FAQs and Answers
Q&A Document for Chatham Kent Study
Updated: January 27, 2023
Q1. Why are boundary reviews undertaken?
A1. To review and adjust existing school boundaries within a group of schools to reflect changes in student utilization of the schools based on the on-the-ground capacity that meets the needs of the community and long-term planning.
Q2. What are the responsibilities of a trustee relating to a boundary review?
A2. Based on the governance model, ensure Board Policy is followed through the Director of Education by approving the Initial Staff Report and Final Staff Report.
Q3. Can Trustees attend public boundary review meetings?
A3. Yes, Trustees are encouraged to attend all public boundary review meetings. Trustees should remain neutral during their attendance at the public meetings as they are responsible for the approval of the final report.
Q4. Should Trustees respond to public inquiries during a boundary review and what is the best practice?
A4. No, Trustees should direct all questions and inquiries to the Chair of the Boundary Review Committee and remain impartial to all questions and inquiries.
Q5. Should Trustees attend the Boundary Review Committee meetings?
A5. No, the Boundary Review Committee is a staff working committee and must function under the Terms of Reference for the committee.
Q6. Why are Long Term Accommodation Plans (LTAPs) important?
A6. LTAPs consider accommodation plans based on required programs and long-term student enrollment projections. LTAPs include potential Accommodation Reviews, Boundary Reviews, Temporary Accommodation (portables and RCMs), Capital New Built, Capital Replacement and Capital Building Additions.
Q7. What do we learn from a demographic study?
A7. A Demographic Study provides the Board with long-term student enrollment projections to assist the Board with its LTAP. It typically provides a 10-year forecast and considers demographic data from several sources.
Q8. What are the four basic steps in a boundary review?
A8. The four basic steps in a boundary review are:
- Initial Staff Report
- Community Consultation
- Final Staff Report
- Transition Plan
Q9. Why is the boundary change being done now?
A9. (see rationale from report) The Board has a responsibility to manage its resources efficiently in consultation with the community and the family of schools.
Q10. Will the Board phase in the boundary change with all students?
A10. Yes, based on the Board’s decision, all students affected by the boundary change will move to their new school(s) in September 2023. For Grade 7&8 students this will mean moving to ESC de Pain Court.
Q11. Can ESC de Pain Court accommodate all of the additional students
A11. The existing school can accommodate a number of additional students. The Board may, if required, reallocate portable classrooms to add to the school’s capacity.
Q12. Can the program at EEC Sainte-Marie be changed to grades M-8?
A12. The intention of the boundary review and proposed changes is to implement a standard program model for all elementary schools in the Chatham-Kent cluster of schools, specifically, grades M-6 and 7-12. Further, EEC Sainte-Marie is at full utilization and cannot accommodate the Grade 7 & 8 students.
Q13. Which students will be grand-parented at their existing schools?
A13. It is intended that all students affected by the boundary change(s) will move to their new school(s) in September 2023. Once the boundary change is approved and implemented, there will be a transition plan developed for all students affected by the boundary changes. The Board has an out-of-zone procedure for exceptional circumstances.
Q14. Will out-of-zone requests be considered for any of the schools in Chatham - Kent?
A14. The Board may consider out-of-zone requests from students at all schools in accordance with the Board’s Policies and Procedures. Every request has to include the exceptional circumstances for an “out-of-zone” request.
Q15. What is the impact on busing costs for the Board related to the changes to the boundary?
A15. The cost of the changes for the preferred option (Option2) is minimal as confirmed by Francobus. The cost of student transportation is absorbed by Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence.
Q16. Who will get transportation to ESC de Pain Court?
A16. All students living in the ESC de Pain Court boundary will be eligible for transportation as per the Francobus Policy Https://francobus.ca/index.php/regles-de-base/ . Similarly, all bus eligible students living in each of the elementary boundaries will be eligible for transportation to their school.
Q17. Where will new growth in Chatham-Kent go?
A17. Students generated from new growth in Chatham-Kent will be allocated to each of the schools according to the new school boundaries. For further details please see the Board's web page and specifically the Demographic Study for Chatham-Kent.
Q18. How will students with special needs be supported through the transition?
A18. The Board’s philosophy of inclusion makes every effort to fully include all students, regardless of exceptionality, into regular, age-appropriate classrooms. All our teachers share in the responsibility of providing appropriate education for every student in their care. The classroom or subject teacher may access resource staff within the school or draw upon the wider resources of the system as the need arises. The Board supports every school with resources to address each student’s needs and is committed to assisting students with the preparation for, and the adjustment to change as they adapt to a variety of settings in an effort to reduce or avoid some of the anxiety that they may experience. The Education Act requires school boards to provide a transition plan for all students on an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Q19. Will the start times change at ESC de Pain Court?
A19. No changes are expected at this time. It is anticipated that the start time will remain at 8:15 AM.
Q20. How will the Board address the issue of siblings who will be split up? Can they remain at their home school until they graduate?
A20. All students will attend the school(s) in their boundary. Students within families will be divided when the Grade 7&8 students move to ESC de Pain Court.
Q21. What is the transition plan for the students who are moving?
A21. Following the approval of the Final Boundary Report, the Board will establish a transition committee consisting of the Superintendent of Education for the Family of Schools, the Principals of the affected schools, and resource staff as needed. The committee will establish school and individual student transition plans as needed.
Q22. When will these changes be implemented? (e.g., for the 2023/2024 school year? Or later?)
A22. If the Board of Trustees approves the boundary changes in March 2023, the boundary changes will take place for September 2023.
Q23. Why is the Board proposing a 7-12 school?
A23. The movement to a Grade 7-12 school is in alignment with the Board’s program model for consistent and quality programming.
Q24. How will the Grade 7&8 sports activities and programs be impacted?
A24. The students will benefit from the junior and senior programs at ESC de Pain Court, and will have access to a wider range of activities at the secondary school.
Q25. When the schools change to Grades JK-6 and 7-12 how will the milestone events for Grade 7&8 students be addressed?
A25. It is anticipated that the milestone events for Grade 8 students will be celebrated. The transition committee will address how these events will be integrated into ESC de Pain Court.
Q26. How will the school timetables work? Is the length of the elementary day different from the secondary school day?
A26. As per the Education Act, the total number of instructional minutes per day is 300. The Board will maintain distinct elementary and secondary programs in accordance with the Education Act.
Q27. How will lunch hours work, will the grade 7&8’s be eating in the cafeteria with 9-12’s? Do/will the grade 7&8 students leave the campus at lunch hour?
A27. The transition committee will look at other practices within the Board as it relates to lunch hours. The lunch hour schedule will be communicated as part of the transition plan.
Q28. Will the Board lose students who do not want to go to the school once the boundaries and/or grades change?
A28. It is anticipated that there will be no loss of students. Through the community consultation process the Board will receive comments for consideration that will assist in the development of a transition plan.
Q29. Does this mean that the feeder schools will become Grade Maternelle-6?
A29. Yes, if the boundary changes are approved, all of the elementary schools will transition to Grades Maternelle – Grade 6.
Q30. Will all of the Grade 7&8’s move to the new school at the same time?
A30. Yes, if the boundary changes are approved, all of the Grade 7&8 students will transition to ESC de Pain Court for September 2023