Parents For Capped Dual Track Schools

The Dec.17/08 Directors Report on the Ward 4 Oakville Public Consultation Process has set out 3 options for the accommodation of students in the program and accommodation review as follows:

1. OPTION A – 2 Single Track French Immersion (“STFI”) Schools (Palermo in 2010 at 69% and Forest Trail at 174% capacity for 2009, then at 97% capacity for 2010 onwards) and 6 English Track (“ET”) Schools (4 of which will remain at 124-145%capacity). 32 portables.

2. OPTION B - 1 Single Track FI (Forest Trail at 122% capacity for 2009 and then 97% for 2010 onwards) and 2 Dual Track Schools (Palermo in 2010 at 102% and PWPS in 2009 at 121% and then 129%onwards), 5 ET schools ( 3 of which will remain at 124 -145% capacity). 22 portables.

3. OPTION C – 3 Dual Track Schools. Forest Trail in 2009 (122-128% capacity), PWPS in 2009 (121% to 129% onward)and Palermo in 2010 at 51%) and 5 ET Schools of which 4 schools are between 122-129%capacity. 29 portables.

The Director is recommending Option B. The Trustees are hearing delegations related to French Immersion entry points and the Directors report on Jan.7/09 and Jan.14/09 and will make a decision of Jan.21/09 on which option to accept or whether to construct their own option.

We, the undersigned, recommend that the Halton District School Board Trustees accept Option C as set out in the Directors Report dated Dec.17/09, Report 09007, but with the changes as set out below:

1. Move 170-250 students from Forest Trail to PWPS making it a Dual Track School and FI enrolment be restricted or capped at less than 50% of the OTG (on the ground capacity) ;

2. Convert Forest Trail into a Dual Track School effective in 2010 as per Option C;

3. Open Palermo as a Dual Track School in 2010 as per Option C and

4. If necessary open a fourth Dual Track School with a capped FI enrolment of less than 50% to reduce the overall number of portables (and overcapacity) at the Schools and to reduce the FI transportation cost; with FI enrolment capped at less than 50% of OTG capacity.

This recommendation is in accordance with the findings of the Independent Report of the Randolph Group, the 720 responses to the OPENS petition, the results of the PWPS survey, and the views expressed by the focus groups and the 5 English Track School Councils, as well as a portion of the Forest Trail parents favouring Dual Track School, and in particular option 2 in the focus groups above all other options.

The increase in the number of students in the FI programs makes the FI programs viable without the concern about split classes, or causing the need for either FI or ET students to be relocated due to overcapacity. This recommendation will allow PWPS and Palermo English Track students/parents and the Forest Trail French Immersion students/parents to grow together without concerns from either that the school will be converted into a Single Track School.

It will reduce the number of portables (particularly if a fourth Dual Track School is mandated) at both English Track and Dual Track Schools, and reduce significantly the cost of FI transportation (which is estimated at $1026 per student).

A fourth Dual Track School may be required in Ward 4 Oakville, if Palermo isn’t built or isn’t built on time, or as a result of the capping of the FI enrolment at the Dual Tracks Schools. This 4th Dual Track School should also have a capped FI enrolment of less than 50%of OTG capacity but at least 150-200 students to make the FI program viable.