Tag: London

Reminder: Ratepayers Neighbourhood Social

Orchard Park–Sherwood Forest Ratepayers
invite you to a
Neighbourhood Social

Saturday, March 5, 2011
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Church of the Transfiguration
33 Bromleigh Avenue

Have a cup of coffee and enjoy some goodies while visiting with neighbours and talking about some issues that are affecting our neighbourhood including:

* Update on proposed Medway Valley Bridge Project
* Update on the future of Sherwood Forest School & Orchard Park School
* Possible vacancy in the Ward Councillor position
* Sarnia Road widening update
* Display by the “Strengthening Neighbourhoods” Group

ARC Report

The Draft ARC report has been posted by the Board. It can be found here or at:

http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/filesystem/SHERWOOD_DraftReport_2011January27.pdf

The recommendations are found below.

As per Board policy, there is an opportunity for public input to the ARC on its draft report. This meeting will take place on:

March 9, 2011
7:00 PM
University Heights P.S.
27 Ford Crescent

Requests to make a submission to the ARC in response to the Draft Report are to be received by the Assistant to the ARC by February 25th. Please fax the completed form to: 519-452-2485. The form is can be found at:

http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/89379/ARC%20Public%20Consultation%20Form.pdf

The rest of the ARC timeline is as follows:

  • by April 06 ARC Report to Director / Posted (within 15 days of March 9th )
  • April 12 ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting by ARC Chair
  • April 26 Administrative Response to ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting
  • June 14 Public input to Board at its regular meeting
  • June 28 Decision by Board at its regular meeting (no public input permitted)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the ARC. Their names and contact information are listed at:

http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=102822

The ARC Committee recommends:

THAT

1. The Board recognize that University Heights is a community and in the best interest of the students and the community that University Heights Public School be JK-8.

2. The Board merge the student populations of Sherwood Forest and Orchard Park Public Schools.

3. In the best interest of the students and community, all three schools remain open as educational facilities and the Board take steps to bolster enrolment. Options should include, but not be limited to, French Immersion, boundary adjustments, holding zones, Adult Education, ESL, full day kindergarten, daycare and special education programs.

4. None of the three properties be declared surplus or disposed of.

5. The Board meet and consult with the City of London and the residents of the affected area, in the context of The City of London’s “Strengthening Neighbourhoods” Strategy, to consider the current and future needs of the community and potential uses of the properties.

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.

* * * * *

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.

Sarnia Road Widening – Update

An update on the Sarnia Road Widening project –

The presentation from the September 9, 2010 neighborhood meeting is now posted.

The agenda for the September 9 meeting included the following:
• Present all of the alternatives considered for the intersection
• Review changes that have been made to the recommended design since the June Public Information Centre
• Receive input from residents on the revised recommended design
• Review recommended design for Sarnia /Castlegrove (west leg) intersection

In addition, a Comment Form for public input is also available. Comments are requested by September 23, 2010.

Councillor Nancy Branscombe has also posted an update from this meeting on her website.