February 29, 2024
Dear Families – Elementary Schools Connected to Bowmanville High School / Clarington Central Secondary School
As we move forward with building the new Northglen neighbourhood school, we wanted to provide families with an update on the school’s boundary planning. As you may know, school board administration has proposed several options to establish boundaries for the new school, taking into consideration enrolment and space at local schools. We have reviewed this information with families at two community engagement meetings and posted reports and updates on the www.kprschools.ca website.
As the next steps in the process, last night school board administration brought a report with the final recommended boundary option to the Board’s Resource Committee meeting for consideration. A final decision will be made by the Board of Trustees at the March 26, 2024 Board meeting.
Recommended Northglen Boundary Option
We want to extend our thanks and appreciation to everyone who participated in our meetings in October and December and through the online ThoughtExchanges.
We appreciate and acknowledge the feedback provided by families. In making a decision, the following main themes were considered:
• Central PS families expressed concern regarding the travel distances and splitting of the 7/8 cohort from the community school. Administration recognized the importance of Central PS students remaining at the school at this time. However, it is recognized that as accommodation pressures continue to increase over the next few years, the option to move the 7/8 cohort from Central PS may need to be considered.
• Concerns regarding the distance and safe travel of students residing in study area CB-1 (south of Concession Road 3) were expressed. Administration recognizes that walking to the Northglen neighbourhood School from this area requires students to travel across busy roads that currently lack sidewalks.
• Parents and community members expressed concern that Hampton Junior PS students would be moved three times should they be relocated to Northglen in Grade 7/8. Administration agrees that consistency is best for students when it can be accommodated.
• There were concerns expressed regarding students from the Brookhill neighbourhood being separated from their peers. As a result, a second community engagement session was held to present new options.
After reviewing all the feedback that was received from both in-person community engagement meetings, as well as the online ThoughtExchanges, administration is proposing that the original Option 3 with slight modifications be implemented. Appendix H on the Clarington Accommodation Planning web page has a map illustrating the new school attendance area/boundary:
• The boundary line between Charles Bowman PS (CB-1) and the new Northglen neighbourhood school (CB-2) will be Concession 3.
• Students residing in study area CB-1 will continue to attend Charles Bowman PS.
• Students residing in study area CB-2, including the students attending Harold Longworth PS holding school, will attend the new Northglen neighbourhood school.
• Clarington Central Intermediate School will be dissolved. Students residing in study area CB-1 will attend Charles Bowman PS, and students residing in study area CB-2 will attend the new Northglen neighbourhood school.
• A largely rural area (HH-3) which includes an undeveloped area north of the existing Brookhill neighbourhood and the portion of the Brookhill neighbourhood east of Green Road (HH-5) will attend the new Northglen neighbourhood school.
• Students residing in study areas HH-1 and HH-2 (which includes a portion of the Brookhilll neighbourhood west of Green Road) will continue to attend Hampton Junior PS/M.J. Hobbs Senior PS.
• Future students that are anticipated from the undeveloped portion south of the existing Brookhill neighbourhood (HH-4) would attend Waverley PS.
• Central PS will remain a JK to Grade 8 school, however, changes may be required in the near future if enrolment at Central PS continues to trend upwards.
These recommended boundary changes would take effect with the opening of the new school, which is planned for September 2025.
Administration’s report, including school community feedback captured as part of our consultations, an updated Questions and Answers document, and other related information is available on the Clarington Accommodation planning section of the Board website, accessible from the home page at www.kprschools.ca.
Bowmanville High School (HS) Family of Schools and Clarington Central Secondary School (SS) Family of Schools
Boundary adjustments between the following elementary schools were also recommended to the Resource Committee, with proposed boundary adjustments between the following schools:
• Dr. Ross Tilley PS and Lydia Trull PS – with Lydia Trull PS receiving additional students, as previously proposed at community meetings.
• Harold Longworth PS and Vincent Massey PS – with Harold Longworth receiving additional students, as previously proposed at the community meetings.
These recommended changes were also considered at Resource Committee on February 28 before a final decision by the Board of Trustees at the March 26, 2024 Board Meeting.
We truly appreciate your interest in helping us make the best possible choices for the students we serve and thank you your continued support of our school communities.
Sincerely,
Jamila Maliha
Superintendent of Education
