School boards across Ontario have always opened new schools and closed older schools where the population of students has shifted. This is a reflection of the cycle of economic growth or decline and demographic change within communities.

If school boards are to deliver high quality education programs and services to their students, they must respond and adjust to such changes. The Ministry of Education funds education in Ontario and works in partnership with local school boards to manage this change.

Between 2003 and 2014, the number of students in Ontario schools declined by 152,000 due to a drop in the overall number of school-aged children. This is equivalent to 500 schools of 300 students each. In 2014, 57 of 72 school boards across the province experienced a decline in the number of students enrolled.

To compound this challenge, declining enrolment was rarely distributed evenly across all schools of a board. Even boards that are experiencing overall enrolment growth may include neighbourhoods or communities experiencing declining enrolment. In the 2014-15 school year, 358 elementary and 205 secondary schools were less than half full.

Since Ontario school boards are mainly funded on a per-student basis through grants from the Ministry of Education, boards, and therefore schools, lose funding as their enrolment declines. When funding decreases, all students in a board are affected because the cost of maintaining empty space is spread across all of the schools.

When a school has excess space because of low enrolment, the excess space still costs money to staff, maintain and operate. One of the key responsibilities of school boards is to ensure that funding is focused on the students who are in classrooms, and not on maintaining empty classrooms. The board must make decisions about the best accommodation and program options for students relative to the funds that are available.

* From MOE Guide to Pupil Accommodation Reviews

School boards generally consolidate and close schools to enable improved educational options and opportunities for students.

By bringing students together through a school consolidation, school boards are often able to offer a better educational experience. Some of the potential improvements may include:

• The range of programming and courses available.
• The availability of specialized support services for individual students or small groups.
• Specialized facilities, such as gyms, libraries, design and technology, music and science rooms.
• Sufficient enrolment to support sports teams and other extracurricular activities.
• A school building in better condition than the one that is to close.
• Accessibility features with respect to entry, movement within the facility and outdoor play space.

THAT the Board authorize Senior Administration to conduct a Pupil Accommodation Review, based on the information provided in the attached Elementary Pupil Accommodation Review-01 Initial Senior Administration's Report, for the following schools:

• Davenport Public School
• McGregor Public School
• Mitchell Hepburn Public School
• New Sarum Public School
• Northdale Central Public School
• Port Stanley Public School
• River Heights Public School
• South Dorchester Public School
• Sparta Public School
• Springfield Public School
• Summers' Corners Public School
• Westminster Central Public School

On May 23, 2017 the Board approved the following recommendations:

THAT Sparta Public School, located at 45885 Sparta Line, St. Thomas, close effective 2018 June 30.

THAT New Sarum Public School, located at 9473 Belmont Road, St. Thomas, close effective 2020 June 30, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School and the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT South Dorchester Public School, located at 48614 Crossley Hunter Line, Belmont, close effective 2020 June 30 and be declared surplus, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT Springfield Public School, located at 51336 Ron McNeil Line, Springfield, close effective 2020 June 30 and be declared surplus, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT Westminster Central Public School, located at 2835 Westminster Drive, London, close effective 2020 June 30 and be declared surplus, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT the Port Stanley Public School new attendance area be approved as per Figure 03, effective 2018 July 01.

THAT an addition and renovations be constructed for student accommodation and program enhancement at Port Stanley Public School.

THAT an Attendance Area Review be conducted during the 2017-18 school year, for the creation of a French Immersion Public School located at Sparta Public School, effective 2018 July 01.

THAT the grade 7 and 8 French Immersion and Extended French Immersion program be relocated from Port Stanley Public School to either Sparta Public School or Pierre Elliott Trudeau French Immersion Public School, effective 2018 July 01, as per the decision of the Board following a French Immersion Attendance Area Review.

THAT the Board post on-line and notify listed Community Organizations, by email, of the potential co-build opportunity at Port Stanley Public School.

THAT a Naming Committee be established to give consideration to renaming Port Stanley Public School.

THAT a new junior kindergarten to grade 8 elementary school be constructed in the village of Belmont, opening 2020 September 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding.

THAT the new Belmont Public School attendance area be approved as per Figure 01, effective 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School

THAT the River Heights Public School junior kindergarten to grade 3 attendance area be approved as per Figure 02, effective 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT the Northdale Central Public School grade 4 to grade 8 attendance area be approved as per Figure 02, effective 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT a renovation for program enhancements be completed at Northdale Central Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT the Davenport Public School grade 7 students and siblings, residing in the area to be accommodated at the new Belmont Public School and registered as of 2020 March 01, be provided the "grandparenting option" for the 2020-21 school year, to remain at Davenport Public School, with transportation if eligible, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT the Northdale Central Public School grade 7 students and siblings, residing in the area designated to the new Belmont Public School and registered as of 2020 March 01, be provided the "grandparenting option" for the 2020-21 school year, to remain at Northdale Central Public School, with transportation if eligible.

THAT the Summers' Corners Public School grade 7 students and siblings, residing in the area to be accommodated at the new Belmont Public School and registered as of 2020 March 01, be provided the "grandparenting option" for the 2020-21 school year, to remain at Summers' Corners Public School, with transportation if eligible, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT the Board post on-line and notify the listed Community Organizations by email of the potential co-build opportunity at the new Belmont Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT a Design Committee be established to provide input regarding the design of the new Belmont Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT a Naming Committee be established to give consideration to naming the new Belmont Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT Davenport Public School configuration change to a grade 4 to grade 8 elementary school, effective 2018 July 01.

THAT the Davenport Public School grade 4 to grade 8 attendance area be approved as per Figure 04, effective 2018 July 01.

THAT the McGregor Public School configuration change to a junior kindergarten to grade 3 elementary school, as of 2018 July 01.

THAT the McGregor Public School junior kindergarten to grade 3 attendance area be approved as per Figure 04, effective 2018 July 01.

THAT renovations for program enhancements be completed at McGregor Public School.

THAT renovations for program enhancements be completed at Davenport Public School.

THATthe Board post on-line and notify listed Community Organizations by email, of the potential collaboration opportunity at McGregor Public School.

THAT the Board post on-line and notify listed Community Organizations by email, of the potential collaboration opportunity at Davenport Public School.

THAT the Summers' Corners Public School junior kindergarten to grade 8 attendance area be approved as per Figure 05, effective 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Belmont Public School.

THAT renovations for program enhancements be completed at Summers' Corners Public School.

THAT a new junior kindergarten to grade 8 elementary school be constructed in the southeastern area of the City of St. Thomas, opening 2020 September 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT the new junior kindergarten to grade 8 Southeast St. Thomas Public School attendance area be approved as per Figure 06, effective 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT a portion of the Southeast St. Thomas Holding Zone be permanently accommodated at the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School as of 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT the Southeast St. Thomas Holding Zone grade 7 students and siblings residing in the area to be accommodated at the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School and registered as of 2020 March 01, be provided the "grandparenting option" for the 2020-21 school year, to remain at Port Stanley Public School, with transportation if eligible, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT the Mitchell Hepburn Public School junior kindergarten to grade 8 attendance area be approved as per Figure 07 effective 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT the Mitchell Hepburn Public School grade 7 students and siblings residing in the area to be accommodated at the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School and registered as of 2020 March 01, be provided the "grandparenting option" for the 2020-21 school year, to remain at Mitchell Hepburn Public School, with transportation if eligible, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT a portion of the Southeast St. Thomas Holding Zone be permanently accommodated at Mitchell Hepburn Public School as of 2020 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT the Southeast St. Thomas Holding Zone grade 7 students and siblings residing in the area to be accommodated at Mitchell Hepburn Public School and registered as of 2020 March 01, be provided the "grandparenting option" for the 2020-21 school year, to remain at Port Stanley Public School, with transportation if eligible, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT the Board post on-line and notify listed Community Organizations by email of the potential co-build opportunity at the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Pubic School.

THAT a Design Committee be established to provide input regarding the design of the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

THAT a Naming Committee be established to give consideration to the naming of the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast St. Thomas Public School.

School Closure and Opening Timelines related to Elementary Pupil Accommodation Review-02 (EPAR-02) and New Southeast London Public School - approved December 17, 2019

SCHOOL CLOSURE AND OPENING TIMELINES AS IT RELATES TO THE ELEMENTARY PUPIL ACCOMMODATION REVIEW-02 (EPAR-02) AND TO THE NEW SOUTHEAST LONDON PUBLIC SCHOOL - approved May 22, 2018

On November 22,2016 the Board approved the following recommendations:

THAT the Board authorize Senior Administration to conduct a Pupil Accommodation Review, based on the information provided in the attached Elementary Pupil Accommodation Review-02 Initial Senior Administration's Report, for the following schools:

• Fairmont Public School
  
• Tweedsmuir Public School 

On May 23, 2017 the Board approved the following recommendations:

THAT the Tweedsmuir Public School junior kindergarten to grade 8 new attendance area be approved, as per Figure 01, effective 2019 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast London Public School and the addition and renovations at Tweedsmuir Public School.

THAT the students residing in the proposed Tweedsmuir Public School attendance area be accommodated at Tweedsmuir Public School, effective 2019 July 01, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding for the new Southeast London Public School and the addition and renovations at Tweedsmuir Public School.

THAT an addition, renovations and program enhancements be constructed at Tweedsmuir Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding.

THAT a Design Committee be established to provide input regarding the design of an addition and renovations at Tweedsmuir Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding.

THAT a Naming Committee be established to give consideration to renaming Tweedsmuir Public School, contingent upon Ministry of Education approval of capital funding.