Various boundary and accommodation reviews planned by the Upper Grand District School Board for the coming year could impact up to 10 schools within the county.
The reviews, which ultimately decide which school children will attend based on where they live, are most often precipitated by an enrolment situation – overcrowding or under capacity – at one school.
But they invariably affect surrounding schools if/and when the boundary changes.
For example, at last week’s UGDSB meeting, the board’s planning department provided an update on a number of reviews that will affect students and their families at several public schools in four municipalities within Wellington County.
Centre Wellington
A boundary review for James McQueen Public School in Fergus, which will also involve J.D. Hogarth and John Black schools, will begin this fall.
Officials say the review will deal with “enrolment pressure” from full-day kindergarten at James McQueen and ensure accommodation for both French immersion and regular track students.
The board expects the review to be completed by the end of the 2013-14 school year.
Also beginning this fall is a boundary review for Ponsonby Public School that will also impact Elora Public School.
Board officials say this review “will examine future enrolment pressures” at Ponsonby “due to the site’s inability to accommodate portables.”
Erin/Guelph-Eramosa
Another boundary review starting this fall is one for the new Rockwood elementary school.
It will include the boundary for the French immersion program at Brisbane Public School, as well as boundaries for Eramosa and Rockwood Centennial schools.
According to officials, the board will start a French immersion program in Rockwood next school year (2014-15) for junior and senior kindergarten or JK, SK and grade ones – only if review numbers warrant the program.
The school for the possible French immersion program, has not yet been selected.
Wellington North
The UGDSB is also planning an accommodation review for Kenilworth Public School, which officials expect to be completed by the 2014-15 school year.
Board staff want to commence work on a new “long-term accommodation plan in the 2014-15 year to update priorities for five, 10 and 15 years into the future.”
