London parents share how disruptive system-wide boundary changes will be for their kids

Some parents of students in London's largest school board oppose recommendations made about proposed boundary changes that could change where their kids go to high school depending on which part of the city they live in. 

Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) officials heard from parents who expressed how the potential shuffling of students will make for long and expensive commutes for some students, and can disrupt the current social circles they have with their peers.

Maggie McDermott is a member of Central Secondary School's council, who spoke at Tuesday's special board meeting urging trustees to continue allowing the downtown school to accept both in-area and out-of-area students.

"When we consulted our school community, over 94 per cent responded that Central should continue to accept out-of-area schools," she said. "Comments reflected that Central offers a place to those students who might not be best served at their home schools."

Recommendations to review boundaries are to match London's rapid population growth, which according to a report, will significantly impact enrolment across TVDSB schools in the next decade.

The report predicts that most of the growth will happen in north London, but it will also affect the downtown core leaving some schools under-populated, and others overcrowded. 

Dozens of parents also made their concerns known through a written public input.

One Beal student's parent wrote that any change in zoning prevents their child from attending their chosen school until their graduation in 2026, which would be "severely detrimental to both their mental health and sense of community."

"The kids from other districts should have right to attend the school which is not belonging to the district the school is locating at and to enjoy the specific program which they are interested in," wrote another parent.

French immersion will also suffer, parents say

Margaret Jane Kidnie's son is in French immersion at Banting. She pushed back against a new French immersion program at Clarke Road Secondary School in her speech. 

Kidnie said students would rather enrol in an established and reputed program instead of taking their chances in a fledgling program, describing it as a "gamble at best".

"Louise Arbour families have told the Banting subcommittee that they would leave French immersion at TVDSB rather than take up the opportunity to be among the first graduates at a new site," she said. 

She worries this will deter students from enrolling in French immersion and a new program won't be as successful due to the drop in enrolment, leading to a potential teacher shortage.

"French immersion is a small program here in London that is punching way above its weight," Kidnie added.

The board could redirect Eagle Heights students to Central while keeping the lottery system there intact and giving more breathing room to keep Louise Arbour students at Banting, Kidnie said. 

Trustees will make the decision at their next meeting on June 27.