At the June 5, 2018 Committee of the Whole Private Session Meeting, the Board of Trustees requested that the Director of Education, Jackie Young, prepare an update report on the 3:2 Consolidation that could be shared with the community.

The information contained within this report is intended to provide parents, students and all stakeholders with an update on the 3:2 Consolidation process.

 3:2 Consolidation

The Board of Trustees, with the support of Senior Administration, will proceed with the 3:2 Consolidation identified in the Board Resolution Number: 17-09-12, as soon as is practicable. The next major milestone for the project will be the submission of a business case to the Ministry of Education to obtain the funding to complete capital and infrastructure projects, purchase equipment and address programming and student transition requirements.  While the funding timelines, eligibility requirements and process has not been identified by the Ministry of Education, Senior Administration with the support of the Board of Trustees, have proceeded with the preparation of a preliminary business case to ensure that the Board is able to capitalize and move quickly when funding opportunities are announced.

Meanwhile, logistics with scheduling and programming requirements are being considered on a regular basis by the Board, Senior Administration, school administration and staff.  While the project costs and timelines are all contingent on funding, all efforts are being made to ensure that the 3:2 Consolidation proceed in a fiscally responsible manner that focuses on the needs and comfort of our students.

As with any capital project contingent on ministry funding, there is the possibility that the funding will be less than anticipated and/or unavailable.  While neither of these scenarios are anticipated, should either one occur, discussion would ensure with the Board of Trustees with respect to options and next steps.

 Programming Costs and Budgetary Implications

The Board of Trustees and our Senior Administration understand that there is a desire for firm numbers, costing details and specifics regarding the consolidation and specifically school transitions.  However as noted, that information has been prepared in a preliminary format only.  To release cost estimates at this stage would be irresponsible and could expose the Board and this project to unnecessary risk and exposure.

As with all capital projects, the final cost and expenditures will depend on the guidelines, templates, timelines and funding as determined by the Ministry of Education.

 Ongoing Communication

The Board and Senior Administration will continue to communicate with students, staff, and stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms including the Board website, school visits, face to face meetings and periodic updates when more information becomes available.

In order to address the concerns voiced by the community and to ensure a means of providing timely, accurate and updated information, the Board has designed a page on our website.  The information is accessible via Quick links on the Home Page and also under the Capital Planning page.  Moving forward we will be preparing a timeline of events to share.  The Board has also hired a new Information and Communications Officer, Mairghread Knought, who will be the communication point person on the 3:2 Consolidation.

 Project Timeline

There has been no change to the identified timeline and the Board and Senior Administration are moving forward in that respect.  However; should the timelines set by the Ministry with respect to funding opportunities impact our ability to meet the set completion date, the Board would need to explore the impact on students and adjust timelines accordingly.  The Widdifield Students will not be moved if the buildings are not appropriately ready to accept them.

UPDATE:  The Near North District School Board has confirmed that the proposed timeframe for the closure of Widdifield Secondary School and relocation of those students to Chippewa Secondary School and West Ferris Secondary School will be delayed.  It is anticipated that the closure will be delayed by a minimum of one year.

 Student Engagement and Rebranding

The Director of Education has begun a series of meetings with our secondary school students to discuss the 3:2 Consolidation to obtain feedback with respect to their concerns, thoughts and recommendations as the process moves forward.

Senior Administration is committed to working with students as the drivers behind what they need and want rebranding (then staff and parents, in that order). The intention is to hear from all students and then design a survey available to all students/staff for their input.  The data collected will be shared with parents through SAC.

The Near North District School Board is committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive the same high-quality education and support they have come to expect from us.

Jackie Young
Director of Education

Fore more information please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

On September 26, 2017, Trustees approved the consolidation of three North Bay secondary schools (Chippewa, West Ferris and Widdifield) into two schools with the rebranding of the West Ferris (South) and Chippewa (North) sites. Since that time staff in all three schools have collaborated to discuss how best to use this opportunity to enhance student program options.

There is much transition planning ahead which will take some time to complete. In the interim, the Board is pleased to share its transition programming framework. The planning of transition activities will involve student, parent and staff voice.

To relieve current accommodation pressures at Chippewa and in order to prepare instructional space required for the 2019 transition, the following programs will transition in September 2018:
• Current Grade 6 Sunset Park French Immersion students
• Current Grade 6 W.J. Fricker Extended French students
• Current 7-11 Chippewa Extended French students
• Current 7-11 Chippewa French Immersion students (zoned for Sunset Park).

The following programs will be fully implemented in September of 2019:

*Widdifield Secondary School will close in September 2019.

Special Education Programs - As we look ahead now to transitions beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, we are committed to ensuring parents are kept apprised of decisions impacting their children and young adults attending school in one of our system special education programs.  We hope that the information below will help to ease any possible concerns:

• There are no proposed changes to our current model for Special Education Programs in 2018- 2019 for Chippewa, Widdifield and West Ferris;
• There will be no reduction in the number of special education programs for the 2019-2020 school year coming through the transition;
• It is proposed that there will be 4 programs at the north site and 4 programs at the south site beginning in the 2019-2020 school year (this includes one Intermediate and 3 Senior classes at each site); and.
• There will be clear and comprehensive pathways established that support student need, and allow for enhanced opportunities for collaboration and flexibility within this model.

The Board remains committed to providing parents, students, staff and communities with relevant and timely communication. The Board thanks its stakeholders in advance for their patience to allow for the time required to develop a thoughtful and purposeful transition plan.