The Thames Valley school board has decided to put plans of reviewing school attendance boundaries on hold until more details are released from the province.
During Tuesday's board meeting, trustees discussed the possibility of a boundary review as part of a solution recommended to help alleviate pressures on some London-area schools that have reached or are nearing capacity limits. The talks come in response to a report released from the school board two weeks ago.
Also on Tuesday, Ontario's Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced $600-million in capital funding to support close to 80 school and child care related projects across the province.
"In light of this important announcement, we believe it’s prudent to delay the proposed London Attendance Area Review until we learn more about whether new schools and additions have been approved across Thames Valley," said Associate Director and Treasurer Jeff Pratt.
Earlier in 2021, the Thames Valley District School Board submitted business cases to the province for five capital projects including expansions and renovations at Eagle Heights Public School and Wilberforce Public School along with applications to build new schools in northwest and southwest London as well as in north Woodstock.
"We're extremely excited and hopeful that some of the projects currently under consideration by the Ministry will be approved, which may require us to significantly revise the London Attendance Area Review," said Pratt.
The school board said it will defer the review until January 25, 2022 in order to reflect potential capital investments it may receive. The province has not yet specified when it will provide additional details on approved projects.
In the meantime, the TVDSB passed another motion to help with the urgent capacity issues some schools in London's northwest end are currently facing. New enrolments at Sir Arthur Currie Public School will be limited to siblings of current students only, while all new students in the boundary will be enrolled at Knollwood Park Public School beginning January 1, 2022. The change will remain in place for up to 48 months, or until a new school in the area is constructed the board said.
Sir Arthur Currie opened near the area of Wonderland and Sunningdale roads in 2017 with an intended capacity of 533 students, enrolment at the school neared 1,000 students in September 2021. The Board of Trustees stated it will review enrollment changes at schools in the area annually and make exceptions should spaces become available.
Also on Tuesday, trustees approved Summerside Public School as the name for a new school expected to open next fall in southeast London.
The name was supported by the board with a 74 per cent vote by those who participated in a community poll of families whose children will attend the school. It reflects the neighbourhood the school will reside in. Summerside will have an intended capacity of 556 students and include 88 child care spaces.