Ottawa public school board looking to address concerns about proposed changes to elementary schools

Parents voice their concerns about proposed changes to OCDSB elementary school programs and boundaries. CTV’s Shaun Vardon reports.

The head of Ottawa’s public school board says the board is working to address “many of the concerns” raised by parents about changes to elementary schools, including focusing on “hot spots” for boundary changes.

Trustees with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board heard from more than 20 delegations during a special meeting Wednesday night on the proposed Elementary Program Review. The aim of the review is to offer French Immersion in almost every elementary school in Ottawa starting in 2026.

• Here’s what you need to know about proposed elementary program and school changes at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

The changes to streamline OCDSB offerings to Enhanced English and French Immersion includes changing the grade structure at 30 schools, while more than 100 schools will have new boundaries. Parents have raised concerns the boundary changes will cause children to travel further to school and split up families into different schools.

“We are looking at doing our best to be able to put a set of recommendations forward that address a lot of those concerns,” Pino Buffone, OCDSB Director of Education, told CTV News Ottawa.

“But I will share won’t be perfect. (It) won’t ever meet the needs of 78,000 students in their entirety but we are trying to do our very best.”

Buffone said the Ontario government lifting the moratorium on school closures would “change the dynamics” for the boundary review, but the board must operate within the guidelines that no schools can close.

“We’re working within the parameters that we do have to ensure that we’re meeting change that we have known we need to do for the better part of a quarter-century,” Buffone said.

“I understand that the impact across the district is differentiated and we are looking at areas that I would consider hot spots in tonight’s conversation and our planners are well aware of these sites to see what we could do. We are looking at that right now, but I know that no matter what plan we come up with it won’t be perfect for each and every student.”

Dozens of parents gathered at the OCDSB main office ahead of Wednesday’s board meeting to protest the proposed changes to the school programs.

“Shutting down specialized programs, classes and shutting down Alternative programs affects every child in Ottawa, whether they are in a mainstream class or specialized program,” parent Elizabeth MacDonald said.

“I don’t know what they were considering or what their priorities were when putting this plan together, but it was not the well-being of the children,” Shannon Worek said.

The public-school board launched the Elementary Program Review last Spring, saying it will “determine whether the current program model serves the needs of the community.” The school board currently offers six programs in elementary schools – Full-Day Kindergarten, English with Core French, Early French Immersion, Middle French Immersion, Alternative Program and the Ottawa-Carleton Virtual School. There is also special education and English as a Second Language services.

• 30 Ottawa public schools to see grade changes under elementary program review: report

In January, the school board released the proposed changes to its programs, consolidating elementary school programs into Enhanced English and French Immersion, and eliminating Middle French Immersion, closing Alternative schools and phasing out some special education programs.

As part of the changes, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is changing the grade structure at 30 schools and will alter the boundaries at 123 schools across the city. The changes would see 117 elementary schools offer Enhanced English and French Immersion, four schools would only offer French Immersion and two schools would offer special education.

The proposed changes to the OCDSB programs and school boundaries are scheduled to take effect in September 2026

The OCDSB will hold two virtual public consultation sessions on Monday. Trustees will finalize the Elementary Program Review and the proposed school changes in April.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Shaun Vardon