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Letter from the Director of Education to Burlington families (Updated June 8, 2017, 11:30 am): Last night at the June 7, 2017 Board meeting, Halton District School Board trustees voted on the Director of Education’s recommendations in Report 17075 concerning the Burlington Secondary Program and Accommodation Review (PAR).
A number of recommendations were approved. One of the implications of the approved recommendations includes the creation of two comprehensive schools in Burlington, one in the north (M.M. Robinson High School) and one in the south (Nelson High School), both offering a full range of programs. This allows improved program options for all students, as well as allowing students with special needs to attend schools closer to home.
These are the recommendations approved by the Board of Trustees:
The Halton District School Board will close Robert Bateman High School, effective June 30, 2020.
a) Effective September 1, 2019, the Halton District School Board will revise the existing catchment area for Robert Bateman High School to redirect English program students entering Grade 9 to Nelson High School.
b) Effective September 1, 2020, the Halton District School Board will revise the existing catchment area for Robert Bateman High School to redirect the Grade 10, 11 and 12 English program students to Nelson High School.
By delaying the closure of Robert Bateman High School to 2020, the implications for program changes and student moves outlined in Report 17075 have also been delayed by one year.
The Halton District School Board will close Lester B. Pearson High School, effective June 30, 2018.
a) Effective September 1, 2018, the Halton District School Board will revise the existing catchment area for Lester B. Pearson High School to redirect students to M.M. Robinson High School.
Beginning September 1, 2018, the Halton District School Board will revise the existing Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School French Immersion program boundary, to redirect students entering Grade 9 French Immersion to M.M. Robinson High School. French Immersion students in Grade 10, 11 and 12 will be grandparented at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School until graduation.
Beginning September 1, 2018, the Halton District School Board will revise the English program boundaries for Burlington Central High School to include the complete catchment area for Tecumseh Public School, redirecting Grade 9 English program students to Burlington Central High School. Grade 10, 11 and 12 English program students currently attending Nelson High School from this catchment area will be grandparented until graduation.
Beginning September 1, 2018, the Halton District School Board will designate the English and French Immersion catchment areas for the “Evergreen Community” to M.M. Robinson High School.
The Evergreen Community is located in north Burlington and currently has no residential development.
The Halton District School Board will investigate and explore a range of program opportunities for Aldershot High School. These may include a magnet school, a themed school, an alternative school, and/or an incubator school. A report regarding these program opportunities will be presented to the Board of Trustees by February 2018.
Trustees also approved a recommendation to engage affected and interested stakeholders in the development of a consultation and communications plan regarding the implementation of the PAR recommendations.
For more information about the implications of these decisions by the Board of Trustees, please refer to Report 17075 posted online.
I understand these changes may be unsettling for some students, parents, staff and community members. Many of you will have questions about the impact of these decisions. During the next school year, we will provide more information, detailed timelines and regular updates. We will continue to provide answers to questions in an open and transparent manner, and to post these answers on the Board’s website at www.hdsb.ca.
The transition and integration of students and staff to their new schools will be undertaken in a positive and supportive way. A Superintendent of Education will oversee the transition of students, programs, staff and resources. A transition plan will establish a committee which will include school and Board staff, as well as parent representation.
As stated at the Board meeting on June 7th, this Program Accommodation Review has been a difficult but necessary process for our Burlington school communities. I wish to thank and recognize the contributions of Board and school staffs, students, community members, as well as representatives of the PAR Committee. The engagement of all stakeholders was integral in coming to decisions that will best serve Burlington students moving forward.
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Reason for Program and Accommodation Review
A Program and Accommodation Review is a process that the Board follows to find solutions to accommodation, programming and/or facility condition challenges faced in a school or a group of schools. Throughout the process, the Board will reach out to parents/guardians and the community to get input through a variety of
methods.
According to the Board’s
Program and Accommodation Review (PAR) policy, a Program and Accommodation Review is initiated if one of the five conditions listed in the policy are met. Out of the 5 conditions, two have been met to initiate this PAR. For more information, visit
Reason for Program and Accommodation Review.
Objective of Program and Accommodation Review
The Halton District School Board is committed to providing the best educational opportunities and learning environments within the financial resources available for its students.
The Board is committed to the following principles:
- Program and accommodation decisions take into account the needs of all students in all schools in the affected community and the Board as a whole;
- Affected communities will have an understanding of the process and the level of consultation to take place;
- Processes for decision-making will be timely, inclusive, transparent and open;
- In the students’, community’s or system’s best interests, PARs may occur as a result of financial constraints, changes in curriculum, program demands, student enrolment, or other unforeseen factors.
Schools involved in PAR
Seven schools are involved in this review:
- Aldershot HS (Gr. 9-12)
- Burlington Central HS (Gr. 9-12)
- Dr. Frank J. Hayden SS
- Lester B. Pearson HS
- M.M. Robinson HS
- Nelson HS
- Robert Bateman HS
Halton District School Board PAR policy
HDSB Program and Accommodation Review (PAR) policy
Additional Information
Reasons for PAR
Process Timelines
Options
School Information Profiles (SIPs)
Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC)
Public Meetings
News and Updates
Board Reports
Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP)
Community Planning and Partnerships
Frequently Asked Questions
Community Involvement
Glossary of Planning Terms
Glossary of Secondary School Program Terms
If you have any questions regarding this Program and Accommodation Review, please send us an email at plan@hdsb.ca. Responses to some questions are posted in Frequently Asked Questions. Please read Fair Notice Statement prior to sending an email.
Fair Notice Statement
Personal information is collected under the authority of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2. and will be used to support and administer the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) process. Any information submitted as part of the PAR process may be made part of the public record in accordance with HDSB policy and in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Questions about this collection and disclosure should be directed to: Scott Podrebarac, Superintendent of Education, Halton District School Board 905-335-3663 ext. 2215 or, toll free at 1-877-618-3456.