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London Secondary Panel Attendance Area Review

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London Secondary Attendance Area Review Updates

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Thames Valley District School Board approves attendance area changes following London Secondary Attendance Area Review

On March 26, the Board of Trustees approved Administration’s recommendations to address rising enrolment in secondary schools in London and area. Administration presented the latest recommendations at the February 2024 Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee Meeting. Recommendations were revised based on Trustee feedback collected in the fall of 2023. Administration took public feedback into account when revising the recommendations, which were initially developed in consultation with school communities last school year.

"In our continuous commitment to providing exceptional educational environments for all students within the Thames Valley District School Board, we've made the strategic decision to adjust the boundaries for secondary schools in London and area, effective September 2025,” said Beth Mai, Chair of Thames Valley District School Board. “This decision is pivotal, not just for optimizing the use of our current resources, but also as a proactive step to maintain the high standards of education and accommodation that every student deserves. While we navigate the complexities of expanding our infrastructure to meet the future needs of our community, this adjustment ensures that our students' educational journey remains uninterrupted and rich in opportunities.

“We understand changes like these come with their own set of challenges and we want to affirm that this decision was made with the utmost consideration for the well-being and success of our students. Together, with the support of our educators, families, and the community, we will continue to uphold the excellence in education that Thames Valley is known for."

As part of the decisions of March 26, the board is pleased to share that it will be opening a sixth secondary French immersion site in TVDSB in 2025. The board is committed to the success of expanding French immersion options across TVDSB and making the program more accessible, geographically speaking, is an important part of this process.

THAT all registered secondary school students as of March 31, 2025 remain at the school at which they are registered, with transportation (if eligible).

 

THAT siblings of all registered secondary school students as of March 31, 2025 have the option to register at the same school, with transportation (if eligible), until the registered secondary school student (as of March 31, 2025) graduates. Siblings enrolled at the same secondary school as registered secondary school students (as of March 31, 2025) will continue to be eligible to attend that school until graduation, without transportation. Siblings who have not yet entered secondary school by the time that registered secondary school students (as of March 31, 2025) graduate would be required to attend their new designated school.

 

THAT a French Immersion program be established at Clarke Road SS commencing in September 2025,

 

THAT Princess Anne FI PS, currently designated as a French Immersion elementary school feeder to Sir Wilfrid Laurier SS, be designated as a French Immersion elementary school feeder to Clarke Road SS commencing in September 2025, and

 

THAT Louise Arbour FI PS, currently designated as a French Immersion elementary school feeder to Sir Frederick Banting SS, be designated as a French Immersion elementary school feeder to Sir Frederick Banting SS and Clarke Road SS commencing in September 2025, with the following geographic boundary split: students from the City of London portion of the Louise Arbour FI PS attendance area residing west of Richmond Street and students from the County of Middlesex portion of the Louise Arbour FI PS  attendance area are designated to Sir Frederick Banting SS for French Immersion; and  the balance of the Louise Arbour FI PS attendance area is designated to Clarke Road SS for French Immersion.

 

THAT London Central SS continue accepting out of area students, as space permits.

 

THAT those portions of the Clara Brenton PS attendance area currently designated to Sir Frederick Banting SS be designated to Oakridge SS commencing in September 2025.

 

THAT those portions of the Summerside PS attendance area currently designated to Lord Dorchester SS be designated to Clarke Road SS commencing in September 2025.

THAT Arthur Ford PS, Sir Isaac Brock PS, and that portion of the W. Sherwood Fox PS attendance area located north of Viscount Road, currently designated as elementary school feeders to Saunders SS, be designated as elementary school feeders to Westminster SS commencing in September 2025, and

 

THAT Ashley Oaks, Rick Hansen, and White Oaks public schools, currently designated as elementary school feeders to Westminster SS, be designated as elementary school feeders to Sir Wilfrid Laurier SS commencing in September 2025.

 

THAT Cleardale PS, currently designated as an elementary school feeder to London South CI and Sir Wilfrid Laurier SS, be designated as an elementary school feeder to Westminster SS commencing in September 2025.

 

THAT those portions of the Jack Chambers PS attendance area currently designated to Medway HS be designated to A.B. Lucas SS commencing in September 2025, and

THAT Cedar Hollow PS, currently designated as an elementary school feeder to A.B. Lucas SS and Medway HS, be designated as an elementary school feeder to Montcalm SS commencing in September 2025.

THAT those portions of the Sir Arthur Currie PS attendance area currently designated to A.B. Lucas SS be designated to Sir Frederick Banting SS commencing in September 2025.

 

THAT the attendance area of the new Northwest London elementary school be designated to Sir Frederick Banting SS for the year of opening of the new Northwest London elementary school and that students residing in the holding zone within this new attendance area continue to be designated to Sir Frederick Banting SS until the opening of the new Northwest London elementary school.

 

THAT the attendance area of the new West London elementary school be designated to Oakridge SS for the year of opening of the new West London elementary school and that students residing in holding zones within this new attendance area continue to be designated to Saunders SS until the opening of the new West London elementary school.

 

THAT the attendance area of the new Southwest London elementary school be designated to Saunders SS for the year of opening of the new Southwest London elementary school and that students residing in holding zones within this new attendance area continue to be designated to their current designated secondary schools until the opening of the new Southwest London elementary school, specifically that  Southwest London Holding (west of Bostwick Road) at White Oaks PS, Talbot Village Holding at W. Sherwood Fox PS, and Bostwick Holding at Sir Isaac Brock PS and Victoria PS continue to be designated to Saunders SS until the opening of the new Southwest London elementary school and Colonel Talbot Holding at Rick Hansen PS continue to be designated to Westminster SS until the opening of the new Southwest London elementary school.

 

THAT the Sunningdale North Holding Zone at Old North PS be designated to London Central SS commencing in September 2025

 

THAT the Holding Zone at Westminster SS be dissolved, and this area be designated to Saunders SS commencing in September 2025.

 

THAT all other attendance areas remain status quo, including maintaining split secondary school attendance areas for the new Belmont elementary school and West Nissouri PS.

 

View the Full Report

Previous Updates 

On February 27, 2024, Trustees deferred consideration of the motions until public input could be received at a future meeting.

At the September 12, 2023 Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee Meeting, Trustees broke into small groups to discuss their key concerns regarding the London Secondary Attendance Area Review report. They provided staff with specific feedback to consider in the development of a new report which will be presented at a future Board meeting.

Round table discussion considered common themes including French Immersion, feeder schools, elementary program alignment, cohorts, out of area attendance requests, and student transportation. Trustees also noted the importance of using an equity lens throughout the process, as well as ensuring that all Thames Valley secondary schools are recognized for their strengths.

Administration committed to reviewing this feedback and will bring a report back to a Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee meeting in early 2024.

The Board will be exploring alternatives to the 23 recommendations in the June 27, 2023, City of London Secondary School Attendance Area Review Report (available in the June 27 meeting agenda).  

The decision follows an extensive public and school community input process about potential boundary changes that began January 31, 2023. 

Trustees have asked the Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee (PAPA) to work with staff to create additional options. These alternatives would then return to the Board for their consideration.

The next Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee (PAPA) meeting will take place in September.

London Trustee Marianne Larsen expressed gratitude to staff for undertaking such an extensive boundary review, as well as the volunteers, public and school communities that have participated in the process so far.

To learn more, visit the London Secondary Attendance Area Review website.

Thames Valley Administration is scheduled to present London Secondary Panel Attendance Area Review recommendations for Trustee consideration during the Regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m.

The recommendations were informed by public and school community input received over the past few months.

To learn more, please visit the Board Meetings Calendar, where agenda package will be posted.

You may also watch the live stream and/or recording of the meeting.

The outcome of the meeting will be shared with families via email.

 

The AARC meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Attendance Area Review (AAR) initial report and process, timelines and the roles and responsibilities of AARC members.

Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Recording

On January 31, 2023, Trustees supported proceeding with the City of London Secondary Panel Attendance Area Review that includes B. Davison Secondary School and establishing an Attendance Area Review Committee for the purpose of obtaining public feedback regarding the accommodation options included in the initial Attendance Area Report. This review includes secondary schools in London, Arva, Dorchester, and Aylmer.

The initial report for this review can be found in the Regular Board Meeting Agenda.  

“The aim of the review is to balance enrolment within the system,” said Superintendent of Facility Services and Capital Planning Geoff Vogt, “Doing so will strengthen Thames Valley's business case to the Ministry of Education for a much-needed new secondary school in north London.” 

“We also want to adjust boundaries so that elementary students can attend the same secondary schools as their peers,” added Thames Valley Planning Manager Ben Puzanov, “Right now some student communities are split during the transition to secondary school, based purely on geography.”    

Next steps involve forming an Attendance Area Review Committee (AARC) as well as school level sub-committees with parent/guardian representatives from each affected secondary school. Sub-committees will hold meetings with their school communities to gather public feedback and strengthen the options under consideration. 

“What tonight’s motion represents is the Board of Trustees wishing to begin a community consultation process about the London Secondary Panel Attendance Area Review, so we can get feedback from school communities about the options under consideration and see if there’s any ways to improve upon those options. We  really want to encourage our school communities to get involved in the process,” said Chair of the Board, Lori-Ann Pizzolato.  

Following this public input process, a Final Attendance Area Review Report and recommendations will be presented at a Board meeting later this school year for Trustees’ consideration. If approved by Trustees, attendance area changes will take effect no earlier than September 2024. 

More details about the London Secondary Panel Attendance Area Review are available at www.tvdsb.ca/laar. Thames Valley invites community members to submit any comments and questions about the review through this website, where responses will also be posted. Members of the public may also subscribe to the website for updates. 

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