School board to adjust Paris boundaries to accommodate increasing enrollment and growth

By Casandra Turnbull

The Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) is reviewing its school boundaries in the wake of major population growth in this region

In June 2022, the school board approved a boundary review for Paris, also known as Brant North. This typically happens when a new school opens, grades or programs change or if there are too few or too many students in a school. With recent growth in Paris over the last five years, many of Paris’ schools are nearing, if not exceeding, capacity

This review affects all the public schools in Paris – Cobblestone Elementary, North Ward, Paris Central and Paris District High School, as well as Glen Morris Central Public School. In a recent announcement from the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB), boundary review talks will commence this fall for both of Paris’ Catholic schoolsHoly Family School and Sacred Heart School as well as Blessed Sacrament School in Burford.

The public school system review called for feedback from parents and caregivers, so a public meeting took place on January 18th to discuss proposed changes. A final meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee took place January 25th to review the public’s feedback, three previous committee meetings had taken place last fall.

The Paris Boundary Review Special Ad Hoc Committee is preparing a report that will be presented to the GEDSB’s Finance Committee on February 13th , says Dave Smouter, Manager of Communications and Community Relations for the GEDSB. “This report will reflect public input, population projections, capacity constraints and transportation issues, and the recommendations of the committee based on these factors.

A final decision is expected at the Regular Board Meeting on February 27, at which point we will know what kinds of boundary or other changes may impact Paris schools encompassed by the review, and the timing of those changes,” he said in an email to The Paris Independent

Right now, Cobblestone Elementary is operating at 121% capacity; Paris Central is at 91% capacity, North Ward 83% and Paris High School at 95%. With Burford, Glen Morris and St.

George-German School all operating within 80%-85% capacity, there is little room to move students away from Paris schools.

To help increase capacity, Smouter said there is a probability that additional portables will be placed at Cobblestone Elementary and North Ward Schools. Paris Central cannot accommodate portables due to its small size.

There is a lot of push back from parents, caregivers and community members to build a new school in Paris to accommodate all the growth, which is only predicted to increase with the recent passing of Bill 23: More Homes Built Faster Act.

Smouter explained that Grand Erie requires a Ministry approved business case for a new school before the board can begin to look for land to purchase and build on. At this time, the Ministry has not opened the window to accept business cases

Overall, there is anticipated to be a student capacity shortfall in the town of Paris of 570 pupil places by 2031-32. Any boundary review changes that are approved will take place at the start of the new school year in September.