|
Final accommodation review expected at next Bluewater Board meeting |
Education
To Comment on this article Click Here |
||||
|
Bluewwater District School Board (BWDSB) is about to make a decision regarding its recent 'Accommodation Review' and where to go regarding possible school closures. After holding public meetings, the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) came up with two options, based on four criteria - value to students, value to school board, to the community and to the economy. Option #1 that received a majority of votes (9 out of 15) supported retaining an elementary and high school presence in both Hanover and Chesley. The total number of schools however, would be reduced from five to three. The school closures would include Dawnview and Kinghurst Community schools. Secondary students from John Diefenbaker Secondary School (JDSS) would also be placed in a new JK-12 school and the Dawnview students would either go to the same JK-12 or Hanover Heights. Elementary students from Kinghurst and secondary students from Chesley District High School (CDHS) would be combined into a newly renovated and resized JK-12 school located at the present CDHS site. The Board maintains that this option would see a reduction in revenue for administration positions and operational top-up. The schools continue however, to experience significant declining enrolment. Option #2 that received 6 out of 15 ARC votes includes a consolidation of secondary students from JDSS and CDHS into a new district high school (grades 9 - 12). The number of closures would reduce schools from five to four with Kinghurst being closed and its elementary students moved to a newly renovated and resized JK-8 school located at the current CDHS site. Dawnview would expand to JK-8 and Hanover Heights would stay as a JK-8 school. According to reports, the option would see staffing cost reductions in addition to administration, office professional and custodial staff for a savings of approximately $420,000. The programming impact would depend on teacher qualifications and student course choices also also on the number of students from CDHS who would migrate to the new consolidated Grades 9 - 12 school. The larger the number that migrates to the new school would result in a larger enrolment which, in turn, would provide greater flexibility in programming. Transportation costs would also be dependant on the number of students that migrate to the new school and its location. According to ARC, each option reduces the total number of schools in Hanover and Chesley. Many teachers and principals however disagree with the JK-12 concept but do agree with amalgamating secondary schools to provide maximum programming flexibility and teaching expertise. A tour was conducted in March of the two JK-12 schools in Wiarton and Lion's Head following which it was reported that, "There appeared to be good separation between elementary and secondary school students ..." According to sources however, that is not always the case and, in several instances, junior students move easily back and forth to the secondary areas without supervision. In addition, there are concerns that all ages are bussed together over long distances. According to many teachers, the JK-8 school model is also considered to be an ideal learning environment for elementary students. "Students want that experience of moving from an elementary school to a high school environment," says one teacher. "In the JK-12, they do not get that and, in some instances, the elementary students feel intimidated in this kind of environment." The existing funding formula is the apparent cause of many problems when it comes to education. While everyone agrees that students should come first, it actually comes down to the numbers. The Ministry of Education (MOE) provides bench marks - 400 for elementary and 900 for secondary (MOE will agree to 500 if necessary). Bluewater Board currently receives funding for seven (7) schools but it is presently spread out over 11 school buildings. Unfortunately, given the dollars, programs are consistently being cut, giving students fewer choices. From tech programs to sports, the losses are impacting students. While a school may have the appropriate number of staff to meet student enrolment, it may not be the appropriate mix of qualifications or expertise to meet student needs, interest or pathway choices. Among some of the programs that have been reduced/cut/changed at various schools are: Bruce Peninsula District School - Shop cut, five-way split classes with fewer options available to students Georgian Bay Secondary School - Communications Technology teacher relocated resulting in expertise loss to High Skills Major, mathematics being taught by teachers without expertise, programming flexibility reduced giving fewer options to students wanting to graduate Chesley District High School - Learning Resource and Guidance Counsellor laid off, no physics teacher resulting in cutback or physics programming, teachers teaching outside area of qualifications and expertise
|
John Diefenbaker Secondary School - Physical Education teacher, Co-operative Education teacher and Construction technology teacher - all laid off; reductions in sections resulting in limited student options; staff re-aligned to teach subjects without qualifications/expertise Peninsula Shores District School - lay-offs and teachers considered surplus have impacted student course selections; High Skills Major Program of Aesthetics and Hairstyling now at risk; staff sharing with another school results in timetable imbalance affecting student course choices Saugeen District Secondary School - two Technology teachers teaching outside of areas of expertise; French and Food courses on a one-year solution with occasional teachers; courses cancelled - Senior Level Courses of Tutoring, Canadian Literature, Sociology, Physical Geography, Healthy Lifestyles, History of the West and the World; junior classes of less than 19; E-learning courses in Kincardine District Secondary School - Technology Teacher lay-off impacting technology classes next year; Manufacturing/Robotics class cancelled due to teacher lay-off; Seniior Level Cabinetmaking cancelled to provide gr. 9 construction; additional technology courses combined to maximize student numbers; Business and Arts teachers laid off Owen Sound Collegiate & Vocational Institute - at Risk of Cancellation - Hospitality, Hairstyling, Drama/Music Theatre and Dance Within the next five years, it is expected that 45 out of 53 schools will trigger another Accommodation Review. A final decision by the Board is expected on Tuesday October 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Board facility in Chesley. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
|
||||
|
 for
world news,
books, sports, movies ...Sunday, October 16, 2011 |
