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Post by cwhitehead on Feb 17, 2013 23:03:40 GMT -5
Sorry, I meant the current 2012-2013 JK cohort, which will be the SK cohort for 2013. The 2013 cohort numbers I suspect will be unknowable until sometime in September. I would disregard the board's current proposed redrawing of the catchment areas, the working group will be proposing something that makes more sense. The Queensway is not a barrier to walking, nor are the railway tracks, for that matter. Major thoroughfares like Carling are. Any way the new catchments are drawn, though, my kids would be at Devonshire, Cambridge, Centennial or McNabb, definitely not at Connaught. I'll write to Jennifer as well, she has said that she could propose some fine-tuning to the staff recommendation when it goes to the trustees.
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Post by cwhitehead on Feb 17, 2013 23:47:38 GMT -5
I'm still figuring this forum out. I replied, but I guess it was directly to cmaraj.
I meant the size of the 2013-14 JK cohort, who will be the SKs in September. The board's proposed new catchment boundaries should be ignored for now, since the working group will be improving them. There are areas of the current Devonshire catchment such as Mechanicsville and West Centretown that definitely won't be part of a Connaught catchment, assuming an FI program at Connaught for 2014. I'll be in contact with Jennifer McKenzie as well, she has said that it's possible to fine-tune the staff recommendation when it goes to the trustees. But the key is in the SK enrolment for September 2013
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Post by sarahvandiepen on Feb 20, 2013 12:46:00 GMT -5
I am glad to see support for EFI at Connaught.
I am interested in following up on leaving one JK class at Devonshire. When you say it's worth asking again, is this worth bringing up with the Board or with our Trustee? I would like to raise this however possible--to support a tweaking of the solution allowing FDK for those who wish and half day Devonshire for those (like our family) that would like our children to stay together (or, at a minimum, allowing siblings preferential access to the aftercare at Connaught). If anyone can advise on process (if there is one at this point other than Trustees meeting), that would be really helpful.
I was also talking with Michelle at Connaught daycare yesterday and am concerned that all spots for Devonshire students could be at risk for 2013. If we could keep at least one JK class at Devonshire that might make some difference in a positive direction.
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Post by cwhitehead on Feb 20, 2013 21:55:18 GMT -5
I'm not sure what the best way to do this, but what I'm thinking of doing is this: I'll write to our principal to find out how many SK kids will be at Devonshire in September and to let her know that this idea is being discussed. If there are fewer than 60 SKs, there should only be 3 SK classes, leaving one room free for half a day. If that's the case I think it's reasonable to ask our trustee to add that plan as an amendment to the staff's recommendation. I'm happy to write to them and report back to the forum.
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megk
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Post by megk on Feb 21, 2013 8:40:19 GMT -5
I think that is fine to ask the question, but don't expect preferential treatment will be given to siblings. There would need to be something in place which would handle the potential situation where too many parents want a Devonshire 1/2 day spot. In the document released, they indicated that this specific situation would be handled in a lottery, similar to Churchill and would not be known until later in the year (since JK registration is ongoing). That would leave parents in a lurch with daycare if they decided not to commit to Connaught for FDK and elect to wait until the Devonshire lottery for a 1/2 day spot.
The other thing to note in the document is that the long-term solution might be a phased in solution over multiple years. That means that Devonshire won't immediately move a big portion of the student body to a new school in 2014. It could go by grade and be phased in - similar to how Hilson is phasing in MFI. That could mean that we don't have an extra classroom space to use because we may need it for 2014 with SDK going full day.
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Post by marthadulmage on Feb 21, 2013 9:13:13 GMT -5
The suggestion to have a half day option at Devonshire really isn't all that complicated!
The possibility of needing the space for 2014 would not affect what can be done for 2013 in terms of having a half day JK class at Devonshire. If the interim solution became two years, obviously the half day JK option would disappear for 2014, but this doesn't preclude having it in place for 2013. Those kids would then go to Connaught, which is where they'd be anyway if there wasn't the half day option.
Similarly, parents putting their kids into the lottery for those half day spaces for 2013 wouldn't be left in a lurch, since the fall back for anyone not getting those places is FDK at Connaught. Either way, daycare is taken care of.
That said, I'm appalled that the staff have recommended spending up to $450K on an option that is supposed to be temporary, when the Fisher Park solution would have cost nothing (or next to nothing)!
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megk
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Post by megk on Feb 21, 2013 9:29:04 GMT -5
The board did consider the request of having Connaught FDK and Devonshire 1/2 JK for siblings in the document. Under the Key Themes, in their words:
- New JKs without siblings at Devonshire would be directed to Connaught
- Difficult to implement since JK numbers are unknown and are not confirmed until later in the year.
- This option would likely have to follow a lottery approach such as recently approved in the Churchill Study to determine number of JKs that could remain at Devonshire.
- May not provide enough relief to the existing accommodation pressures at Devonshire.
None of the situations are as cut-and-dried as we think. Many parents want to send their children to a Devonshire 1/2day JK option not because of siblings at Devonshire, but because of perceived programming benefits (single stream school), getting the kids acquainted with the school, lessen the transition & school switch for SK, getting to know the Devonshire teachers, becoming part of the Devonshire community.
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Post by marthadulmage on Feb 21, 2013 10:04:35 GMT -5
You're right. There are a LOT of different factors to consider, but there is also sometimes a tendancy to eliminate an option too quickly, as soon as a few objections are raised. None of the solutions are perfect, but it bears thinking them through as much as possible. I don't mean to imply that the work that has been done by our subcommittees has been inadequate. Far from it. I'm married to cwhitehead so I've seen the vast quantity of emails and endless meetings! And this is just the beginning.
I also realized after posting that my earlier comment about there being daycare either way works only for those 10 kids with spaces in the DSAP. How late in the year would the board be able to determine who goes where? As long as parents can give their providers a couple of months notice to back out of a space, that would be fine. Anyone who doesn't have half day daycare lined up would presumably want the FDK option at Connaught.
My thinking is that the board will reject the staff report and opt for moving the grade 6s. How could they justify anything else to the taxpayers?
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megk
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Post by megk on Feb 21, 2013 10:32:58 GMT -5
I think the real problem with the two scenarios is lack of choice. In either scenario, there appears to be no option to not accept it and to choose a different path or opt to stay put. There is no option to choose the right fit for your child and your family. In the JK option parents have the ability to opt out of JK and wait until SK to start school, which some families are going to do.
I find it more troubling that the document states a few times that the long-term solution might not be in place by 2014. In that situation we could have JK at Connaught for 2013, then JK kids move to Devonshire for SK in 2014, and then a slow phased in approach when the kids could be switched back to Connaught for Gr. 1... This will really have to be planned out well to minimize moving kids back and forth between schools, which could mean the long-term phased in approach will be to push for SK and Grade 1 EFI at Connaught first (as one option).
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Post by marthadulmage on Feb 21, 2013 11:48:41 GMT -5
If it is to be a 2 year interim solution, moving the JKs makes even less sense, for the very reason you point out. Some kids could be sent to three schools in theee years if neither Connaught nor Devonshire ended up being their school. I hope this is made clear to the decision makers.
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Post by kmacey on Feb 21, 2013 20:04:53 GMT -5
hello all, it does appear as those the Board has decided to take over Connaught Daycare next year and it is very likely that they will not maintain the existing daycare spaces used by Devonshire parents (19 in total). Instead they will offer the extended day program to the incoming JK students. In addition, the Board does not wish to discuss this further until after the March 5th decision is made. I would like to note that collectively, we were only supportive of JK at Connaught (with FDK) if there was no loss of daycare spaces. Since there is no formal opportunity to comment, I will be writing at letter to our trustee and the Board. I would like it if this could be raised during the delegation period on March 5th. Kelli - do you think that could be part of the school council delegation. The intent was to save all daycares spaces, those at Devonshire and those at Connaught used by Devonshire kids.
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megk
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Post by megk on Feb 21, 2013 21:32:28 GMT -5
Kmacey - before anyone assumes too much, nothing has been voted on or decided yet. There are many schools in need of funds for repairs and the daycare option assumes the trustees will vote on spending money on a temporary solution for a downtown school instead of putting the money in other projects.
Michelle - the program director for Connaught's daycare program has been very open and forthcoming with the fact that she does not know if Connaught will be offering daycare spots to Devonshire student's in the fall. This is regardless of the interim solution.
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megk
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Post by megk on Feb 22, 2013 7:02:39 GMT -5
I just want to add, any JK parents currently in Connaught daycare, should speak with Michelle directly. She is aware of the Connaught daycare situation and uncertain future. The uncertainty began in January, before the JK FDK option was added as a possible Interim Solution.
My son has was in Connaught JK program and moved into their SK program (where he is now).
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Post by Nicholas Olmstead on Feb 22, 2013 11:08:24 GMT -5
Hi gang. I've tried to keep quiet but those that know me know I've always thought the JK to Connaught option was my preference (even though I have a GR4 at Dev and a JK coming to either Con or Dev in Sept.)
As far as care goes, my wife registered Cameron (incoming JK) on the Centralized Waiting list for DSAP before she was born so we're number 2. The best part? We're still not guaranteed a spot at DSAP because there are supposedly 8 sibling JK's coming in in Sept. So, we're not guaranteed care anywhere apparently... and that appears to be the situation for everyone at the moment with the confusion at both Dev and Con. I don't see the care situation sorting itself out until after a decision is made on the 5th.
Now that being said, we need to push for EFI at Connaught as the long term solution. That's the only 'part 2' that makes any sense when you've gone through the hassle of moving the JK's. I don't care how much whining the Board does about 'fit up' and stuff, it has to happen in 2014 no questions asked. If it doesn't, why did you move the JKs instead of the 6s?
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Post by sarahvandiepen on Feb 22, 2013 11:39:18 GMT -5
Was there any word from the Principal with regard to the current JK population, and anticipated need for SK classes in Sept? If not, I would be happy to look into it further.
I agree with others about concerns for the loss of the Devonshire spots for daycare and the possibility that this interim solution could be 2 years.
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