Parkview Public School Boundary Review

It is understood that change such as transferring to a new school can be a stressor for students and families, as well as staff. The principals of the new schools and mental health counsellors will create a welcome plan for the incoming students to support transitions.

Any staffing changes will be supported by the Human Resources Services team in accordance with our collective agreements. Staff have access to the Board’s Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), which provides confidential support for staff and their families.

The proposed boundary changes would affect a number of students currently enrolled who would require a transfer to a different school within the Board. Staff understand that this may result in transportation and child care concerns for these students. As such, the following legacy attendance and family reunification circumstances have been considered:

•  Students currently residing within the Ken Rei Road area and the area west of Angeline Street North may complete their schooling at Parkview Public School should they choose to. New students within these areas will attend their new home school catchment boundary school.
• Legacy attendance at Parkview Public School will not be considered for students residing within the new proposed boundary for Alexandra Public School.
• Legacy attendance at Leslie Frost Public School (English stream) will not be considered for students residing within the new proposed boundary for King Albert Public School.

Exceptional circumstances outside of those noted above can be appealed through the regional superintendent’s office.

TLDSB Facilities Services will manage capital funding to prioritize facility and service considerations at each of the schools affected by this boundary review to ensure they are able to accommodate expanding enrolment. Capital projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Septic and well services
• Parking lot upgrades
• Classroom modifications
• Accessibility
• Outdoor play spaces

Facilities Services has confirmed that the services provided at Fenelon Township Public School can accommodate up to 450 students as presently configured and can be easily modified to accommodate 600 students.

Additionally, where appropriate and based on available space, portables may be added to meet the capacity needs of each school.

Additions to one or more of the affected schools may become a future option if the student enrolment yield fails to materialize. However, additions can only be done upon approval from the Ministry of Education, which would still require the Board to use existing spaces first.

While the development of a new school is an ideal solution to the growing population in the area, the Ministry of Education first requires that all current area schools exceed capacity at 130 percent. The proposed boundary changes would see an increase in capacity in the central-area schools that are currently under capacity, allowing the Board to submit a business plan to the Ministry for the development of a new school in order to meet the growing demand created by the new housing developments.

Staff will continue to work with providers to identify opportunities to provide additional child care spaces. Schools with low enrolment are often challenged to provide enough clients for prospective child care providers. As the Board takes steps to increase enrolments at schools, opportunities for childcare providers will become more attractive. There is a child care provider who operates a van service to consolidate the needs in limited locations. This service may also come available at schools with historically low enrolments.

One of the goals of this boundary review is to maintain walking distance for in-town schools and minimize additional transportation routes and subsequent costs.