Feedback Request - Scenario Ideas D/E Variations

Areas E5 and D1 are both east of the O-train tracks and thus in Somerset Ward, not Kitchissippi (sp?). Furthermore, all of E5 and much of D1 are closer to Cambridge than Devonshire.

That being said, like Lil says above, we don't know if these scenarios are even viable at this point. Board staff are running the numbers for these. If the numbers are close to working, we would need to refine all the borders to make something that made sense from a neighbourhood perspective rather than just a line on a map.

Using the data on the links Lil suggested, I went through the numbers for the scenarios above to understand how the grades would be broken down in the school based on Lil's suggested boundary/catchments changes.

Scenario:
Elmdale's English stream is divided as follows: E1 and E2 go to Hilson, E3 and E4 to Connaught and E5 to Cambridge.

Hilson EFI:
E1 - has 0 students
E2 - 212 Students (most chance of successful classes due to the even student breakdown in grades)
- entire catchment moves together

Connaught EFI:
E3 - 23 Students
E4 - 155 Students
- entire catchment moves together
- student breakdowns evenly between each grade

Cambridge EFI:
E5 - 3 students.
- No class available. By 2014 implementation, Students per Grade 2 = 1, Grade 5 = 1, Grade 6 = 1


Variation #1:
• New catchment for Connaught EFI: portion of E2 east of Ross/Clarendon, E3, E4 west of and including MacFarlane, CO1 west of and including Sherbrooke/Stirling + all of Mechanicsville (north of Scott between Parkdale and Bayview)

-> numbers support class sizes
E2 : 212 students
E3 : 23 students
E4 : 155 students


• New catchment for Cambridge EFI: D1 and E5, CA1 becomes optional for Cambridge instead of Devonshire.

-> Difficult to make classes. Students all pulled from one catchment.
D1 : 72
E5 : 3

-> By 2014 implementation, class breakdown would be:
K - ?
1 - ?
2 - 18
3 - 7
4 - 18
5 - 15
6 - 3


Variation #3 - Fisher Park EFI program as above, Connaught dual-track ENG/EFI, potentially a seed EFI track (JK-3) at Cambridge.
New catchment for Cambridge seed EFI is D1 and E5 east of Preston.
D1 : 72
E5 : 3
-> Difficult to make classes
-> By 2014 implementation:
K - ?
1 - ?
2 - 18
3 - 7


Response:
Based on the class sizes, Hilson and Connaught look like they could create very strong and vibrant EFI programs within the schools. Benefit is not touching Fisher Park. Keeps the kids from those catchments within their neighbourhoods and sends them to schools within the current boundaries (no new street crossings of Parkdale/Holland). Cambridge results in the smallest/weakest class sizes.

Note: based on the OCDSB data, in H3 and H1, the majority of EFI students go to Broadview.

Hi Christopher/Lil

Although D1 and E5 are in a different political ward, all of us who live in D1 and are west of Preston are much closer to Devonshire than to Connaught, even with the walk around the O-Train.

For example, my house is 350 m from Devonshire "as the crow flies"; about 700 m walking (cutting through Plouffe Park as many of us do). O-Train redevelopment of land (including the redevelopment of the warehouse at 1010 Somerset where the City is negotiating purchasing extra parkland) may make the walk-around route even closer.

I thought walkability and distance from school was a major principle for Devonshire parents. It certainly is for me. So is optimizing school space.

Also, Hilson is nearly as full as Cambridge is. According to the data packs, these are the area schools that have space:

Connaught: 221 current /231 projected
Hilson: 83 / 59
Cambridge 107 / 88

Connaught has more than 2X the space available than Cambridge. It can easily accommodate a healthy dual EFI/English stream.

Cambridge is more comparable with Hilson. Cambridge can accommodate 4 to 5 extra classes; Hilson can accommodate 3 to 5 extra classes. Neither seems sufficient to accommodate a completely separate stream. Or one that would be an awkward minority within these school.

That said, I like most of amalgamation D/E with variant #1 but there are three major flaws within it.

1. The cachement for Connaught does not go far enough east. If you live two blocks away on Melrose (two blocks or 150 m away), you will be sent to attend Devonshire, a 850m to 900m walk away. This doesn't make sense. Proximity and walkability to school is a priority set by parents. Connaught's EFI cachement needs to be further east (to Fairmount? Just guessing there.)

2. It's questionable that the numbers will allow for Cambridge to sustain a healthy dual EFI/Eng stream program. Increasing Connaught's cachement, means that the boundaries for Devonshire can go further east (thus we don't have to go all the way to Elgin for EFI)

3. I'd also add that those of us who are closer to Devonshire than to Cambridge should have an option to attend either school (*if* - and it's seems a big *if* - Cambridge does go dual stream.)

I do agree that special programming added to Cambridge would be a good selling point for the school and a factor in helping make West Centretown a desirable place for families to live. Perhaps, an alternative program could be added since there is a great demand as for alternative elementary programming and our only options are far west (Churchill) or across the canal (Lady Evelyn). This program can be kept small, would optimize Cambridge's school space and invigorate that part of Centretown. It would also be a draw for those in the Near West who have considered alternative options but discounted them due to logistics because there is not a school close enough.

My thoughts,
Nichole

I very much agree with Karina that it would be unfortunate to split up a community. My family also lives in E4. I'm not sure what the "official" definition of The Civic Hospital Neighbourhood is, but I think of it as E3 an E4. All of the three D/E scenario variations slice that area up into 3 pieces. I think that would be a huge mistake for the community, which I why I do not like any of the D/E variations, and would prefer to see a different scenario altogether.

This diversity is also true of my street. There are five families with kindergarten/school age children who attend five different elementary schools.

Again, this is special to Ottawa: To start off with we have four fairly healthy public school boards to choose from and that's even before we get to special programming (alt or EFI or ENG or special needs), consider private school options or home schooling. Surplus of choice is the default in Ottawa, making no one neighbourhood, or even street, uniform in terms of educational choices or preferences.