Board votes to keep alternative program
Posted Mar 5, 2010 By Rosalyn Stevens
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Tweet ThisEMC News - The Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) voted last week to continue running its elementary alternative program, after a lengthy review that worried its parents, teachers and students.
After nearly 20 hours of debate, stretching over two meetings, trustees reduced the staff recommendation to a set of guidelines that would recognize the importance of the program, and enhance it for the betterment of all students.
Richard Deadman, chair of the Alternative Education Advisory Committee (ASAC), said he was relieved with the board's decision, and happy that the program can begin the real work of enhancements and potential expansion in the future.
Most importantly, he said, parents now know they can register their children for alternative kindergarten without any fear.
"It's giving the program a needed validation," he added, noting that for many years proponents of alternative education have long felt like leftovers from the former Ottawa Board of Education, where it was created. For years, he said, ASAC has had a number of recommendations for improvement, which could not be implemented until after the review.
Now, he said, the work begins.
"Some of (the recommendations) were simple," he said, " in that we want one superintendent."
"Other things we want to do is work with the University of Ottawa and other research groups...and become (a centre for research)."
Parents and teachers have long considered the alternative education program as a development centre for best practices, which include multi-aged groupings and student-led learning.
As debate around the table wrapped up, some trustees took a moment to thank the review participants, and share views on the program. College zone trustee Pam FitzGerald said the review process brought back a lot of memories from her own children's school days in the district.
"Frankly, if I had to do it again, I never would have removed my younger child from an alternative school," she said. "He was moved over and over again after leaving that school, and none of his needs were met by these other schools."
Calling the alternative program the "ultimate inclusionary schools," which fosters a "culture of support," Ms. FitzGerald said the needs of students change from one situation to the next.
"Frankly, some students need that (support) more than an ability to reading life," she said.
Orleans/Cumberland trustee John Shea, who fought to place an embargo on the expansion of the program and work toward phasing it out, said he looks forward to future opportunities to do so. The trustee noted his disappointment that the program would continue.
"Primarily I'm disappointed because some people have chosen to throw the reputation of our regular...schools under the bus, so to speak," he said.
He suggested the board should not promote school practices that are not available to all students, adding he would prefer the focus remain on the community school model.
In the case of an accommodation or boundary review, and pending board approval, alternative sites could be closed, he noted.
Kitchissippi zone trustee Jennifer McKenzie said she's spent a lot of time throughout the review looking for the "secret recipe" of the alternative program. She said it's important the board allow the program to continue, and take steps to learn from and model the seven tenets on which the program is based.
"I think they really possess something really important there that we have to look at in terms of inclusiveness," she said.
Janet Sheenan, who has two children at Churchill Alternative School, said she is relieved that the program will go on, adding that her children have also been worried about the future of their program.
"We took out a bigger mortgage to even get into the Churchill area, and I wasn't looking forward to moving," she said with a laugh. "And my kids will be so happy."
As an employee of the Upper Canada District School Board, Ms. Sheenan said she was tasked to learn about the alternative model, and implement a similar program in a high school in Perth. Since its creation there, the program has expanded and the board is looking into creating similar programs throughout its region.
With the OCDSB decision to continue the program, she said neighbouring boards would continue to have a place from which to learn.
"I think that (other boards) have something to look to," she said. "They can go in and see it in action, and as a teacher that's what it is. Teaching is a very human thing."
rstevens@thenewsemc.ca
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