megk
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by megk on Nov 11, 2013 8:54:20 GMT -5
I can't be there for the final meeting, but here are some of my questions. You may not have answers to them, but I thought I'd start things off.
1. If parents have kids that will be split between lower/upper grades due to the phase-in, will school transfers be possible?
2. Is there a known procedure for putting in an EFI stream? If so, can the board provide some feedback to parents.
3. Will school transfers be open at all, will there be a cap?
4. Will busing be considered for families south of 417 to Connaught?
5. How will the teachers be hired for EFI? Will the current Connaught (English) principal do the hiring? Will she have a French speaking principal to help assess skills, etc?
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Post by cwhitehead on Nov 12, 2013 0:26:05 GMT -5
Again with the caveat that these are recommendations to the board, which can be accepted or rejected by our elected representatives:
1) possibly, based on individual circumstances. There is a recommendation for leniency and compassion for transfers, but this is mostly for the ENG programs, since there is a fair amount of rationalization of catchments included in the WG report. Devonshire won't have much wiggle room in 2014 since the current plan is to keep all the 4s, 5s and 6s next year.
2)Yes, the board has lots of experience starting EFI programs. We're recommending the creation of a formal transition team made up of our superintendent, principals, students, teachers and parents. They would be best placed to inform parents.
3) See above. As I say, Devonshire will be quite full again in 2014, but if you want to transfer to Cambridge, Connaught or Hilson, you have a good chance.
4) Again, the board can't make firm commitments about busing, since that is under the control of OSTA. OSTA is currently reviewing features, intersections, streets, etc. to determine what constitutes a hazard, and Board staff will be asking specifically about the Parkdale/ 417 interchange to see if students could be bused past there to Connaught.
5) Connaught's principal is bilingual. Didn't ask about this specifically, but I would assume that she will do the hiring.
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alan
New Member
Posts: 3 
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Post by alan on Nov 12, 2013 9:52:15 GMT -5
Yes, on 5, Connaught's Principal is bilingual and in fact she was quite surprised to find that she'd been sent to an English school. No idea who does the hiring.
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megk
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by megk on Nov 12, 2013 12:52:21 GMT -5
Thanks both.
I see from Lil's update on FB that Jennifer McKenzie felt the vote might not happen until the January meeting (which is January 21). Will that impact any implementation?
#1 - EFI has traditionally had a 0 transfer policy. I was hoping that Connaught adding an EFI stream would allow a small amount of wiggle room between Elmdale/Connaught/Devonshire EFI programs. Even a 1-5 kid transfer cap could make a big difference to some families. I understand that in transfer circumstances it is up to the family to get children to school, there is no additional busing.
#2 - Great. I think if they share this information a lot of people's fears will be mitigated.
#3 - I assume you mean transfer out of EFI and move into an English program?
#4 - Nicholas posted about changes coming to sidewalks at Parkdale ramps at 417. It is good for parents to know who to talk to. I know at Devonshire, the principal makes busing requests, so it could be something the Connaught principal would need to push for. The busing option would include any new Civic ENG students moving into Connaught, as well as new EFI students.
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alan
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by alan on Nov 12, 2013 15:03:04 GMT -5
No I think #3 was referring to being able to move between EFI programs (or other equivalent programs) if need be. That was certainly what was discussed at length last night. So it could also apply to an ENG student whose old catchment was Coannaught but new one is Elmdale or Cambridge.
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