News Release
November 28, 2008
For Immediate Release
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board renders school closure decision on Dixie Shorefront Pupil Accommodation Review Area
At a special meeting held last night, culminating a year-long review and public consultation process, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board approved the closure of one school in the Dixie Shorefront Review Area of Mississauga. The school, St. James, was one of five elementary schools in the Review Area. With the trustees’ decision, St. James School will close at the end of June 2009, and students will be redirected to St. Dominic School for the 2009-10 school year.
Over the past year, the board has conducted the Pupil Accommodation Review process mandated by the Ministry of Education to consider possible school closures. The board appointed an Accommodation Review Committee consisting of parents, teachers, and administrators to consider numerous accommodation options for the Dixie Shorefront area. The Committee met on seven occasions and convened four public meetings last spring to secure input from the community. Two additional public meetings were convened in September by the board to receive delegations from the public regarding the possible school closures in the area.
Declining enrolments in the Dixie Shorefront area necessitated the review of area school facilities. September 2008 statistics indicate that enrolment at St. James has decreased to 78 students. The consolidation of St. James and St. Dominic will create a school population of approximately 300 students. The larger school population will facilitate enhanced academic programs and extracurricular opportunities for students over the long term.
A number of factors are generating declining elementary school enrolments in some neighbourhoods in Peel Region. These factors include: the graduation of children of baby boomers from the elementary school system, young couples delaying marriage, lower birth rates per household and healthy empty nesters remaining in their homes.
This is not the first time that Dufferin-Peel has closed schools due to declining enrolment in specific areas. In 2003, the Board determined that it had to close three schools in the Malton community to respond to declining enrolments in that community. Children were transferred to other local schools in the neighbourhood and trustees wish to reassure parents that they have experienced administrators and teachers who will be able to work with students and families to make the transition to the new school as smooth as possible.
Earlier this month, the board rendered decisions to close one school in each of two additional Accommodation Review Areas; Blessed Trinity in the Central Erin Mills Review Area (Mississauga) and Mother Mary Ward School in the Bramalea North Review Area (Brampton).
"The decision to close schools is a difficult one and we know that we will not be able to please everyone," said board chair Bruno Iannicca. "But the board must make responsible decisions to ensure that students are attending schools with a viable school population to offer the best academic programs possible."
For a detailed synopsis of the Pupil Accommodation Review Process in Dufferin-Peel, visit the board website at www.dpcdsb.org.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is one of the largest and most diverse school boards in Ontario. It serves approximately 88,000 students in 145 schools located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and Orangeville. With over 10,000 employees, the board is also one of the largest employers in the region.
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For information contact:
Bruce Campbell, General Manager, Communications & Community Relations
(905) 890-0708, ext.24466 or (905) 609-1480