Enrollment will dictate FI start at new high schoolBy Dominik KurekEnglish and French com-in the school when one Grades 11 and 12 in theI believe scenario 5 OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFmunities.community feels like an boundary will continue tobest addresses the crite-Boundary changes were outsider in the school. I attend their currentria of creating a commu-Halton District Schoolmade in his south Oakville would like to see us find a schools of White Oaks andnity school. It's one that Board trustees approvedcommunity that shuffled way around it," said Abbey Park high schools.boundary changes that willaFrench Immersion stu-Vrooman.Additionally, studentsttempts to serve the allow for the start of Frenchdents through various Starting French who begin Grade 9 classesneeds of the students in Immersion (FI) program-schools.Immersion at the new at T. A. Blakelock Highthe area in which the ming in the new north-It took about four school as early as possible School will continue to doschool was built without west Oakville high schoolyears for the French would help avoid a similar so.compromising the pro-as early as 2012.Immersion students to be situation, he added.Transportation will beThe new school, to begconsidered part of the The decision also means provided for these stu-rams of other schools.located at 2820 Westoakcommunity. Its a problem that English students in dents.Trails Blvd., is expected toDavid Euale,open in September 2012.director of education,Trustees made the decisionHalton District School Boardat the Wednesday, June 15board meeting.ing most of the meetings of Though the amend-The boundary decision,the BRC and said the rec-ment was not discussed by as recommended by theommendation to trusteesthe BRC, Euale points out Director of Educationwas the product of thethe scenario clearly iden-David Euale, calls for thecommittees work and thetified French Immersion start of French Immersionwhole review process.programming at the at the new school in theI believe scenario 5 bestschool in the future.year 2015/16, when theaddresses the criteria of The primary reason board will see the firstcreating a communityfor the amendment is group of FI graduates outschool, he told trustees.that, though we believe of nearby Palermo PublicIts one that attempts toenrollment would be School.serve the needs of the stu-insufficient, we would The decision also callsdents in the area in whichmake an attempt at for the start of FI program-the school was built with-(French Immersion pro-ming as soon as there isout compromising the pro-gramming) every year.enough enrollment to sup-grams of other schools.Staff member port beginning two Grade 9During the review pro-Domenico Renzella told classes.cess, the board has heardtrustees projections show The recommendationcomments from the com-there would be 22 Grade 9 came after a lengthy publicmunity against startingFrench Immersion stu-process of communityFrench Immersion at thedents within the boundary members and school boardschool prior to 2015. of the new school in staff with a review of pos-Euale addressed the2012.sible scenarios by a bound-issue during the meeting.He also told trustees ary review committeeThe amendment doesthe proposed boundary (BRC).not change the boundarieswould ensure stable The BRC selected threefor the French Immersionenrollment at the three possible options, one of students, nor the Englishaffected high schools which was presented tostudents, he said. (White Oaks, T. A. trustees with the modifica-In fact, even if FI wereBlakelock and Abbey Park) tion to start FI programingintroduced in earlier years,until the year 2020.earlier than 2015, if therethe population projectionsBoard chair Don is sufficient enrollment.for the school after 2015Vrooman referred to a past Euale was present dur-would not change.incident that split the Gold Award Winner for Best Dentist in Oakville!7 Friday, June 17, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com