Frequently Asked Questions
Updated March 10, 2010

Q: Will the Parkwood Hills School Age Program remain open?

A: It is anticipated that the Parkwood Hills Child Care program will remain open at the Parkwood Hills PS site.  If this is the case we anticipate that students who will be attending Sir Winston Churchill School will be brought from the Parkwood Hills Child Care program site to Sir Winston Churchill each day; however we are waiting for final confirmation from the District on this matter. As new information is available we will update this site.

Q: I live in the Meadowlands attendance boundary and my child’s child care is in the Parkwood Hills boundary.  Will my child receive bussing?

A: At this moment, no provision for bussing from the Parkwood Hills area has been established for students who have been redirected to Meadowlands PS. A meeting is being hosted by Trustee Fitzgerald this Thursday March 11 at 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Parkwood Hills PS in the library to discuss this particular issue. Trustee Fisher will be present as well as OCDSB staff.

Q: Is there on site child care available at Meadowlands PS?

A: No, not at this time.

Transfers:

Q: Can I apply for a transfer from Meadowlands PS to Sir Winston Churchill PS and if my child has siblings already at Sir Winston Churchill PS, would this be an acceptable reason to be granted a transfer?

A: Sir Winston Churchill is at a zero cap for transfers.  This means that while a family may apply for a transfer into Sir Winston Churchill, it will be denied based on unavailable space and the 'zero' cap.  The Board recently approved a new Cross Boundary Transfer Policy where details about the process is outlined. As has been shared at various School Council meetings, where the Parkwood Hills closure has been discussed, and through school newsletters, the Elementary Student Transfer period began Tuesday February 16 and ended Friday February 26, 2010.

Process:

Q: How will the existing materials at Parkwood Hills be distributed to Meadowlands and Sir Winston Churchill Public Schools?

A: The Principals of each impacted school meet once a week with the Superintendent of Instruction to review closure procedures and questions and concerns that have been brought forward.  Along with our Purchasing Department, an inventory of resources will be taken when students are not in the school.  Complete lists of the assets of the school will be provided to each school principal.  The principal of the closing school will review the inventory along with staff and will verify for accuracy.  Following this review, the sending and receiving principals along with the superintendent of instruction will discuss and allocate resources in a collaborative and equitable way. The resources will follow the students to their respective schools.  Resources will not be physically moved until the summer when school is not in session.  Staff members who have personal belongings, which are no longer required for units of instruction this school year, will have the ability to pack these and take them home or place into storage.  Staff’s personal instructional materials placed in storage will be shipped for them by the District to their new school during the summer.

Q: What happens to resources that neither school needs or has room for?

A: Any resources that may be outdated or not required at either site (for example, furniture and equipment) will be stored centrally and distributed to schools that may have a current or future need.

Staffing:

Q: What happens to the staff as Parkwood Hills PS closes?

A: Contract staff at a closing school become surplus to that school and there are specific provisions in the Collective Agreements for the staff that support them throughout the staffing process. Specific to the teaching staff, they will have the opportunity to apply for vacancies throughout the District, including Meadowlands PS and Sir Winston Churchill if that is their choice. It is not uncommon, when a school closes, for staff  to interview for positions at the schools where students have been redirected.

Programs:

Q: What is the program at Sir Winston Churchill?

A: Grades JK-6 will remain Early French Immersion.  Grades 7 and 8 will continue to be Regular English, Early French Immersion and Late French Immersion (until the Late Immersion program is completely phased out).

Q: What is the program at Meadowlands PS?

A: Meadowlands PS will become dual track where Regular English from grades JK-6 will continue to be offered and Early French Immersion from grades JK-5 for 2010-2011 will be offered and will expand to grade 6 in 2011.
                                               
Renovations to Meadowlands and Sir Winston Churchill:

Q: What will happen to the Parkwood Hills PS site?

A: While Parkwood Hills PS will be closing, it is too early at this point in time to indicate what will happen to the surplus property.  As information becomes available on this specific issue, it will be shared with families.

Q: What is being done to ensure that the Sir Winston Churchill School facility will be ready for younger children (classrooms, play yard, etc…)

A: Report No.10-055 to Business Services Committee 9 March 2010 addresses the receiving school renovation projects for Sir Winston Churchill. The report is attached for your information.