he Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has released closure options for public schools inside the Greenbelt. The report presents scenarios that would close 13 or 14 schools. The Board is scheduled to make its decisions in October and affected schools will close June 2001. We have a few short weeks to provide input to Board staff who will bring down final recommendations in late August.
For our 'Central Family of Schools' (10 schools in Centretown, the Glebe, Ottawa East, Old Ottawa South, Sandy Hill, Lower Town and Hintonburg), there are three options which would result in two or three schools closing. These include Mutchmor and one or more of York, Viscount Alexander, Centennial and Elgin Schools.
In one option, McNabb would re-open. Schools not targeted for closure, First Avenue, Hopewell, Lady Evelyn and Glashan, would absorb displaced students. All ten schools, with the possible exception of Cambridge Street, would experience serious impacts under one or more of the scenarios.
On Thursday 25 May, parents from 'Central Family' schools, community association representatives and members of the public were joined by Trustee Lynn Graham, Regional Councillor Clive Doucet and City Councillors Elisabeth Arnold and Inez Berg to begin to discuss staff options. A number of general concerns were identified.
One significant concern is the enrolment projections. The Board has assumed no population growth over the next four years for the Central Family; in fact, a small decrease in student enrolment is identified. However, this is one of the fastest growing regions in the country and a number of recent studies of major North American cities have confirmed a return to downtown living.
Councillors Doucet and Arnold pointed to the growing success of our regions "restore the core" initiative. Members of the community, including MPP Richard Patten, are working to put in place a joint Region/school board initiative to ensure the best demographic projections possible before irrevocable school closure decisions are made.
Another concern is overcrowding. Under all closure options, the Central Family as a whole would operate at about 96% of capacity in September 2001. This utilization would be about the same four years down the road in September 2004. Since Trustees agreed that closures would be based on a minimum of 90% inside the Greenbelt, there was confusion as to why so many closures are on the table.
A third area of concern is the impact on our students and our communities. In all proposals, Hopewell, First Avenue and Glashan will be close to, at or over 100% capacity. Computer labs at these schools will almost certainly have to close at this utilization rate. Hopewell will have over 900 students. Yard space is already in seriously short supply. Unlike schools elsewhere in the Board, many of ours have no land for portables.
With the closure of York or Viscount Alexander, Lowertown or Sandy Hill will lose their only neighborhood school. York students from Kindergarten to grade 6 will be transported by school bus, to Centennial, McNabb or Lady Evelyn several kilometres away. Many now easily walk to their neighborhood school.
For over a century, Mutchmor and Elgin have been vibrant centers of education and community life. Closure will profoundly affect their neighborhoods. Elgin shares its gym with the Jack Purcell Community Centre. The school, the after-school program and many adult and community groups use this gym day and night, seven days a week. Centennial is now home to a very high needs student population drawn from all over the Ottawa-Carleton region for the specialized programs offered.
Despite concerns identified, many participants at the meeting recognized that with continuing provincial funding cuts, preventing all closures would be next to impossible. They want to find a way to reduce the number to one or two. Others are not convinced that any closures are necessary and want to fight to prevent these from happening. But participants did agree on a number of things.
First, they are launching a lobbying campaign to obtain the best possible demographic projections and communicate the need to keep schools open to promote the health and vibrancy of downtown communities. Mutchmor school council member Mitchell Beer announced that the school's campaign would be kicked off at the Great Glebe Garage sale on Saturday May 28 with flyers and posters.
Second, they will develop a better closure scenario based on clearer criteria and educational needs of students. Meetings are scheduled each Monday evening to draft a response to meet the Board's June 26 deadline. All interested parents and community members are invited to attend. The May 29 meeting will take place at York Street School and the June 5 meeting at First Avenue Public School, both at 7:30 p.m. The June 12 meeting location is to be determined.
If you can help in any way or want further information, contact Joan Spice, 230-2442 or j.spice@home.com, working group co-ordinator and member of the Hopewell and Elgin Street School Councils or Catherine Hyde, Co-chair, Hopewell School Council, 730-4733.