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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 6, 2008 - 7 School closure scenarios have few fans among southeast Oakville parents By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Don't Pay Retail! Factory Outlet Sale We Install Brantwood, New Central, Chisholm and Linbrook public schools are all facing possible closure in scenarios put forth by the Oakville Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC). Four scenarios were presented at a meeting last week at Oakville Trafalgar High School, which saw more than 200 concerned parents pile into the cafeteria to voice their concerns regarding the future of southeast Oakville's schools; Brantwood, Linbrook, New Central, Maple Grove, Chisholm, E.J. James and Oakville Trafalgar. It seemed none of the scenarios pleased the majority of parents in attendance, who voiced concerns about bussing, closing down smaller schools to build larger ones, renovating old schools and eliminating French Immersion programs. As PARC PE 14 Chair and Halton Hills trustee Gerry Ockenden noted, "This is a passionate group." Two of the scenarios will see Clearview School built for Junior Kindergarten ­ Grade 6 students, carrying a price tag just shy of $8 million, according to estimates provided on a handout to parents. The scenarios are as follows, and each includes Maple Grove Public School becoming the area's Grade 1-6 French Immersion single track school, E.J. James as the area's Grade 7 ­ 8 dual track school, and any other schools in the scenario as Junior Kindergarten ­ Grade 6 English schools. Scenario 1: Clearview and Linbrook, with the addition of 10 classrooms and a gym, Maple Grove, with four classrooms added, and E.J. James. Brantwood, New Central and Chisholm would be closed. Scenario 2: Clearview and Chisholm, with the addition of eight classrooms and site adjustments, Maple Grove plus four classrooms, and E.J. James. Brantwood, New Central and Linbrook would close. Scenario 3: Linbrook, with 10 additional classes and a gym, "We have been through the scenarios, and the scenarios do work, and can work." Steven Parfeniuk, Superintendent of Finances and Treasurer, Halton District School Board Chisholm with 10 classrooms, Maple Grove with four classrooms, and E.J. James. Brantwood and New Central would close. Scenario 4: Linbrook plus two classrooms, Chisholm plus four classrooms and site adjustment, New Central plus four classrooms, Maple Grove plus four classrooms, E.J. James. Brantwood would close. These four scenarios were selected, down from 14 proposed at the last PARC public meeting. "This is not a final scenario situation tonight," Ockenden told parents. "We are here to show you where we are at this point in time." The next PARC working meeting is slated for Feb. 5, after which the committee will prepare recommendations for the director by Feb. 18. The board is expected to render its decision in May. "We have been through the scenarios, and the scenarios do work, and can work," said Halton District School Board Superintendent of Finances and Treasurer, Steven Parfeniuk. "These are not the only scenarios we can look at," he added. "We're certainly at a point to go back to create additional scenarios." The idea that Maple Grove becomes single-track French Immersion for Grades 1-6, he explained, is "not in stone." "I think this is going to be the beginning of a dialogue. We'll get more information and more feedback from you." That was the purpose of this final public meeting ­ and a purpose that was certainly met, as parents lined up at the microphone to voice their various concerns. A push for French Immersion to remain at Linbrook was a hot topic, while other parents asked for a school to finally be built in the Clearview area. Still, others criticized the process for not being open enough to the community for input. One parent asked the Halton District School Board to present some "real scenarios" instead of one with revenue numbers he called "at best useless." Another parent blasted the board for giving the committee these scenarios just 90 minutes before the meeting, so no one had a chance to review what was being put forth. "The board is marching us through a process," he said, a comment that earned applause. School trustee Phillipa Ellis admitted the process was "flawed," and noted "everyone on the committee has not liked the process, including everyone on the board." She emphasized the desire to work with a generic plan to input programming, and make selections based on that instead of which schools should remain open. Instead of looking at what schools would remain open, the committee focused on what programs they wanted. Ultimately they determined the area needed two or three Junior Kindergarten ­ Grade 6 English schools, one Grade 1 ­ 6 French Immersion single track, one Grade 7-8 dual track and one Grade 9 ­ 12 high school dual track. "We talked for hours coming up with these structures," Ellis said. Other concerns voiced by parents included the addition of portable classrooms, the absence of French immersion for Kindergarten students and a move towards large schools with 500-plus student populations. Despite the many concerns from parents, Ockenden was pleased with the meeting. "I think it went well, I really do," he said. "The turnout is great, really the whole feeling of respect is there. I realized this is a very emotional issue." As for whether it's one that can be resolved to make everyone happy, Ockenden says, "I don't see how, but we'll do what we can for the community." Columns Wainscoting Over 70 Smooth or Patterned Profiles Visit our website or showrooms for prices, design ideas. 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