Balmoral Jr. Secondary Consultation Process
October 19, 2009
Capital Project Steering Committees have been established for both the Balmoral and Carson Graham communities. Summary notes of meetings are provided below:
Balmoral Community - Summary Notes - October 6, 2009
Balmoral Community - Summary Notes - June 16, 2009
Balmoral Community - Summary Notes - May 13, 2009
Balmoral Community - Summary Notes - April 14, 2009
Balmoral Community - Summary Notes - March 25, 2009
For more information about the Balmoral / Carson Graham Capital Project consultation process, please see Carson Graham Replacement School Capital Project.
June 12, 2009
At their June 11th public meeting, the North Vancouver Board of Education, voted to close Balmoral Jr. Secondary, effective June 30, 2012, and consolidate the school with Carson Graham Secondary.
The Board’s decision was informed through a process of community input gathering by two “response teams” established in accordance with the School District’s Policy 610, Closure of Schools (Permanent) . The Carson Graham Response Team and Balmoral Response Team proceeded to receive input through a 60-day public consultation process, and presented their findings to the Board at their May 26th public meeting. The Board also received input provided through the Towards the Future for Schools community consultation process that was conducted across the School District over the past two school years. Trustees thanked and commended the members of the response teams, and the contribution of the community to the process.
In their deliberations, trustees acknowledged that the decision to close any school is a serious and difficult one. However, the Board is certain that the process followed enabled the fair representation of perspectives and believes that the final outcome is in the best interests of all students in the North Vancouver School District.
The Board realizes that while the closure of a small, neighborhood school will disappoint some members of the community, the recognition that operating a school with very low enrollment has consequences for the entire School District. Continuing to operate Balmoral, at a capacity of less than 60%, came with a near $1 million premium that is not sustainable in the current economic climate nor for the future. The Board is confident that its decision addresses its fiscal responsibility and good stewardship of limited funds, the changing demographics of North Vancouver and responsibility to ensure that quality education is provided to all.
Ultimately, the Board feels that the decision to consolidate the student population of Balmoral and Carson Graham is aligned to further the Vision of the North Vancouver School District to create safe, new, welcoming facilities and “… bring communities together to learn, share and grow.”
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May 29th, 2009
At their May 26th public meeting, the North Vancouver Board of Education received the reports of the Balmoral Response Team (BRT) and the Carson Graham Response Team (CRT) produced through the 60-day public consultation period initiated by Policy 610, Closure of Schools.
The reports presented a variety of voices and perspectives from the community—including both support for, and reservations concerning, the closure of Balmoral.
The BRT report included both “pro-consolidation” and “keep Balmoral open” voices and stressed the common ground that had been found amongst all contributors who appreciated the history of Balmoral, its many successes with students and importance of the school to the community.
Pro-consolidation realized five conclusions through the input collected:
- Quality in education means providing extensive and varied choices to students
- 1,100 is an ideal size for a secondary school, not too big, not too small;
- Consolidation of Balmoral and Carson Graham secures the future through a “best of both schools” approach and provides for cost-savings to the School District from the closure of Balmoral;
- Dismantling, reallocating or reorganizing other programs in other secondary schools is not an acceptable option for maintaining Balmoral; and
- Students in the Lonsdale corridor deserve the benefits now of a safe and technologically advanced school now
As well, the Board of Education heard from the “keep Balmoral open” contingent of members from the Balmoral Response Team who spoke to the value of middle schools in the community, the ongoing delivery of academic excellence and ideas for possible uses for the building over the longer term. Presenters suggested:
- Increasing marketing of Balmoral to the community;
- Partnering with Carson Graham for greater programming choice;
- Launching a Grades 7 – 9 Middle School at Balmoral in 2012;
- Forging partnerships with other schools to increase capacity utilizaton at Balmoral; and
- Forging partnerships with community, sport and business organizations to increase capacity utilization at Balmoral
The final presentation, from the Carson Graham Response Team, recognized that a bigger conversation than the 60-day consultation period has been underway since early 2008 through the Towards the Future for Schools process. These District-wide meetings facilitated community participation in exploring solutions to the School District’s challenges with regards to declining enrollment and promoted greater understanding of the inter-connectedness of all its schools.
The CRT expressed acceptance of the hard financial reality that school districts face in the province and the need for new, sustainable and well-structured facilities throughout the NVSD that can enhance the quality of education in North Vancouver. As well, the CRT realized the importance of addressing capacity issues without negatively impacting the future of other secondary schools in the School District.
The recurring question of the connection between school size and student opportunities was also addressed by the CRT in their vision for a state-of-the-art, sustainable working/learning environment for staff and students built with the potential to become an inclusive, integrated, Grade 8-12 IB World School.
Following the presentations, the board proceeded with the first and second reading of the Balmoral Secondary School Closure Bylaw 2012, with the final reading to occur at the Public Board Meeting of June 11 at Sutherland Secondary School. Please note that this meeting replaces the Public Board Meeting that had previously been scheduled for June 9.
May 4, 2009
Subject: The process for input into the proposed closure of Balmoral Junior Secondary School and consolidation with Carson Graham Secondary School
[Print Copy]
Board Policy 610: Closure of Schools (Permanent) provides for input into the proposed closures of schools. In regards to Balmoral Junior Secondary School and its potential closure and consolidation with Carson Graham Secondary School, the input process is solely coordinated through a “Balmoral Response Team” and a “Carson Graham Response Team”.
These Response Teams are officially recognized as the representative bodies that will provide the Board of Education with the response to the proposed closure of Balmoral and consolidation with Carson Graham Secondary.
In order to ensure that information is gathered in a coordinated manner and to assist with the preparation of the Report of the Balmoral Response Team and the Carson Graham Response Team, all parents and community members are requested to provide their input on the proposed closure of Balmoral and consolidation with Carson Graham School through their respective Response Teams. This will help ensure that accurate, clear and consistent information is being provided to our community regarding this important matter.
It appears that there may be some confusion in our community resulting from communications initiated by a group of parents who are advocating a particular position related to the potential closure of Balmoral.
Please note that any and all input on the potential closure/consolidation will be directed to the Response Teams.
Opportunities for input to the proposed closure of Balmoral and consolidation with Carson Graham have included the provision of Input forms at the proposed closure meeting, at the Towards the Future for Schools meetings held across the School District, and made available on the School District’s website at www.nvsd44.bc.ca.
The respective Response Teams will receive and collate all input provided through the completion of Input forms and all other written submissions to provide the perspective of the schools and their communities. Input forms and written submissions shall be provided to the Balmoral Response Team at brt@nvsd44.bc.ca and to the Carson Graham Response Team at crt@nvsd44.bc.ca by no later than Friday, May 15, 2009 for consideration in the reports of the Response Teams to the Board of Education.
Thank you for your cooperation.
John Lewis
Superintendent of Schools
April 14, 2009
From the feedback and questions that were received at the Balmoral Community Consultation meeting on April 1, 2009, a series of Questions and Answers have been compiled:
Balmoral Community Consultation Meeting - Questions and Answers
April 6, 2009
The North Vancouver Board of Education is committed to its vision--to provide world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to learn, share, and grow.
Declining enrolment, aging facilities, and funding restraint are the expected realities that will impact planning decisions for the next decade. Fewer students mean less funding and more unused space. The Board of Education must make difficult decisions to address these issues while maintaining its focus on providing rich educational opportunities for students in welcoming, safe, and sustainable facilities that enhance the learning and teaching environment.
As the Board of Education has decided to proceed with the consideration of the consolidation of Balmoral Junior Secondary School and Carson Graham Secondary School, with the potential closure of Balmoral School in June 2012, a consultative process is now proceeding in accordance with Policy 610: Closure of Schools (Permanent). This process provides all members of the School District and its community with opportunities for input with consideration by the Board.
The consultation process includes public meetings, input opportunities, the coordination of response reports from schools, and careful consideration of alternatives to a potential closure. The Board of Trustees is interested in receiving your input into the proposed closure of Balmoral. Your input will assist the Board of Education in its decision-making process.
On April 1, 2009, the Board held a Community Consultation Meeting at Balmoral Junior Secondary School.
Community Consultation Presentation - April 1, 2009
Pertinent Data and Information - Factors for Consideration
Input Form - Proposal to Consider School Closure and Consolidation
A Capital Project Steering Committee has been established for the Balmoral Community. The first of a series of meetings was held on March 25, 2009.
Summary Notes 2009 03 25
For more information about the Balmoral / Carson Graham Capital Project consultation process, please see Carson Graham Replacement School Capital Project.
More information is also available at Towards the Future For Schools.
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