OCDSB staff recommendation is 1,200 spaces short of resolving Kanata North’s school overcrowding crisis: we need more elementary schools

The OCDSB staff’s recommendations will:

• Not create sufficient space to meet 2015 projected student enrolment (on opening day)
• Introduce unwanted grade configurations and program offerings
  • Create a co-located Middle School attached to Earl of March S.S.
  • Convert Stephen Leacock into a dual track school, from a single-track EFI centre
• Reverse existing “ best practices ” on academic achievement  (based on current studies)
• Enlarge, radically, the school size of Earl of March S.S., already overcrowded  (112%)

Don’t Risk our high achieving schools:

• Earl of March S.S. ranks 10 ^th for 2011 and 15 ^th for the last 5 years, per Fraser Institute ( Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools 2011 )
• Stephen Leacock P.S. ranks top 5% (142 out of 2723) for the last 5 years, per the Fraser Institute ( Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools 2011 )

Studies find Middle School academic achievement is lower than a K-8 model:

• The K-8 model has
  • Fewer transitions
  • Smaller grade-level size (cohort)
  • Smaller school size
  • Higher parental involvement
  • Higher opportunities for extra-circular activities, ie sports, plays

Studies find that single-track immersion programs are better at developing language skills:

OCDSB staff listened on grade configurations and program offerings, but rejected:

• Parents’ opposition to the grade 7-12 configuration ( The Voice of The Community )
• ARC’s final recommendation to keep Stephen Leacock a single-track EFI centre

Overcrowding persists after proposed additions are built:

OCDSB Projects Kanata North Elementary School Capacity

* source: final ARC recommendation (projections page 7 and increase capacity page 30)

Note:  Earl of March S.S. 2011 enrolment = 1,090 students and capacity = 969 (source: OCDSB Enrolment Statistics, 31 March 2011, page 16)

OCDSB Enrolment Statistics, 31 October 2011