Tens of millions of dollars along with the fate of more than a dozen Hamilton neighbourhoods are at stake as public school trustees begin debate Monday on a sweeping set of proposals to close schools in hopes of funding new replacements.
Monday's board meeting begins a two-month countdown to a major May 26 vote on a plan that recommends the closure of a total of 10 elementary schools across the city and the replacement or expansion of several others.
Prepared by Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board staff, the documents lay next steps for the public board as it decides the fate of more than a dozen schools in Flamborough, east Hamilton and on the Mountain. Over the next two months, the board is schedule to conduct consultations with residents of these areas — as well as West Glanbrook, where another school is slated to close — about the proposals.
And despite Hamilton councillors' unanimous vote on Wednesday to ask the province to impose a temporary moratorium on school closures, public board trustees are set to vote at the end of May on which facilities will stay and which ones will go.
Facing dwindling enrolment and aging infrastructure at many of its schools, the board can save tens of millions of dollars if it consolidates its resources, the report suggests.
The pressure to close schools, says HWDSB chair Jessica Brennan, stems from provincial policies that dictate how boards are allotted funding for capital projects.
"We are in a position that, where older buildings are crumbling, we are not about to receive money for renovations unless we fill up schools that are empty," she told CBC Hamilton on Sunday.
Brennan said the budget crunch has a negative impact on the learning experiences of children in smaller schools.
"In some cases, if the schools are too empty, they won't get a resource librarian or a second vice principal that other schools get."
'The school board is creating absolute chaos across the whole city of Hamilton with these school closures.'—Ward 15 Coun. Judi Partridge
On the other side, several city councillors, no doubt feeling the heat from Hamiltonians who are upset about schools that are already slated to shut their doors, have demanded that the board halt, or at least slow down, the so-called accommodation review process.
"The school board is creating absolute chaos across the whole city of Hamilton with these school closures," said Ward 15 Coun. Judi Partridge.
"It is shaking communities and specific neighbourhoods to their core."
The Flamborough councillor has been vocal about the possible the fate of Millgrove Public, one of the sites board staff say should close. The school is located in a rural village on Concession Road 5 near Highway Six that is already slated to lose its public library in the fall.
If the decision to shutter the Millgrove school goes through, Partridge said, "it's just tearing the community apart."
Public school board chair Jessica Brennan, centre, says the process has been tough on Hamilton residents as well as the trustees who will be making the decisions. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)
Brennan stressed that she has "no idea" what the board will decide to do. She said trustees will weigh the recommendations of accommodation review committees, which included trustees, parents and schools staff members from all of the affected communities, the staff reports and feedback from the community consultation sessions.
She also invited the public to suggest alternative ways to save money.
Brennan acknowledged that the process has been hard on Hamilton residents.
"Certainly it is an emotional circumstance for a lot of people, especially if students are currently in that school system or in the school community," she said.
"But it can difficult [for board members] sometimes because, as a trustee… you're looking at the entire system, not just the elementary schools or high schools in your own ward."
Breakdown of staff recommendations
Board staff made its report in response to proposals authored by three accommodation review committees (ARC), which were tasked to make recommendations on future of schools in West Flamborough, on the Central Mountain and in East Hamilton. Each ARC was made up of community stakeholders — including a trustee, parents and school staff — from the area it was assigned to study.
Here's summary of board staff's recommendations on which schools should close and which ones should be replaced or expanded. It includes maps that show the schools that have been flagged for closure. Click on each one for more information.
West Flamborough:
- Close Dr. John Seaton, Millgrove and Greensville schools in June 2016
- Build a new 350-student school at the Beverly Community Centre or on the existing Beverly Central school site (pending funding from the province), or expand the existing Beverly Central facility
- Build a new 525-student facility on the site of the current Spencer Valley school (pending funding from the province), or expand the existing building
View Staff recommendations on West Flamborough schools in a larger map
Financial impact: Closing the three schools and replacing two others, the staff report suggests, would save the board $22.6 million in capital and renewal costs over the next 10 years — provided the old properties are sold off and Ontario's Ministry of Education picks up the $16.8-million tab to erect the new schools. Even if the provincial money isn't forthcoming, the board can expect to save millions, especially when reduced operational costs are factored in.
East Hamilton:
- Close Parkdale, Roxborough Park and Woodward schools in June 2015
- Close Rosedale school in June 2016
- Build a new 550-student school on the site of the existing Viscount Montgomery school (pending funding from the province)
- In absence of new provincial money, build an addition onto Viscount Montgomery school and renovate Hillcrest and W.H. Ballard schools to accommodate more students
View Staff recommendations on East Hamilton schools in a larger map
Financial impact: If the old properties are sold off and the province kicks in funding for a new $10-million building at the Viscount Montgomery site, the board can expect savings in the ballpark of $27.7 million on capital and renewal costs, the report suggests.
Central Mountain:
- Close Eastmount Park, Linden Park and Cardinal Heights schools in June 2015
- Build additions at Queensdale, Franklin Road, Pauline Johnson and Ridgemount schools to accommodate more students
- Renovate George L. Armstrong school to create new full-day kindergarten class
View Staff recommendations on Central Mountain schools in a larger map
Financial impact: Closing three Mountain schools and selling off the properties would save the school board $17.9 million, staff estimate. The bulk of the savings would come from not having to renovate the schools that have been flagged for closure. Because this plan doesn't involve the building of any new schools, it doesn't rely upon a large infusion of Ministry of Education money for capital projects.
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