McGregor Easson Public School Closure

At a meeting of the Board on 12 January 2010, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board voted to close McGregor Easson Public School effective September 2010. This decision comes after months of review, public consultation, and committee deliberation. Students residing in the McGregor Easson Public School attendance boundary will be redirected to the neighbouring Carleton Heights Public School for Junior Kindergarten through grade 6. A Middle French Immersion program will be established at Carleton Heights Public School beginning with students in grade 4 in the September 2010 school year and expanding to grade 8 in subsequent years. Current English program students residing east of the Rideau River in the Carleton Heights attendance boundary and Fielding Drive Public School attendance boundaries will be given a one-time option to remain at Carleton Heights Public School or to attend General Vanier Public School or Fielding Drive Public School.

In order to better accommodate students and families affected by these changes, a number of additional supports and services will be put in place. This includes some transportation services, community use of the McGregor Easson facility, support for the Carleton Heights Child Care Centre, financial support to affected school councils and communications support to make the community aware of the changes and school offerings in the area of the accommodation study. In addition, tracking of students will be undertaken to monitor the impact of these changes.

“Decisions such as these are never easy, but are always made with the interests of students in mind and in alignment with our commitment to improving student achievement. On behalf of the board and the staff, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the community for their participation in this issue, in particular, those people who were active participants in this Accommodation Review Committee” says Cathy Curry, Chair of the Board.

More detailed information will be available on the OCDSB website shortly.

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For further information, please contact Communications Coordinator Sharlene Hunter at 613-596-8264.