News Release
November 19, 2008
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board renders decision on Bramalea North 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 Bramalea North Review Area of Brampton. The school, Mother Mary Ward, was one of four elementary schools in the Review Area under consideration for closure or consolidation. With the trustees’ decision, Mother Mary Ward School will close at the end of June 2010, and students will be redirected to St. Anthony for the 2010-11 school year. New students moving into the Mother Mary Ward catchment area south of Williams Parkway will be directed to Lester B. Pearson School.
The Board has received special funding from the Ministry of Education to rebuild St. Anthony and approved the reconstruction of St. Anthony during the 2009-2010 school year. The Board has also received Prohibitive to Repair funding for Lester B. Pearson School and approved the construction of an addition and renovations at the school during the 2009-10 school year. Prohibitive to Repair funding was provided by the Ministry of Education to replace the portions of the St. Anthony and Lester B. Pearson facilities which were in significant need of replacement and renovation.
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 Bramalea North area. The Committee met on five 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 Bramalea North area necessitated the review of area school facilities. September 2008 statistics indicate that enrolment at Mother Mary Ward has decreased to 208 students; St. Anthony has 287 students and will be reconstructed to accommodate the students from both communities. Lester B. Pearson has an enrolment of 443 students.
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. The reconstruction of St. Anthony provides a long term solution for the accommodation of students from the St. Anthony and Mother Mary Ward communities.” said board chair Bruno Iannicca.
A Special Board meeting regarding the third and final area under review (Dixie Shorefront) will be held at the Catholic Education Centre, 40 Matheson Boulevard West, Mississauga on November 27 at 7:00 pm.
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