News

Elementary Accommodation Reviews Nearing Conclusion

The East Hamilton and Stoney Creek school accommodation reviews are nearing a conclusion, with a final staff report submitted to Trustees, a delegation night held and a Trustee decision on HWDSB’s proposal for the Ministry of Education expected on June 6, 2016.

No final decision has been made by Trustees.

The process began on Dec. 7, 2016 when Trustees approved a recommendation to start accommodation reviews in the two areas. Accommodation reviews an opportunity to work with the community to look at schools in a ‘big picture’ way to plan for the future and create the best environments for students; the intent is to revitalize programs, renew facilities and maximize partnerships.

The East Hamilton review included Elizabeth Bagshaw, Glen Brae, Glen Echo, Lake Avenue, Sir Isaac Brock and Sir Wilfrid Laurier elementary schools; the Lower Stoney Creek review included Collegiate Avenue, Eastdale, Green Acres, Memorial (SC), Mountain View and R.L. Hyslop elementary schools.

Each review sought input in a variety of ways, including consultation with community partners, public meetings and working meetings involving an Advisory Committee comprised of parents, teachers and non-teaching staff. In both reviews, the committees provided comments and feedback for the Board of Trustees’ consideration; they also served as conduits to share information with school communities.

After months of meetings, and with this community input, staff were able to submit a final recommended option to Trustees for consideration.

The staff recommended options – after advisory committee input – are summarized below. See the full report presented at the May 16, 2016 Board meeting online.

Final Staff Recommendation – East Hamilton City 2:

Staff revised the initial Dec. 7 report to reflect a three-school model proposed by the advisory committee with the added suggestion that the new school be built on the “Glen campus.”

Consolidate Glen Brae, Glen Echo and Sir Isaac Brock into one new rebuild – Anticipated occupancy Sept. 2019
Close Elizabeth Bagshaw, Glen Brae, Glen Echo and Sir Isaac Brock – Anticipated June 2019
New Construction of 800 pupil place school on Glen ‘campus’ – Anticipated opening Sept. 2019
New Construction at Lake Avenue – estimated eight classroom addition and staff and resource benchmark spaces for Sept. 2019
New Construction at Sir Wilfrid Laurier – estimated two-classroom addition, one FDK addition or renovation and resource benchmark spaces for Sept. 2019

Final Staff Recommendation – Lower Stoney Creek:

The initial option from Dec. 7 remained intact based on the Advisory Committee’s support.

Rebuild Collegiate Avenue, Eastdale and Memorial (SC) – Anticipated occupancy Sept. 2019
Close Green Acres, Mountain View and R.L. Hyslop – Anticipated June 2019
New Construction of 520 pupil place school on Collegiate Site – Anticipated opening Sept 2019
New Construction of 460 pupil place school on Eastdale Site – Anticipated opening Sept 2019
New Construction of 550 pupil place school on Memorial (SC) site – Anticipated opening Sept 2019

The public can still have its say in writing. Send written submissions by 4 p.m. May 31 to Heather Miller at [email protected] if you wish to have your input included in the June 6 board meeting package.

Change of Date for East Hamilton Accommodation Review Public Meeting #2

Please be advised that the date of the East Hamilton Accommodation Review Public Meeting has been changed from Monday, April 11 to Thursday, April 14. Find more details in the meeting flyer online.

Meeting Date: Thursday, April 14, 2016, 6:00 p.m.

Location: Glendale Secondary School, 145 Rainbow Dr.

At this meeting, parents and guardians can:

meet the Working Group for this Accommodation Review
understand the group’s progress since the first public meeting
provide input and ask questions
learn more about what the draft final report needs to contain
discuss options/recommendations for consideration

At this point, the Working Group is considering two main options: a three-school option and a four-school option. Nothing has been decided.

The Three-School Model:
Close Elizabeth Bagshaw, Glen Echo, Glen Brae, and Sir Isaac Brock elementary schools.
Estimated construction required:

New build – 800 pupil place Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 school on Glen Brae or Sir Isaac Brock site
Renovation/Addition – Lake Avenue site (an eight-classroom addition)
Renovation/Addition – Sir Wilfrid Laurier site (one Full-day Kindergarten (FDK) classroom, two classrooms, resource spaces)

The Four-School Model:
Close Elizabeth Bagshaw, Glen Echo and Glen Brae elementary schools.
Estimated construction required:

New build – 550 pupil place Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 school on Glen Brae site
Renovation/Addition – Sir Isaac Brock site (1 FDK classroom, five classrooms, resource spaces, music room)
Renovation/Addition – Sir Wilfrid Laurier Site (1 FDK classroom, two classrooms, resource spaces

Learn more on the Accommodation Review website.

Accommodation Reviews Signal Investment in Local Schools

Hamilton, ON – Dec. 3, 2015: Trustees at Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board will consider a motion Monday to start accommodation reviews for elementary schools in Lower Stoney Creek and East Hamilton.

This comes as HWDSB reimagines its role in the community and revitalizes its approach to education. Trustees and staff welcome community input on the design of school communities – to help shape the initial options contained in the Dec. 7 Board report.

“Our Stoney Creek and East Hamilton schools have served us well for decades and it’s time to renew them for future generations,” Board Chair Todd White said.

The Ministry of Education is in the process of rolling out a $750 million multi-year funding opportunity for Board’s looking to revitalize school communities.

“Boards across the province have empty, unfunded spaces in schools and can’t keep up with repairs. Doing these reviews now allows us to seize the opportunity to attract Ministry funding and inject millions of dollars into our schools.”

The initial and alternative options in Monday’s report are starting points that the community will help shape before any proposals are made to the Ministry. The initial options include:

East Hamilton	Lower Stoney Creek
Rebuild a combined Glen Brae/Glen Echo	Rebuild Collegiate Avenue, Eastdale and Memorial Stoney Creek
Additions to Lake Avenue and Sir Wilfrid Laurier	Close Green Acres, Mountain View and R.L. Hyslop
Close Elizabeth Bagshaw and Sir Isaac Brock

*Alternative options can be found online at www.hwdsb.on.ca/reviews

In the months ahead, HWDSB will look at these schools in a ‘big picture’ approach to plan for the future. The goal is to look at possibilities that might include consolidating school sites, additions and upgrades or possible new school construction. This may also allow for new programs and opportunities for students.

“Members of the community are crucial to these reviews and we want them involved every step of the way,” White said. “We will share information about the review process, invite the public to get involved and remain open to input, feedback and questions.”

Members of the public can stay informed on the website www.hwdsb.on.ca/reviews.

About HWDSB

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board is engaging the community to reimagine its vision and focus. Watch for details as the Board rolls out the Reimagine HWDSB initiative so our community can help us Explore, Imagine and Launch a new direction. Learn more at www.hwdsb.on.ca or follow us on Twitter @hwdsb.

Jackie Penman
Manager of Corporate Communications
20 Education Court, Hamilton, ON
905-527-5092, extension 2301
905-317-0086 (cell)