Our community was built on a vision of being vibrant, sustainable, inclusive and elevating our community together. 

Situation:

An urgent and emerging situation becomes before our community. An emergency and a call for help, where our most vulnerable (children) are at the heart of. 

W.J. Holsgrove Elementary School students need our help as the increasing levels of the population and detrimental state of the current school begin to threaten and deter the prosperity and education of our most vulnerable.

Problem:

The W.J Holsgrove school is currently 250% over capacity, making the majority of the student body outside of the school. With projections in the next 3 years up to 500% and further to this up too 697% in the next 10 to 15 years. As community members we can agree that this is not sustainable or practical. Unfortunately, time is running out before the fire marshal or authority having jurisdiction shuts the school down turning our kids away to other schools or communities. This in addition to would leave a void in our community threatening the very thing that made this community thrive.

Our student community is continuously hurting after many years of having to be neglected in a building where hazardous substances and conditions apply everyday. 

Commonly referred to as "Holsgrove", a publicly funded school, was built on the principle of ensuring our most vulnerable have place to shine, flourish and prosper. This is supported by the generous donation of W.J. Holsgrove himself and his family donating the lands for education.

We as community members need to encourage a 21st century building to once again allow our most vulnerable to thrive and prosper again. This is later supported by WHO and UNESCO launched the Global School Health Initiative, which later developed in the multiagency Focusing Resources on Effective School Health (FRESH) Initiative. This defined six interrelated pillars of health on students;

1. Healthy school policies
2. Physical school environment
3. Social school environment
4. Health skills and education
5. Links with parents and community
6. Access to (school) health services
Solution

(World Health Organization, 2021)

Opportunity and Solution

A unique opportunity has come before the community. One that has not been seen before. The City of Kingston and the Limestone District School Board are partnering to propose a land transfer between the existing W.J. Holsgrove property and current Westbrook Park.

This would allow for our most vulnerable to be served with the highest degree of services that have been lacking for decades along with high quality education, health, inclusivity and sustainability in mind. In addition to the new school, it would allow the community to grow and serve a greater purpose, as a community space, a place of gathering, active indoor/outdoor areas to promote more efficient opportunities for higher education, active play or exercise and ultimately better health and wellness for all. 

In addition to the new school, the Westbrook Park, would be subsequently moved to the existing school grounds where children from both the south and north could explore new opportunities that wouldn't have been possible in the current park development such as; splash pad, trails, and interconnection and gathering places, ect. Without opening this new park in the current school grounds, it would be community limiting to those south of the current school grounds to be detached from the greater community leaving one fundamental component of our community failing: inclusivity. 

If we don't develop a park on this potential void in our community it will begin to be neglected, therefore leading to failure as a community. This is shown in the below research provided by McMaster University.

Additional Factors Considered

We understand that some property owners and community members may not feel comfortable with the new location of the school due to an expected and anticipated park development, therefore potentially threatening the value of their home and there lives. Contrary to popular belief, McMaster University studied this very possibility and came to the conclusion that homes near a school are far more valuable than those that aren't. Provided in the link below.

https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/location-location-location-study-finds-the-value-of-living-close-to-a-school/

In addition to this study, the National Recreation and Parks Association did a further study showing the value of home decreases the closer you are to a park. Provided in the link below.

https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2020/april/how-much-impact-do-parks-have-on-property-values/

We further understand that time is not on anyone's side and it is most imperative to move forward together for all current and future community members.

Result

Unless another suitable and reasonable option with expeditious timeline becomes readily available prior to the report being sent to council. 

We are in favor to move forward with the proposal and land transfer as proposed. 

Further supporting documentation is below showing the provinces requirements and other factors. This includes other municipal issues providing land for school capital projects and current provincial moratoriums. All considered during the petition process.

 

http://www.ontario.ca/page/building-expanding-and-renewing-schools​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/surplus-schools-affordable-housing-1.7174095​

https://globalnews.ca/news/9508632/school-boards-urge-ontario-lift-moratorium-closures/