Boards decide which schools to keep open, which schools to close, which schools need additions, or where new schools are needed, often through a process called “accommodation reviews”.

In the news on September 2nd, 2008:

"Some school closings are inevitable. But boards and municipal and provincial governments ought also to keep their minds open to unconventional solutions." Toronto Star Editorial - click here to read it.

August 31st, 2008:

"Due to declining enrolment, unpopular school closings loom again. But is there another way?" Toronto Star - click here to read it.

→ Click here to view People for Education's updated list of schools slated for closing or accomodation review across the province

Our research shows that between 1999 and 2005, 311 schools closed – double the annual closing rate of the previous ten years.
School closings may be necessary for a number of reasons:

• Enrolment is declining in most boards across the province, which reduces the number of students per school, making it difficult, if not impossible to keep schools open. 
• Some schools would cost more to repair than to rebuild.
• The average size of a school in Ontario has steadily declined over the last 10 years. Per pupil funding amounts were based on larger schools. Though the province now provides funding for at least a principal and a secretary for every school, it has not changed the per pupil numbers for other staff, making small schools difficult to keep open. 
• In some boards, there are a number of small schools fairly close together, and closing one or two might allow a board to afford one larger school with a wider range of programs and, in some cases, improved facilities such as new gyms or libraries.

→ Click here to read the full report on Declining Enrolment in Ontario Schools

→ Click here to see the list of schools under accommodation review as of AUG 2008

→ Click here to discuss these issues with other parents in our forum

School boards must now fully involve the community when they make decisions about a school’s future. Ministry guidelines (Oct./06) lay out the methods boards should use to determine the value of the school – to the community, the students, the board and the local economy. The guidelines also provide an outline of the public consultation process boards must follow, and the minimum timelines for the review. Many boards already have processes in place, or are currently developing them.

Click on this link to read the Ministry of Education Pupil Accommodation Guidelines October 31, 2006 – (Previously referred to as school closure guidelines.)

Links to other websites:

→ Small Schools Project: The Project provides support and assistance to high schools and districts committed to high school redesign and graduating all students college and work-ready. We work with both new small schools and those created by redesigning large comprehensive high schools into smaller, autonomous ones.

→ The Small Schools Workshop

→ Ministry of Education School Closing Guidelines