It has been brought to our attention that the email boxes belonging to our local trustees are getting full to the point that they are not able to use them effectively and consequently your emails are possibly not being seen.

Now it has been recommended that rather than using email, that using voice communication is a better way of being heard.  The following is a list of our local trustees which can be found on the OCDSB website too.
http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/bot/myt/Pages/default.aspx

RECOMMENDATIONS:

It is recommended:

For September 2012:

A.           THAT the MFI program at Katimavik Elementary School continue to be phased out (grades 6-8 MFI accommodated at the school for 2012-2013);

B.           THAT all MFI program students residing north of Highway 417 continue to be directed to W.Erskine Johnston Public School for grades 4 and 5 MFI;

C.           THAT all MFI program students residing south of Highway 417 continue to be directed to Bridlewood Community Elementary School for grades 4 to 7 MFI; and

For September 2013:

D.            THAT the program and grade structure at Bridlewood Community Elementary School be JK-6 ENG/EFI and the attendance boundary be in accordance with Map 2 attached;

E.       THAT the attendance boundary for Roch Carrier Elementary School be in accordance with Map 2 attached;

F.            THAT the program and grade structure at W.O. Mitchell Elementary School be JK-6 ENG/EFI and the attendance boundary be in accordance with Map 2 attached;

G.            THAT the attendance boundary for John Young Elementary School be in accordance with Map 2 attached;

H.        THAT the programs and grade structures at Castlefrank Elementary School and Katimavik Elementary School become JK-3 ENG/EFI and grades 4-8 ENG/EFI and the attendance boundary be in accordance with Map 2 attached;

I.        THAT A.Y. Jackson Secondary School and Glen Cairn PS act as a 7-12 campus with the grades 7s and 8s being accommodated in the Glen Cairn PS school site with the two schools’ staff working together with a transition team to ensure a strong connection between the high school and the intermediate school;

K

J..   THAT the grade 8s from W. O. Mitchell PS and Bridlewood CES be grandfathered at WOMPS and BCES for the first year of implementation so that they can have their graduation there and not have an additional transition;

1. K.  That there be a phasing in of Castlefrank ES and Katimavik ES students to the JK-3 and 4-8 model so that no students will have to move from one school, go to the other and then go back to the first school within a two-year time frame;
2. L.  That local principals at W.O. Mitchell PS, Bridlewood CES, and Roch Carrier ES be given the data regarding which students currently access Roch Carrier ES childcare (but will be now out-of-boundary) to consider in transfer requests
3. M.  That Palomino Drive area students be given the option to be grandfathered and/or data be given to the local principals to be considered in transfer requests;
4. N.  That a port-a pack be given consideration for GCPS
5. O.  That a transition team be set up ensure a smooth transition for all students;
6. P.   That  LSS look at the intermediate gifted program at Bridlewood CES to determine the best location for the program going forward.

Parents, please visit Trustee Curry’s blog (http://cathycurry.ca/what-will-happen-at-the-april-2nd-meeting#comments) for some valuable insight into how she may approach the upcoming debate and how the School Board will make a final decision concerning the fate of our schools.

Point 1:  It is important to note that Trustee Curry seems to have been able to push the actual debate to the night of 05 April in order to allow more time for information exchange and “brainstorming.”  Although her observation that any Trustee could put a motion on the table at any time is somewhat worrisome, especially given the way that the Board’s words have not always lined up with their deeds as this process has unfolded (more on that point below).  Please, keep the 2^nd of April on your calendar, but also reserve the 5^th , as the latter may turn out to be the night the actual debate takes place.

Point 2:  Trustee Curry has blamed the public for providing “misinformation over the past few months.”  Her examples include:

1. “Glen Cairn has no gym.”  Comment:  In the documentation provided by the Board there is no mention of a gym in the school description.  The school web-site states that the school is located next to the Glen Cairn Community Centre and therefore has access to “an adult sized gym”.  Who actually owns the gym?  Is it the school’s or does the school have access to it only when the City does not need it?  How does that restrict access for the students for extra curricular activities?  Remember, if the 160% over capacity Glen Cairn Middle School plan is approved, we will have to come up with “creative ways” to use the “space.”  If the school does not have 100% ownership of the space we will have to be even more “creative.”
2. “Glen cairn has no yard.”  Comment:  It is unlikely that anyone said that Glen Cairn has no yard, what might have been said is that when you place 8-10 portables on the site that there will be no yard left that is of any use.  All of the Trustees and Parents are urged to go and look at the facility – it is simply too small to accommodate over 530 grade 7/8s.  You can see that by simply standing at the flagpole and looking at the building.
3. “Glen Cairn can only have 4 portables in total – not true, old data, under old code.”  Comment:  Well Cathy, this is a good one.  For Trustee Curry to insinuate that this is an example of “public misinformation” is totally unacceptable.  This planning factor was provided to the Community by the School Board staff.  How convenient that, on the eve of the debate, the code has changed, and, much like the introduction of the 7-12 model, without any attempt by the Board or the Trustees to inform the public in any meaningful way.  Once again, the Board’s words are not lining up with actions – raising legitimate questions regarding the transparency and fairness of the entire process.

Point 3:  The only real example of “misinformation” actually comes from the School Board staff who are trying to sell the Glen Cairn Middle School idea as the AY Jackson 7-12 model.  And what’s worse is that the Trustees have not called them on it.

Here is a PDF of the final presentation presented to the OCDSB on March 8th by our parent council.

Download Here: Final-WOM-School-Council-Presentation-to-Board-March-8.pdf

Thank you to everyone for coming out March 8th.   To continue to show our concern, your attendance at the April 2nd. debate would be greatly appreciated.  We look forward to seeing you all then.