Staff Recommendation on Interim Solution

Hello Chris,

It is dangerous to make assumptions on what the daycare scenario will be like at Connaught. I talked to Eleanor Heap at the OCDSB. She is the manager of the early learning program and will oversee how the programs of Connaught daycare will unfold for fall. Until the trustees make their decision, there will be no formal planning nor guarantees of what daycare programs will be offered. Parents will only find out starting in March.

"Assume nothing" is the safest option.

What is most disconcerting about the staff recommendation is that it begs more questions than it answers.

It is crucial for working parents to note that FDK doesn't cover the full work day; it only covers the school day. The extended day care portion of full-day kindergarten is the portion that addresses 'after school' care, and while FDK is "free', extended day care is not. It is directly related to parent demand. The ratio of early childhood educators to students also plays a factor.

Therefore, the scope of extended day program at Connaught (as with any other FDK school) is determined by parents if they respond in a timely manner (as set by the OCDSB) and ideally, if the number of students needing care fits well with ECE ratios (much like it does for kindergarten classes and other daycares themselves). There are minimum and maximum numbers for a program to run and to expand. The current ratio employed by the school board is 20 children maximum for one ECE. Theoretically, a program won't be run if, say, only seven children need a certain type of care, or a program may be rounded down to the lower component of 20 if an awkward number of children need care.

I'd recommend that parents of incoming JKs (2013-14) that will be directed to Connaught for FDK and who need additional childcare beyond FDK, ask the following questions:

1. What type of extended day care will be available to the JKs who are moved to Connaught for fall 2013? For example, will it cover PD Days, March Break and/or the summer?

2. What is the deadline by which parents have to decide on their preferred extended day care options?

3. Can one choose part-time care or choose PD Days, March Break and summer on an 'as needs basis"? If so, will care for those days be cancelled due to lack of demand?

4. What will be the approximate cost of the extended day program?

5. When can parents expect to be informed that their child has or has not been accepted into the extended day program at Connaught?

I'll be addressing this and other issues at the School Council meeting on Tuesday, as well as presenting DSAP's (Devonshire School age Program) position. We will be presenting a delegation to the trustees on March 5th and we will recommend to keep the JKs at Devonshire.

Best,
Nichole

Hi Michelle,

To clarify, I was speaking about the parent board of the Devonshire School Age Program, which does not represent all Devonshire parents or even the interests of the interim solutions group. We have a delegation to speak on behalf of our program and the children and families of the program who are affected by this recommendation. We are not in support of the staff recommendation.

Vicky Smallman would know best if there is an opinion that is being put forth by the Interim Solutions Group. It also will likely be a topic at Tuesday's School Council meeting and I'll be there to explain DSAP's position and answer questions.

While there has been talk among parents about splitting the JKs and keeping JKs with older siblings at Devonshire and sending the rest to Connaught, I haven't yet heard an OCDSB representative state that this would be a feasible option. In fact, they have stated the opposite. It's safer to assume that if the trustees decide to move the JKs, they will move all JKs, those with older siblings included.

The trustees can also choose the ignore the staff recommendation and come up with something completely different or choose another previously reviewed option. Fun times!

Perhaps, I'll see you on Tuesday.

Judith, the Devonshire parents' group response is here:

devonshireparents.wordpress.com/accommodation-review/feb-4-devonshire-parents-respond-to-interim-solutions/

But for the interim solution, there was no joint response considered. Every parent was regularly and routinely encouraged to provide their individual feedback before the Feb. 6 deadline. The staff took all that feedback into consideration before making their recommendation to the trustees.

It is important to remember the trustees make the final decision and the needs and wants of the downtown based trustees can differ from the trustees outside the core of Ottawa. That is why nothing is set in stone and as Nichole mentioned - they may come up with their own solution. I have no idea how much the fiscal element plays in their decision making too. There are many schools in desperate need of renovations, many schools in the suburbs who are equally crowded, so it is hard to know how they will view the proposed solution.

There are a number of speakers scheduled. I don't know what they are each saying. They have to submit by Feb 28. Please come to the council meeting this week and it will be discussed. I don't know if school council will be just present the doc I linked to or not. When/if I receive what parents plan to say, I will post it to the Devonshire Parents web page.

While the specific concerns of the DSAP only affect 10 kids, Nichole raises a number of issues that would affect anyone hoping to have extended care at Connaught. The staff recommended solution only really works well for a minority of families - those that will likely end up at Connaught in the long term solution and that dont need to depend on an extended day program for after school care (not to mention PA days, march break, etc). We live in a neighbourhood that would not end up at Connaught in any future scenario (either Devonshire or another school) so my son could potentially go to 3 schools in his first 3 years of schooling, if the interim becomes 2 years. In fact even those who will likely end up at Connaught could have moves back and forth if the long term solution isn't in place until 2015.

I think we relly need to push for moving the grade 6s, together with those from Elmdale. As a taxpayer I am disgusted that they would spend $150,000 to install a new hydro pole that would be needed for potentially only one year in order to add a portable at Elmdale. That would buy an awful lot of school supplies.

Thanks Michelle. That is indeed what I understand will happen if the interim solution is to accept the JK FDK solution and move all of the Devonshire JKs to Connaught FDK program.

So, for the parents hoping for the JK FDK solution, above is what you might expect. Note, Summer Programs are not necessarily offered, it depends on demand.

The issues the JK solution raises are:
1. What happens to the current Devonshire JKs using the Connaught daycare? Will they lose their daycare spots for their children in SK for the 2013/2014 school year?
2. What happens to the Connaught daycare in September 2013, when the Connaught daycare and their extended day care will be managed by the OCDSB, therefore the nature and structure of the care provided will change.
3. What happens to the Devonshire daycare program (DSAP) if the JKs are moved (Nichole McGill will discuss this tonight).