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St. Fidelis Catholic School Replacement School and Temporary Accommodations Options Update Questions and Answers What are the current challenges at St Fidelis due to enrolment pressures and oversubscription?  An increase in FDK enrolment, which may require a fourth FDK class and which may further impact conditions due to enrolment pressures.  A lack of dedicated space for Instrumental Music and the need to use the library/computer lab for this purpose.  Vocal Music classes are conducted in the regular classrooms, which poses a challenge for classes in pods, as musical instruction can be disruptive to the other classes in the pod.  Overcrowded yard and multiple portables – a partial or full move would eliminate the need for most portables, if not all, and allow for greater, safer space in the yard for student play  Insufficient play area for our Kindergarten students  Small gym – challenges to having equity in using the gym, as there are 1.5 gym teachers  Liturgies in the gym cannot be whole school liturgies, due to its size  Special events/programs/assemblies – often require the use of either the library or the gym, which closes these spaces down for regular use  2 Small‐sized classrooms currently being used for 2 Grade 1 classes; space is very limited  Due to configuration of the school, exits, and front yard, a staggered release plan is required for non‐bus students, which serves to address the unsafe congestion that occurs at 3:30pm dismissal time. This detracts from instructional time. How much time is required to complete the school? The preliminary design development and site investigation phase would take approximately four months to six months, and the approvals process, which includes City approvals for Site Plan approval can take between 18 to 24 months. TCDSB has recently met with the Chief City Planner to discuss the concerns around the length of the approval process and to ask that they assist with prioritizing school projects through SPA. Construction of the school is approximately 12 to 15 months – depending on when construction starts. The local City Councillor also has a role to play in the length of the process if there are concerns around traffic management, (student drop off and pick up), building height, road widening, installation of sidewalks, parking and community use of the school site. Ministry of Education approval can also impact the timelines, as the Ministry can delay the approval process if there are concerns around the costs of the project being above the provincial benchmarks. How soon would St Fidelis need to relocate because of construction? The earliest possible date to relocate is September 2016. If the new school will not be built at the existing site, how soon will parents be informed? The first task of the architect is to do a feasibility study to look at the possibility of constructing a replacement school on the existing school site. One factor to consider is that the new building would need to be three stories, which would require a variance from the City. Because there is insufficient space for above ground parking, the architect may have to consider the option of underground parking and this adds additional costs to the project. The goal is to provide a draft of the feasibility study to the CSAC Facilities and Student Accommodations Committee before the end of the school year – even if not all the studies are completed by that time. The Board would also continue the search for other possible suitable sites for the new school. Can the Board buy Nelson Boylen from TDSB? TDSB has not declared that property surplus at this time. Does Board have funds to pay for purchasing properties? Some money generated through Educational Development Charges could be available in the review area, but the Board would have to decide how to allocate those funds. Should the Board sell the current property to help fund the purchase of another site, it is expected that the sale of St. Fidelis would not generate sufficient funds to purchase a property such as Nelson Boylen. Could Nelson Boylen be leased as a temporary location for St. Fidelis? Staff will investigate and report back on the feasibility of leasing the property in advance of the students actually moving to the temporary location. If a leasing arrangement could be made, would there be a locked door policy at that temporary site? Yes, as with all elementary schools. Will the Board consider moving some of the students to the Nelson Boylen site to ease enrolment pressures? No formal lease has been negotiated with TDSB, and TCDSB staff are currently investigating the possibilities of sharing the site. In 2015, TDSB will have 20 DD students in the building. TDSB will not consider moving those students to the St. Fidelis site (an exchange of students between the two buildings) as they feel it would be too disruptive to those students who have very specific special needs. Can the money received for school construction be used to purchase and renovate Nelson Boylen? Ministry approval would be required for this, but that is certainly an option that can be considered. What funding envelope would cover possible rental costs at Nelsen A. Boylen if the Ministry of Education doesn’t provide additional money for temporary accommodation? The Ministry may consider a request for funding from the TCDSB for the additional rental cost as part of Temporary Accommodation Grant (TAG). If not funded, it could come from the Ministry Capital Priorities Funding. Is the Board in a position to cover rental costs for an additional year (September 2015) if all the students could be moved for September 2016?
That is the hope, subject to Ministry approval and funding. What other options for relocation of students exist within the board? The St Philip Neri and St Gerard Majella sites are options. The Board would need to approve school bus transportation for the students to those sites. Bus routes would need to be coordinated to have common stops for children coming from both schools. The old St. Veronica site is also available, however that location would require length travel times for students, and the site is too small for the student population, which would necessitate putting portables on the site.