Report #13-11-1441 - Halifax Regional School Board

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Report No. 13-11-1441
Date: November 8, 2013
HALIFAX REGIONAL SCHOOL BOARD
Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary & Park West Boundary Review
PURPOSE:
To seek direction from the Governing Board for staff to complete a
boundary review of Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary and Park
West Schools, including Clayton Park Junior High, Fairview Junior
High, Rockingham Elementary, Halifax West High, Bedford South
Elementary, Rocky Lake Junior High, and Charles P. Allen High
Schools. (Appendices 1-4)
BACKGROUND:
This boundary review process is being recommended in accordance
with Policy B. 003 Creating School Populations Procedures.
Section 2.0 states in part:
A boundary review process will be recommended for the
following reasons:
2.1 to respond to changes in demographics, and
(Halifax Regional School Board Policies and Procedures)
On April 25, 2012, the HRSB governing Board passed the following
motion:
It was moved and seconded (Blumenthal-Harrison/Yee) that the
Board approve the recommendation from Senior Staff to direct staff
to carry out a boundary review which would include the following
schools.
- Hammonds Plains Consolidated School
- Kingswood Elementary School
- Madeline Symonds Middle School
- Charles P. Allen High School
- Tantallon Elementary School
- Five Bridges Junior High School
- Sir John A. Macdonald High School
It was moved and seconded (Finlayson/Poole) to amend the motion to
include the rest of the Sir John A family of schools in the boundary
review.
CONTENT:
Although staff recognizes the pressures at some of these sites, it is
viewed that this boundary review would be premature, as well as
limited in scope. Staff are proposing more targeted boundary reviews
in the shorter term to alleviate localized enrolment pressure as
opposed to the motion above; and a broader boundary review in the
longer term should a new high school be approved for the Hemlock
Ravines area.
Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary
The Bedford South/West and Hemlock Ravines area has experienced
significant residential development in the previous 3-5 years and it is
anticipated to continue. This development has caused enrolment
pressure at Grosvenor -Wentworth Park Elementary School.
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As outlined in Report 13-05-1410, Grosvenor Wentworth Park
Elementary School enrolment is above capacity with portables on site.
In the 2012-2013 school year the Halifax Regional Municipality
accepted primary/secondary services on streets in the Bedford
South/Ravines area. This approval would allow for the following
developments:
• 24 residential single unit dwellings; and
• 26 residential town house units
Additionally, there are previously approved lots which may not have
been developed. There are various factors which determine the
housing market as well as the forms of housing. Therefore,
development may proceed in a varied fashion with some years
experiencing increased housing starts while other years there may be
less development activity.
Based on discussions with HRM Community Planning Services there
are additional lands that are eligible for development as well as lands
that will become eligible as required infrastructure upgrades are
completed.
Park West School
Park West School enrolment is currently over capacity. Portable
classrooms have been placed on site as one means to address the over
enrolment. Additionally, a number of the specialty spaces are being
used as homerooms. Although the school is located in an area that
does not have significant potential for new residential development,
there is a positive migration pattern that has continued to cause
increased enrolment for a number of years.
The capacity of Park West School has a range of 630-660 with an
enrolment of 799 as of September 30, 2013.
This boundary review would provide recommendations regarding the
catchment areas of Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary, Clayton
Park, Fairview Junior High School, Rockingham Elementary, Park
West, Halifax West High, Bedford South, Rocky Lake Junior High,
and Charles P. Allen High School.
Should the Board recommend a boundary review, the process would
be subject to compliance with Policy B.003 Creating School
Populations. A copy of the policy and procedures may be accessed at
http://www.hrsb.ns.ca/files/downloads/pdf/board/policy/sectionb/b.00
3-creating-school-populations.pdf.
Grade Configuration
Should the Board initiate a boundary review, grade configuration
would be considered as part of the process. At the Board meeting of
May 22, 2013 the Governing Board passed a motion that provided for
a grade 9-12 configuration for high schools, when and where possible.
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It was moved and seconded (Jakeman/Daye) that the
Governing Board allow a grade 9-12 configuration
for high schools, when and where possible.
It was moved and seconded (Littlefair/Jakeman) that
the Governing Board requires staff to conduct a
community consultation process when a change to
grade configurations is being considered which may
include boundary reviews, school reviews and Facility
Master Planning.
A community consultation process will be required both for the
potential short term impacts of considering the Park West P-9 and
Grosvenor Wentworth Park school boundaries, and for the longer
term implications of a possible new high school being considered
adjacent to this catchment area.
COST:
Cost is approximately $5000.00.
FUNDING:
Costs of a boundary review would be funded within the Operations
Services Budget.
TIMELINE:
December 2013-June 2014
APPENDICES:
Appendix 1 – Existing Boundaries for Grosvenor-Wentworth Park
Elementary, Rockingham, and Bedford South
Appendix 2 – Existing Boundary for Park West School,
Appendix 3 – Existing Boundaries for Halifax West High Family of
Schools
Appendix 4 – Existing Boundaries for Charles P. Allen High Family
of Schools
Appendix 5 – Enrolment for Halifax West High Family of Schools
Appendix 6 – Enrolment for Charles P. Allen High Family of Schools
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Governing Board direct staff to complete a boundary review of
Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary School, and Park West
School including Clayton Park Junior High, Fairview Junior High,
Rockingham Elementary, Halifax West High, Bedford South
Elementary, Rocky Lake Junior High, and Charles P. Allen High
Schools.
COMMUNICATIONS:
AUDIENCE
Board web site
Department of
Education and Early
Childhood
Development
Principals
School Advisory
Councils
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RESPONSIBLE
Communications
Coordinator
Director Operations
Services
TIMELINE
Upon Approval
Director School
Administration
School Principals
Upon Approval
Upon Approval
Upon Approval
From:
For further information, please contact Ron Heiman, HRSB Director
Operations Services at 464-2000 ext.2144 or by e-mail at
rheiman@hrsb.ca. or
Jill McGillicuddy, Planner – Operations Services by way of e-mail at
jmcgillicuddy@hrsb.ca or at 464-2000 ext. 2277
To:
Senior Staff:
Full Board:
November 13, 2013
November 27, 2013
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Appendix 1 – Existing Boundary of Bedford South, Grosvenor-Wentworth Park, and
Rockingham Elementary Schools
Source: Halifax Regional School Board and Baragar Demographics
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Appendix 2 – Existing Boundary of Park West School
Source: Halifax Regional School Board and Baragar Demographics
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Appendix 3 - Existing Boundary of Halifax West High Family of Schools
Source: Halifax Regional School Board and Baragar Demographics
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Appendix 4 - Existing Boundary of Charles P. Allen High Family of Schools
Source: Halifax Regional School Board and Baragar Demographics
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Appendix 5 – Historical Enrolments – Charles P Allen High Family of Schools
Historical Enrolment – Halifax West High School
School
Capacity
Utilization
2013
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Atlantic Memorial –
Terence Bay Elementary
Brookside JH
500-567
41%-46%
248
252
242
245
233
232
470-600
57%-73%
393
386
382
364
377
342
Burton-Ettinger
Elementary
Clayton Park JH
540-600
62%-69%
322
316
333
355
351
374
480-510
61%-65%
332
328
318
325
331
312
Duc D’Anville Elementary
400-486
63%-76%
339
316
308
303
307
305
Fairview Heights
Elementary
Fairview JH
400-432
62%-66%
260
254
272
272
263
266
750-840
45%-50%
410
379
377
370
399
379
Grosvenor Wentworth Park
Elementary
Halifax West High
400-459
106%122%
90%-95%
426
442
461
476
466
489
1519
1463
1451
1479
1429
1453
Park West School
630-660
751
761
807
785
790
799
Prospect Road Elementary
300-324
121%127%
79%-86%
274
278
285
281
246
257
Rockingham Elementary
575-621
65%-70%
362
368
365
359
362
402
1530-1620
Source: Halifax Regional School Board and Baragar Demographics
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Appendix 6 – Historical Enrolments – Charles P Allen High Family of Schools
Historical Enrolment – Charles P Allen High Family of Schools
School
Capacity
Utilization
2013
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Basinview Drive
Community School
Rocky Lake Junior High
School
600-648
86%-93%
353
359
370
340
497
557
930-1050
65%-57%
373
397
389
378
380
605
600-675
68%-76%
614
639
662
715
695
459
1200-1400
95%-109%
1172
1185
1218
1268
1288
1331
500-594
109%-129%
560
572
568
600
631
645
675-729
75%-81%
605
595
570
551
567
548
660-720
93%-101%
642
679
672
678
657
671
500-540
68%-74%
573
552
518
518
376
370
Bedford South School
Charles P Allen High
School
Hammonds Plains
Consolidated
Kingswood Elementary
School
Madeline Symonds Middle
School
Sunnyside Elementary
(Eaglewood & Ft Sackville)
Source: Halifax Regional School Board and Baragar Demographics
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