Mutchmor School Council

Board Staff Recommend "School Switch" Option

OCDSB staff have released their report to committee on the Accommodation study (click to download). They largely support the recommendation of the school- and community-led working group and endorse the "school switch" option outlined below. One significant difference, however, is that staff do not recommend the addition of a new MFI program in the Glebe. Staff feel that there is not enough demand for this program to justify having it both in Old Ottawa South and the Glebe. This is a disappointment for many people and for the Mutchmor working committee members in particular. There is unmet demand for this program in the Glebe, and it is felt that having easily-accessible MFI is a key component in having a strong English program.

The staff report will be presented to the Board of Trustees on November 30. Click here to see the meeting agenda, including a full list of delegation submissions from parents, school councils, and community groups.

The Accommodation Working Group Recommends Option 2 (school switch)

The school- and community- based Accommodation Working Group has been examining local school issues for some time and had their final meeting on November 8th.  The Working Group voted (6-4 with 2 abstentions) to recommend the following to the School Board trustees:

1. Additional classroom space be built at Mutchmor Public School.
2. Mutchmor and First Avenue schools “switch” programs in Sept 2013 to allow the larger EFI program to occupy the larger school and maintain a single EFI centre in the Glebe while the English program and early congregated gifted programs would move to the First Avenue building.   (Note: this “switch” is inclusive of students, teachers, administrative staff, resources and learning materials.) 
3. A Middle French Immersion program (starting in grade 4) should begin at Mutchmor P.S. in Sept 2012 adding one grade per year for a full 4-6 program by 2014). This program will also transfer to First Avenue P.S. along with the English & Gifted programs in Sept 2013. 
4. All Mutchmor grade 6 English students are directed to Glashan P.S. for grade 7 & 8 English starting in Sept 2012. (Note: previously, students living south of Second Avenue would have been directed to Hopewell for grade 7 English.  No changes to the gifted program at Glashan for grades 7 & 8.)
5. All Elgin Street P.S. graduating EFI students are directed to Glashan for a new EFI program starting in Sept 2012 with grade 7. Grade 8 EFI would be introduced at Glashan the following year.

The final report of the Accommodation Working Committee was released on November 14. Click to download: Accommodation Study Final Report.

Note: This is not the final decision but only the community group's recommendation. Final decisions are made by the Board of Trustees.

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Next steps:

1. Board staff will present their own recommendation to the Board of Trustees on November 30th.
2. Parents, community members and any interested parties can present at the November 30th meeting by way of a delegation or by asking a question. 
   1. To register as a delegation for at this meeting, you must signup up by November 23 with Maureen Strittmatter, Senior Board Coordinator, 613-596-8211 ext. 8641. For more info see the Board's Meeting Calendar.
   2. Registration for public questions are taken the evening of the meeting prior to the meeting start (7:30pm, 133 Greenbank Rd.).
3. Board of Trustees are scheduled to debate the recommendations on December 12th.
4. Board of Trustees scheduled to make a final decision on the recommendation December 20th.