The new Guelph high school is expected to have even more boundary options after the school board received feedback from parents, some of who didn’t like any of the current seven options.
Before the first public open house for the boundary options, Upper Grand District School Board staff were already considering additional options to the current seven, said Ruchika Angrish, UGDSB manager of planning. There was feedback from an online survey that started Feb. 6. It is set to close March 21.
There have been roughly 1,000 respondents so far, said Angrish.
While many respondents selected their preferred option through the survey there are respondents who didn’t choose any option, said in a boundary options update report from UGDSB’s planning department.
For those who chose a preferred option, their reasons included walkability, minimized changes and had students continue at their existing school.
Once the survey closes it will be analyzed and included in a report with the additional options expected at a board meeting on April 8. Another survey will be created and there might be another public open house.
Staff are developing the options for the boundary review staff committee and the public’s consideration. The committee is made up UGDSB staff including staff who deal with transportation and school facilities.
It isn’t known how many more options there will be. Having a large number of options is common when creating the attendance boundaries of a new high school, said Angrish.
She heard from parents loud and clear on their thoughts on the boundaries. She’s grateful for the feedback and wants to hear more of it.
One piece of feedback she referenced are parents concerns around Taylor Evans Public School. In all options elementary students from Taylor Evans will go to Centennial CVI for high school. This has prompted staff to look at alternative options.
During the second public information session parents raised concerns about bussing and how their children will get to school safely. Transportation is in the early stages of assessment and will come together later in the boundary review process. Bussing and walkability are pieces we are looking at closely, said Angrish.
Other questions and concerns at the public open houses noted in the report are about the capacity of the new high school, programs it will offer, and if students will have to switch high schools once they have started Grade 9.
At the end of the day there will be some disruptions to the status quo, said Angrish.