Building 2020: What You Should Know
Building 2020 is a four year process being undertaken by the Upper Canada District School Board to implement all of the changes approved by Trustees in accordance with the 2007-08 system-wide Boundary 2020 Review.
In its first (2008-09) year, Building 2020 helped the system to prepare for the majority of elementary school closures, school boundary alignments, and re-organization of French Language Instruction programs that were approved by the Board through the Boundary 2020 Review. K-6/grade 7-12 structures for the Seaway, Glengarry, Char-Lan, Tagwi, and South Grenville Families of schools were also implemented effective September 2009 through Building 2020.
From this success, the Board is continued its careful implementation of school changes. In September 2011, schools in the Cornwall, Gananoque, North Dundas and Rideau Families of Schools began as K-6/7-12 grade structures.
These “new” schools need to recognize that adolescent learners are not big grade 6’s or little grade 9’s, but students with specific needs that can thrive in grade 7-12 structures.
The young adolescent learner requires a distinct type of schooling worthy of their own ideas, philosophies, and strategies. Overall school design must be based upon student needs. All school staff must apply a commonly shared and real understanding of the young adolescent learner. This is an understanding that has framed the discussions of the transition teams. As advisory bodies, they have played a key role in helping the new grades 7-12 schools to create welcoming environments that meet the needs of all students, including our adolescent learners.
Changes for September 2012
All of these supports are now being provided this year for the final phase of Building 2020; preparations are now underway for schools in the Almonte, Athens, Brockville, Carleton Place , North Grenville and Rockland Families of Schools as they organize for K-6/7-12 grade structures for September 2012.
School visits from the board’s senior team and facilities’ engineering staff were undertaken to confirm that effective adolescent programming could be delivered within the space available at each school. Transition teams, led by each Superintendent of School Effectiveness, are currently being held to provide opportunities for students, parents and school staff to dialogue and prepare for September 2012.
Principals of the new K-6 and 7-12 schools for September 2012 have also been meeting on a regular basis to share school improvement strategies and to remain informed of the operational requirements in preparation for September 2012.
For more information on Building 2020, please contact Cindy Peters, Building 2020 Coordinator, at 1-800-267-7131/342-0371 extension 1188.