Schools in the community...

Board of Education Meeting on May 19th. This meeting was moderated by Janet McDougald our Public School Trustee. She introduced the members of the ARC (Accommodation Review Committee), Randy Wright, Controller, Planning & Accommodation Support Services and Penny Gingell, Superintendent of Education also attending were the four Principals of the affected schools. The meeting was very well run with a review of the process to date and what is expected to transpire over the next 2 years in the implementation process. If there was anything that disappointed me it was the attendance. There were under 20 residents in attendance.

         Updates regarding our community public schools           Neil C. Matheson P.S.  and Allan A. Martin Sr. P.S.

Peel Board of Trustees, Peel Board Planning Department, and the Accommodation and Review Committee (ARC) have approved the following:

- K – 5 students from Neil C. Matheson P.S., Byngmount Beach P.S. and Lyndwood P.S. will be amalgamated and all will attend a new built school on the current site of Lyndwood P.S.

- Grade 6, 7, and 8 students from Byngmount Beach P.S. and Lyndwood P.S. will attend A.A. Martin Sr. P.S. Students from Neil C. Matheson will still continue on to A.A. Martin.  A.A. Martin will be renovated to accommodate the changes.

Special Education classes currently located at these sites are still under review.

All children from this community are currently bussed to their present schools and bussing will continue to the new school.

The site for the new school is located at 498 Hartsdale Ave.  This is just west of Cawthra not far from the Cawthra Community Centre. 

A Public Meeting at Gordon Graydon S.S. will be held on May 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.  The rationale for the Peel School Board’s decision will be shared with the community.  Superintendent of Education, Penny Gingell, and Trustee, Janet McDougald will be in attendance.

The timeline for these changes has not been finalized.  The School Board’s next steps include undertaking a feasibility study.  The School Board’s plans would then need to be received and approved by the City of Mississauga. 

Follow the process and keep up to date by utilizing the School Board’s Website at www.peelschools.org.

Community School Board History:

In the late 1970’s School Boards in Ontario particularly in the GTA faced a huge decline in enrollment. Money to build new schools in newer areas was not forthcoming. Faced with declining enrollment the Peel Board of Education was faced with making a significant decision on which schools to close. The Ministry of Education set forth guidelines regarding surplus schools and Sherway Drive Public School went through the process and in 1984 our Community School was put up for sale. Leo Cahill, then President of SHORA made a significant appeal to the Peel Board of Education but the Peel Board was not responsive. Leo then went to City Council the very next day to address certain issues regarding the sale of the school... the traffic and the loss of a community base, and then Councilor Dave Cook spoke up on behalf of our community residents but there was very little the city could do

Today in 2008 the older areas across the southern Ontario sector are  faced with the same problem, fewer pupils and too may schools which have a declining enrollment. SHORA is on top of the situation as elementary schools in the Dixie Shorefront Area are being considered by both boards to be closed down. We have representatives on our board for the Public and Catholic Elementary Schools which serve this area.

The one exception between the 1970’s regulations on school closures is that boards may now sell off portions of unnecessary schools... which means that developers can jump in and buy up this land and perhaps have it rezoned to accommodate a higher density population.

Options for School Consolidation: A meeting was held on Oct 29th at the Gordon Graydon High School -1490 Ogden Ave.

Our local public schools, Neil C. Matheson and Allan A. Martin (middle school), are currently under review by the Peel District School Board for potential closure and/or consolidation.

The schools that service this neighbourhood will be affected by this review. The schools will either be closed and moved to another location or the local schools will receive students from other schools that are to be closed. Currently, the general consensus gathered from previous public meetings favours Neil C. Matheson being closed. Public opinion (your opinion) can still change this view.

A short list of options for the schools under review will be presented at this public meeting. The public will have input on the options. After this meeting a final proposal will be made to the Board.

Trustee Ward 1: - Janet McDougald, 905-278-1402

janet.mcdougald@peelsb.com

Neil C. Matheson Public School (K to Grade 5)

Principal’s name:  Mrs. L. Renahan

1500 Ogden Ave., Mississauga, Ont. L5E 2H8

Tel: 905-278-2477     Fax: 905-278-9420

Allan A. Martin Public School (Grade 6, 7 & 8)

Principal’s name:  G. Lorentz

1390 Ogden Ave., Mississauga, Ont. L5E 2H8

Tel: 905-278-6104     Fax: 905-278-4800

Gordon Graydon Secondary School (Grades 9 to 12)

Principal’s name:  Mr. K. Armstrong

1490 Ogden Ave., Mississauga, Ont. L5E 2H8

Tel: 905-274-2391     Fax: 905-274-9383

Cawthra Park Secondary School (Grades 9 to 12) School of the Arts

Principal’s name:  Jane Michalak

1305 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, Ont. L5G 4L1

Tel: 905-274-1271     Fax: 905-274-9370

Principal’s name:  Deirdre Furlong

1250 Melton Drive, Mississauga, Ont. L4V 1L5

Tel: 905-277-8962     Fax: 905-277-8421

St. Paul Secondary School (Grade 9 to 12)

Principal’s name:  Paul Schmidt

815 Atwater Avenue, Mississauga, Ont. L5E 1L8

Tel: 905-278-3994     Fax: 905-278-1163