OSAAR Elementary Questions and Answers

Question 28: The images posted with the boundary change options are not clear enough to see what roads the boundaries start and end on. I think we live in an area that could be on one side of a line or the other, but the road/streets are not clear. It's tough to provide feedback or contribute meaningfully to the review when the images aren't providing enough information. Can you publish more explicit boundary options?

Response: Here is a link to the interactive map. On the right-hand side, you will find a magnifying glass icon. Click on the icon and enter your address to determine if you are within an affected area. 
South Ridge PS to Annandale PS Boundary Option

Question 27: How many students per grade are in affected areas (for Westfield in Option 2)?

Response: Please find the numbers for Westfield PS Option 2 below.

Question 26: Do we have data on siblings of students in affected areas?

Response: We do not have any information on siblings of students in affected areas. This may be something that can be added to your subcommittee report for us to review.

Question 25: Has there been a survey put out to parents about an option for French Immersion being hosted in one of the Tillsonburg Schools/A new school if it was built? A lot of parents might be more inclined to put their child in immersion if they didn't have to go all the way to Woodstock.

Response: We haven't done a survey to assess interest in the French Immersion program in Tillsonburg. However, if this is an option you would like us to consider, it can be included in the Attendance Area Committee (AARC) report for further review. 

Question 24: Our school attendance area review committee (AARC) thinks that there is information on the population maps that are missing as no numbers exist on roads north of Airport Road (Prouse Road, etc). Could that be provided?

Response: There are approximately eight families living north of Airport Road/Prouse Road, between Highway 13 and Oxford Road 13. 

Question 23: Is there a legacy plan or grandfathering of students who are currently at the affected schools?

Response: The suggestion to include legacy agreements could be presented for trustee consideration as part of the attendance area review (AAR) subcommittee report.

Question 22: Is it possible for the committee to view successful AARC reports where the board went with the suggestions of the committee?

Response: Here are links to three AAR final reports, each of which includes the subcommittee Report (located towards the end of each PDF). In each review, suggestions from school subcommittees were incorporated into the final recommendations. 

London AAR: LAAR Final Report
St. Thomas AAR: STAAR Final Report
Oxford North AAR: ONAAR Final Report

Question 21: Can we view successful AARC reports where the Board agree with committee suggestions?

Response: Please find links to three attendance area review (AAR) final reports below. They include subcommittee reports near the end of each PDF. In each review, suggestions from school subcommittees were incorporated into the final recommendations. 

London AAR: LAAR Final Report
St. Thomas AAR: STAAR Final Report
Oxford North AAR: ONAAR Final Report

Question 20: Is there a legacy plan for students who are currently attending the affected schools?

Response: The suggestion to include Legacy Agreements could be presented for Trustees’ consideration as part of the Attendance Area Review (AAR) Subcommittee Report.

Question 19: Are there population numbers that exist for roads north of Airport Road? 

Response: There are approximately eight families residing north of Airport Road between Highway 13 and Oxford Road 13. 

Question 18: What would be the projected number of students for the 2026-2027 school year?

Response: For 2026, we project a total enrolment of 682 students at Westfield. For detailed information about residential developments in the area, please refer to the map provided on page 23 of the initial report. You can access the report through the following link.

 Question 17: In looking at the options available, Option 2 seems to move the problem from Westfield Public School to Annandale Public School. Can you explain why that is?   

Response: The options presented by Thames Valley offer choices for where new growth and development could be accommodated in our schools. We welcome school community feedback about where best to accommodate this enrolment.

Question 16: If option 2 were selected, how would Annandale Public School be used?

Response: The utilization at Annandale would reach 114% in the implementation year (2026) and increase to 122% in 2031. In option 2 we propose reassigning portions of South Ridge and Westfield public schools to Annandale Public School.

Question 15: There are currently several rural students who attend Westfield Public School who drive past South Ridge Public School on their way to school. Are there any options that would address this situation?

Response: There are two options included in the Initial Attendance Area Review Report. We welcome additional options and encourage school communities to discuss these and submit suggestions as part of their feedback reports.

Question 14: The options available for this Attendance Area Review focus on whether boundaries for existing schools need to be adjusted based on anticipated growth from new families and students. Is there a way current students could stay where they are and not switch schools? And instead have new/incoming students be assigned to different schools?

Response: A Legacy Agreement Option, which allows current students to remain at their designated school, would be considered by the Board of Trustees as part of their decision-making process. It’s an option that can be included in a school community’s report as part of this review.

Question 13:  With the boundaries, there are a few that run along a road and bisect it. In these situations, when there are houses on both sides of the road, does everyone one both sides of the road go to the new school assignment proposed in that option?

Response: this depends on the road and boundary in question

• For Area A1 students: Both sides of North Street would be reassigned to Annandale Public School
• For Area A2, students north of North Street would go to Annandale Public School; students south of North Street are already at Annandale Public School.
• For Area A3, students south of Kellett/Potters Road are proposed to be assigned to Annandale Public School. Students north of Kellett/Potters Road would remain at South Ridge Public School.
• For Area B1: Students both sides of Broadway Street would be re-assigned from Westfield Public School to Annandale Public School

If parents/guardians have a question about which school their children would attend, they can use our interactive tool,  to look up their address: 

Interactive map - option #1 

Interactive map - option #2

Question 12: Do the numbers included in the initial Attendance Area Review report include estimates on future homes being built?

Response: Yes. Thames Valley’s Planning department works very closely with Oxford County and Town of Tillsonburg staff to make sure projections do account for new residential growth and development.

Question 11: Do we have bus routes and maps available?

Response: Exact bus routes have not been planned yet; however, we have consulted with Student Transportation Services. Under option 2, Most area B1 would be within the non-transportation zone of Annandale Public School, which could eliminate one required bus. Bus routes would be updated based on the attendance area changes adopted by the Board of Trustees and would depend on which students register for busing out of those who are eligible.

Question 10: Who is responsible for calling and chairing school subcommittee meetings for OSAAR?

Response: The meetings will be organized in consultation with the school principal and the subcommittee members for each school would designate a chair and secretary. Thames Valley would send out notices via school messenger and there would be an opportunity to record the meetings so those unable to attend could watch and provide feedback for the report prepared by each subcommittee.

Question 9: Is Springford still zoned as remaining with South Ridge Public School? 

Response: Yes, Springford would remain at South Ridge Public School in both options presented.

Question 8: Are there plans to hire more teachers for the schools who get more students?

Response: The number of teachers at a given school depends on student enrolment. Whenever enrolment shifts at a school, our Human Resources department analyzes the situation. There are requirements regarding class sizes, so an increase (or decrease) in staff may be required because of this assessment. However, for Annandale Public School, South Ridge Public School and Westfield Public School, enrolment has generally gone up over the last few years, so we have been adding teachers to each school accordingly. We will continue to monitor the situation and adapt accordingly.

Question 7: Do you have plans to build a new school in Tillsonburg?

Response: We plan to accommodate the expected enrolment growth with a school addition. However, if enrolment increases faster than we anticipate, we do own land in the area and plan to keep a portion for a potential future school site in case it’s needed.

Question 6: Will you be using any non-classroom spaces to house additional students – for example, turning a library into a classroom?

Response: While in the past we have temporarily transformed libraries and other spaces into classrooms during renovations, this is temporary. If we require extra classrooms beyond those already included in a school, we will accommodate with portables and pursue a school addition or a new school rather than converting non-classroom spaces.

Question 5:  What are the impacts on busing from the options under consideration?

Response:  The following is a summary of impacts on busing based on the options being considered:

Option 1 – South Ridge to Annandale: No change in the number of buses required

• Current Bus Runs: 9
• Potential Bus Runs: 9
• Variance: 0

 Option 2 – South Ridge and Westfield to Annandale: Reduction of one bus required

• Current Bus Runs: 16
• Potential Bus Runs: 15
• Variance: -1

Question 4: I have had kids at Westfield for 7 years, and will for another 8 years, and am in the area slated to move schools. We've spent a lot of time and energy on making connections and volunteering in the school community. We've given up opportunities to move to houses that would much better suit our family, rather than give up the community that we've built and been a part of. I wonder if there has been a review has been done of if people are attending the schools in the areas that they actually live in, before they uproot children to probably have to do it again a few years later when the next school is found to be overfull as well. 

Response: Below is our analysis of the percentage of Out of Boundary students at each school involved in the Oxford South Attendance Area Review.

Question 3: It is my understanding that the boundary lines for the schools in Tillsonburg are being reviewed. I have been informed that my current address is in an area that be may be changed to a new school. Can you please tell me if this means that my two sons would be forced to change schools? Or does the boundary change only apply to new students coming into the school zone? 

Response: If the proposed boundary adjustments are approved, they will be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year. All students residing within the boundary adjustment area in question will be placed at their new school for the implementation year. 

Question 2: South Ridge seems to be left unacceptably overcrowded in any scenario. If nothing changes it gets 15 portables! If you make these changes it still ends up with nine portables. Where do these fit on the school grounds that leave any room for children to play? The school grounds aren’t that big already. 

Question 1: Option 2 seems to just move the problem from Westfield to Annandale. The projection for 2031 would have Annandale at a capacity of 122% while Westfield would be at 103%. I am unsure why this is even being presented as a viable option - it doesn't solve anything but still causes upheaval of the school boundaries. Wouldn't it make more sense to do something that would split the difference between those two schools and end up with both having a projected capacity of 110% in 2031?

Option 1 makes the most sense in the short term. And then it would be prudent to start working on the addition to Southridge ASAP, with the goal to move the overcapacity from Westfield to the new capacity at Southridge.