The Alternative Program Review final report (with recommendations) has been released by board staff.
The short version is that they are closing the program down. They are calling it "removing the designation" because they don't believe the alternative schools are meaningfully different. As below, the "designation" won't be removed until a boundary or accommodation review is conducted involving a specific school. No timeline is given for any such reviews.
ASAC is working on an alternative "Minority Report" and will also be working with trustees and the media over the next week and a half. On January 19th, trustees will get to decide the future of our program. More information as we can provide it...
The recommendations are:
"A. THAT the OCDSB recognize the strengths of the alternative program and increase the focus of parental involvement in all schools in the OCDSB through the Board Improvement Plan and school improvement plans;
B. THAT an embargo be placed on any current or future expansion of the elementary alternative program;
C. THAT staff be directed to develop a program consolidation plan for Manor Park Public School for implementation in September 2011; and
D. THAT the four K-6 schools (Churchill Alternative School, Grant Alternative School, Lady Evelyn Alternative School, and Riverview Alternative School) offering the alternative program as the only program stream and the only intermediate program (Summit Alternative School) retain their designation as an alternative program until such time as a boundary or accommodation review involving the school has been completed, at which point the designation of alternative program would be removed."
