Ottawa public school board shuffling teachers at 40 schools as it deals with 1,100 student drop in elementary enrolment
Ottawa's largest school board will finish reorganizing staff and students at 40 schools this week, as it deals with a significant drop in enrolment this school year.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) says enrolment was 1,130 students below projections in elementary schools in September, including 750 fewer Kindergarten students.
"As a result of being down that number of students in elementary, we have had some reorganization, and that reorganization is taking place this week," Shawn Lehman, OCDSB Superintendent, told trustees earlier this week.
"As of Friday, all students in our elementary classes that are in new classes will be with their new teacher."
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's 2024-25 budget estimated enrolment at 51,683 elementary students for this school year. The drop in enrolment is spread out at schools across the city, trustees were told.
Lehman says enrolment has "built up" since the start of the school year, with approximately 700 new students arriving in schools.
The school board says due to the decrease in enrolment, it cut 42 full-time equivalent positions across the system, impacting 40 schools. Thirty-eight schools cut one class, while two schools have been reduced by two classes. A memo to trustees said two schools added one class as part of the school reorganization process.
Secondary school enrolment is just under 27,000 students this school year, which is up 10 students from enrolment projections.
Trustees were told that the lower enrolment will have a "significant impact" on the public school board's finances for the 2024-25 school year, but revised estimates are not available at this time.
While some trustees wondered if the enrolment decline was due to the OCDSB's elementary school program review, Director of Education Pino Buffone said the drop is due to a number of factors.
"It appears, from our perspective, there are multiple factors, including one of the important ones at the elementary level is families having access to a community school for the programs they're looking for and having to, in some cases, bypass local schools to get to a program they're looking for," Buffone said.
Staff added feedback gathered from staff and principals on the declining enrolment include families moving neighbourhoods or moving out of the Ottawa area, but the reasons have not been consistent.
The OCDSB is conducting a review of all elementary school programs, including changes to French immersion and special education classes, with recommendations for changes expected in the spring.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'There is no electricity': Canadian travellers in Cuba urge caution in hurricane's wake
Cuba's power grid was knocked out by Hurricane Rafael, which ripped across the country as a Category 3 storm. In western Cuba, it toppled buildings and pushed 50,000 people to find shelter elsewhere. Cubans were already enduring rolling blackouts due to energy shortages.
Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change
Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.
Three charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne's death
Three people have been charged in relation to One Direction singer Liam Payne's death in a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine authorities said on Thursday.
RCMP already 'on high alert' for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
Canada's federal police force has been preparing for months on a contingency plan for a potential massive influx of migrants across the border following Trump's promise of 'mass deportations' of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
America votes: How celebrities are reacting to Trump's decisive victory
Celebrities from Hulk Hogan to Ariana Grande are sharing their reactions to the U.S. election, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House.
Biden delivers remarks following Trump's win
U.S. President Joe Biden delivered remarks to the nation Thursday in what was his first appearance on camera following Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Kamala Harris.
Canadian arrested in Florida for allegedly possessing child sex abuse content
A 25-year-old Canadian man was arrested in Florida last weekend after police say he was caught with child sex abuse content.
3 Winnipeg police officers charged with breach of trust, theft
Three members of the Winnipeg Police Service have been charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice and theft following a lengthy investigation
Reporter accused of being Russian spy tells MPs they fell for disinformation
David Pugliese told the House of Commons security committee today he found it astonishing that none of the MPs on the committee challenged the allegations that he was a spy.