1. Anglophone West School District Education Council Sustainability Study – Nackawic Elementary School, Nackawic Middle School and Nackawic High School as a cluster Executive Summary and Appendix to Superintendent Monitoring Report ASD-W-EL7 January 28, 2016

2. Executive Summary The Sustainability Study for Nackawic Elementary School, Nackawic Middle School and Nackawic High School, as a cluster, was initiated by a motion of the District Education Council (DEC) on May 21, 2015, at the regularly scheduled public DEC meeting. The Council, Superintendent and relevant staff coordinated the study that followed the process as outlined in Provincial Policy 409: Multi-year School Infrastructure Planning, Sections 6.4 and 6.5. None of the schools were considered a “triggered school” under Policy 409, although the Functional Capacity of Nackawic Middle School is 29.8% with September 30, 2015, enrolment numbers.

3. Executive Summary This process included three public meetings, formal correspondence with parents, communications with district staff, opportunities to meet with stakeholders, electronic communication, and an overall willingness to share information publically throughout the study. The public meetings were well attended by DEC and the Councilors also spent time in working sessions with staff to learn more about the school scenario. The DEC had access to relevant documentation. The public consultation and communications were respectful throughout the study and stakeholders from the community were engaged in the process.

4. Executive Summary The three possible outcomes were described to those who participated in the study, including the possibility of: A DEC vote for Status Quo A DEC vote to recommend investment in the school(s) to repair it (them) A DEC vote to recommend closing the school(s) and moving the students to another location for their schooling Recommendations from above would go to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. If there was a vote to recommend closure of a school, it was understood that the options included: Move the students from Nackawic Elementary School to Nackawic Middle School, forming a K-8 setting (with or without students from Millville Elementary School, pending the outcome of that sustainability study) Move the students from Nackawic Middle School to Nackawic High School, forming a 6- 12 setting.

5. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness The Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development was informed of the intention to study the Nackawic School Cluster, in writing on May 26, 2015. The Superintendent wrote formally to parents of the Nackawic schools eight times between May, 2015 and January, 2016, the duration of the study. These letters kept the parent population and others stakeholders apprised of the study process. A formal timeline was also provided to the parent population and stakeholders. Each of these documents are available publically and are a part of the final report (submitted to the Minister if Status Quo is not the outcome).

6. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness Documentation (requested and otherwise developed) that provided relevant information about the Nackawic schools (and some neighboring schools) was shared publically. A number of these documents are a part of the final report. These documents were used as a basis for study by DEC members and as a catalyst for conversation.

7. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 The first public meeting in this study was held at Nackawic Middle School on September 29, 2015. Approximately 122 members of the community attended. The Superintendent presented the sustainability study process as well as pertinent information as outlined in Section 6.4.4 of Policy 409. This presentation, an agenda, notes for the meeting and an audio file of the meeting were made public through a district website section dedicated to the study.

8. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Enrolment and Functional Capacity September 30, 2015, enrolment of Nackawic Elementary School (NES) is 208 students (12 classes), Nackawic Middle School (NMS) is 147 students (8 classes), and Nackawic High School is 264 students. Enrolment at the three schools is projected to decline. Projected enrolment of the scenarios would see NHS as 6-12 at 397, NMS as K-8 with NES only at 337 and NMS as K-8 with MES+NES at 365, for 2016-17. NMS could accommodate the students from NES and MES with a temporary addition (modular classroom(s)) or permanent addition and would require the addition of a playground. NHS could accommodate the students from NMS with the repair of the damaged wing and the addition of 3-4 classrooms. In either scenario, adjustments are necessary for the receiving school.

9. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Enrolment and Functional Capacity Current Functional Capacities of 66.7% (NES) and 29.8% (NMS) and 45.5% (NHS) would become 68.4% for NHS as 6-12, 76.2% for NMS with NES only and 82.6% for NMS with NES+MES, based on enrolment projections. NOTE: Some numbers used throughout the study were from September, 2014 enrolment where other numbers used were from September, 2015; this was due to the timing of the presentation and document creation. NOTE: Currently, there are out-of-catchment students in NES and MES.

10. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Health and Safety and Building Assessment NES - built in 1967, with a major addition in 1987. NMS – built in 1971. NHS – built in 1967 with a major addition in 1997. NES and NMS buildings are safe and in acceptable condition, with varying levels of conditions for specific parts of the building. NHS is safe, with the exception of a wing with four classrooms that is currently closed off pending a decision on necessity of keeping the wing. This wing was damaged in a fall storm and, upon further inspection, had signs of deterioration over the long term.

11. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Health and Safety and Building Assessment Capital improvement projects for the three schools amount to the following in costs and priority: NES - $280 000; two at priority-2 and two at priority-3 NMS - $630 000; one at priority-1, four at priority-2 and four at priority-3 NHS - $2 038 000; one at priority-1, two at priority-2 and four at priority-3; these do not include the cost of repairing the damaged wing or tearing down the damaged wing. Priority-1 is considered most urgent.

12. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Educational Programs and Services Nackawic Elementary School has struggled with the Provincial Grade 2 Reading Assessment in recent years, sitting at 40% appropriate level or above in 2015. Their performance in Grade 4 Reading was better and Grade 5 Math was up and down, when those assessments were in place. Nackawic Middle School had shown steady improvement in Grade 7 Reading, meeting target in 2013-14 with 91.1% successful or above. Grade 7 Writing results had been consistently at or above the district average. Grade 8 Math results peaked in 2013-14 at 73.7% successful or above. Nackawic High School performs consistently above the district and provincial averages (less two years) for success in Grade 9 ELA Reading Assessment. The Grade 9 ELA Writing Assessment results have been at 95% successful or above in the past two years. The Grade 10 French Immersion Provincial Assessment scores had been declining in recent years. There are professional and quality staffs and administrations at the three schools that serve student learning very well.

13. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Educational Programs and Services Class sizes in all 3 schools are not overly full, but of good size. There are full-sized gymnasiums in all three schools. Many extra opportunities are available to the students with thanks to innovative staff and support from the community. Students provided a variety of feedback through Tell Them From Me Surveys (Grades 4 thru 12) and in the Public Consultation Meeting #2.

14. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Transportation The impact on transportation changes is negligible in this study. Many students live within walking distance of the schools and those that travel by bus get home at 4:10PM, at the latest. The average bus ride is 28 minutes for the elementary, 32 minutes for the middle school and 34 minutes for the high school.

15. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Finances NES utility costs are estimated at $26.23 per square meter (average is $29.20 for elementary schools) and $372.55 per student (average is $480.35 per student for elementary schools). NMS utility costs are estimated at $18.55 per square meter (average is $26.34 for middle schools) and $724.82 per student (average is $701.12 per student for middle schools). NHS utility costs are estimated at $23.59 per square meter (average is $25.41 for high schools) and $641.74 per student (average is $585.21 per student for high schools).

16. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Finances Projected savings should NMS move to NHS would be $260 578 annually, with a one time capital avoidance of $630 000 and one time costs in the vicinity of $1 million, not including the damaged wing repairs or removal. Projected savings should NES move to NMS (without Millville) would be $171 714 annually, with a one time capital avoidance of $280 000 and a one time anticipated cost of $115 400 (building/grounds modifications and without a modular classrooms and sub- dividing a larger room) to $235 400 (building/grounds modifications and one modular classroom) to several hundred thousand dollars more if a permanent expansion is suggested. Projected savings should NES move to NMS with MES would be $440 126 annually, with a one time capital avoidance of $1 116 900 (two buildings closing) and a one time anticipated cost of $118 700 (building/grounds modifications and without modular classrooms, sub- dividing a larger room) to $253 700 (building/grounds modifications and one modular classroom) to several hundred thousand dollars more if a permanent expansion is suggested. It is noted that these projections included enrolment as is (with the out of catchment students) and for priority 1, 2 and 3 capital projects.

17. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Impact on the Local Community A move within Nackawic would keep all current K-12 Nackawic zoned students in the Town of Nackawic for their schooling, simply in two schools as opposed to three. The Elementary School property is well positioned for young children with its playground area; likewise, the Middle School doesn’t have sufficient playground equipment for an elementary population. A strong sense of community in relation to the Elementary, Middle and High Schools is evident. Nackawic Middle School has started using its vacant space strategically through community use of schools agreements; they currently house the Town of Nackawic office. This relationship would no longer be available should any of the scenarios proceed.

18. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #1 Impact on Other Schools Nackawic High School could welcome Nackawic Middle Schools students only with considerable construction and renovations. 6-12 scenarios work elsewhere in the district and province. Nackawic Middle School would require considerable facility upgrades to accommodate new students from Nackawic Elementary School and/or Millville Elementary School and would lose their new relationships with community use of schools agreements. Enhancements to the playground would also be required. K-8 scenarios work elsewhere in the district and province. In all three schools, there are professional and caring staff who would help ease any transition that may occur. Economic Development Nackawic is a Town with Mayor and Council; the Mayor was active in the sustainability study. There are a variety of small business, service groups and churches in the community. AV Nackawic is a large scale employer in town and poised for staff renewal due to impending retirements and company growth; AV foresees great potential for young families in the future and is a strong proponent for status quo. They were active and cooperative throughout the study. The potential of new families moving to Nackawic as a result of the proposed Sisson Mine Project was presented.

19. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #2 The second public meeting in this study was held at Nackawic Elementary School on January 7, 2016. Approximately 131 members of the community attended. The meeting had been rescheduled twice; once at the request of DEC and a second time due to the weather. Leadership from the three PSSCs, the Village Council, the Public Library and AV Nackawic presented to the public, district staff and the DEC. These presentations touched on a variety of the eight criteria outline in Policy 409. Students also presented. Letters of support for status quo and videos were also shared. In fact, the overall theme of the evening was to encourage a vote for status quo. Major concerns centered around space utilization, loss of the opportunity to learn in their elementary, middle and high school configurations and the strong potential for community growth. The presentations also focused on the many successes at the schools, including good community relationships and buildings that are in satisfactory condition (not including the damaged wing of the high school). The community expressed a concern for decreased economic viability should the school close, in particular with the anticipated recruitment of young families for employment at AV Nackawic. These presentations, an agenda, notes for the meeting and an audio file of the meeting were made public through a district website section dedicated to the study. They are all included in the final report.

20. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Opportunities to Engage Stakeholders within the community were engaged in a variety of ways. PSSC leadership played an active role in communication with the district and organization of relevant feedback to district staff and the Council. An online discussion board was active and regularly monitored; a transcript of the conversation is included in the final report. The discussion board was located on an active website specific to the study and home to the relevant documentation now taking shape in the form of a final report. This report will remain public. Letters, emails and phone calls were also suitable means of communication outside the public meetings. The superintendent met with Town Council and offered to meet with PSSCs as a part of engagement in the study. Advertisements regarding the study and meetings were placed in the local newspapers. Posters regarding the study and meetings were placed in strategic locations in the Community of Nackawic.

21. Public Consultation and Application of Procedural Fairness – Public Meeting #3 The third public meeting in this study is being held at Fredericton High School tonight (January 28, 2016). Approximately ___ members of the public are present, representing communities related to four sustainability studies. This presentation serves as an executive summary and closing comments leading up to discussion by Council and a subsequent motion and vote on the study. This presentation, an agenda, and the superintendent monitoring report will be included on our district website section dedicated to the study. They will all be included in the final report. The official minutes for the meeting and an audio file of the meeting will be made public, as per the monthly routine. The minutes will be sent to the Minister, as required and once approved. The Chair will write to Minister Serge Rousselle with the motion and indicating status quo if voting for option 1, or The Chair will write to Minister Rousselle with the motion, the recommendation and the accompanying information package if voting for Option 2 (Requesting Investment for Repairs) or Option 3 (Requesting Approval for Closure). The Superintendent will write to the Parents/Guardians of the students at the Nackawic Schools with the conclusion of the study.

22. DEC Reflections and Considerations DEC Members took time to review documents and ask many questions of the Superintendent. DEC met in a number of working sessions to continue the conversations and reflect on the information. DEC Members would, on occasion, contact the Superintendent with questions related to the sustainability study.

23. Minister’s Responsibilities If a closure is recommended by the DEC, Minister Rousselle will review the report and assess it for procedural fairness. The Minister will need to reach a conclusion on the recommendation in a time frame of no less than 30 days and no longer than 60 days, as per Policy 409. Upon confirmation of the conclusion from the Minister, the Superintendent will write to the parents/guardians and staff at the Nackawic Schools.