Grade Configuration Consultation Meeting SD 71 Comox Valley Jordan Tinney, Dec 2006

The past…  Declining Enrolment Task Force March, 2003 recommendations:  Closing Black Creek School in Sept or Sept. 2004;  Closing Union Bay School in Sept or Sept. 2004;  Closing Tsolum Elementary in Sept. 2006; and  Reexamining the current grade structure and school boundaries in the district over the next five years in the best interests of students rather than to fill buildings.

One of the issues…consistency  Highland Secondary grades  Mark R. Isfeld Secondary grades 9-12  G.P. Vanier grades 9-12  Lake Trail, Cumberland Jr., Cape Lazo, Aspen grades 7-9  Courtenay Jr. grades 7-8

Demographics  Where do they come from and who is Baragar?  Stats Canada, hospital records (birth rates), local knowledge, BC Stats;  Used across entire province;  Strong history of accuracy.

One of the issues - demographics

Past and Future

Our Middle Schools

Our Secondary Schools

Elementary Zones - Comox

Elementary Zones - Courtenay

Elementary Zones – North/Central

Elementary Zones - Islands

Elementary Zones – Cumberland/Royston

Total Elementary Seats Empty  1863 in all elementary schools  We get $5830/student;  This is approx. $10.8M in revenue that is lost given our current space.  Of this $10.8M, about half would be available for other programs and staff beyond our current staffing ratios.

The overall plan  Consolidate grades;  Propose school closures;  Consolidate facilities;  Dispose of assets;  Adjust resource levels to strengthen school programs;  Draft firm 3-5 year district plan with projection for 10 years.

The basic issues… Too many seats, too few kids… Programs vs. facilities…

Understanding potential closures  Closing the full school and not the empty one

The importance of research and planning  If demographics, funding, and the community force you to reexamine the configuration of your schools, then the decisions should be based on: –Academic research about which structures are most supportive of students; and –Careful planning and consideration for the future and sustainability.

The Trillium Report  Recommendations: –Adopt a grade 6-8 middle school model; –Initiate process for closure of Tsolum and Union Bay; –Proceed with the implementation of the 6-8 middle school model when secondary enrolments have declined sufficiently; –Initiate the process for considering the closure of Cape Lazo Middle, Comox Elementary, Village Park Elementary, Glacier View Elementary, and Courtenay Elementary by –Explore opportunities to consolidate district programs in one surplus facility; –Explore opportunities to sell a surplus school to the Conseil Scolaire Francophone; –Proceed with the disposition of properties that are surplus to District needs.

Masters Study  Recommendations: Develop a consultative process with secondary school teachers so they will feel involved in the process; Develop a consultative process with secondary school teachers so they will feel involved in the process; Mandate professional learning communities in the three secondary schools; Mandate professional learning communities in the three secondary schools; Share key research on middle school configurations; Share key research on middle school configurations; Standardize middle and secondary school configurations; Standardize middle and secondary school configurations; Consider alternate structures for secondary schools (multiple campuses, self-paced learning); Consider alternate structures for secondary schools (multiple campuses, self-paced learning); Appoint a leader for the change process whose job it is to ensure changes are implemented and who will be accountable for progress in the secondary system; Appoint a leader for the change process whose job it is to ensure changes are implemented and who will be accountable for progress in the secondary system; Establish networks with other schools and districts that are involved in change and improvement programs; Establish networks with other schools and districts that are involved in change and improvement programs; Appoint “lead learners” in schools who will help train and implement changes; Appoint “lead learners” in schools who will help train and implement changes; Engage in systems thinking – create schools that serve students better. Encourage schools to share their ideas and methods with those that are under-performing. Engage in systems thinking – create schools that serve students better. Encourage schools to share their ideas and methods with those that are under-performing.

Masters Study 2005 Improve awareness throughout our district as to the moral purpose of schools to improve satisfaction and achievement levels. “Raise the bar and close the gap” – most importantly, we need to make people believe there is an urgent need to improve our system.Improve awareness throughout our district as to the moral purpose of schools to improve satisfaction and achievement levels. “Raise the bar and close the gap” – most importantly, we need to make people believe there is an urgent need to improve our system. Investigate how Assessment for Learning can give a ready focus to the professional learning communities set up in our schools; andInvestigate how Assessment for Learning can give a ready focus to the professional learning communities set up in our schools; and Develop a small-school philosophy. Ensuring numbers are not excessive;Develop a small-school philosophy. Ensuring numbers are not excessive; Ensure feeder schools are sending their students to a single school;Ensure feeder schools are sending their students to a single school; Reconfiguration needs to be based on long-term goals;Reconfiguration needs to be based on long-term goals; Give careful thought to the transition process;Give careful thought to the transition process; Choosing a secondary school model is less important than ensuring support for change and establishing clear direction for those involved;Choosing a secondary school model is less important than ensuring support for change and establishing clear direction for those involved; Work toward greater integration of North Island Distance Education School; andWork toward greater integration of North Island Distance Education School; and Establish a transition committee made up of members from all stakeholder groups, and empower them to make decisions about the long-term direction for SD #71.Establish a transition committee made up of members from all stakeholder groups, and empower them to make decisions about the long-term direction for SD #71.

Possible Scenarios  Comox Valley School District could close all of our middle schools and reconfigure the district in a K-8 and 9-12 model. The capacity in our elementary schools is sufficient to accommodate all students as are our three secondary schools. This would mean the closure of Cape Lazo, Ecole Aspen Park, Lake Trail, Courtenay Middle and Cumberland Junior schools. It would be reasonable to assume that the subsequent elementary populations would be dispersed to the newer buildings and the older facilities closed. For example, Cape Lazo and Ecole Aspen Park could hold the combined populations of Brooklyn, Village Park, and Comox Elementary.

Possible Scenarios  Comox Valley School District could reconfigure for a standard 6-8 and 9-12 grade configuration. In the Trillium report, this possible scenario included the potential closures of Glacier View Elementary, Comox Elementary, Village Park Elementary, and Cape Lazo Middle School.

Possible Scenarios  Comox Valley School District could continue with the grade 7-9, model with adjustments to have consistent grade configurations in buildings. In the Trillium Report, this possible scenario included the potential closures of Comox Elementary, Cape Lazo Middle, and Vanier Secondary School. It is important to note that in this model you would not have to wait until 2015 to close Vanier as the enrolment decline is sufficient by 2010 to justify the closure of Vanier with a subsequent sale and upgrade to Highland and Mark R. Isfeld to accommodate the additional students.

Possible Scenarios  Inconsistency in grade structures;  Independent directed studies secondary school;  Multiple campus single secondary school;  …others?

Timeline for configuration decisions  November 2006 – January 2007  Paper on grade configuration – soliciting feedback and advertising forums through local media: –Two public forums; –One small working group – to collate discussions; –Participation and feedback requested online as well;  February 2007 –Working group collates results/comments and suggests options for district grade configuration. –Superintendent writes report complete with recommendations.  March 2007 –C.O.W. public discussion on recommendations. –Board meeting – Board decision on grade configuration.

Timeline for configuration decisions  April, 2007 –Initiation of Policy 3050 complete with identification of schools proposed for closure. –Public information on the timelines of potential school closures.  April-June, 2007 –Initiation of school closure and consolidation processes.  September – November, 2007 –Public consultation regarding school closures as per policy  November 27, 2007 –Board decision regarding school closures for June, 2008 at the earliest.

Our task…  Briefly review research;  Answer 4 questions to begin: 1.What is the most important educational issue for the district to consider in moving to a consistent grade configuration? 2.Which grade configuration do you prefer? 3.What research or information do you have to support your preference for grade structure? 4.What do you feel is the most important non- educational issue for the district to consider as we move to have consistency in our grade structures? – Return and report out – 1 common theme from each table.

Follow - up  All notes taken and added to district web site;  Any s welcomed as further information  Student working group;  Community working group;  Teachers working group;  Committee of the whole discussion;  Next meeting January 23 rd 7:00 Mark R. Isfeld.