Special Board (Eastern Secondary Review)
Boardroom Newsbrief March 7, 2017
(The newsbrief is meant to provide the highlights of the decisions made at the Board meeting for the benefit of our community. The notes do not serve as the official record of the meeting. Please refer to Board or Committee minutes).
PUBLIC MOTIONS
Report 17-009, Student Learning and Accommodation Planning: Eastern Secondary Area Pupil Accommodation Review (Phase One): Final Report
Closure of Rideau High School and Redirection of Students to Gloucester High School
http://www.ocdsb.ca/calendar/AGENDA%20DOCS/2017%20DOCS/March%202017/Special%20Board%207%20March%202017%20Eastern/06ai%20Report%2010%20COW%20Special%2015%20February%202017%20Public.pdf
Overview of the Decision
Trustees approved the recommendations as outlined in Appendix C (Schedule E) to Report 17-009
Rideau High School will be closed. Rideau’s grade 9 to 12 English Program with Core French will be redirected to Gloucester High School effective September 2017.
Grade 9 to 12 Immersion Program students residing within the Rideau High School attendance area will be directed to Gloucester High School effective September 2017.
Immersion Program students residing within the Rideau High School attendance area currently enrolled in schools (2016-2017) other than Gloucester High School will be permitted to remain at those schools.
The Board will support the transition of Rideau High School students to Gloucester High School, by providing transportation to all students residing in the current Rideau attendance boundary, including students currently at Rideau on transfers, regardless of eligibility requirements.
OSTA will be asked to facilitate this service notwithstanding the current Transportation Policy and wherever feasible with the use of Presto cards.
Special supports will be put in place to assist in the transition of Rideau High School students to Gloucester high school. Those supports will be extended for two-years to aid in the transition, including the reallocation to Gloucester High School of a 0.17 FTE Vice-principal position and a 1.0 FTE Student Success Teacher (SST) position.
Staff will be directed to begin work immediately at Gloucester High School to build a room for students that is culturally friendly to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students. This room will be comparable to the Lodge at Rideau High School. Students, staff, and community partners will be involved in the development of the Lodge at Gloucester.
Staff will prepare a report for February 2018, and every year thereafter for three years, to keep the community informed. Details will include such items as; total enrolment, number of new students, attrition rates, the number of sections by pathway and will provide information about supports in place at the school for special education students, attrition rates, the number of sections by pathways and will provide information about supports in place at the school for special education students, English Language learners and students living in low-income neighbours.
Staff and Board will continue to monitor the achievement and well-being of all students at the newly amalgamated school. In addition, the total enrolment number of new students would be disaggregated by pre-amalgamated boundaries and number of sections by pathway and EQAO results at the school level and disaggregated by pre-amalgamated boundaries.
Staff will be directed to explore with the transition team, the possibility of a school name change for Gloucester High School.
Authorization to use pre-qualified general contractors
Staff will be authorized to use pre-qualified general contractors on a time and material basis to procure renovation projects up to $100,000 in value for the schools identified in this review. Notwithstanding Tendering, Purchasing and Acquisition of Supplies and Services Policy P.069.FIN, Facilities
Authorization to vary the competitive bid process
Risk and Supply Chain Management staff will be authorized to use a less formal competitive bid process (at the schools identified in this review) for procuring renovation projects from $100,001 to $499,000, as described in Report 17-009 dated 15 February 2017. This will be done in order to ensure schools are ready for September 2017 opening.