HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) PUBLIC MEETING #3 St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary School Monday September 29, P.M.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA Prayer Welcome Introduction of Committee Members Background Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee – Options Discussion – Questions Adjournment - 8:30 p.m.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee Members Chair – Jackie Bajus Superintendent of Education Trustee – Sergio Manchia Ward 8

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee Members St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary Schoo l Principal – Kevin MacIsaac Catholic School Council – Allison Mulholland Parish Representative – Tess Perez Community Rep. – Judy Hanta

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Hamilton East Accommodation Review Committee Members St. Jerome Catholic Elementary School Principal – Linda Chittick Catholic School Council – Daniela DelMonaco Parish Representative – Tess Perez Community Rep. – Sam Esposto

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE In keeping with the following: Education Act s. 8(1) Ministry of Education Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines – October 31, 2006 Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board Policy S. 09 The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board shall review its pupil accommodation requirements annually.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Pupil Accommodation Review Policy (S.09) The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School board is responsible for providing schools and facilities for its students and for operating and maintaining its schools as effectively and efficiently as possible to support student achievement.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE School Board Funding Effects of Declining Enrolment School boards are funded by the Provincial Government based on actual student enrolment. The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is facing the challenges of declining enrolment across the city. Some schools are not or will not be viable based on declining enrolment. Grade structures and the reduction of teaching staff make it difficult for the Board to accommodate the needs of all students. (triple grades)

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE For the Board to sustain and offer appropriate services for program delivery, special education, co- curricular activities, as well as responsible, cost efficient facilities, schools in areas of significant declining enrolment – with lower utilization levels or higher per pupil operating costs, need to be reviewed and considered for possible closure/consolidation.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Comparison of Elementary Enrolment ,56620,87420,93020,74520,32020,03619,72519,391 +/ /- 56 +/ / / / /- -334

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Enrolment Projections 2005 – 2015 (From June, 2008 CN Watson Report) ,03619,72519,40719,22719,10918,97418,85818,76818,73918,65018,564

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Board Response to Annual Accommodation Review Report The Board established 4 Accommodation Review Committees: Hamilton East Ward 5 Hamilton Central Ward 3, 4 Hamilton West Ward 1, 2 Hamilton South Ward 8

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Pupil Accommodation Review Policy (S.09) A School Valuation Framework shall be conducted on each school under review. The process shall examine each school under review in each of the following areas: Value of the school to the student Value of the school to the Board Value of the school to the community Value of the school to the local economy

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Hamilton-South Accommodation Committee Review Area The Hamilton-South Accommodation Review Committee completed the School Valuation Frameworks for the 2 schools in Ward 8 currently under review. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary School St. Jerome Catholic Elementary School

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE School Valuation Frameworks The School Valuation Frameworks for St. Catherine of Siena and St. Jerome Catholic Elementary Schools were presented at the second Public Meeting held on March 26, The revised documents are posted on the Board Web Site. Links can also be found on each of the school’s web pages.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE The Hamilton South Accommodation Review Committee met on April 7, April 28, May 27 and September 15, 2008 to review the input from Public Meeting #2. The committee discussed possible options for the two schools under review based on the review of the data.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Committee Discussions Based on the School Valuation Framework data and community consultation, the committee is proposing 5 options for consideration in order that final recommendations be made to the Director of Education and Board of Trustees.

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Committee – Proposed Options Change of school boundaries Consolidation of the two schools Closure of both schools; building of one new school Renovations to both schools Expand Hamilton South Accommodation Review area

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary School Value to Students Academic: Grade 3/6 EQAO results exceed board and provincial results. Co-Curricular: full compliment of activities. Physical Layout: open concept, 1 closed classroom, portables, accessible. Gym: single gym, lacks change rooms, no spectator area. Library: open corridor traffic, not quiet reading areas. Computer Resource: good closed classroom area. Special Education: no privacy area for meetings. Front Door: visible by camera/door release. Main Office: not professional setting due to traffic

St. Jerome Catholic Elementary School Value to Students Academic: Grade 3/6 EQAO results meet or exceed board and/or provincial results. Co-Curricular: full compliment of activities. Physical Layout: open concept, 2 closed classroom, portables, not fully accessible. Gym: single gym, lacks change rooms, no spectator area. Library: open corridor traffic, no quiet reading areas and little shelf space. Computer Resource: open to traffic, limited expansion. Special Education: 2 closed areas, no natural light. Front Door: visible by camera/door release; safety concern re: washroom location. Main Office: distance from entrance and principal’s office. HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Value to the Community St. Catherine of SienaSt. Jerome  Annunciation Parish  Loss of enrolment to Ridell, Westview, G. Price  Community use of gym (540 hrs./yr.)  Partners – Gilkson Park, Transway, Ancaster Reformed Church  Babysitting course  Park nearby  26 parking spaces  Annunciation Parish  Loss of enrolment to Westwood, Westview  Community use of gym (50 hrs./yr.)  Partners – CYO  International languages, tutoring  Park nearby  88 parking spaces

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Value to Local Economy St. Catherine of SienaSt. Jerome  Sobey’s  De Jong’s milk program  Strip Mall, pizzeria  Big Bear store  De Jong’s Milk Program

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Value to Board – as of September 15, 2008 St. Catherine of Siena St. Jerome Current FTE Current FTE (staff) % of Capacity100.26% (Capacity – 190) 119% (Capacity – 315) Cost per pupil$8,067.99$6, Staffing Costs$61, $62, Fiscal Impact$1.6 m$2.7 m

Current Enrolments ( ) St. Catherine of Siena 193 (177 FTE) 38 Out-of-Boundary (18 in St. Jerome area) 3 of 8 classes combined St. Jerome 370 (343.5 FTE) 3 Out-of-Boundary 6 of 16 classes combined HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Projected Organization – St. Catherine of Siena Students 186 (171 FTE) 179 (164 FTE) 174 (159 FTE) Combined Classes2 of 93 of 9 Exclude Out- of-Boundary 175 (162 FTE) 168 (155 FTE) 163 (150 FTE) Combined Classes6 of 9

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Projected Organizations – St. Jerome Students 359 (327 FTE) 345 (313 FTE) 334 (302 FTE) Combined Classes4 of 173 of 17 With SCOS: Out-of- Boundary 372 (338 FTE) 358 (324 FTE) 354 (320 FTE) Combined Classes4 of 183 of 17

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Projected Organizations of Combined Schools Students 545 (498 FTE) 524 (477 FTE) 515 (468 FTE) Combined Classes3 of 234 of 222 of 22

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE OPTION #1: Change of Boundaries PROCONCOMMENTS  No Loss of jobs, service or ex- curricular  Least disruptive  May impact enrolment (especially SCOS)  Room at SCOS  Impacted schools not part of ARC, especially St. Vincent de Paul, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Corpus Christi  Does funding for St. Jerome renovations depend on enrolment?  Another move for SCOS students  Growth in Upper Hamilton West, especially Rymal to Mt. Hope  No changes to two schools may alleviate overcrowding at St. Thérèse of Lisieux

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE OPTION #2: Consolidation PROCONCOMMENTS  Improvements to one school, programs, etc.  Salary savings  Investigate Child Care Centre  Loss of jobs, special awards, etc.  Loss of school identity  Staffing  Loss of catholic presence  Renovation costs  Portables  SCOS recently downsized  St. Jerome has easy access to parish  Review which site is best

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE OPTION #3: Close 2 Schools Build 1 New School PROCONCOMMENTS  State of the art facility (eco, physical)  One new identity  Salary savings  Child care centre  School spirit  Merge communities  Decreased operational costs  Loss of jobs, special awards, etc.  Medium-sized school (not “small school”)  Merge Staffs  Loss of catholic presence, 1 less school in Parish  Environment land fill costs  Image of Catholic school closing beside Public School  Costs for new facility may be less than reno costs  Consider proximity to Church  Transportation costs  Accessibility  Both schools have green space

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE OPTION #4: Renovations to Both Schools PROCONCOMMENTS  No loss of jobs, extra-curricular  Alleviate overcrowding at St. Thérèse of Lisieux  Maintain Catholic presence in 2 neighbourhoods  St. Jerome enrolment up  Reno costs may surpass estimate  Prohibitive costs to renovate and meet standards of newly rejuvenated schools (ex. St. Agnes, St. Luke)  SCOS enrolment down  Population growth in Upper Hamilton West  Compare costs of renos to building new school

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE OPTION #5: Expand Hamilton South ARC PROCONCOMMENTS  Bigger picture of all schools in the area  Only 22% of schools reviewed compared to % in other ARCs  Consider reallocation to other schools  Delays renos to St. Jerome  May cause moves to other schools  Impacts transportation  Speed of new construction  “Places to Grow”  Include Regina Mundi and Corpus Christi parishes

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE NEXT STEPS Committee Meeting – October 20, 2008 Public Meeting #4 – October 27, 2008 Committee Meeting – November 10, 2008 Report is finalized and presented to the Director of Education for consideration. (Possibly by November 24, 2008) The Director of Education reviews all information and prepares a report to be presented to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will make a decision regarding the schools under review. (Possible dates : January 6 or January 20, 2009)

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE Director’s Office: Emilia Rastelli Superintendent’s Office Ext Board Web Site

HAMILTON SOUTH ACCOMMODATION REVIEW COMMITTEE