June 16, 2011: At the board meeting of June 15, 2011, trustees of the Halton District School Board approved the boundaries for the new Oakville high school currently under construction at 2820 Westoak Trails Blvd and scheduled to open in September 2012. The yet unnamed school is currently referred to as Secondary Review Area #103 (SRA#103).
The approved motion represents Scenario #5, as amended.
In Scenario #5 the English program boundary is the area bounded by Dundas Street to the north, Upper Middle Road to the south, Burloak Drive to the west and 16 Mile Creek to the east. The French Immersion program boundary is more restricted and limited to the area bounded by Dundas Street to the north, Upper Middle Road to the south, Burloak Drive to the west and Third Line to the east. With these boundaries the school is projected to have an enrolment of 1,211 English students and 280 French Immersion students by 2020.
“I believe Scenario #5 best addresses the criteria detailed in the School Boundary Review Procedure and as prioritized by the Boundary Review Committee,” says David Euale, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “Fundamentally Scenario #5 sees the new school as a community school striving to serve the needs of the students in the area in which the school is built.”
Scenario #5 calls for the introduction of French Immersion in 2015.
“The amendment to Scenario #5 is an attempt to begin the French Immersion program in years earlier than 2015, however, this amendment does not change the boundaries for either the French Immersion or English students, ” adds Euale. “The amendment simply states that in each year staff will review the number of students in the French Immersion area willing to attend the new school. If sufficient numbers exist within the area to start a Grade 9 program then the program will be offered.”
According to Board Report #11090, Scenario #5 ensures a sustainable enrolment and viable program for the school as well as for the three secondary schools impacted by the opening of SRA # 103 (Abbey Park, T.A. Blakelock, and White Oaks Secondary School). Finally, this scenario ensures the school will be a “walk to” school.
The approved motion reads:
· Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board adjust the boundaries for the secondary schools in Oakville as outlined in Scenario 5, Report 11090, effective September 2012.
· Be it resolved that SRA #103 provide Grade 9 and 10 English programming in the year
2012-2013, add Grade 11 in 2013-2014 and add Grade 12 in 2014-2015.
· Be it resolved that SRA #103, provide Grade 9 French Immersion Programming in September 2015 with an additional grade added in each successive year.
· Be it resolved that consideration be given to initiating the Grade 9 French Immersion program prior to September 2015, in the year that sufficient enrolment exists within the SRA #103 French Immersion boundaries, for two Grade 9 French Immersion classes
· Be it resolved that Grade 11 and 12 English program students within the SRA # 103 boundaries, attending White Oaks Secondary School in 2012-2013, continue at White Oaks Secondary School until such time as they graduate. Transportation will be provided for these students.
· Be it resolved that Grade 11 and 12 English program students within the SRA # 103 boundaries, attending Abbey Park High School in 2012-2013, continue at Abbey Park High School until such time as they graduate. Transportation provided according to Board policy.
· Be it resolved that students who initiate their program in Grade 9 at T.A. Blakelock High
School due to the unavailability of program at SRA #103 be allowed to continue at T. A.
Blakelock High School until they graduate, with transportation.
For additional information, contact:
David Euale, Director of Education
Halton District School Board
(905) 335-3663; Toll free: 1 877 618-3456