Parents Opposed to Option J in Doon South Boundary Study

Why is there not an option of new enrollments for Gerth to go to neighbouring schools. If enrolment is stopped until the new school is built this would be a non issue. Keep our kids at Gerth! My son amongst many others were the first group of JK's in that school. It is there home away from home. Why does that need to change?

Very good point Helen! Let's see how things go this week and at it by ear:)

Thanks for the comments Jennifer! Very much agree that this is a poor alternative and totally unsupported given the goals and objectives of the process. How is this to be considered the next best alternative is difficult to understand given the issues identified with it.

Thanks Mike! Well put - concise and to the point - covering some of the key issues in a very objective and rational way!

I am wondering if it may be a bit premature at this point? I was definitely considering that as plans for the near future if things don't progress as planned (but sometimes dealing with media can backfire, so I'm slightly hesitant at this point - we're very early on in the process). My suggestion is to wait and see how things go, and go from there. I think we would be more effective at this point contacting the trustees, the planners and the working group. Thanks for the support Miranda! Much appreciated!

move the older kids.

What about calling the record?

Thank you all for the comments so far. All very good and very valid points. Let's keep them coming. Make sure you spread the word about the petition and contact the trustees and the working group members as well as the school board's planning department to discuss your concerns!!! WE NEED TO BE HEARD!

Very good point Jennifer Malcolm, why are kids that have recently joined the school getting a space while my kids that have been there since jk are getting bumped?

I think this needs to be more thoroughly thought out and no rash decisions made. What is best for the kids?

I can't believe this is even a proposal! Ya let's have our kids at 4 different schools before they have even got to high school! Don't worry though you can keep taking $5000 from me each year for property taxes mind you my kids don't have a spot at their school! Outraged at this point!

Totally unacceptable

Start building the new school NOW!! To avoid all this shuffling in the fall!

This proposal is ludicrous! Talk about disruption for the kids. With this proposal they will move at least 3 times. I believe they can come up with a solution that works for the kids not the board who probably don't live in the area or have children attending Gerth.

this option undermines the needs and best interests of our kids. Why are we the ones making the sacrifice for the benefit of people who have only been part of this community for a short time - or not even living here yet!!! Our kids are the ones who made the school the wonderful warm and welcoming community it is today. My son has also been loyal and invested Wolf and loves his school and child care program that he has been his second home since the age of four! To uproot him is grossly unfair. He will miss in so many opportunities to shine further as a senior and mentor to the younger grades. He is eager to be a leader at his beloved school and I know this is a role in which he will thrive as will many of his peers. You have absolutely zero right to rob them of that right of passage and place in life! I honestly hope that common sense and good judgement prevails. For all of our sakes. The argument that the "numbers" justify this nonsensical option is poorly founded and totally unsupported. Sincerely, Jennifer and James Malcolm Parents of Andrew Malcolm JW Gerth Grade 4 Student

Option J is the product of a bunch of bean counters and people detached from what is best for our kids. Ridiculous! My son will have attended 5 schools between kindergarten and grade 8 and we haven't moved in 7 years! No thought has gone into before school care which both my kids need (grade 2 and 5 this year and currently part of the YMCA daycare at Gerth). Bussing my kids past 2 other schools to get to one 15km from where we live is asinine. Build the new school now. Keep the kids at Gerth for one more year if you have to, or move them all now to Doon p.s. and make it a k-8 school.

As my children are impacted by Option J it is hard not to sound biased, but I am not sure how anyone could find this proposal to be a satisfactory solution to this problem. As mentioned above Option J will: - Maximize displacement (185 students vs. 130 students) - Maximize disruption as it forces the 185 student cohort to move up to 4 times during their elementary school years vs. 1 move with the 130 student cohort - Will likely result in increased transportation costs due to an increase in the number of children requiring busing. - Will send the 185 student cohort to a facility that is questionable in its ability to handle the inflow of such a large group. As noted at least 7 additional portables will need to be built effectively taking up the majority of the outdoor play space. This is an emotional issue for all of us as parents of children who might be displaced by this option. The summary above however provides a rational discussion as to why Option J is a flawed, and in contradiction to many of the goals set by the Boundary Study. I am a parent opposed to Option J.

I am writing as a concerned parent of 3 children attending Jw Gerth. I have twin girls in Grade 2 and a son finishing SK. I am very upset with this most recent proposal that would displace my children that have attended JW Gerth since JK. The thought of them going to 4 schools before getting to high school is very infuriating. I pay $5800/year in property taxes, yet my kids would be sent to a school with ratings that are about half that of JW Gerth. I moved into this neighbourhood 8 years ago to provide my kids with an excellent educational opportunity and for the socioeconomic demographics this neighbourhood provides. Here is the link that support my school ratings http://ontario.compareschoolrankings.org/ The idea of cramming more kids into Pioneer Park by loading it up with portables and doubling up gym classes is absolutely asinine. Why wouldn't we just keep the kids at JW Gerth then and bring the portables there? Bussing would remain the same and the kids would not be displaced. When all the building permits were being issues who was planning for the children and a supportive education system? Why have we been waiting to build the new school? It was very obvious the community was growing rapidly! Signed very disappointed parents, Miranda and Gerald Godin 48 Southridge Drive

Option J is a terrible option. My wife and I moved to this neighbourhood 7 years ago partially because of the schools. We researched and made long-term plans about our children's educational future. Currently our children go to Gerth. We chose the school board we chose because we wanted stability for our children. I think perhaps 1 transition to the K-8 Separate school may make more sense than the, potential, transitions currently being proposed. It makes zero sense to bus my daughter past 3 neighbourhood schools in order for her to attend a school outside of our neighbourhood. I could go on all night about why option J is an awful option.

Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your comments. I appreciate your concerns, however, I worry about your suggestion because I think that will still impact large number of students and parents in this community. I'm also not sure that this would solve the overcrowding issue at Gerth. I know of a few parents (including myself) who in this case would have one of their children starting JK next year, and older sibling going to grade one (or another grade). I would not want to see my kids split and it would still cause transition issues more than the option to have the senior students in grades 5 and 6 move together as a group with their friends to a school they were already assigned to go to when they reached grades 7 and 8. However, I understand the concerns parents have expressed with this option as well. Perhaps, one of the suggestions to hopefully make option F more pleasing would be to have grades 5 and 6 have their lunch / outdoor breaks structured so that they do not coincide with the grades 7 and 8 if the concern is how these younger students would be impacted by older students. I think parents also have to remember that it is those same grade 5 and 6 kids that will in a year or two become grade 7 and 8 and I would be worried to stereotype all our kids in middle school as those of belonging to culture where discussions of sex, drugs, and alcohol are common (which was one of the concerns raised with option F). Unfortunately, there probably isn't a solution at this point that will keep everyone happy, but I am hopeful that the solution they go with will have the least negative impact on the students and the community as a whole. Again, thanks for your comments and your support! Let's continue to voice our concerns to the trustees, the planners, and the working group members! Cheers! Helena