AP 305 - Catchment Areas v 2
Background
Pursuant to the School Act, the Board of Education of School District No. 36 (the “Board”) will establish for each school in the Surrey School District No. 36 (the “District”), a catchment area consisting of a geographical area around the school.
The Board delegates to the Secretary-Treasurer, the responsibility for ensuring that school catchment areas are established for neighbourhood schools.
Procedures
| 1. | The following principles apply when establishing catchment areas:
a. | Boundaries are established to regulate and optimize enrolment at schools, maximize the cost-effective use of space and minimize capital expense;
| | b. | Boundaries are established in the interest of student safety by minimizing the amount of bussing required and walking distances to schools;
| | c. | Boundaries are established using arterial roads and natural boundaries to form catchment areas whenever possible;
| | d. | Boundaries for District Programs and Programs of Choice and will be considered District-wide and not site specific; and
| | e. | Programs of choice will be offered only in space surplus to the needs of the neighbourhood school program or in space leased for a specific program need.
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| 2. | Reviewing Catchment Areas
a. | Catchment areas shall be reviewed when:
i. | A school is overcrowded, subject to the discretion of the Secretary-Treasurer;
| | ii. | A school is underutilized, subject to the discretion of the Secretary-Treasurer;
| | iii. | A school is identified for closure;
| | iv. | A new school is opened; and
| | v. | The Secretary-Treasurer directs a review for reasons such as student safety or location of District programs.
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| | b. | The review shall include existing facility conditions and projected enrolment changes.
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| 3. | The Associate Director, Planning and Demographics, shall consult with the City of Surrey and City of White Rock Planning and Traffic Departments, as necessary.
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| 4. | The Secretary-Treasurer, in consultation with the Associate Director, Planning and Demographics, shall report recommended catchment changes to the Executive Committee. The report shall include:
a. | A description of the changes, including, graphical presentation and rationale;
| | b. | Recommended timing for implementation;
| | c. | A communication plan for the proposed changes; and
| | d. | Recommended implementation steps.
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| 5. | The Secretary-Treasurer shall communicate the approved changes and direct personnel to undertake the required implementation.
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| 6. | The Associate Director, Planning and Demographics, shall ensure updated maps of school catchment areas are posted to the District website.
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| 7. | Enrolment Outside of Catchment Area
a. | Applicants seeking enrollment outside their designated catchment area are required to complete and submit the Out-of-Catchment Enrolment Application.
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