Thames Valley board to cap enrolment at Summerside Public School due to capacity pressures

The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has decided to pause the enrolment of new students at the fast growing Summerside Public School in southeast London, starting in January. 

At Tuesday's school board meeting, officials recommended that until a permanent solution is found, elementary school students moving to the developing neighbourhood should be placed at John P. Robarts Public School, which is about 18 minutes away from Summerside.

"Based on our review John P. Robarts is ideal for the purpose based on its location, capacity, projected enrolment and site characteristics," said superintendent Geoff Vogt. 

The school has space for at least 12 portables outside, while maintaining the ample outdoor amenity areas. Transportation to J.P. Robarts will be provided and siblings will not have to change schools, said Ben Puzanov, TVDSB's manager of planning. 

Due to the city's rapid residential growth and a significant migration from the Great Toronto Area, Summerside is facing severe capacity challenges, including not enough washrooms to accommodate all the students.

Since opening its doors in September, the school has exceeded its capacity of 553 students despite adding 12 outdoor portables. The number of students is expected to surpass 1000 by 2025, according to Puzanov.

Pointing to a survey done by the board's research and assessment team, Puzanov said that enrolment at Summerside will decline over time as the Grade 8 graduating class exceeds the number of siblings expected to register at the school.

Although enrolment at J.P Robarts will grow significantly, administration will manage registrations through a lottery system to make sure that the numbers are balanced between the schools on an ongoing basis, he added.

Provincial funding needed for new school

The board applied to Ontario's Ministry of Education to expand Summerside before the school opened to the public, but that application was rejected by the province. 

Funding was denied due to budget allocations from the ministry, said Associate Education Director, Jeff Pratt.

"They have to make difficult decisions so it may not be that we were denied because there's no need for it [expansion], but simply because they just didn't have enough funds to go around," he said. 

The TVDSB is in talks with the city about securing a second school site, but the board would need a green light from the province first.

The application for a new site will be high on the list of the board's capital priorities, which will be submitted to the province in the spring, as part of its program to ensure infrastructure investments meet the needs of the community.

The board has a strong case to apply for a new school site following discussions with Education minister Stephen Lecce during his recent visit to London, Pratt said. 

"We had a very positive conversation directly with the minister on the issues of Summerside and it's certainly on their radar," he said. 

Trustees Beth Mai and Marianne Larsen suggested more community engagement with new families moving to the area to learn more about their preferences.

The recommendation will go to the board's Planning and Priorities committee on Dec.13.  A final report will presented to trustees on Dec. 20.