Considering School Closure

							Considering School Closure


                     Mount Crescent
                  Elementary School
                     Parent Meeting
                      May 26, 2009




                                      Menu
Considering School Closure
Background to school closure process
What is Mount Crescent enrolment?
What is Mount Crescent capacity?
Mount Crescent catchment
District enrolment trend
Amalgamation vs closure
What are Next steps
Housing data
Census data
Where will students go?
Costs of small schools
Benefits of closing smaller schools
Mount Crescent enrolment trend
Where do Mount Crescent students come from?
Considering School Closure


   The Board of Education of School District No. 42 (Maple
   Ridge – Pitt Meadows) has begun a process that will
   possibly result in the closure of one or more elementary
   schools effective September, 2010.


   Mount Crescent is one of the schools under
   consideration for closure.




                                                              Menu
Considering School Closure
   BACKGROUND

     •May 2007 - Cornerstone Report recommends closure of at
     least three elementary schools.

     •2007/08 - District conducts consultation process
     concerning the possible closure of three elementary
     schools, including Mount Crescent.

     •May 2008 - The Board decides not to consider school
     closures at that time.

     •April 2009 – After looking at various options the Board
     approves a series of motions involving the possible
     closure of three schools, including Mount Crescent.

     •April 2009 – After receiving further information the Board
     approves a series of motions involving the possible
     closure of two schools, including Mount Crescent.
                                                                   Menu
Considering School Closure
   Q. What is happening to Mount Crescent enrolment?

   A. The enrolment at Mount Crescent has been steadily
   declining for the past five years

       2004-05                     277

       2005-06                     222

       2006-07                     209

       2007-08                     212

       2008-09                     199

       2009-10(registered)         168


                                                          Menu
Considering School Closure
   Q. How many students was the school built for?

   A. Mount Crescent was built to house 401 students.

      The current enrolment of 199 is 50% of the school’s rated capacity

      Next year’s anticipated enrolment of 168 is 42% of the school’s
      rated capacity




                                                                        Menu
Considering School Closure
   Q. How many students attending Mount Crescent live in Mount
      Crescent catchment?

   A. Currently 138 Mount Crescent students actually live in the
      Mount Crescent catchment.

           2004-05                  198

           2005-06                  154

           2006-07                  149

           2007-08                  149

           2008-09                  138



                                                                   Menu
Menu
Considering School Closure
  On April 8, 2009 the Board considered a number of options
  regarding the possible closure of one or more elementary schools.

  After considering the options, the Board approved a series of
  motions that resulted in the following:


  1. Riverside to be considered for closure (possibly involving
     amalgamation with Maple Ridge)

  2. Mount Crescent to be considered for closure (possibly
     involving amalgamation with Glenwood)




                                                                      Menu
Considering School Closure
   Q. What is the difference between amalgamation and closure?

   A. With amalgamation, the ‘receiving’ school would be
      expected to accept students from the ‘closing’ school to the
      extent possible.

      With closure, parents could choose to enrol their children at
      any school where space is available. Every effort would be
      made to accommodate their wishes, but no single school
      would be expected to enrol all or most of the ‘closing’
      school population.




                                                                      Menu
Considering School Closure
   NEXT STEPS

   District staff are currently focusing on the possibility of
   closing Riverside and Mount Crescent elementary schools
   effective September, 2010.

   On Tuesday, May 26, the Board and senior administration
   staff will meet with parents and staff of Mount Crescent
   elementary school to provide information and receive input.

   During the fall of 2009 district staff will initiate a
   consultation process with the Riverside and Mount Crescent
   school communities to determine the viability of closing one
   or both schools effective September 2010.

   Prior to Christmas 2009, the Board will receive and consider
   staff recommendations and make a final decision.

                                                                  Menu
Considering School Closure




                             Menu
Considering School Closure




                             Menu
Considering School Closure
   Q. If Mount Crescent closes, where will students go?

   A. If Mount Crescent closes, parents can register their children
      at any school where space is available. The District will
      make every effort to accommodate parent choice. However,
      there are some schools where it might not be possible to
      accept new students.




                                                                      Menu
Considering School Closure
Q. Do small schools cost more to run?

A. Generally speaking, Yes. Total educational costs tend to be greater in
smaller schools
    SCHOOL                   ENROLMENT         COST PER STUDENT*
    Blue Mountain            163               10,215
    Webster’s Corner         106               9,962
    Mount Crescent           193               9,698
    Glenwood                 163               9,444
    Eric Langton             311               9,246
    Highland Park            311.5             8,717
                                                          *Costs include:
    RIVERSIDE                193.5             8,301
    Hammond                  368.5             8,297      •salaries and benefits
    Maple Ridge              406               8,256      •ESL costs
    Davie Jones              255.5             8,236      •transportation
    Whonnock                 223               7,999      •supplies and services
    Yennadon                 471               7,846      •student support services
    Alouette                 362.5             7,812
                                                          •teacher on call
    Albion                   539.5             7,615
    Fairview                 306               7,494      •international education
    Edith McDermott          343               7,403      •maintenance
    Harry Hooge              341               7,335      •aboriginal education
    Kanaka Creek             520.5             7,223      •overhead
    Pitt Meadows             492               7,219
    Laity View               539               7,161
    Alexander Robinson       522.5             7,091
    Golden Ears              440.5             7,035                            Menu
Considering School Closure
Q. What are the benefits of closing schools?

A. School closure can have benefits for all students in the District.


    •It is more challenging to deal with class size and composition issues
     in smaller schools

    •In larger schools, students are exposed to a wider range of
      program options

    •More resources in general are available in larger schools

    •School closure will help the District qualify for funding
     to build new schools

    •It will lead to more equitable distribution of district funds

    •It will contribute to reducing the school district financial deficit
                                                                            Menu
Considering School Closure
Q. Is there any indication that enrolment could increase at Mount Crescent ?

A. All our projection methods show that Mount Crescent enrolment will
remain at or below current levels for the foreseeable future.



School year

2009   2010   2011   2012   2013   2014   2015   2016   2017   2018   2019   2020



Enrolment

172    169    165    162    164    169    170    178    177    179    175    178




                                                                                   Menu
Which catchment areas do Mount Crescent students come from?




                                                              Menu