LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN COMMUNITY … TERM FACILITIES PLAN COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROPOSED CLOSURE OF LOCHIEL PUBLIC MEETING Why Are You Here? Proposed Closure of Lochiel Public

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 Simonds Elementary School

LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROPOSED CLOSURE OF LOCHIEL PUBLIC MEETING

Why Are You Here?

Proposed Closure of Lochiel Public Meeting Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Board of Education Motion, April 7, 2015:

“That the Board of Education serves notice at its Special Meeting of the Board on April 7, 2015

that it intends to consider a motion at a future Regular open meeting of the Board for the

permanent closure of the Lochiel U-Connect School.”

Guiding Principles

1.  That the consultation process be one of integrity where honesty and transparency are of utmost importance.

2.  That trust between communities and the District be developed and maintained throughout the process.

3.  That the District listen to communities and sincerely reflect on feedback and ideas.

4.  That the District value and honour community members and treat them with respect.

October 2, 2014


Rationale for Closure Review

Reasoning around the closure consideration of Lochiel influenced by two factors:

1.  The recent public consultation process regarding the Langley Secondary family of schools did not result in the possible conversion of Simonds Elementary to a middle school, thereby raising the issue of whether the District should consider its closure due to declining enrolment

2.  The recent expansion of the distributed learning program at Lochiel to include grade 10 and the plan to continue to add a grade each year so it becomes a K-12 school, requires a larger facility and the relocation of students

Based on these factors, District staff recommended the closure of the Lochiel site and the relocation of the U-Connect program to Simonds Elementary, thereby providing the large facility required and avoiding the consideration of the closure of Simonds Elementary.


Policy 5029 (School Closure)

•  If considering the closure of any school the Board is required to serve notice (see handout) •  Served due to the consideration of the potential closure of

Lochiel school •  60 day consultation period (April 7, 2015 – June 9, 2015)

•  Due diligence •  Requirement to follow

•  No decision has been made by the Board of Education

•  Part of the process, not the process

Information detailed above is posted on the School District website. Proposed Closure of Lochiel Public Meeting

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

What is Lochiel U-Connect?

•  Principal Sarban Sangha


Facility Limitations Restrict Programming

Policy No. 5029 requires that information on any limitations the school building and site might have with respect to providing an educational program be disclosed. Discussions with school administration and senior education staff at the District office indicate there are several limitations which restrict educational programming. Following is a brief description of these limitations, as identified by school administration and District staff:

1.  As previously mentioned, the educational program is planned to expand over the next two years to accommodate Grade 11 and 12 students. The current site is not large enough to address this expansion;

2.  There are only two washrooms;

3.  There is no adequate space for counseling or to accommodate itinerant staff. The principal’s office is used for these purposes;

4.  There is no resource room;


Facility Limitations Restrict Programming

5.  As mentioned previously, the original library has be converted to the primary classroom portable is shared with the parent room and is separated by a ¾ high wall;

6.  The small gymnasium limits athletic opportunities, especially for older students;

7.  There are limited elective choices for things like Art, Music or Home Economics due to the lack of space. If the program were to be relocated to Simonds, there might be opportunities for students to explore electives at HD Stafford Middle School;

8.  The school is not located near any bus routes which may limit the opportunities for more students to enter the program. Being a District program, the District does not provide bussing;

9.  As mentioned previously, the play field is small;

10.  The site has limited parking.


Simonds Facility

Condition of Simonds Facility

Since the Facility Condition Index Report (dated March 2011) was developed the following work has been completed:

•  Washroom renovations (not all) •  Administrator office renovation •  Library administration office area renovation •  Roofing replacement of sections identified •  New metal cladding on exterior •  New playground (ministry awarded) •  Grounds work to clean up the treed area to west •  New PA system •  New Lighting throughout (hydro lighting Project) •  New Flooring and repairs


Condition of Simonds Facility

•  This summer the District plans to complete the wireless upgrade

•  If the closure is approved the District will move the media center and complete the repairs of the areas where the shelving and equipment is being removed

•  Fire alarm, emergency lighting and fire sprinkler systems are tested annually and devices are replaced as required. A fire alarm panel replacement was identified in the VFA Canada Corporation assessment however, the current panel has been well maintained and is working to the original manufacture’s specifications

•  Currently Simonds Elementary is not on the Ministry of Education’s list for seismic upgrading

•  Seismic work to be completed by the District will mainly focus on securing shelves and bookcases (non-structural)


Will they all fit at Simonds?

Lochiel U-Connect Enrolment Projections

The following chart illustrates the current enrolment at Lochiel U-Connect and the projections for the next nine years, by grade:


Simonds Enrolment Projections

The following chart shows the same information for Simonds Elementary:


Space for Combined Simonds/U-Connect

The projected combined enrolment of both schools operating from the Simonds facility is illustrated below:

Simonds Elementary has an operating capacity of 445 and as such can accommodate the projected enrolments of both educational programs if the Lochiel program is relocated to Simonds. The facility would operate for the foreseeable future at less than 80% of its capacity.


Process to Date

April 8th Notice to Public, Social Media Setup, Letters to Communities April 10th Information Package to Public

April 14th Simonds Site Committee Meeting April 15th Lochiel Site Committee Meeting April 29th Lochiel Site Committee Meeting #2 April 30th Simonds Site Committee Meeting #2 May 4th Newspaper Ad for Public Meeting, Letters to Communities May 8th Public Meeting Information Package


Implications of the Proposed Closure

•  Relocation of the Media Centre and the ELL Teachers

•  Two Schools – Two Signs

•  Two Schools – Two PACs

•  Possibility of cost savings related to staff

•  District would incur cost to get Simonds building ready for U-Connect students

•  Potential to dispose of Lochiel building or find alternate community use


Possible Implementation Plan

•  Transition Committee to be established

•  Portions of the Simonds building would need to be cleaned out to accommodate the U-Connect students

•  Teachers and staff need to pack materials and equipment before end of June

•  Storage to be arranged

•  Facilities Department completes repairs and painting

•  Move takes place

•  Teachers and staff unpack Proposed Closure of Lochiel Public Meeting

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Options to Closure Considered

•  No serious consideration given to options due to space requirements for expanding U-Connect Program

•  Simonds offers the space and facilities needed

•  More central location offers opportunity to attract additional students


Possible Future Community Growth

•  No community growth in area of the school

•  U-Connect does not have a catchment •  District Program

•  Students come from all across the District and from other districts •  September 2014: 55 students or 32% of enrolment

was from other districts


U-Connect Catchment

The Lochiel program is a District program and as such, does not have a catchment. Students come from other District catchments and from other districts, as illustrated below:


Written Submissions

•  To Be Read Out


•  Speakers were asked to register ahead of time (between May 4th and 12noon on May 8th) by contacting David Green, Secretary-Treasurer

•  Written submissions could also be dropped off at the School Board Office, attention: David Green, or submitted via email ([email protected])

•  As of May 11, 2015 no speakers had registered

Lochiel Public Consultation Meeting May 13, 2015 @ Simonds Elementary


•  At the meeting, each registered speaker will be called to the microphone in the order provided on the agenda:

•  Speakers need to identify themselves at the microphone •  Each speaker has up to five minutes to address the Board (speakers

will be reminded of the time at four minutes) •  If the speaker would like the Board to have copies of their remarks,

they can leave them with the Recording Secretary

•  If, at the end of the registered list, someone else wishes to speak, the Board Chair will extend that invitation (they will also need to identify themselves for the record).

•  Bringing the meeting to a close, the Chair will indicate that the Board will be deliberating and making its decision on June 9th at the Special Board of Education Meeting.

Lochiel Public Consultation Meeting May 13, 2015 @ Simonds Elementary


Speakers’ Presentations


Documents

LONG TERM FACILITIES PLAN COMMUNITY … TERM FACILITIES PLAN COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROPOSED CLOSURE OF LOCHIEL PUBLIC MEETING Why Are You Here? Proposed Closure of Lochiel Public