The recommended scenario is a variation on Scenario 2, presented at the Public Meeting in February 2019. The scenario involves:

• Assigning Laurentian West areas (including Williamsburg and WT Townshend and the west portion of Alpine Public School boundaries) to Forest Heights Collegiate Institute
• Assigning Country Hills and Glencairn Public School areas to Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute
• Holding school assignments for Development Areas in Huron South and Doon South to be determined

Check out the map – https://arcg.is/1G18am

WHEN WILL CHANGES TAKE PLACE?

Under the preferred scenario recommendations, implementation will be phased. Starting in September 2020 only Grade 9 students will be redirected. You can see the impact of the phased-in boundary shaded in blue below. By 2023/2024 the phase-in is complete and all grades attend based on the preferred scenario boundary.

In this case, grandparenting means that students can stay at their secondary school until they graduate. This applies only to students living in the affected areas when the boundary change decision is made. These students would be considered “home school” students for the purposes of transportation. This would not apply if the student moves after the decision date. New students, or those who move, will attend and be transported based on the new boundary.

The preferred scenario recommendation only contemplates grandparenting students in their current home school as of September 2020. If a younger sibling is in Grade 9 in 2020, they would attend the home school in accordance with the new boundary. If a younger sibling is in elementary school in 2020 they would also attend the secondary home school in accordance with the new boundary when they get to Grade 9.

Under the recommended scenario, transportation would continue to be offered in accordance with Administrative Procedure 4260 – Student Transportation. Transportation may be provided to secondary students living more than 3.2 km from their home school.

School additions are contemplated where the accommodation need is sustained for the long term, whereas portable classrooms are the preferred solution to accommodate shorter term spikes in enrolment. It is rare for a school to be without portables within the first 10 to 15 years of its operation. When building schools, the size is determined by what will be required for the long-term (50+ years).

As neighbourhoods mature, student populations tend to level out or decline. If a school is built for its peak enrolment it could risk being critically underutilized for the majority of its 50+ year lifespan. When schools are critically underutilized for the long term they become candidates for closure and consolidation studies.

Other legislative changes enacted by the Ministry of Education may also impact the utilization of a school. The reduction in primary class sizes and introduction of Full-Day Kindergarten resulted in greater space needs to accommodate the same number of students, sometimes resulting in the need for portables or permanent additions at schools. More recently secondary class sizes were identified for an increase in loading. The full impact of this change has not yet been realized as the new 28:1 ratio will be implemented over a four year period. E-learning is another Ministry initiative that could impact how school facilities are loaded.

Prior to 1998, school boards received some provincial capital grants, but they also raised taxes for operating and capital purposes. In 1998, the Province introduced an allocation-based funding model, which means the Province sets the tax rates and school board funding is a provincially determined. Boards have limited ability to raise funds for locally determined needs. In 2009, the Ministry of Education reviewed the funding approach to existing capital programs and the effectiveness of the former New Pupil Places funding model in light of declining enrolment.

As a result, a number of changes were introduced in 2010. The current Capital Priorities Grant program which funds major capital construction projects is a debt support grant that does not fluctuate with enrolment. This funding is typically allocated on an annual basis for capital needs identified for the following two to three years. Boards are required to submit business cases for each project, and requests must align with Ministry priorities. The Ministry makes the final determination on which projects, if any, will be funded.

At this time the board does not have a suitable secondary school site designated or purchased to construct a new secondary school. We are working with the City to determine where the next secondary school should go. Once a site is available the Board will need to obtain Ministry of Education approval of a Capital Priorities Business Case to obtain the necessary funding to proceed. The timeline for the new school is likely beyond 10 years.

No Cambridge schools were included within the study area when the Southwest Kitchener Secondary Boundary Study was initiated. As a result, Cambridge boundaries are not eligible for adjustment through this process. That said, the assignment of Development Areas (DAs) to holding schools does not require a formal boundary study process to be undertaken and Cambridge secondary schools have not been ruled out as potential holding schools for Kitchener DAs. Any assignment of the Kitchener DAs moving forward will be addressed outside of this boundary study.

The bell times for the 2019/2020 school year are:                                               

Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute: 8:15 AM and 2:25 PM

Forest Heights Collegiate Institute: 8:20 AM and 2:30 PM

Huron Heights Secondary School: 8:00 AM and 2:25 PM