Yes to a French-language high school, but ...

The OCDSB can't erode other special programs to build it, says Justine Bell.

The following is in response to “Central Ottawa urgently needs a French-language high school” concerning the Ottawa-carleton District School Board:

I completely agree that a French high school is needed, but not at the expense of our specialized programs and rapidly growing English-speaking population.

The author of the initial article cites statistics taken during the pandemic to suggest that OCDSB schools in the downtown area are not being utilized. During this period, the students at the schools noted were particularly impacted and we did experience lower attendance rates. However, this does not mean these schools were not being used to support students.

Most of our Centretown schools are at capacity.

Adult High School is a hub for thousands of new immigrants, whose numbers are growing and will continue to grow. Richard Pfaff Alternate High School is a central location that supports students who can't attend their local school, and who are often struggling. Those numbers fluctuate. The site at 440 Albert St., is home to specialized programs and our growing population. We would like to update the site for full use, but haven't been able to secure funding from the province. The truth is that all boards need adequate resources to meet the needs of our community.

The Ontario Ministry of Education also has strict rules about the manner in which school utilization is measured. Sometimes the size of facilities or the nature of the students they serve dictates that the capacity-reporting is not the experience on the ground in the school itself. Ottawa Technical Secondary School, for example, has one of the largest Physical Support Units in the district. By its nature it requires more space in the building; fewer students are served in the larger space they require, and that skews the capacity calculation.

For schools such as Richard Pfaff Alternate High School, and Adult High School, student enrolment is typically for a shorter period of time than one would see at other high schools. This continuous intake of students (albeit for a shorter period of time) also skews capacity. So, while in 2022 we reported an on-the-ground capacity of 1,286 students at Adult High School and an enrolment on a required “count” day of 797 students, Adult High School actually served approximately 1,000 in 2022. The OCDSB can also report that the utilization rate of the school (skewed though it may be) increased by more than ten per cent in 2023 from 2022. The Adult High School also includes a child care centre and the OCDSB'S Family Reception Centre to support newcomer families.

The bottom line is that the OCDSB is also experiencing increased growth in many of our downtown elementary and secondary schools. Each site plays an important role in supporting the learning needs of students, young and old, and their families. We need these spaces and will continue to need them.

I am available to brainstorm and work with the French-speaking community on how to get the province to better support our students. In the meantime, we must protect our existing sites.