Parkside Works Appeal

Dear Supporters of Parkside High School,

We have decided to appeal the decision of the HWDSB to close Parkside High School and move everyone to Highland. We need the support of at least 170 parents or participants in the ARC process, to submit the appeal to the province. We ask that you sign the attached petition so that we can continue to push for Parkside’s future.

It is extremely unlikely that the province will fund a new school at Highland, since the HWDSB projects falling enrollment numbers for Dundas. One of the main reasons to build a new school is that the existing building is not worth saving, since it requires extensive renovations. Should the new building’s funding get rejected, the HWDSB have weakened their own argument to then request funding to renovate Highland.

If the renovated Highland solution is funded by the province, they will only pay for the additions to the building, or $5.5 million of the $15.5 million budget. The HWDSB have already suggested at the May 14th meeting that they do not want to put much of their own money into renovating Highland, and stated that portables are an option. By putting all the students into a minimally funded, overcrowded, poorly built school on the edge of Dundas, they will bleed enrollment to other schools in neighbouring communities. Ancaster and Waterdown are already pushing for bigger catchments. During the West ARC process some trustees and senior Board staff have argued that Dundas does not need a high school. We see the real danger that this could come to pass.

On top of all of this the location of Highland presents major problems for a combined high school. Increasing traffic will make existing congestion even worse. With more High School students walking and driving from the core, the safety concerns are a problem that have limited solutions. The only long term solution is to reduce traffic, since Governors Road cannot be widened. Locating Dundas’ High School at the Parkside site will achieve this.

The Parkside High School Solution
The case that we made for a Renovated Parkside High School was not dealt with by the HWDSB. It is still the best long term solution for a High School in Dundas for the following reasons:

1. LOCATION
a) Dundas Driving Park Parkside uses the multiple excellent sports facilities of the Driving Park;
b) Closest to Downtown 700 m from from downtown Dundas, 100 co-ops available within 5-10 min walk.
c) Needed Institution in the Core A walkable High School is needed to help sustain viability and value of
Dundas’ core residential and business areas;
d) Promoting Student’s Civic Engagement Students are in heart of Dundas, rather than on the outskirts
e) Close to Cootes Paradise An important future environmental education study area.

2. ACCESS
a) Walkable Promotes walkability and as a result student independence, because of its location in the core;
b) Central Location Easiest to access by the majority of Dundas residents by car;
c) Limited Traffic Congestion Multiple access routes for cars, and buses;
d) Safe access Slow speeds on all access roads.

3. BUDGET
a) Parkside’s Current Building is Well Built and can be renovated and added to without outside money;
b) A Completely Restored Parkside will cost $14,000,000 less than a Renovated Highland
c) A Completely Restored Parkside will cost $24,000,000 less than a New School at Highland;
d) Responsible Use of Money in these tough economic times.

4. LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY
a) Solution for the Future A completely renovated Parkside with a new arts wing and an extra gym, will be comparable to a new school and will fill the needs of Dundas for at least 30 years;
b) Size and Capacity The new Parkside solution meets the HWDSB’s projected enrollment needs of Dundas for the forseeable future of a 1000 person high school (this is the capacity for the proposed new school at Highland);
c) Programming The new Parkside provides all of the programming that the Highland options have;
d) Ongoing Maintenance Parkside is recognized by the HWDSB as a well built building, with the lowest needs of any building in the West ARC, and will continue to have low maintenance needs in the future;
e) Free Guaranteed Access to Publicly Supported Amenities The Driving Park’s outdoor facilities are maintained by the City and are kept in excellent condition since they are also well used by the public;
f) Model for an Ideal High School Parkside could become an ongoing subject of study for fiscal sustainability and community integration with this “50 Year record of Community Partnership”.