Secondary School Consolidation – North Bay

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.