News Release
November 14, 2008
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board renders decision on first of three pupil accommodation review areas
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 Central Erin Mills Review Area of Mississauga. The school, Blessed Trinity, was one of five elementary schools in the Review Area under consideration for closure or consolidation. With the trustees’ decision, Blessed Trinity School will close at the end of June 2009, and students will be redirected to St. Rose of Lima for the 2009-10 school year. A staff report considered by trustees had recommended the closure of both Blessed Trinity and St. Rose of Lima.
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 Central Erin Mills area. The Committee met on six 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 Central Erin Mills area necessitated the review of area school facilities. September 2008 statistics indicate that enrolment at Blessed Trinity has decreased to 103 students. St. Rose of Lima School has an enrolment of only 94 students in the regular school program, with another 160 students enrolled in specialty gifted and extended French programs, who are bused from neighbouring areas to the school.
A number of factors are generating declining elementary school enrolments in certain 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.
“Closing any school is a difficult process, 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. At the same time, we must be fiscally responsible,” said board chair Bruno Iannicca.
Special Board Meetings regarding the two additional areas under review will be held at the Catholic Education Centre, 40 Matheson Boulevard West, Mississauga as follows:
} Bramalea North Pupil Accommodation Review Area - November 18, 7:00 p.m.
} Dixie Shorefront Pupil Accommodation Review Area – November 27, 7:00 p.m.
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