Board Policy

Policy 610 — School Closure, School Configurations, and Student Group Transfer

Grasslands Public Schools

GUIDELINES

1. The Board may, by resolution, permanently or temporarily
   1. close three or more consecutive grades in an elementary school, or
   2. close an entire junior high school program, or
   3. close an entire high school program, or
   4. change the school configuration by adding or removing one or more grades to or from another school, or
   5. transfer a group or groups of students from one school to one or more other schools.
2. Board decisions regarding these actions will be determined by one or more of the following governance responsibilities:
   1. Student learning and programming
   2. Stewardship of system resources
   3. Student and staff health and safety
3. These governance responsibilities will consider one or more of the following:
   1. Consideration of future growth or decline in student enrolment
   2. Trends and/or projections for enrolment in a school or within grades in a school
   3. Quality and feasibility of programming
   4. Improving school facility utilization
   5. Fiscal accountability, sustainability, and efficiency
   6. Health and/or safety concerns
   7. Transportation needs and feasibility
   8. Program implications for each school impacted
   9. Community considerations
4. When school closure or transfer of students is being contemplated, notification shall be provided in writing to:
   1. the parents of every student enrolled in the school who may be affected by the action considered in Section 1 and
   2. any other person, municipality or community organization who, in the opinion of the Board, may be significantly affected.
5. Notification shall be followed by:
   1. opportunity for the public to respond to the Board's proposal in Section 1,
   2. consideration of responses provided under (a),
   3. consideration of the financial impact of a decision on whether or not to proceed with the contemplated action in Section 1.
      1. on the community in which the school in question is located, and
      2. on the other Grasslands' schools
   4. consideration of costs associated with any major facility and maintenance upgrades, transportation needs,
   5. consideration of future growth or decline in student enrolment, and
   6. if there is a possible school closure, consideration of potential alternative educational or community uses for all or part of the school building.
6. In the event of the closure of a school, or the closure of a portion of a school, it may be necessary to relocate or reduce staff.
   1. Transfers of professional staff, if required, will be the responsibility of the superintendent, as outlined under School Education Act Section 119. A teacher transfer appeal hearing, if requested will be conducted as described in Policy 240.
   2. Professional staff reduction at a school will be conducted as described in Policy 720 and Administrative Procedure 712.
   3. Reduction or relocation of support staff will be as outlined in Administrative Procedure 713 – Reduction of Support Staff.

PROCEDURES

A. Transfer of Students and/or Change in School Configuration

1. If the Board is contemplating relocation of students, but not school closure, including possible school configuration changes at one or more schools, consultation will occur with parents and community groups at the school or schools affected.

2. After obtaining input and considering alternatives, at a regular meeting, the Board shall vote on a motion choosing one of the possible alternatives involving a school configuration change at one or more schools.

3. If students are to be transferred from one school to one or more other schools, parents will be informed of the decision and will be advised of transition plans and other arrangements to ensure that the change of schools is as positive an experience as possible for the students.

B. School Closure

1. When school closure is contemplated, a motion shall be made at a regular meeting of the Board indicating that the Board is studying the possibility.
2. At that same meeting the Board shall select a date for a public meeting.
3. The superintendent shall inform the parties identified in Guideline 2 4 of the motion and the date and location of the public meeting.
4. The superintendent shall arrange for public notification of the motion and the date and location of the public meeting using the division website, local media and/or appropriate social media.
5. At the public meeting, the Board shall present all relevant information for the purpose of discussing the possible closure, implications, implementation considerations, and alternatives to the closure.
6. From the date of the public meeting, the Board will receive formal written submissions relating to the proposed school closure for a period of two (2) weeks.
7. The Board shall consider information provided at the public meeting, any formal written submissions and, if necessary, direct the superintendent to obtain any information that it requires to make an informed decision.
8. At a public meeting the Board shall, by resolution, decide whether to proceed with the school closure.
9. All school closure procedures shall be initiated and completed no later than April 1st of the calendar year in which the proposed closure is to take place. The Board may extend the school closure procedures beyond one school year, if necessary.
10. If the vote is to close a school permanently:
    1. the Board shall notify, in writing, the Minister of Education and Childcare. Information will include the name of the school, and the effective date of the closure.
    2. the Board shall identify alternative uses for the school or dispose of the property in accordance with section 192 of the Education Act.