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Kincardine/Port Elgin accommodation review committee survey results

Education

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The results are in from the survey conducted regarding the Kincardine/Port Elgin accommodation review.

The Bluewater District School Board began the review process and is concentrating on the schools in Kincardine and the high school in Port Elgin. The survey was part of the public consultation portion of the review.

Presented at the last meeting Feb. 7, the results indicate that 216 people responded to the survey. Of those, the breakdown was as follows:

  • Parents, 82%
  • Community members, 42%
  • Board employees, 15%
  • Students 7%
  • Accommodation review committee, 4%
  • Media 1%

By school, the breakdown was as follows:

  • Elgin Market Public School, 34%
  • Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, 26%
  • Kincardine District Secondary School, 23%
  • Huron Heights Public School, 20%
  • Saugeen District Secondary School, 5%

Most of the respondents said they were a bit familiar with the process (63%), while 20% said they definitely were familiar, and 17% said they were not.

The majority (53%) said they knew someone on the accommodation review committee, while 25% said they did not know someone on the committee, and 22% were not sure.

The awareness of the issues breakdown was as follows:

  • Overcrowding at Elgin Market, 83%
  • Need space for Junior and Senior Kindergarten, 77%
  • Under-capacity at Huron Heights, 58%
  • Under-capacity at KDSS, 51%
  • Under-capacity at KTTPS, 47%
  • Funding short-fall, 33%
  • Under-capacity at SDSS, 25%

Gauging the importance of the issues (out of four):

  • Overcrowding at Elgin Market, 3.58
  • Need space for Junior and Senior Kindergarten, 3.5
  • Funding short-fall, 3.44
  • Under-capacity at Huron Heights, 2.76
  • Under-capacity at KTTPS, 2.61
  • Under-capacity at KDSS, 2.53
  • Under-capacity at SDSS, 2.38

Top concerns (out of four):

  • We will lose sight of the impact on students, 3.67
  • Low enrollment may limit programs, 3.56
  • Impact on the community, 3.4
  • Students may have longer bus rides, 3.28
  • Students may be moved to different schools, 3.27
  • My input will not be considered, 3.27
  • My input will not be heard, 3.23
  • Too much attention to finances, 3.15
  • More split classes, 3.08
  • Housed in portables, 2.83
  • Impact on local economy, 2.79
  • Not enough attention to finances, 2.49
  • Impact on the school board, 2.28

 
There were many general comments made through the survey. Several respondents were disappointed that Ripley is not included in the accommodation review, and somewhat surprised that Port Elgin is included.

Many said do not close Elgin Market school, and in fact, no more schools in Kincardine should be closed.

Others questioned the increase in French Immersion at Elgin Market as the problem and said many students are coming from outside the school district, as far away as Paisley and Point Clark to attend this program, while English-speaking students must attend the closest school to where they live.

Respondents were concerned about a proposal to move Grades 7 and 8 students to the high school. Others believe the decision has already been made and this consultation process is just window dressing.

Some suggested moving the French Immersion program to either KTTPS or Huron Heights to alleviate the overcrowding at Elgin Market, allowing room for full day Kindergarten. And there were suggestions that the board look at working with the Catholic School Board to find out if there is room at St. Anthony's Separate School, whether it is under-capacity and by how much.

The overcrowding at Elgin Market triggered this accommodation review. The committee has another working meeting on Feb. 23, and two more public meetings, on March 3 and March 30, at 7 p.m., at Huron Heights, to look at options and come up with a recommendation to the board.

For more information, check the board website at bwdsb.on.ca



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Tuesday, February 22, 2011