NVPAC is representing parents across the district at the Policy 610 working group discussions on the potential closure of Fromme, Blueridge, Seymour Heights and Plymouth schools, the re-organization of Alternate programs and the delivery of French Immersion.
As NVPAC Co-chair and a Plymouth parent I was involved in the Windsor family of schools discussion representing the district parents.
As NVPAC Co-chair and a Plymouth parent I was involved in the Windsor family of schools discussion representing the district parents.
Overall Process
Respectful Engagement
These are difficult issues for parents and the community and while everyone wants to talk about the situation at their children's schools I was impressed by the commitment of the parents involved who came prepared to discuss the future of their children's education and to engage in productive discussion about the potential consolidation of schools and changes to the programs in which their children are enrolled.
Budget Review
Each of the breakout groups at this meeting were asked to focus on the budget alternatives in light of the list of cuts already contemplated to meet the districts $6~8 million budget challenge. The Windsor FOS group had a few good suggestions but the general consensus amongst the group was that there is such a huge budget gap and there are so many cuts already contemplated that don't yet close the gap that there is very little more that could be done this year and even if it was the money might be better spent first restoring the other cuts that impact student services. Reviewing the impact of students from the proposed budget cuts lead several people to question whether the district should be consider closing more schools to fill as many school as possible rather than closing fewer schools.
Short and Long Term Plans
While there was little time at this meeting to consider the specific different alternatives for closure in the Windsor family of schools the group did discuss the medium-term implications of the capital plan versus the short-term needs of this budget driven consolidation process. The capital plan proposes consolidating Seymour Heights, Plymouth and Blueridge into a single 400~500 student elementary school but this is unlikely to happen for several years. While the group do not all agree with this plan there is an understanding that this is the main long-term plan for the area to meet its enrolment trends and replacing aging facilities. So, while not the immediate focus of the working group, the group needs to be aware of this plan in order to eliminate the cloud of uncertainty and give the community a clear long-term plan for the configuration of schools in the area.
Parent Input Sought
Short and Long Term Plans
While there was little time at this meeting to consider the specific different alternatives for closure in the Windsor family of schools the group did discuss the medium-term implications of the capital plan versus the short-term needs of this budget driven consolidation process. The capital plan proposes consolidating Seymour Heights, Plymouth and Blueridge into a single 400~500 student elementary school but this is unlikely to happen for several years. While the group do not all agree with this plan there is an understanding that this is the main long-term plan for the area to meet its enrolment trends and replacing aging facilities. So, while not the immediate focus of the working group, the group needs to be aware of this plan in order to eliminate the cloud of uncertainty and give the community a clear long-term plan for the configuration of schools in the area.
The working group considers this an opportunity for the community to come together and discuss what we as a community would prefer for the long-term configuration of schools in the area to meet the needs of our students while responding to the immediate need of the district to balance its budget.
Considering the closure of one Windsor FOS school
Focusing on the immediate issue of the three schools in the Windsor FOS under consideration for closure, the group discussed the feasibility of closing multiple schools and agreed that it would not be feasible to close more than one of the schools in the immediate term as the surrounding facilities can not reasonably accommodate the populations of even the two smallest schools without fragmenting the entire population of two schools around the surrounding schools. Based on this conclusion, at the next meeting the group will consider the alternatives for the closure of a single school in the area. The group agreed that we need to look at this from the perspective of the classroom and look at all the potential future scenarios for our children. At the next meeting the group will consider whether these are all the schools to consider and for each potential school closure where would the students go if that school were closed, where could they go, what would classes look like at the receiving schools? At the third meeting the group will look at the implications of closure for each of the schools, what issues arise if you close the school, what aspects of the school and its culture need to be retained and how could an effective transition take place.
Considering the closure of one Windsor FOS school
Focusing on the immediate issue of the three schools in the Windsor FOS under consideration for closure, the group discussed the feasibility of closing multiple schools and agreed that it would not be feasible to close more than one of the schools in the immediate term as the surrounding facilities can not reasonably accommodate the populations of even the two smallest schools without fragmenting the entire population of two schools around the surrounding schools. Based on this conclusion, at the next meeting the group will consider the alternatives for the closure of a single school in the area. The group agreed that we need to look at this from the perspective of the classroom and look at all the potential future scenarios for our children. At the next meeting the group will consider whether these are all the schools to consider and for each potential school closure where would the students go if that school were closed, where could they go, what would classes look like at the receiving schools? At the third meeting the group will look at the implications of closure for each of the schools, what issues arise if you close the school, what aspects of the school and its culture need to be retained and how could an effective transition take place.
Parent Input Sought
NVPAC and each of the school representative groups is asking for your input on these issues to ensure all issues are considered. Are there budget options that haven't been considered. How should we consider the potential movement of children and what issues need to be considered. Please submit any feedback to restructuring2010@nvsd44.bc.ca or to your representatives on the committee.
With regard to the budget gap to be found in this process, this gap has not been documented so far by the NVSD.
ReplyDelete* There will undoubtedly be a gap coming from 2009/10. The district updated the province with a budget only two weeks ago which includes applying approx $600k of operating expenses to capital projects ( presumably to accommodate the loss of the AFG ). This might be expected to run to approx $1.5M if previous years are anything to go by. The district has eaten into previous surpluses over the last two years, and has now depleted them, so the only option for these types of expenses is reduction in Operating Expenses.
* The only other data that I can see with regard to expected gap is in the Dec 8th Budget Board Directions document, where approximately $4.4M of additional costs are outlined in Appendix A. Included in this list are items which now have a reasonable expectation of being funded, at least in 2010/11. Eg. HST Credit, Full Day Kindergarten, AFG and Negotiated Wage settlements. We will need to wait until March 15th to see the full extent of the funding for many of these items. But there can be a reasonable expectation that there will be some coverage unless previous funding formulas are radically changed.
* These two items together would lead to a funding shortfall in 2010/11 of approx $1M. We should know the funding amount by the next WG meeting as the Grant details should be released on March 15th, and the district has also been asked by the Fromme WG to provide the budget detail as part of it's parking lot items in the meeting.
It is vital that people ask questions, and not take every statement at face value before making important decisions. Understanding the real funding gap in this process is an important element, and should be fully understood.