French Immersion Reconfiguration Q&A

In early May, the Board of Trustees and Senior Administration held a virtual meeting and five in-person meetings with the community regarding the French immersion reconfiguration plan for École Sun Valley School, École John Henderson Middle School, Bird’s Hill School, Robert Andrews Middle School, and Dr. F.W.L. Hamilton School. Attendees were provided an opportunity to ask questions related to the reconfiguration during the meetings. In the spirit of open and transparent communication with our public, below you will find responses to the questions posed.

If you submitted a question, but don’t see it listed or answered in a similar question, please email info@retsd.mb.ca.

 PUBLIC CONSULTATION

• If the Board of Trustees approved this review in the fall, why weren’t parents involved in the process once these five schools were identified? Why was there no consultation?

  Even though the review began in the fall, the five schools weren’t identified until the Senior Administration Team reviewed all 42 schools and other facilities. It was not until February that these five schools were identified as the ones whose boundaries would need to be reconfigured. At that point, plans were put in place to inform families and the community. Keep in mind, consultation can only occur when there are choices to be discussed. When the Board of Trustees recently consulted with the community regarding the 2024–25 budget, there were options to discuss. However, in the case of reconfiguration of French immersion programming north of the perimeter, there was no choice—this reconfiguration had to take place.

• With the predictive software showing numbers would increase, wouldn’t it have made more sense to start this reconfiguration process years ago when you knew the numbers were increasing?

  A couple of years ago, the software did show a slight increase in enrolment overall, but because it is predicated on families applying for the Child Tax Benefit, what it cannot account for is the increase in newcomer families to our division. No software can predict situations like war or famine that result in families having to leave everything behind and start over. RETSD has the highest number of newcomers out of any division in the province. We welcome all these families to our schools but cannot predict the numbers year to year. Also, just before the pandemic, the trend was that high-rise apartment blocks did not yield many students; this has also since changed in recent years, which the predictive software does not consider.

• When are these moves taking place?

  The boundary reconfiguration will come into effect in September 2025. The schools and their communities have been provided with 16 months’ notice, which is the longest notice that has been given for any reconfiguration in the division’s history.

CAPACITY

• Why does the division have capacity issues when budgets have gone up over the years? Can’t the division use that extra money to build new schools?

  Rising enrolment and divisional budget money for the construction of schools are not related. School construction or significant renovations are part of the capital budget, which the provincial government allocates and oversees. The Board submits a list of projects to the province each year, and the province then decides which projects to fund. The Board has been advocating for new schools in RETSD for at least 10 years and will continue to do so.

• Until new schools are built, will the division have to go over the classroom capacity to accommodate any additional students?

  The division has no intention of going over the classroom capacity. Decisions such as this reconfiguration are meant to alleviate any rise in classroom sizes.

• The population at École Sun Valley School shows a decline. Help us understand why students must move?

  Because of increasing enrolment, RETSD needs to make use of every seat in every classroom in every school. The population of École Sun Valley School will decline after the reconfiguration takes place. The current plans move students north of the Perimeter where the population is incredibly stable, thus creating space south of the Perimeter where it is desperately required.

• What is the plan for 2027 when Bird’s Hill reaches 96%?

  Over the next few years, we will need every school to be at a high level of capacity. The projections north of the Perimeter are stable and should be able to maintain that high level of capacity without going over. However, if that happens, the Board will take steps to solve the issue.

SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

• While a new French program is being created, will the programming at Bird’s Hill and Robert Andrews have fewer resources at the beginning??

  All programs will have equal resources regardless of the school your child attends. There will be an appropriate number of resources at Bird’s Hill and Robert Andrews as we begin these new programs.

• What impact will this move have on student access to the gym, music, the library, and use of spaces at Bird’s Hill School?

  The programming will remain the same for students at Bird’s Hills School.

• Who will be the staff of the new French immersion programs at Bird’s Hill and Robert Andrews schools?

  The school division has a staffing process that both honours the teachers’ collective agreement and ensures that schools receive excellent staff. In previous reconfigurations, some teachers from the sending schools have transitioned with the students. In any case, classrooms will be led by teachers skilled in French immersion programming.

• What physical changes will happen at Bird’s Hill to accommodate Sun Valley students and French immersion programming?

  No physical changes are required at Bird’s Hill School, apart from the addition of bilingual signage. We will also ensure that French books and resources are added to the school’s collections.

• Why not introduce French immersion to these new schools one grade at a time, so those currently at Sun Valley and John Henderson can finish at those schools?

  When introducing a new program, it would be inefficient to only start with one grade while leaving the others. For the introduction of this program to be successful, we need to move all grades at one time, which allows us to move all the required teachers and resources.

• Why didn’t the families moving from Sun Valley attend Bird’s Hill in the first place if that was closer to their home?

  There has not been an option for French immersion programming in Bird’s Hill prior to this decision. Families who have chosen French Immersion programming for their child(ren) had to send them to Sun Valley. Regardless, all 42 schools in RETSD provide excellent programming and support for students.

• Would it be possible for the students in Grade 5 for 2025–26 to finish early years in their current school?

  To establish a full French immersion program, all six grades need to move for September 2025. This way, we will be able to ensure full staffing and programming at both schools.

• Is a late French immersion program at Robert Andrews being considered?

  The division will reach out to the community to consult on programming wants and needs over the next year. Based on the data we collect, decisions will be made to determine if late French immersion programming would be appropriate. Until that time, late French immersion is available at École Munroe Middle School.

• Are there any plans to bring a high school to East St. Paul?

  The Board continues to monitor enrolment patterns in all our schools. Based on this data, the division advocates for new schools at the locations where grade levels and programs are needed.

• What plans are underway for new schools?

  On behalf of its communities, the Board has advocated for a new school in RETSD for at least 10 years.

STUDENT SUCCESS

• What plans are in place to aid students through the transition? Will there be an early introduction to the school and staff?

  Over the 2024–25 school year, school administrators will work together to ensure families have a smooth transition to school. This transition may include invitations to parent council meetings, special events, spring open houses, and other opportunities to connect. This is not the first reconfiguration that has occurred in RETSD. We will use our past experiences to inform the transition activities and strategies of this reconfiguration.

• How will you support kids who must move to a new school, get used to new students, and adjust to new teachers?

  There will be ample support for those who will be changing schools, both before and after the move. RETSD staff want the best for all students and will assist any who may be having a hard time. We also encourage parents to let your child’s teacher know if they are experiencing difficulties, so the school can assist as soon as possible.

• Will additional resources be available for students at their new school to help them with any mental health challenges resulting from the transition?

  The resources at the receiving schools will be the same as the resources offered at all our schools. Personnel from student services will work closely with school administrators and teachers to ensure that if additional resources are needed during this reconfiguration period, they will be provided. Staff in all RETSD schools support students through many difficult transitions throughout their educational career with us.

• Can parents request their children be placed in the same class as other kids who will be moving, so they have a chance to bond?

  Decisions on class placements are made by school administrators with input from teachers. Overall class dynamics are looked at when choosing student classrooms; however, reconfiguration is one of the factors administrators can consider when making these decisions.

CHILDCARE

• There are no childcare options in East St. Paul. What are parents supposed to do in 2025 when we must switch schools?

  Letters have been sent to all the daycares in the area, and the Senior Administration has met with these daycares to discuss space needs. They have also met with the deputy minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning to emphasize the need for childcare in the East St. Paul area. The division is willing to support parents in every way they can as they collaborate to find solutions within their communities.

• What has the division done to help attract additional childcare spaces to the area to alleviate the pressure on families?

  Senior Administration recently met with the deputy minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning. While childcare is not one of the division’s responsibilities, we want to assist the families in our communities whenever possible.

• We are wondering about the Y program and when they will offer spots to people on the waitlist?

  We are currently in conversation with all childcare providers and with the province to advocate for additional spaces.

• Currently the Y is the daycare at Dr. Hamilton and Bird’s Hill School. Will those students hold their spots if they move from one school to the other?

  We are currently in conversation with all childcare providers and with the province to advocate for additional spaces. Those families with current spots should discuss the plans with their child-care provider.

SCHOOLS OF CHOICE

• Will schools of choice applications be accepted during the time of reconfiguration?

  It is the division’s practice during reconfigurations to close impacted schools to Schools of Choice. The pause on Schools of Choice ensures we can staff and resource schools effectively and quickly because the programs will better match our projections.

• When will Schools of Choice open again for these five schools?

  There is no set date for when Schools of Choice will be available again, or if it will be available again for these five schools. Whenever a reconfiguration takes place, the division allows at least a few years for enrolment to settle before making any decisions regarding Schools of Choice.

• If Dr. Hamilton has space, can Schools of Choice students from Bird’s Hill go to Dr. Hamilton?

  While we complete the reconfiguration and get everyone settled in their new catchments, all impacted schools will be closed to Schools of Choice.

TRANSPORTATION

• If this change will save money in transportation costs, can there be additional routes added for those families that need children transported from daycares in the city?

  Right now, there are no plans to add additional routes within the city because provincial funding for transportation is based on a student’s residence, not daycare location.

• If the students must be bussed, can they be transported from their current daycare if it is in the city?

  According to the Public Schools Act, funding for transportation is based on a student’s residence, not the daycare location. Even if a student qualifies for transportation, the daycare must be on the same route to the designated school.

FUTURE PLANNING

• Will specific addresses be posted for those who need to move?

  Families impacted by the move have received a letter indicating their child(ren) will be changing schools in September 2025. Each school has larger maps for reference. If there is still confusion, families can contact the board office at 204.667.7130 or info@retsd.mb.ca to ask for a specific address.

• How is the Board planning for new developments across the division?

  When a new development is projecting to increase enrolment, the Board makes a decision regarding the school boundaries and where those students will attend (it will not necessarily be the nearest school). The Costco development has been monitored for several years and the Board has repeatedly put in requests to the province for a new school in that area, whereas the increase in the number of newcomers was more difficult to predict.

• Will other reconfigurations be necessary?

  The division continually monitors school enrolment and facility capacity. As we are experiencing unprecedented growth, future reconfigurations may become necessary. However, it is important to note that the changing of school boundaries is not new to the division. Recently, there have been boundary reconfigurations impacting the French immersion programming in the Transcona area, the English-Ukrainian Bilingual Program, and between Harold Hatcher School and Wayoata School, and École Neil Campbell School and École Munroe Middle School. In fact, school divisions and districts across Canada are currently dealing with overcrowding and the need to change school catchment areas rapidly and often.

• What will the process be for future enrolment increases so that parents can be part of the process and don’t feel surprised?

  The Board and Senior Administration will continually review division facilities to identify changes that may be required. It is not the intention to blindside families; however, until we have reached a level of certainty regarding facilities, we don’t want to alarm families unnecessarily.