The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 14, 2009 - 3 Board balks at expanding French immersion entry points By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Transportation costs could hit $900,000 for Grade 4 entry pilot program "When you say $900,000, you have to be fair and think that if the pilot was successful and we actually implemented this, the cost of transportation would go down because children would be able to walk to schools and we would have more than one program per municipality, presumably." Jennifer Hlusko Burlington trustee The Halton District School Board has voted against a pilot program featuring a Grade 4 entry point into French immersion. It has also rejected a proposal to cover transportation costs for this program following calculations that it could cost upwards of $900,000 for busing per year. The board's decisions were made following a marathon discussion at the Jan. 7 meeting. A committee consisting of board staff, teachers, parents, principals and a trustee started researching the issue in June 2008. It met weekly for extensive meetings from September through November 2008 to develop the recommendations. The board's decision is disappointing, according to Ruth Peden, associate director and committee member. "I think that the committee will be very disappointed," said Peden. "We worked really hard to make the recommendations and with the recommendations, we always kept in focus the strategic plan. They are very committed individuals and think of what would be good for the students, and another entry point definitely enhances the number of options that kids have." The decision to investigate alternate French immersion entry points was a recommendation made by the board in fall 2007. The recommendation was in response to calls made by parents to staff and trustees, Peden said. "Our French co-ordinator and I have both received calls from parents over the years (asking) if they missed the Grade 1 entry point, what they could do," she said. "Really, there's not much that we can do because once they miss those first three years, it is really difficult for them to join that cohort." The current entry point for early immersion is Grade 1. There are 6,230 elementary students in early immersion, and 1,622 secondary students in early immersion. There is one late immersion program, also known as extended French, offered in Burlington at Sir Ernest MacMillan Public School. This program starts in Grade 7, with students continuing on in the late immersion program at Lester B. Pearson High School in Burlington. The student population in that program is 76 and 70, respectively. Transportation to the extended French program is not covered by the HDSB. "It (late immersion) is a very healthy program there," Peden said. The committee recommended that a pilot program for middle immersion with a Grade 4 entry point be offered in one school in each of Halton Hills, Milton, Oakville and Burlington. These students would be integrated with the early immersion students in Grade 9. It also recommended that the board introduce a 75minute French immersion pilot program for Kindergarten students in French immersion schools in one school in each of Halton Hills, Milton, Oakville and Burlington. Both pilots were intended to start in September 2009. The fourth and final recommendation was that the HDSB consider expanding the extended French program in Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville in 2011, if it is determined that the middle immersion Grade 4 entry point is not effective and/or viable with registration under 25 students. Trustees voted to end Wednesday's meeting at 10 p.m. before voting on the Kindergarten pilot project and expanding the extended French immersion program in 2011 recommendations. Steven Parfeniuk, superintendent of business, was asked by trustees to provide a cost projection for transportation for the Grade 4 middle immersion program in advance of Wednesday's meeting. Basing his estimations on a 125-student enrollment in each of the four municipalities and anticipating these students could come from the furthest corners of those areas, he ended up with the $900,000 annual cost projection. Jennifer Hlusko, Burlington Ward 5 and 6 trustee, said that transportation costs for the program would go down significantly once it was expanded to more locations following the pilot project. "When you say $900,000, you have to be fair and think that if the pilot was successful and we actually implemented this, the cost of transportation would go down because children would be able to walk to schools and we would have more than one program per municipality, presumably," said Hlusko. Don Vrooman, Oakville Wards 1 and 2 trustee, also pushed for transportation costs to be covered, arguing that without it, the pilot program would be out of reach for many students. "I think this is one of the most important parts of the whole package of recommendations," he said. "Without transportation, the families living in subsidized housing are not going to be able to get to the program or people who have no transportation of their own." The transportation recommendation was the source of much debate Wednesday night, with the majority of trustees ultimately rejecting it. Several trustees balked at the potential cost, especially with the recent downturn in the economy. Others said there were too many unknowns in the pilot program, such as actual transportation costs and public interest, to support either motion. Halton Hills Wards 3 and 4 trustee Gillian Tuck Kutarna said she didn't think a middle immersion entry point was a priority at this time. "I, personally, have not received a single call for more French immersion (entry points)," said Tuck Kutarna. The Ministry of Education is embarking on a major review of its French programming starting next month. Peden expects several changes to come from this review that will likely impact how the HDSB administers both its French immersion and Core French programming. She said entry points would likely be re-examined at a later date as a result. "I think that in the end, we will be looking again at entry points and at how we offer all our programs," Peden said. This study and its possible recommendations for changes to French programming was also a factor taken into consideration by trustees. "Would it be beneficial to wait until that review takes place before we start piloting something that may not fit into that?" asked Oakville Ward 3 trustee Philippa Ellis. Delegations were made by several parents with children in the English track prior to the board's vote on the recommendations at Wednesday's "I, personally, have not received a single call for more French immersion (entry points)." Gillian Tuck Kutarna, Halton Hills school trustee meeting. The delegations were against one or all of the recommendations, with transportation costs and the timing of the pilot project familiar topics. "Firstly, how is this additional entry point for French immersion even being considered when we do not have a solution for either Ward 4 or Ward 3 schools with respect to program and accommodations, nor do we know what changes may be mandated by the upcoming French immersion program review due to be completed by HDSB staff in November 2009," said Novalea Jarvis, a W.H. Morden and Abbey Park parent. "Clearly, this is putting the cart before the horse." Leslie Dalgarno, a Pilgrim Wood parent, asked why so much money was being contemplated to be spent when other programs, such as special education, are in greater need. "Busing the French immersion students for free to their single-track schools is a privilege and not a mandatory budget item," said Dalgarno. The remaining two recommendations regarding French immersion entry points regarding the pilot program for Kindergarten students and the future consideration of expanding the extended French program are expected to be voted on by trustees at a special board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. CURL UP THIS WINTER GIVE YOUR FAMILY ROOM THE FACTORY TILE TOUCH See our design team to transform your space We specialize in importing and supplying quality Granite, Caesarstone, Marble, Ceramics, Porcelain and Natural Stone Ask about our Custom Glass Shower Doors & Floor Heating Tile selection made enjoyable! FACTORY TILE DEPOT 1360 Speers Road, Oakville (East of third line) Factory Tile Depot 905.465.1650 Mon.-Thurs., 9:30-6, Fri. 9:30-5, Sat., 10-5, Closed Sun. www.factorytiledepot.ca