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Hi Jasmin
Still waiting for the Mattamy Diocese application to come to Milton Council (will let everyone know when) it is being held up due to water and waste water capacity issues according to the Planner. The school is planned to be on the north side of Clark west of Thompson Road just south of the Pentecostal church. (check the sign on the sign south of the church)

You should check with Donna Danielli the school board trustee for more details I understand they are still hoping for a fall 2008 opening since it only takes about 9 months to build the school.

Colin Best
Local & regional councillor
Wards 2 & 4

I spoke to the Dierctor of the HDSB last week and he told me that they are building #5 in the west end since the property for #4 is held up in OMB.
The capital plan shows #5 opening in 2009, #6 in 2010 and #4 in 2011

Different school boards. The Catholic board has only opened two new elementary schools.

Hmmm is right... they seem to sneak that change in. but if Mattamy is succesful in rezoning the land south of the church can't they use that site instead? i think i will contact Donna Danelli to ask the question..

daycaremom - did the director mention anything about the other sight for the #4 school?

Hi Lenny
You may want to talk with Reverend Wlhelm the Catholic School Board trustee regarding a new catholic high school since it is their jurisdiction.

I understand they are under a number of pressures regarding funding etc. that complicate the situation, from what I hear about the new public high school to replace E.C. Drury in September 2009 the estimated cost is over $ 22 million already.

Something to ask the candidates about when they are asking for your vote in the provincial election on October 10th.

Colin Best
Local & regional councillor
Wards 2 & 4.

Hi canadasky
As far as I know the Mattamy Diocese lands are an alternative to the previous site which could be put to other uses. I am still waiting to see the overall plan from Mattamy and the other builders in the Coates Crossing area as Council has to resolve some other issues regarding traffic planning, access to Highway #25 and densities etc.

You may want to talk to Donna Danielli the area trustee regarding what the school board is planning for the sites and time lines as Mattamy is working with both boards to get these schools started as soon as possible.

Colin Best

Bernadette, the director didn't know anything about the proposal Mattamy is making to change properties. When I mentioned it, it was news to him. He was going to check with the planning department to see if they were aware.
I would assume that Milton #5 is being built with the money that was slated for #4. A good question for our trustee would be why are Milton #5 & 6 on the list to be built before #4? I bet the response would be that they have the funds and the property for those schools available so they may as well have pupil places over there (West end) which would make sense if #4's is going to be held up in OMB until Fall 2008 (when they would have to start building to open in 2009). It was either Donna Danielli or Yaw Obeng (superintendent) that told us it could take up to 9 months for the site to clear OMB, so why the wait? It's been stuck in OMB for months already.
Bernadette, I am sure you know the students that are slated to attend #4 are currently being directed to Sam Sherratt. SS has already had 6 portables added to it to accommodate the growth. That is going to max out soon and the students will then be directed to Milton #5 until #4 is built then they will be brought back to this area. It will be the same thing that happened to us when we moved here. Our children (phase one and two) were sent to Foster for two years, then moved to Hadfield when it opened. They stayed there for two years and then were sent to Hawthorne when it opened. My daughter was so excited this year to be in a school for a third year. Very sad. They are going to do the same thing again to others by not opening #4 next.
We need everyone to put pressure on the Trustee to get her butt in gear and get #4 opened next year, #5 opened in 2009 and #6 opened in 2010. We cannot wait any longer for these schools to be built.
Don't even get me started on a high school!

interesting... my son is attending Sam Sherratt right now and my youngest will be starting next year. Although i like the school - it was built 25 yrs ago without a bus drop off area and no space for portables (new schools are built with provisions for both). it is a shame if they have to use up most of the playground for portables...i walked through this week, and it's pretty crowded with the portables they have already..

anyway, i will be composing a letter to Donna today. i hope she can give us the answers we are looking for

Lenny, good point. But if we disregard the different school boards for a minute, there is a huge looming high School shortage period that needs to be addressed. EC Dury is leased from the ministry of education, it is not owned by the school board. That land is worth a lot of $$$$ and who knows what will happen to it (more houses like what happened to the huge park behind it??). There was supposed to be a highschool built at Thompson and Louis St Laurent but the developers lef t a too small parcel of land and the school board rejected it because it was not safe to build a school there. So whether you go to Catholic or Public, there is a huge amount of kids coming into the system that have no where to go.

Milton has been a cash cow for both school boards for years. Our old crumbling schools were only getting patched up to fund all the new schools in Oakville and Burlington. Now those schools sit empty and there is no $$$$ to build in Milton.

I was at a School Board meeting last year. SOmeone had a great idea of building a huge 3000 student High School but using it for elementary students then when the numbers dictate, designate the upper floors for high school. That way they can kill 2 birds with one stone.

Call you local school board trustee and ask them wha the boards are doing to plan for the future... it is scary!

Matt

There will be a public meeting within the next month by the Halton District School Board. They will be outlining their plan for accommodation in Milton (probably what is already posted on the HDSB site as accommodation study). Please show up and voice your concerns. Let the board and our trustee know how you feel.
These meetings are typically advertised in the local paper as well as flyers sent home in backpacks with the kids. As soon as I know the date and location, I will post it (if no one else has already).
We have not had a huge turnout at these meetings. We need to change that. You do not have to have children in the school system now to get involved.

Movinginsept - Drafting a letter and getting signatures might be a good plan, but do not rely solely on our trustee. Anything that people send to her (letters, questions, petitions...) should be copied to the chair of the trustee's Gillian Tuck-Kutarna, our Superintendent Yaw Obeng, and the Director of the school board Wayne Joudrie.

I personally am waiting until the next public meeting to see what they propose and how they listen to us. If it appears they are not listening......... gloves are off

thanks daycaremom! i will be there too.

as for a group letter.. i think that is great, but it may be better to all voice our concerns individually- addressing all the people mentioned above. a list of names on one letter is easier to ignore than a pile of letters/emails.

we'll see what their plan is at the next public meeting.

A parade with all 4000 kids from the Milton schools might get their attention!

Matt- you are right to be concerned with the High Schools and you are righ about EC Drury and the property being leased. The board has communicated that concern to everyone and the accomodation study shows EC closing in 2010 and the new one opening at the same time.
I know they will be building it to accommodate 1200 students and it will have to take all of the specialized programs from EC. I have not heard where it is going. The last I heard it was supposed to be at Loius St. Laurent and Thompson, but they do need something like 1200 acres, so you may be right that they have chosen another location for it. I wouldn't be surprised if they stuck it out in the West end.

Building a school for 3000 students would be insane enough for high school. I cannot imagine how they could possibly function in a school that large with elementary school kids. I know how hard it is to have 1200 JK- grade 8 in one school. 3000 of them in one building would be impossible.
I certainly would not want my kids going there.

Colin - any word on when Mattay is supposed to be back at council regarding the schools?
Do you know if the HDSB is aware of this and have you spoken to them?

Hi daycaremom
No have not heard any more information on the Diocese lands. having a meeting with some Mattamy officials next week and will get more information on their plans.

I understand the high school site is about 10-15 acres in size about the same size as Bishop reding High school for a 2000 student school.

Will let everyone know when I hear of any information.
Colin Best
colin.best@milton.ca