Burlington Secondary School Program and Accommodation Review (PAR) Implementation

The Integration Committee will plan for and implement the positive integration of students and staff affected by consolidation, closure or program relocation into their new school environment(s). Transitions from one school to another are most successful when everyone (administrators, parents, staff, students, etc.) has a clear vision (e.g., a smooth transition for students, building and fostering a welcoming and cohesive new school community culture) and is working together to achieve that desired end goal by being open minded and willing to adapt to every aspect of the change.

The Integration Committee members will be charged with engaging their stakeholder groups where consultation may be needed. These opportunities will be regularly communicated with students, staff, parents/guardians and the community.
Integration Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes will also be posted at the Board website under the respective school consolidation (e.g., LBP/MMR). ​

According to Ministry Guidelines, an administrative review is a process by which an independent, impartial facilitator reviews that the Board has followed it’s pupil accommodation review policy. An administrative review is not an assessment of the decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
 
Administrative Reviews of the Burlington Secondary School Program and Accommodation Review (PAR), undertaken by the Halton District School Board during the 2016-2017 school year, have been granted. Requests for these reviews were submitted to the Ministry of Education by the Lester B. Pearson High School and the Robert Bateman High School communities.
 
An independent third party review of our Program and Accommodation Review Policy and the Burlington PAR ensures that we have followed our processes and provides an opportunity to address community concerns. It is important for the HDSB, the community and the Ministry of Education that the process is thoroughly examined and reviewed.

During this review period, the Halton District School Board will continue to keep student needs at the forefront. As such, we will continue to collaboratively plan for and implement the Board’s decisions made in June 2017. We will, however, be cognizant of minimizing the expenditures of the implementation during the review process.

The Integration Committee will determine whether a school closing ceremony is appropriate. If a closing ceremony is recommended, the Committee will design the format and program.

Honouring and incorporating artifacts and other memorabilia from both Lester B. Pearson and Robert Bateman will be overseen by the Integration Committees with input from both schools. Some items may be relocated to the new school, and as such, no decisions have been made at this time. More details will be released when available.

The Integration Committee will report to the Director, and through the Director to the Board of Trustees no later than February of the final year of a school(s) on the progress of integration planning, and again no later than six (6) months after the implementation of the consolidation decision. Specifically, the Integration Committee timelines will be provided in the following reports to Board:

• Lester B. Pearson/M.M. Robinson Consolidation - February, 2018 (or earlier) 
  
• Aldershot Focus Exploration - February, 2018 
  
• Robert Bateman/Nelson - February, 2020 
  
• Robert Bateman/Burlington Central - February, 2020
  

There are a number of areas that will require monitoring during and following the implementation of approved recommendations. Those areas include:

1. Enrolment at Aldershot High School 
   
2. French Immersion enrolment at Aldershot High School and Burlington Central High School 
   
3. French Immersion enrolment at M.M. Robinson High School 
   
4. Sustainability and equity of the Extended French program Enrolment at M.M. Robinson High School 
   
5. Enrolment at Nelson High School 
   
6. Enrolment in International Baccalaureate program at Burlington Central High School 
   
7. Enrolment of International fee-paying students at Burlington Central High School
   

The Board will engage in discussions with the different unions impacted and determine the process that will be implemented to ensure alignment with collective agreements and to recognize the emotional impact on those employees impacted. It should be noted that different processes may exist for each employee group.

Furthermore, HDSB is a growing school board due to residential growth in Milton and Oakville, and we do not anticipate requiring fewer permanent staff over the long term.

In the spirit of keeping public properties in the public realm, all school boards are required to follow the legislative process stated in Ontario Regulation 444/98 Disposition of Surplus Real Property​. The Halton District School Board is required to first circulate a proposal to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of real property to a number public agencies, including:

• Co-terminus school boards; 
  
• Post-secondary institutions; 
  
• Municipalities; 
  
• Province of Ontario; and, 
  
• Government of Canada. 
  

If no public agencies express interest in the property, only then can the Board proceed to selling property to private organizations. The Board of Trustees must approve the initiation of this process.

When students enter high school, the Board’s minimum distance requirements for transportation eligibility changes. Secondary students who live farther than a 3.2 km walking distance from their school are eligible for transportation.
   
Students attending a secondary school on optional attendance, from cross boundary, or who are non-Halton residents are not eligible for transportation services. Some Board approved programs do not provide transportation to and from the program. Please check with the school offering the program with respect to busing.
 
For more information, please refer to the HDSB Transportation policy.