The City of Burlington is debating closing several schools. The proposed closing date for these schools is currently June 2018.i The final decision will likely be handed down in May 2017.ii The debate is directly related to cost and the argument that these schools are apparently underutilized is the driving force behind the dispute for the closings. The apparent cost of repair for the schools – which includes modifying them to equip them for people with disabilities and bring them up to Code – has increased the cost substantially to the point that the estimates of repair outweigh the estimates to close them. The problem is that the City of Burlington has not planned to replace the schools but has proposed to displace school goers. Unfortunately school goers will have to be bused, in many circumstances, to schools that are much further away.
Some of the schools proposed to be closed are;
Central High School, Lester B. Person High School, Robert Bateman High School, and Nelson High school.iii
Central High School is Central/ Brant neighbourhood.
Lester B. Pearson is in the Palmer neighbourhood.
Robert Bateman is in the Pinedale neighbourhood.
Nelson is in the Longmoor neighbourhood.
Please see the charts below with the neighbourhoods/ Schools.
“Burlington’s Program & Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) has identified six options to be presented at public meetings that name four Halton District School Board schools for potential closure, either on their own or in combination with one other school.”i
“The first option is: Nelson closes June 2018, program changes at Hayden & Central.
The second option: Robert Bateman HS closes June 2018
The third option: No schools close; Dr. Frank J Hayden HS boundary change
The fourth option: Burlington Central & Lester B. Pearson close by June 2018, Dr. Frank J. Hayden & Robert Bateman program changes
The fifth option: Burlington Central & Lester B. Pearson close by June 2018, Dr. Frank J. Hayden & Robert Bateman program changes but some exceptions
The sixth option: Robert Bateman HS & Lester B. Pearson HS close by June 2018, Dr. Frank J. Hayden SS program change”i
If the school/ schools are closed, this is an unfortunate decision for several reasons;
The population is Burlington, Ontario is rising. In fact, the Halton Region has predicted that the population growth will be primarily from young families. Please see the charts included in this article from Sustainable Halton Demographic Study. The study focused on predicted population shifts from 2006 vs. 2031. The conclusion of this study demonstrated that the Halton Region is expected to remain dominant with adults who are beginning families; and families mean that schools will be needed for those children. There is also a secondary chart predicting population shifts, concluding the same results from 2006 to 2031.i For this reason alone, repairs to adequately equip the schools should be made. We have a growing teaching community that would love full time working opportunities. We have parents that are concerned with overcrowding classrooms and lack of individual teaching opportunities for their children. Increasing class sizes and busing students further only makes things harder on parents, they will have to start the morning routine earlier and also spend more time doing homework to compensate for the lack of individual teaching time.
Busy kids have been linked to better performance. The after school programs that these schools host would also be closed. If the driving time and busing times are long then there is no time for activities that would otherwise keep students busy. It also looks great on a resume, and it provides opportunities for scholarships or post-secondary achievements.
The final and most important affect from school closing will be on the real estate values. It is hard to imagine in this hot market that something could put a stop in it, but schools are certainly a factor for the growing population and for those with young families. From a real estate point of view the effect on property values is negative. When the neighbourhood shifts from amenities and schools within walking distance to only being bused for schooling, this in turn affects the walkability score, services and amenities offered by the neighbourhood and overall value. The neighbourhood becomes less attractive than other neighbourhoods with those features. One of the attractive features about these neighbourhoods is that they have elementary and high schools within walking distance. This will also dictate who will continue to move into the neighbourhood and lead to affects on supply and demand.
This is plan should definitely be better evaluated in order to flourish with Burlington’s growing population, teaching community, property values and the citizens of Burlington.
i Whitnell, Tim. “Burlington High Schools Central, Pearson Recommended for Closure.” Burlington High Schools Central, Pearson Recommended for Closure. Burlington Post, 04 Oct. 2016. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.
ii Ward, Marianne Meed, Jerry Fairbridge Says:, Ethel Hutch Says:, Douglas Pudsey Says:, Courtney Rebecca Says:, Candis Nevardauskis Says:, Cheryl Miller Says:, Mike Cook Says:, Kent Campbell Says:, Dave Humby Says:, Jennifer Walker Says:, Michelle Bishop Says:, Denise Davy Says:, Steve Gard Says:, Kelly Love Says:, Kim Robinson Says:, Christopher Paul Watts Says:, Katie McGrath Says:, Dania Thurman Says:, Debbie Lazaroff Says:, and Monica Craver Says:. “Four Schools Named in Potential Closure Options: Central, Pearson, Bateman & Nelson.” Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward. N.p., 26 Feb. 2017. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
iii Ward, Marianne Meed, Jerry Fairbridge Says:, Ethel Hutch Says:, Douglas Pudsey Says:, Courtney Rebecca Says:, Candis Nevardauskis Says:, Cheryl Miller Says:, Mike Cook Says:, Kent Campbell Says:, Dave Humby Says:, Jennifer Walker Says:, Michelle Bishop Says:, Denise Davy Says:, Steve Gard Says:, Kelly Love Says:, Kim Robinson Says:, Christopher Paul Watts Says:, Katie McGrath Says:, Dania Thurman Says:, Debbie Lazaroff Says:, and Monica Craver Says:. “Four Schools Named in Potential Closure Options: Central, Pearson, Bateman & Nelson.” Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward. N.p., 26 Feb. 2017. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
iv Ward, Marianne Meed, Jerry Fairbridge Says:, Ethel Hutch Says:, Douglas Pudsey Says:, Courtney Rebecca Says:, Candis Nevardauskis Says:, Cheryl Miller Says:, Mike Cook Says:, Kent Campbell Says:, Dave Humby Says:, Jennifer Walker Says:, Michelle Bishop Says:, Denise Davy Says:, Steve Gard Says:, Kelly Love Says:, Kim Robinson Says:, Christopher Paul Watts Says:, Katie McGrath Says:, Dania Thurman Says:, Debbie Lazaroff Says:, and Monica Craver Says:. “Four Schools Named in Potential Closure Options: Central, Pearson, Bateman & Nelson.” Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward. N.p., 26 Feb. 2017. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
v Ward, Marianne Meed, Jerry Fairbridge Says:, Ethel Hutch Says:, Douglas Pudsey Says:, Courtney Rebecca Says:, Candis Nevardauskis Says:, Cheryl Miller Says:, Mike Cook Says:, Kent Campbell Says:, Dave Humby Says:, Jennifer Walker Says:, Michelle Bishop Says:, Denise Davy Says:, Steve Gard Says:, Kelly Love Says:, Kim Robinson Says:, Christopher Paul Watts Says:, Katie McGrath Says:, Dania Thurman Says:, Debbie Lazaroff Says:, and Monica Craver Says:. “Four Schools Named in Potential Closure Options: Central, Pearson, Bateman & Nelson.” Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward. N.p., 26 Feb. 2017. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
vi Hvanputten. “Effect of Demographic Change on Halton Region.” Effect of Demographic Change on Halton Region. Halton Region Study, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2017.
3 thoughts on “School Closings are bad for Real Estate”
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