Proposed Changes to Elementary School Program
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is reviewing its elementary program to assess whether it meets community needs (
official program review website here https://engage.ocdsb.ca/elementary-program-review
As part of this review, the board is proposing changes to specialized program classes, alternative programs and attendance boundaries. Public consultations are underway before trustees vote on the proposals in April 2025. If approved, the changes would take effect in Fall 2026.
Many Hintonburg residents worry these changes will be disruptive, stressful for children, and detrimental to their learning. For example, the proposed boundary changes would force some students to take longer, potentially unsafe routes to school and separate them from their current friends and classmates. In response to the proposed changes, parents of students at Connaught and Devonshire schools have created websites outlining the potential impacts and offering tools and strategies for concerned residents to influence decision-makers.
Check out the Connaught advocacy page here: https://sites.google.com/view/connaughtisourcommunity/home and the
Devonshire advocacy page here:
https://sites.google.com/view/devonshireparents.
Churchill Alternative (OCDSB elementary alternative school for Hintonburg families) is also working hard to save the alternative program, which has served our neighbourhood for over three decades. Check out how you can help Churchill and the alternative program here: https://docs.google.com//1RoHZOzn…/edit…
Also, the families of students in specialized education classes are organizing to try and save the 39 specialized programs that OCDSB proposes to eliminate. Hintonburg families will have benefitted from these city-wide programs over the years.
You can connect with that community and find out how to help here https://www.facebook.com/groups/642361298282722/?ref=share&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=A9UH2llgnjTOYLA5&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fg%2F1A66zfE1Zf%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr#.
