St. Thomas Elementary Panel Attendance Area Review (STAAR)

Updates

June 21, 2023

Trustees approve attendance area changes following
St. Thomas Attendance Area Review 

Trustees approved several recommendations outlined in the final St. Thomas Attendance Area Review report during the June 20, 2023 Board meeting, in order to better balance enrolment across elementary schools in the city.  

Decisions on two recommendations about holding zones for Northwest St. Thomas were postponed until December 2023, so that Trustees can receive more information about those changes. 

Administration presented the report at a special Board meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, which was followed by written and oral presentations from the public at the May 23 Board meeting. 

Trustees took public feedback into account when considering recommendations from the final report, which was developed in consultation with school community subcommittees. 

See below for a list of postponed and approved recommendations from the June 20 Board meeting.

Postponed recommendations

Trustee decisions regarding the following recommendations were postponed until December 2023:

THAT holding zones be established in Northwest St. Thomas within the attendance area of Southwold PS for land shown in Appendix A to the May 9, 2023 Final Attendance Area Review Report for the City of St. Thomas Elementary Panel Attendance Area Review and known as Area 1 in the 2020 Positioned for Growth Study for the City of St. Thomas;

THAT the Northwest St. Thomas holding zones designate K-8 students to attend Elgin Court PS and John Wise PS until permanent accommodations are available, with the geographic delineation of holding schools to be determined by Administration upon the submission of development applications;
Approved Recommendations

The following recommendations were approved at the June 20, 2023 Board meeting:

THAT the Southeast St. Thomas Holding Zone be dissolved and that students be permanently accommodated at Mitchell Hepburn PS commencing in the 2024-2025 school year;

THAT the attendance area for Mitchell Hepburn PS, as shown in Appendix A to the May 9, 2023 Final Attendance Area Review Report for the City of St. Thomas Elementary Panel Attendance Area Review be approved and that this takes effect commencing in the 2024-2025 school year; 

THAT the attendance area for Forest Park PS, as shown in Appendix A to the May 9, 2023 Final Attendance Area Review Report for the City of St. Thomas Elementary Panel Attendance Area Review be approved and that this takes effect commencing in the 2024-2025 school year; 

THAT students entering Grade 8 in September 2024 and their siblings who reside within the Southeast St. Thomas Holding Zone as of March 31, 2024, and designated to Mitchell Hepburn PS be provided with the “legacy agreement option” to remain at Kettle Creek PS for the 2024-2025 school year, with transportation (if eligible); and 

THAT students entering Grade 8 in September 2024 and their siblings who reside within the Mitchell Hepburn PS attendance area as of March 31, 2024, and designated to Forest Park PS be provided with the “legacy agreement option” to remain at Mitchell Hepburn PS for the 2024-2025 school year, with transportation (if eligible).  

Additional Details

Attendance Area Review Committee (AARC) Meeting

An Attendance Area Review Committee meeting took place Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The meeting was 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. Notice of the meeting was posted on January 18, 2023.

Thames Valley wishes to sincerely thank the individuals who volunteered to serve on the St. Thomas Elementary Panel Attendance Area Review Committee. These individuals facilitated subcommittee meetings where school communities had the opportunity to give feedback about the review. 

Meeting Recording

Watch meeting recording on YouTube

Meeting Agenda

  1. Opening Remarks
  2. Introductions and Agenda Overview
  3. Review of Attendance Area Review Process, Procedure Document, and Timelines
  4. Review of Roles and Responsibilities of AARC Members
  5. Presentation of Initial Attendance Area Review Report
  6. Q & A Period
  7. Closing Remarks
Related Policies and Procedures
Important Documents
Meeting Recordings

For school sub committee meeting documents, please see the School-related News webpage
Options Considered

Locke's Public School Option 1

Portion of Locke's Public School boundary assigned to June Rose Callwood Public School

Locke's Public School Option 2 

Portion of Locke's Public School boundary assigned to New Sarum Public School

Southwold Option 1 

Portion of Southwold Public School boundary assigned to John Wise Public School and portion of Locke’s assigned to New Sarum

Southwold Holding Zone Options

The Northwest Residential Expansion Lands proposed to be designated as a Holding Zone. Elgin Court Public School or a combination of both Elgin Court Public School and John Wise Public School would be the two designated holding schools.

 

The following grade reconfiguration options were also considered as an alternative to the potential boundary changes outlined above:

  • Southeast St. Thomas holding zone to be designated to Mitchell Hepburn Public School.
  • Mitchell Hepburn Public School converted to a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school.
  • Locke’s Public School converted to a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school.
  • Elgin Court Public School converted to a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school. Elgin Court Public School and Forest Park Public School share an attendance area.
  • Forest Park Public School becomes a Grade 7 to 8 school for Elgin Court Public School, Mitchell Hepburn Public School and Locke’s Public School.

Helpful videos

 What is an Attendance Area Review?
 
 What is a Holding Zone?
 
What is the process for building a new school?

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