ARC Final Public Consultation Meeting

The Thames Valley District School Board has issued the following notice regarding the last scheduled public consultation meeting for the ARC for Sherwood Forest Public School.

In addition, the timeline for the ARC has changed. Posting of the draft report will occur in early 2011. Public input on the draft report will follow.

Updates will appear on this site.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ORCHARD PARK, SHERWOOD FOREST AND UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS RESIDENTS

Representatives of our communities have been involved in an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) for several months. This committee has examined information presented by the Thames Valley District School Board, sought out specific information and heard from many community members regarding the three schools involved in the ARC: Sherwood Forest PS, Orchard Park PS and University Heights PS.

The ARC is charged with the responsibility of responding to the recommendation of the Senior Administration of the Thames Valley District School Board. Succinctly, the Senior Administration recommends that Sherwood Forest PS be closed as of June 2013 and declared surplus. The students at Sherwood Forest PS would be consolidated at Orchard Park PS and University Heights, grade 7 & 8 students would remain at University Heights PS. This consolidation results in both Orchard Park and University Heights being organized into the Board’s preferred JK-8 model for September 2013. Full details of the ARC particulars can be found at the following link: http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=102812.

The ARC is inviting comments to the options being considered at one final public consultation meeting at 10 am on Saturday, December 4th, 2010 at Orchard Park PS for those who have not yet addressed the ARC.

Options under consideration are:

OPTION: That the Board defer their decision pending additional consultation with the Community and with the City.

OPTION: All three study area schools remain open 1) Three schools remain open, Sherwood Forest taking JK to 8, Orchard Park grades 7 & 8 and University Heights JK to 6 OR 2) Three Schools remain open with Orchard Park taking JK to 6, Sherwood Forest grades 7 & 8 and University Heights taking JK to 6 OR 3) Keep all three study area schools open and enhance enrolment by boundary and holding zone revisions.

OPTION: That Orchard Park close and that both University Heights and Sherwood Forest be configured to JK to 8 schools.

OPTION: Closing Sherwood Forest and reconfiguring Orchard Park and University Heights into JK to 8 schools with Orchard Park receiving a new gymnasium. It is also considering recommending that the Board not dispose of the Sherwood Forest site pending additional Board consultation with the City and the Communities.

Please note that a formal process exists for members of the public who wish to address the ARC. The ARC Public Consultation Form must be forwarded to the ARC assistant Carol McRae, at least 8 working days prior to the ARC meeting. Therefore they must be received by Carol McRae by 4 pm on Wednesday, November 24th via fax (519-452-2485) or email (c.mcrae@tvdsb.on.ca). Community members will receive confirmation of the receipt of their public consultation forms and be provided with designated speaking times.

Alternatively, members of the public may forward their input in writing to the ARC via Carol McRae. Please send in your form asap by the deadline, if possible, and no later than 4pm on Friday, November 26th.

Members of the community should also be aware that should any of the schools close and be declared surplus by the Board, it triggers a process to dispose of the property. This could result in the properties being sold for other uses.

Update on Sherwood Forest/Orchard Park ARC

On October 13th, the ARC held its final public input session. The committee will now look at all the information it has received and prepare a draft report. Its upcoming meetings are public, however, the public can only listen without commenting. The next opportunity to comment will be after the draft report is completed.

The timeline at this point is as follows:

  • ARC meeting November 2, 2010 at 7 pm at Orchard Park P.S.
  • ARC meeting November 11, 2010 at 7 pm at University Heights P.S.
  • ARC meeting November 22, 2010 at 7 pm at a location to be determined CANCELLED
  • Posting of the draft report no later than December 12, 2010 early 2011
  • Public input to the ARC on the draft report until January 27, 2011
  • Report is submitted to the Board for posting by February 11, 2011
  • Report submitted to Board either February 22 or March 8, 2011
  • Administrative response to report by March 22, 2011
  • Public input to the Board (verbal and written) by May 10, 2011
  • Decision by Board on May 24, 2011

This schedule pushes the proposed closure of Sherwood Forest Public School out to June 30, 2013.

You can follow the ARC at the following web site:
http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=102817

ARC Update

Upcoming meeting dates for the Sherwood Forest Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) are:

* Wednesday Sept 8th at Sherwood Forest School
* Wednesday Oct 13 – location TBA

Both meetings are at 7:00 p.m.

The ARC is dealing with the Board’s recommendation to close Sherwood Forest Public School.

Agendas and minutes from the ARC’s meetings are posted at http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=102817

Members of the community are invited to speak at the ARC meetings. The ARC Public Consultation Form is available at http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/89379/ARC%20Public%20Consultation%20Form.pdf. This form must be submitted to the Board not less than 8 days ahead of the meeting.

As part of the Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) process related to the proposed closing of Sherwood Forest school, local residents can submit comments to the trustees of the Thames Valley District School Board. The ARC is advisory to the School Board. It is the members of the School Board that ultimately makes the decisions on school closures.

The school board trustees names and contact information is provided at http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=79700

Upcoming ARC meetings

Upcoming meeting dates for the Sherwood Forest Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) are:

  • Wednesday May 5th at Orchard Park
  • Wednesday June 9th at University Heights
  • Wednesday Sept 8th at Sherwood
  • Wednesday Oct 13 – location TBA

The ARC is dealing with the Board’s recommendation to close Sherwood Forest Public School.

You can keep up to date about the ARC at http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=102817

Members of the community are invited to speak at the ARC meetings. The ARC Public Consultation Form is available at http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/89379/ARC%20Public%20Consultation%20Form.pdf. This form must be submitted to the Board not less than 8 days ahead of the meeting.