintendent of the schools, one parent representative and an alternate from each school, the principal of each school, and the Senior Manager of Capital Planning. The purpose of the review was to: Alleviate growth pressures at St. Timothy and John Sweeney. Confirm the need for a new elementary school in Southwest Kitchener and establish attendance boundaries. Confirm the need for an addition to John Sweeney. Examine the long term sustainability of Our Lady of Grace, Monsignor Haller and Blessed Sacrament. Explore the need for any additional schools or school sites. 2.0 Background Information Since 2002 there has been a general trend towards declining enrolment in the elementary panel of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. That decline has been most noticeable within the older neighbourhoods and has been partially offset by increasing enrolment within the areas of Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 1 Final Report

4 suburban growth. A review of the available residential development areas within the Region of Waterloo shows that the majority of greenfield residential development remaining within the Region is located within the Southwest Kitchener review area. As a result there is the expectation that this planning area will experience enrolment growth for at least the next ten years. The Southwest Kitchener planning area can generally be viewed as having two distinct residential areas. The northern area includes the neighbourhoods surrounding John Sweeney, Monsignor Haller, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Grace. It is separated from the southern area around St. Timothy and Blessed Kateri by the Huron Industrial Park and the Huron Natural Area. These two areas have been considered together in this review as some boundary options necessarily involve schools in both areas. 2.1 Northern Area The northern area consisting of John Sweeney, Monsignor Haller, Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Grace currently encompasses three separate areas of residential growth. Residential development continues to the south and west of John Sweeney however this growth is expected to slow over the next 3 to 5 years. There are two areas of residential development within the Our Lady of Grace boundary east of Homer Watson Boulevard (Alpine Village) and in the northeast quadrant of the Fischer Hallman Road / Huron Road intersection (Huron Village). There is no residential development expected within the Monsignor Haller or Blessed Sacrament boundaries. John Sweeney opened in 2003 and has experienced a rapid increase in enrolment. The residential development in this area has occurred at higher densities than would be typical and the rate of development was also higher than expected. As a result, the existing capacity of the school (417) has been exceeded. John Sweeney currently has 9 portables on the site. While the building and site are able to accommodate the larger student population, the number of portables currently on the site is not desirable in the long term. Figure Historic Enrolment - Northern Area 600 FTE Enrolment John Sweeney M onsignor Haller Blessed Sacrament Our Lady of Grace Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 2 Final Report

5 Our Lady of Grace has similarly experienced a recent increase in enrolment. Prior to 2006, enrolment at Our Lady of Grace had fallen from a high of 297 full-time equivalent (FTE) students in 1998 to in With the beginning of new residential development enrolment has since increased to 266 students in October and the enrolment is projected to increase by approximately 20 students a year over the next five years. The school has capacity for 259 students. There are currently 2 portables on the site. Monsignor Haller and Blessed Sacrament have both experienced significant enrolment decline over the past 10 years. Monsignor Haller has capacity for 236 students and currently has an enrolment of 228 FTE students. Blessed Sacrament has capacity for 325 students with a enrolment of FTE. Enrolment is projected to continue to decline at these schools. 2.2 Southern Area The graph below illustrates the enrolment trends since 1998 for the two schools St. Timothy and Blessed Kateri located in the southern portion of the planning area. Blessed Kateri opened in 1992 with an enrolment of FTE students. Since that time enrolment has been relatively stable and today s enrolment is only slightly higher. Blessed Kateri has capacity for 337 students. Figure 3 Historic Enrolment - Southern Area 500 FTE Enrolment St. Timothy Blessed Kateri In 1991, before Blessed Kateri was built, enrolment at St. Timothy was FTE students. The following year enrolment dropped to 252 FTE students as much of the population shifted to Blessed Kateri. Enrolment at St. Timothy stayed relatively steady from that time until 2003 when enrolment began to increase in response to new residential development in the south end of the school boundary. By enrolment had increased to FTE students. The school has permanent capacity for 259 students and 6 portables have been located on the site to accommodate the current enrolment. The topography of the site at St. Timothy is not conducive to accommodating a large number of portables. Modifications to the site were made in 2007 to accommodate portables on the west side of the site. Prior to that time the portables were situated on the south side of the school building which resulted in a decrease in the asphalt play area and blocked sightlines for supervision. The west side of the site has the ability to accommodate a maximum of 6 portables. It would not be desireable to add portables again to the south side of the school. Therefore, St. Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 3 Final Report

6 Timothy has reached its effective site capacity. It is possible that additional residential growth could create the need for an additional portable or portables if a boundary change is not implemented for September There is on-going residential development occurring in both the St. Timothy and Blessed Kateri boundaries. Most of the residential growth has been focused within the St. Timothy boundary as the Doon South community has been developed from east to west. However, that community has now expanded to the edge of the Blessed Kateri school boundary and more of the enrolment growth can be expected to occur at Blessed Kateri in the future. In addition to the Doon South community there is a new residential community, in various stages of planning or development, located to the west of Blessed Kateri. This community, referred to as the Huron Community, includes the lands west of the proposed Strasburg Road extension and straddling both sides of Huron Road. This development area contains approximately 3,700 proposed new residential units. In general, it requires approximately 3500 new residential units to generate sufficient students to support a 400 pupil place Catholic elementary school. This number may vary depending on the rate of residential growth and the type of units built. Consequently, there is the anticipation that the Waterloo Catholic District School Board will require a new school in this area to accommodate the expected student population. A school site has been reserved in the plan of subdivision for the Becker lands located southeast of the Fischer-Hallman Road / Huron Road intersection. A new 400 pupil place school has been included in the Board s capital plan and has been identified as one of the Board s priority projects for Ministry funding. The map below illustrates the locations of proposed future residential development within the Southwest Kitchener planning area. Figure 4: Development Activity Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 4 Final Report

7 3.0 Public Consultation Process The Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) had its first meeting October 28,. The committee met a total of 5 times between the end of October and the beginning of February The committee also conducted 2 public open houses, in addition to the formal public meeting where the preferred option is presented to the Board of Trustees, which exceeds the minimum requirements outlined in the Board policy. The public meetings were advertised through a variety of means including a newsletter distributed to the students, through notices sent home with students, advertisements in the local newspaper, articles written by reporters for the local media, and postings on the Board s website. The newsletter outlined background information such as demographics, enrolment trends across the six schools, the purpose of the review and the implications on each of the schools. This was sent home with students in November. The newsletter contained information about the first public meeting and referred people to the website for more information. All information considered by the ARC including the agendas and minutes of meetings has been made available to the public through the Board website. 3.1 Public Open House #1 Accommodation options were presented at a public open house on December 9, at St. Timothy and December 10, at Monsignor Haller. Five options were presented each of which had several variations for consideration. Over the course of the two evenings, a total of 44 people attended and submitted comments. The majority of those in attendance were from the St. Timothy school community. The boundary options that were presented can be found in appendix A. Summary of comments: Most St. Timothy parents preferred Option 1b (which has the same boundary as the final recommendation) since there were fewer students affected compared to other options. It also moves a newer development rather than an established neighbourhood. Blessed Kateri enrolment increased significantly in most of the options. Fischer-Hallman makes a logical boundary for John Sweeney. A boundary change to John Sweeney would result in another move for some students because John Sweeney opened in Finding a new childcare facility will be challenging. 3.2 Public Open House #2 Following the first open house the ARC met to discuss the comments received from the public and to review the options that were under consideration. The committee reduced those options to a smaller number and also made minor modifications based on the public feedback. A second public open house was held on February 3, 2009 at John Sweeney. Four boundary options, divided into two phases of implementation, were presented for public review. Phase 1 is a short term solution which addresses the immediate overcrowding concerns at John Sweeney and St. Timothy. Based on the comments received from the first public open house the ARC determined that there was only one option still open as a short term solution for John Sweeney and St. Timothy. Options which would have redirected students living north of Ottawa Street from John Sweeney to Monsignor Haller were not considered to be a practical solution to lowering enrolment at John Sweeney. There was a general feeling that this option would result Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 5 Final Report

8 in a loss of students from the system. The only practical alternative was to move students living in the Fischer Hallman Road / Westmount Road triangle to Blessed Sacrament. Similarly, options which would have moved more students from St. Timothy to Blessed Kateri were rejected after the first public meeting as they resulted in too large a decrease in enrolment at St. Timothy and excessive enrolment at Blessed Kateri. Phase 2 is intended to address the medium term solution which implies the construction of a new school in the Huron Community. There were three options presented for Phase 2. These options explored various ways of accommodating students from the future development areas. As a result the boundaries for the new school changed in each option. None of the options affect walking students and the number of students to be transported does not change from the existing totals. In addition, all of the Phase 2 options affect the same number of students and no students impacted through the implementation of Phase 1 would be affected again through Phase 2. Information regarding potential implementation recommendations was also displayed. The public was also presented with possible implementation recommendations to address grandparenting, timing of implementation (September 2009 vs. September 2010), a new addition at John Sweeney and the timing of a new school in the Huron Community. The boundary options and potential implementation recommendations that were presented can be found in appendix B. Summary of comments: o Finding new child care is a concern. o Happy that options changed so that fewer students are affected. o St. Timothy will be a more manageable size. o Blessed Kateri will be over capacity with portables. o Don t want existing students to change schools. o Fischer-Hallman Rd. is a logical boundary. It keeps kids within their neighbourhoods. o John Sweeney will remain over capacity even with the addition. o Support grandparenting grade 8 students. o Support implementing the boundary changes for September Preferred Option The preferred option recommended by the review committee would be implemented in two phases. The first phase addresses the immediate growth pressures at St. Timothy and John Sweeney. The second phase proposes a boundary for a new school in the Brigadoon area to accommodate enrolment growth in future residential areas. These options affect bussed students only. The preferred option is shown below. The resulting enrolment projections are shown in the accompanying table. Phase 1 proposes to move the southwest portion of St. Timothy s boundary (86 students not including the existing Grade 8 students) to Blessed Kateri and to move John Sweeney students (30 not including the existing Grade 8 students) living east of Fischer-Hallman Road to Blessed Sacrament. A proposed six classroom addition to John Sweeney, scheduled to open in 2010, will increase its capacity to 555 pupil places and relieve some of the existing portables. Undeveloped lands south of Bleams Road, previously within the John Sweeney and Our Lady of Grace boundaries, will now be designated to Blessed Sacrament. Students living within Huron Village will continue to be bussed to Our Lady of Grace. Future residential development Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 6 Final Report

9 proposed for west of Fischer Hallman Road and immediately north of Huron Road (Mattamy lands) will also be bussed to Our Lady of Grace. Future development lands south of Huron Road will be designated to Blessed Sacrament until the new school can be constructed. Figure 5: Phase 1 The striped area labelled as Bussed Area (TBD) is not intended to remain within John Sweeney s boundary. However, as this subdivision is not expected to be developed in the near future (5 to 10 years), the committee felt that it was premature to determine the most appropriate school to accommodate students from this area. There are a number of alternatives that could be considered and so the committee recommended that the decision be deferred until such time as development is more imminent. The published boundary maps will make reference to the boundaries shown in Phase 2 and indicate that students from some areas will be directed to holding schools pending the opening of a new school. Phase 1 Enrolment Projections Capacity Blessed Kateri Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace St. Timothy Bussed area (TBD) Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 7 Final Report

10 Phase 2 proposes a boundary for the new school in the Brigadoon area. Enrolment projections indicate that a new school will be needed within the next 5 years. However, this will depend on the timing of residential development and enrolment growth. It is possible that the Board could proceed with a 350 pupil place school rather than a 400 pupil place school and thereby justify the need for the school earlier. This would assist with the potential enrolment pressures at Blessed Kateri. Figure 6: Phase 2 Phase 2 Enrolment Projections Capacity Blessed Kateri Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace St. Timothy Brigadoon Bussed area (TBD) Existing Huron Village students currently attending Our Lady of Grace will be affected as well as a small number of Blessed Kateri students living south of Huron Road and west of the future Strasburg Road extension. John Sweeney students living in New Dundee will also be affected by the new boundary. There are no students currently living in the other areas of the new school boundary. Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 8 Final Report

11 In recommending the preferred option to the Board of Trustees the Accommodation Review Committee recognized that the long term enrolment projections for Our Lady of Grace, Monsignor Haller and Blessed Sacrament are not improved through the preferred boundary options. Enrolment at all three schools is projected to fall below the school capacity. Total enrolment at the three schools is estimated at 611 FTE students in. Under normal circumstances this would be the enrolment necessary to support one larger elementary school or two smaller schools. Since enrolment at these schools is a longer term issue it was not addressed through this review. The assignment of the future development lands in the west end of the John Sweeney attendance area may ultimately have an impact on enrolment at one of these schools. In addition, Ministry initiatives such as all day, every day learning for 4 and 5 year olds may also influence the capacity of the schools and therefore the need for space in this area. Given the uncertainty as to future enrolment conditions it was determined that Board administration should continue to monitor enrolment and make recommendations to the Board at the appropriate time. The committee also discussed the various implementation recommendations that were presented to the public at the second open house. In particular, there was much discussion regarding the timing for the implementation of the boundary changes in Phase vs In the end the committee determined that there were fewer overall impacts associated with a 2009 implementation then there would be with a 2010 implementation. Delaying the implementation to 2010 would require parents of new registrants in 2009 to choose between enrolling their child for one year and then moving them or enrolling them at their new school but not having access to transportation for the first year. While the 2009 implementation option provides a shortened time for parents and students to adjust to the idea of changing schools it still provides for a six month lead time. The committee felt that this was a better option than having a year of uncertainty. 5.0 Capital Project Financing The accommodation review committee has recommended that the Board proceed with a 6 classroom addition to John Sweeney and a new 400 (or 350) pupil place school in the Huron Community ( Brigadoon School ). The addition to John Sweeney would be scheduled for construction during the summer of 2010 with a projected opening of no later than January 1,. This addition can be financed through Primary Class Size (PCS) capital funding and the Ministry of Education has already indicated their support for this project. The new Brigadoon School must receive funding approval from the Ministry before it can proceed. The school has been included in the Board s Capital Plan and has been submitted to the Ministry as one of the Board s Priority Capital Projects. The Ministry has not announced the approval of any priority project funding to date. The site for the new school has been included in the Boards 2006 Education Development Charge (EDC) bylaw. Under the existing bylaw this site is 95.76% eligible for EDC financing. As a result the majority of the land cost may be financed through EDC reserves but a small portion of the cost will need to be financed through other sources of revenue. Those sources may include capital priority funding from the Ministry, proceeds of disposition reserves, renewal grants or operating grants. Financing arrangements for the site purchase must be confirmed with the Ministry of Education. Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 9 Final Report

12 6.0 Recommendations The Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review Committee recommends the following to the Board of Trustees: That, effective September 2009, the boundaries for St. Timothy, Blessed Kateri, John Sweeney, Our Lady of Grace and Blessed Sacrament be modified in accordance with Phase 1 of the Preferred Option; That the Board consider a grand-parenting provision to allow students entering Grade 8 in September 2009 to finish their elementary schooling at their existing school recognizing that no transportation would be provided; That Board administration monitor enrolment at Blessed Kateri, Our Lady of Grace and Blessed Sacrament to determine the appropriate timing for the implementation of Phase 2; That the Board proceed with the construction of a 138 pupil place (6 classroom) addition to John Sweeney; That administration proceed with the acquisition of a school site in the Huron Community; That a new school in the Huron Community be built at such time as enrolment warrants, subject to Ministry approval for construction funding. Southwest Kitchener Accommodation Review 10 Final Report

13 APPENDIX A Boundary Options Presented at Public Open House #1 Option 1a Southern Area (Phase 1) Blessed Kateri St. Timothy Option 1b Southern Area (Phase 1) Blessed Kateri St. Timothy Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix A i

14 Option 2a Northern Area (Phase 1) Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace Option 2b Northern Area (Phase 1) Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix A ii

15 Option 2c Northern Area (Phase 1) Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace Option 2d Northern Area (Phase 1) Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix A iii Blessed Sacrament Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace

16 Option 3a Southern Area (Phase 2) Blessed Kateri St. Timothy Brigadoon Option 3b Southern Area (Phase 2) Blessed Kateri St. Timothy Brigadoon Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix A iv

17 Option 3c Southern Area (Phase 2) Blessed Kateri St. Timothy Brigadoon Option 4a Northern Area (Phase 2) Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix A v

18 Option 4b Northern Area (Phase 2) Blessed Kateri St. Timothy Brigadoon Doon South Option 5 Southern Area (Phase 3) Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix A vi

19 APPENDIX B Boundary Options Presented at Public Open House #2 Phase 1 Capacity Blessed Kateri Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace St. Timothy Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix B i

20 Phase 2 Option A Capacity 2012 Blessed Kateri Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace St. Timothy Brigadoon Bussed Area (TBD) Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix B ii

21 Phase 2 Option B Capacity 2012 Blessed Kateri Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace St. Timothy Brigadoon Bussed area (TBD) Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix B iii

22 Phase 2 Option C Capacity 2012 Blessed Kateri Blessed Sacrament John Sweeney 417/ Monsignor Haller Our Lady of Grace St. Timothy Brigadoon Bussed area (TBD) Southwest Kitchener ARC Final Report Appendix B iv