- nBrief History and Background
- nCurrent Situation
- nOptions
- nRecommendations
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
nSt.
Bonaventure was built in 1956, adjacent to St. Bonaventure
Church with which it has had a strong relationship.
It is about to celebrate it’s 50th anniversary
this coming school year.
nBuilt
originally to accommodate 130 students but, with 2 major
additions over the years, now has capacity for 267.
nCurrent
enrollment is 394 students.
nSituated
in Don Mills - home to a diverse Catholic Community – including
public servants, professionals, and leaders of business,
commerce, politics and religion.
nThis
community demands quality in the education and facilities for
our children. As a
result, this area has seen the fastest growth in, and presently
the highest concentration of, private schools in Canada.
nUnfortunately,
the St. Bonaventure school facilities have not kept pace with
the growing needs of its Catholic Community.
CURRENT SITUATION:
1. Capacity & Student Accommodation
1. Capacity & Student Accommodation
nPresently
47%
over populated -
over capacity by 127 students.
nBuilt
for 267 students, it currently houses 394 students
through the use of
3 portables.
nAn
additional 47% growth projected by 2013.
nProjected
enrollment to rise from current 394 to 582 by 2014
(see Elementary School profile, TCDSB on next page).
nOut
of the 3 catholic schools in the area, St.
Bonaventure is the only one over capacity and has
the highest projected growth.
nGymnasium
qcan
only hold ½ student population at one time, without
violating fire regs.
qIt
is also too small to hold any sporting events – low
ceiling and approximately ½ size of a standard gym.
nWashrooms.
qOnly
two sets of boys and girls washrooms, all located in
the basement, to service the entire 3 floors and all
3 portables of the school.
Will not be enough
for projected population of 582 students in 8 years.
CAPACITY vs.
ENROLLMENT
CURRENT SITUATION
2. Building’s Condition
2. Building’s Condition
nObsolete
boiler heating system (50 years old);
nObsolete
electrical system (inefficient 15 amp system);
nFalling
drop-ceiling tiles and crumbling insulation.
nNo
air conditioning
nExtreme
elevated temperatures in the classrooms on hot, sunny
days.
nWater
damage to basement classes causing mold growth and
rotting plaster(especially important since we have
several students in grade 1 alone with severe allergies
and epi-pens).
nConsiderable
rodent problem with mouse feces in numerous classroom
cupboards.
nLack
of proper ventilation, resulting in poor air quality.
nThere
is no wheelchair access to any part of the building and
no floors are at grade to facilitate such access.
CURRENT SITUATION
3. Demographics
3. Demographics
Don
Mills Development and Community
nGrowing
influx of young families into the neighborhood
(see TCDSB projections)
nCadillac
Fairview building new mall and condos/townhouses
that will bring additional young families to the
neighborhood (these numbers may not be included
in the TDCSB projection because the project
details are not finalized).
nGrowing
number of businesses and head offices moving to
the Don Mills increasing profile of the
community.
nProximity
to Edward Gardens and numerous green spaces
provide a unique opportunity for students to
enjoy a wide variety of educational activities
and environmental programs outside the
classroom.
CURRENT
SITUATION
4. Catholic Presence in Don Mills
4. Catholic Presence in Don Mills
nOrder of St. Francis has chosen St. Bonaventure as their flagship for community investment. (see church letter on next page)
nOrder of St. Francis has invested large amounts of capital on the new St. Bonaventure Friary ($2.7 million).
nChurch recently finished construction on a new Parish Centre ($1.1 million).
nOrder of St. Francis sees area as a vibrant and active community.
nParish has grown significantly in young families over the past 5 years. They foresee much more growth and have invested money now to meet the future need.
nThe bond between church and school has always been strong. This relationship can only be maintained by investing in a strong catholic education.
FINANCIAL
IMPACTS
nThe
current situation is
resulting in the loss of
several sources of funds:
qLoss
of student funding in the
primary grades as Catholic
parents use public
school-based day-care
facilities and then decide
to keep their children in
the TDSB system. (e.g.
Rippleton and Norman Ingram
P.S.)
qLoss
of student funding in the
intermediate grades as
Catholic parents find
convenient private schools
(i.e. Hawthorne & Northmount)
with the upgraded facilities
that they want.
qLoss
of direct revenue from
insufficient facilities to
accommodate a
before-and-after-school/daycare
Centre.
qThe
use of portables is a
liability to the school
board since the Ministry
does not directly fund their
purchase, operation, nor
their maintenance.
OPTIONS
1.New “Flagship” School
2.Pilot
the E-pod program *
3.Build
an Addition *
4.More
portables *
*
Options 2, 3 & 4
would all require
the $1.7 million in
upgrades and
deferred maintenance
that is needed for
the existing school
OPTION 1: NEW “FLAGSHIP” SCHOOL
-
nGreatest expense but most long-term viability.
-
nWill allow the TCDSB to implement the government’s 20 classroom cap without becoming a play-yard filled with portables.
-
nWill allow for future growth as projected.
-
nA Flagship school would be the center for a strong and positive CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION in the Don Mills community.
-
nAlthough, overall, the TCDSB enrollment is projected to be -2% over the next 15 years, St. Bonaventure’s is projected to be +47% in the next 8 years. (see Chart on slide 5)
-
nWith exposure on Leslie St. (a major artery), the school would be a reminder of the commitment of the TCDSB to excellent catholic education for our leaders of the future.
-
nAllow school to keep its innovative programs, and attract new students with up-to-date facilities. Such a school would dramatically decrease the loss of students to our public and private counterparts , ensuring needed funding from the Ministry.
-
nA Flagship school will provide the facilities and space for new endeavors such as Best Start, daycare and before-and-after school programs. These are all revenue driving programs we currently cannot benefit from due to our lack of space.nA Flagship school could be built behind the current structure without disrupting on-going classes.nA Flagship School would allow for a proper full-sized gym.nA Flagship School could have access for the disabled.nA Flagship School would have adequate washroom facilities.nIf a new school is not built now other capital expenditures will be required at the school in the interim - even though a new school is ultimately inevitable – resulting in wasted funds.