What is a Pupil Accommodation Review (PAR)?
What does the PAR process look like for GHS?
What does GHS’ current enrolment and program look like?
I read that GHS might need some repairs. What’s the deal?
What is the best option to keep Gryphons in Gravenhurst?
What is the impact if GHS closes?
- PAR is an assessment initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Education and used to assess all Ontario public schools to ensure that school boards are responding to changing demographics and program needs while ensuring continued student achievement and well-being, and the financial viability/sustainability of the school board.
What does the PAR process look like for GHS?
- TLDSB will determine the exact process based on Ministry of Education guidelines, but the process will likely begin in Fall 2017. There will likely be 2-3 public meetings over a 5 month period, where an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) panel will determine options to best support student success for Gravenhurst students and hear public input in response to those options. Using all of the information gathered, they will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the option they feel is best for students, and the Board of Trustees will make the final irrevocable decision.
What does GHS’ current enrolment and program look like?
- Our enrolment for September 30, 2016 is 350. Though projected average daily enrolment number (an average of the student body present on October 31 and March 30) for June 2016 is 304, GHS will likely have a much higher number due to higher-than-expected enrolment.
- Enrolment is increasing because parents and students see that GHS strongly represents every post-secondary pathway option. Every prerequisite course required by a post-secondary program is available and students can enhance their post-secondary application by taking one of the two Specialist High Skills Major program pathways. Students can also gain practical job skills in our coop program, which currently is completely full because our community supports it so deeply.
- Finally, students and parents see value in the program we offer and the benefits of a small school and, because there isn’t bussing provided, parents of 9 students drive their kids to GHS from out of catchment EVERY day. In addition, two university pathway students who went to BML this September returned to GHS within the first month of this school year.
I read that GHS might need some repairs. What’s the deal?
- The Ontario Ministry of Education created a Facility Condition Index (FCI) Report on the state of repair of the essential structures, systems and wear & tear at each school in Ontario, conducted by independent, third-party facility inspectors. The cost of a school’s repair and renewal needs are compared against the cost of rebuilding that same school from the ground up within 5 years. The results of this comparison — fixing a school or rebuilding it — give the school its FCI, which is measured as a percentage.
- Gravenhurst High School does not need a brand new building, so the FCI rating isn’t really relevant. The Gryphons Here to Stay members are interested in hearing how TLDSB will use their portion of the billions of dollars the Ministry of Education has committed to invest in school infrastructure to maintain and improve GHS (see www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/fci.html)
What is the best option to keep Gryphons in Gravenhurst?
- The Gryphons Here to Stay members believe that the best approach will involve a combination of initiatives. The re-introduction of French Immersion programing in Gravenhurst’s elementary schools will give Gravenhurst students the programs that families are asking for within in their own community, instead of busing the population out, ensuring the GHS population will grow and community partnerships will allow GHS’ space to be utilized effectively during the transition years as the student population rebuilds.
What is the impact if GHS closes?
- Gravenhurst’s population will decline significant as elementary and secondary parents move closer to their child’s school to ease their daily routine and potential new residents bypass our community to set down roots in places where their children will be more supported
- Businesses will suffer due to lack of traffic, lack of students available for part-time work, and lack of support to allow students to take on coop placements that lead to full-time jobs and permanent residency.
- Stable jobs with living and professional wages disappear, taking with them the hopes of attracting those who seek such positions
- TLDSB will replace the Town of Gravenhurst’s active transportation with sedentary bus rides that pull students away from the parts of life that might help them maintain positive mental health, like connection to family, access to jobs and volunteer opportunities, and simply time to pursue their own interests
- Community groups, service groups and cultural groups see significant declines in engagement.