Parents worry about distancing as school hits 150% capacity

A school board'splan to address anticipated overcrowding at a west Ottawa elementary school would only bring enrolment down to around 150 per cent by the end of October, leaving parents worried about how the school will apply COVID-19 measures such as physical distancing.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) said Westwind Public School's enrolment is projected to be 960 students in a building with capacity for 628, which is 153 per cent capacity.

Faster than expected home-building has led to the influx of children in Stittsville, the board said, as well as higher enrolment at Westwind since it also provides early French immersionto students from kindergarten to Grade 6.

Melanie Aumont, whosetwo sons will start junior kindergarten and Grade 3, said she already feels some fear about opting for in-person learning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and worries about how children will be spaced out.

"To then learn that that environment is bursting at the seams is not acceptable," Aumont said.

She learned Tuesday her son's JK class will have 29 studentsthe maximum and she doesn't know how big her eldest's class will be.

"I feel desperate. I feel helpless," Aumont said.

She said remote learning would be unmanageable while trying to continue to work with two school-aged children at home.

Overcrowding a chronic issue

In a statement, the OCDSB said arrangements are being made with consideration of health and safety protocols related to COVID-19, while also referring to a report set to be discussed at the Sept. 14 board of trustees meeting.

The report saysWestwind has takenstudents from the growing community that's meant to be served by the future Fernbank elementary school after similar overcrowding at John Young Elementary School.

The staff report's proposed solution is to direct new students from the Fernbankarea to Stittsville Public School starting this October, and will allow accommodations for siblings.

The board said this would reduce enrolment to 918 students at Westwind still 146 per cent of the building's capacity and require the use of 12 portables, the maximum that can fit on the site.

Stittsville Public School would then be at 109 per cent of its capacity and require five portables.

'Kids deserve stability'

Aumont said she is frustrated the school board's plan doesn't account for the expected growth in the area.

She said she'd be willing to accept a moreextensiveredrawing of the Westwind catchment area this fall, even if it means her kids have to move to another school after the school year has already begun.

"Our kids deserve stability. Our kids deserve to be in a safe environment. I hope that some real changes are being made here because what we've seen so far, I feel like, is not good enough," she said.

The OCDSB said the new Fernbank School is scheduled to open in September 2022, with all students from that catchment area between kindergarten and Grade 5 moved there immediately.