Tag: school closing

March Newsletter

The March newsletter is now available. Click here for the newsletter. Highlights include:

Update on the future of schools in Orchard Park / Sherwood Forest.
It is apparent that the administration will NOT support retaining the property and building if a school is closed. It is important to let our trustees know your thoughts on protecting the school sites. They can be reached at:

Peter Jaffe
519-452-2000 ext. 22406
Fax: 519-452-2269
e-mail p.jaffe@tvdsb.on.ca

Peggy Sattler
519-452-2000 ext. 22410
Fax: 519-452-2978
e-mail p.sattler@tvdsb.on.ca

ARC timeline

  • by April 01 the Final ARC Report to Director will be Posted (within 15 days of March 9th )
  • April 12 ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting by ARC Chair (Trustee Bennett)
  • 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)

You are encouraged to attend the June 14th Board meeting and to have your say. Your ratepayers executive will also try to meet with Trustee Bennett and our trustees to gain their support for the ARC recommendation when it comes to a vote on June 28th.

The draft report can be found at http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/filesystem/SHERWOOD_DraftReport_2011January27.pdf
The final report will be substantively the same.

UWO planning a new residence on the Althouse College parking lot
Western is planning on building a new 1000-bed residence where the parking lot between Althouse College and Sarnia Road is currently located. The University is prepared to hold a meeting to introduce the community to the proposal. This will take place around April 10th.

Update from March 5 Neighborhood Social
Thanks to everyone who came out, and a special thanks to those of you who paid your dues that day.

Update on Medway Valley bridge
The bridge over the Medway project has been put off until 2013 at the earliest. Instead, the city will update the Master Plan for the Valley starting this year and concluding the studies in 2012. There will be community involvement so stay tuned for more information.

Community Tree Planting – May 7
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is planning a community tree planting day for May 7th. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Update on Sarnia Road widening
The proposed widening of Sarnia Road from Wonderland to Sleightholme has been moved from 2012 to 2019 in the city’s budget. Projects such as these are not approved until they are included in the current year’s budget debate, so 2019 is only a tentative date that can be moved forward or backwards. More information will be known when the city tables its 2012 budget for public review this fall.

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.

Updates on ARC and Sarnia Road Widening

Sherwood Forest School ARC

Here is a review of the time lines for the Sherwood Forest ARC:
– by February 18 the Draft ARC Report will be prepared and posted to Board’s web site (max. 60 days after last public consultation)
– Within 30 days of posting, public input to Draft Report is due
– Within 15 days of the closing of public input on the draft report, the ARC Report to the Director will be posted
– April 26 ARC Report presented to Board by ARC Chair

Sarnia Road widening, Wonderland to Sleightholme

The draft city budget shows the construction phase of the project being pushed out beyond 2021. You can see the reasons why on page 548 of the city’s growth capital budget of the document at:
http://www.london.ca/budget/Budget_2011/2011%20Tax%20Supported%20Draft%20Budget/2011%20Capital%20Budget/Growth%20Capital.pdf

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.