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10 schools could close in one ward
RICK MADONIK / TORONTO STAR
Trustees hit with enrolment decline, aging buildings – and a huge emotional issue
January 26, 2007
Tess Kalinowski
Education Reporter
The Toronto public school board could close up to 10 schools, but then build as many as 14 new ones in the Willowdale area as part of a plan to alleviate overcrowding in the Yonge-Sheppard corridor.
The scenario, which would affect one-third of the schools in Ward 12, is just one being considered under a pilot project looking at future programming and facilities needs in the country's largest school board.
School officials, who say school closings are among the most emotional and controversial issues they face, stressed yesterday that no recommendations have yet been made.
The board is only considering what facilities and programs are currently in place and different options that might work for students in Willowdale given enrolment trends and the system's aging buildings.
An area of Scarborough is also part of the pilot project.
But they acknowledged there are financial realities that must be addressed given declining enrolment board-wide, and limited provincial funding.
Maintaining the status quo among Willowdale's existing 31 schools could cost the board up to $100 million more than dispensing with some older properties, building new ones and retrofitting seven others, said Trustee Mari Rutka (Ward 12, Willowdale).
"Nothing is dictated as to how this is going to be," she said.
"But we're pretty much stuck because of the space considerations."
Willowdale is in a unique position in the board because its school population has been growing due to highrise development and the area is expected to attract another 2,000 students in the next 10 years.
The province's move to smaller primary classes is also squeezing its elementary schools for space.
About 900 children are being bused outside their neighbourhood schools because there's no room for them.
That number could climb to nearly 3,000 by the end of the decade, said Rutka.
Closing schools would free up funds, allowing the board to open new ones in areas that best serve the Willowdale ward – while also allowing for upgraded technology that many of these schools aren't equipped for.
The area also includes about 10 buildings that have been closed or leased in the last 25 to 30 years, she said.
"We have ended up with this Byzantine system with a patchwork of solutions," she said.
Rutka was among the school officials who met last night with parents from Drewry Secondary School, the only high school in the area that offers credit and non-credit programs for about 150 special needs students.
The parents have been alarmed by the suggestion that their school be consolidated with the regular program at Northview Heights Secondary School.
"The general consensus of parents is that they don't want Drewry to close," said parent Mary Feguin, adding she was anxious to hear board officials last night.
"As far as I know this is an option put forward. I'm hoping (the board) would support whatever the parents want," she said.
Her 20-year-old son has been at Drewry in a non-credit program for six years.
"He just feels like a normal teenager at Drewry. The kids don't feel exceptional there," said Feguin.
That would change if they were integrated with the general population at Northview, said Drewry special education curriculum co-ordinator Mary Weiss.
"These kids have been in integrated settings," she said.
"They need the small supportive environment. Transitions are so upsetting for them."
"We have not made any decision. We're talking about possibilities and nothing will happen at Drewry without the full support of that parents," said the board's executive superintendent Sheila Penny yesterday.
The "program revitalization" project was launched by trustees, board staff and parents in September 2006, she said.
"It's motivated by a desire to revitalize our system from a program perspective to set kids up for success, and from a facilities perspective because our infrastructure is aging and needs to be available," Penny said.
Staff reports on the existing facilities and programs in both areas could come to the board for discussion next month, she added.
Trustee Scott Harrison (Ward 19, Scarborough Centre) said there are crowding issues in some of his schools too, but enrolment is expected to decline in the next 20 years.
The age of schools is an issue in his area, with Bendale Junior Public School, Donwood Park Public School and David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute all more than 50 years old.
"Even from the students' perspective, they'd like to see a new bright facility in the area," said Harrison.
He has been pushing for new schools in Scarborough for years.
Among its 560 schools, the Toronto District School Board has about 60 operating at under 60 per cent of their capacity.
Its overall enrolment of about 270,000 students has been declining for the last six years, but it has been about seven years since the board closed any schools.
*****
Among the options
Toronto board considering these changes to schools in Willowdale/Ward 12:
* Close elementary schools: Pleasant, Churchill, Lillian, Arbor Glen, Cliffwood, Cresthaven, Pineway, Elkhorn, Finch
* Close secondary/special needs school: Drewry
* Turn Avondale Alternative Elementary, plus staff training centre, into a new JK-Grade 12
* Sell previously closed schools/properties: Kenton, Burnett, Edithvale, 500 Cummer Ave., Silverview, McNicoll, Appian, Page, Lewis S. Beattie
* Add on: R.J. Lang, Willowdale
* Tear down and build new: Cameron, Yorkview, Hillmount, Avondale/Avondale Alternative, Hollywood
10 schools could close in one ward
RICK MADONIK / TORONTO STAR
Trustees hit with enrolment decline, aging buildings – and a huge emotional issue
January 26, 2007
Tess Kalinowski
Education Reporter
The Toronto public school board could close up to 10 schools, but then build as many as 14 new ones in the Willowdale area as part of a plan to alleviate overcrowding in the Yonge-Sheppard corridor.
The scenario, which would affect one-third of the schools in Ward 12, is just one being considered under a pilot project looking at future programming and facilities needs in the country's largest school board.
School officials, who say school closings are among the most emotional and controversial issues they face, stressed yesterday that no recommendations have yet been made.
The board is only considering what facilities and programs are currently in place and different options that might work for students in Willowdale given enrolment trends and the system's aging buildings.
An area of Scarborough is also part of the pilot project.
But they acknowledged there are financial realities that must be addressed given declining enrolment board-wide, and limited provincial funding.
Maintaining the status quo among Willowdale's existing 31 schools could cost the board up to $100 million more than dispensing with some older properties, building new ones and retrofitting seven others, said Trustee Mari Rutka (Ward 12, Willowdale).
"Nothing is dictated as to how this is going to be," she said.
"But we're pretty much stuck because of the space considerations."
Willowdale is in a unique position in the board because its school population has been growing due to highrise development and the area is expected to attract another 2,000 students in the next 10 years.
The province's move to smaller primary classes is also squeezing its elementary schools for space.
About 900 children are being bused outside their neighbourhood schools because there's no room for them.
That number could climb to nearly 3,000 by the end of the decade, said Rutka.
Closing schools would free up funds, allowing the board to open new ones in areas that best serve the Willowdale ward – while also allowing for upgraded technology that many of these schools aren't equipped for.
The area also includes about 10 buildings that have been closed or leased in the last 25 to 30 years, she said.
"We have ended up with this Byzantine system with a patchwork of solutions," she said.
Rutka was among the school officials who met last night with parents from Drewry Secondary School, the only high school in the area that offers credit and non-credit programs for about 150 special needs students.
The parents have been alarmed by the suggestion that their school be consolidated with the regular program at Northview Heights Secondary School.
"The general consensus of parents is that they don't want Drewry to close," said parent Mary Feguin, adding she was anxious to hear board officials last night.
"As far as I know this is an option put forward. I'm hoping (the board) would support whatever the parents want," she said.
Her 20-year-old son has been at Drewry in a non-credit program for six years.
"He just feels like a normal teenager at Drewry. The kids don't feel exceptional there," said Feguin.
That would change if they were integrated with the general population at Northview, said Drewry special education curriculum co-ordinator Mary Weiss.
"These kids have been in integrated settings," she said.
"They need the small supportive environment. Transitions are so upsetting for them."
"We have not made any decision. We're talking about possibilities and nothing will happen at Drewry without the full support of that parents," said the board's executive superintendent Sheila Penny yesterday.
The "program revitalization" project was launched by trustees, board staff and parents in September 2006, she said.
"It's motivated by a desire to revitalize our system from a program perspective to set kids up for success, and from a facilities perspective because our infrastructure is aging and needs to be available," Penny said.
Staff reports on the existing facilities and programs in both areas could come to the board for discussion next month, she added.
Trustee Scott Harrison (Ward 19, Scarborough Centre) said there are crowding issues in some of his schools too, but enrolment is expected to decline in the next 20 years.
The age of schools is an issue in his area, with Bendale Junior Public School, Donwood Park Public School and David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute all more than 50 years old.
"Even from the students' perspective, they'd like to see a new bright facility in the area," said Harrison.
He has been pushing for new schools in Scarborough for years.
Among its 560 schools, the Toronto District School Board has about 60 operating at under 60 per cent of their capacity.
Its overall enrolment of about 270,000 students has been declining for the last six years, but it has been about seven years since the board closed any schools.
*****
Among the options
Toronto board considering these changes to schools in Willowdale/Ward 12:
* Close elementary schools: Pleasant, Churchill, Lillian, Arbor Glen, Cliffwood, Cresthaven, Pineway, Elkhorn, Finch
* Close secondary/special needs school: Drewry
* Turn Avondale Alternative Elementary, plus staff training centre, into a new JK-Grade 12
* Sell previously closed schools/properties: Kenton, Burnett, Edithvale, 500 Cummer Ave., Silverview, McNicoll, Appian, Page, Lewis S. Beattie
* Add on: R.J. Lang, Willowdale
* Tear down and build new: Cameron, Yorkview, Hillmount, Avondale/Avondale Alternative, Hollywood