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Although junior classes attracting pupils, figures show only six registered for Grade 5 at alternative facility
BY KATE HAMMER, THE GLOBE AND MAIL
TORONTO -- Recruitment has lagged among older students and only six have registered for Grade 5 at the city's controversial Africentric Alternative School, set to open this fall.
New figures released yesterday by the Toronto District School Board show younger students registered in greater numbers than those in the higher grade levels. The Grade 1 class was filled to near capacity, with a total of 17 students.
"We had anticipated at the higher levels of this range there'd be fewer students because parents might be concerned, for example, if they have a child who's eligible for Grade 5 they will only be eligible for one year," said Lloyd McKell, the school board's executive officer for student and community equity.
The Toronto District School Board announced yesterday that the Africentric Alternative School had exceeded a benchmark of 40 interested students, and that 85 had expressed interest.
Of that number, 56 students had gone as far as registering.
Recruitment will continue through the spring and summer. Unless enrolment numbers grow the school will consist of three split grades (JK/SK, Grade 2/3, Grade 4/5), and a Grade 1 class.
"If we had busing for this school it would have been filled months ago," said trustee James Pasternak, whose ward includes Sheppard Public School. "The problem we're up against is alternative schools are not eligible for busing and the reason is that alternative schools have full open enrolment and anyone from anywhere from across our jurisdiction can apply."
Transportation alternatives are being explored, including parent car-pooling and sharing the cost of a privately hired bus.
Trustee Josh Matlow said the recruitment numbers reflect "a lack of genuine interest" in the school.
"I'm just concerned that we've been distracted by a wrong-headed plan and we should be keeping our eye on the ball, which is ensuring that all schools reflect the diversity of our city, and all marginalized youth are supported by our system," he said.
Mr. Matlow said that at a school board meeting today, he would request to know how much money was being budgeted toward such a small group of students, and toward the cost of the recruitment campaign.
Mr. McKell called a request for budget numbers "a little premature at this stage."
A cluster of about six classrooms in a section of Sheppard Public School will become a school within a school, where African-centric material is integrated into the Ministry of Education-mandated curriculum.
The search for a principal continues, but the school will share a lunchroom, gymnasium, computer labs and schoolyard with SPS.
"There was a misconception about the idea that there would be two solitudes within the school under one roof," Mr. Pasternak said. "That's just not the vision that we have."
There will be "enormous interaction" among students at Sheppard Public School and the alternative school, he said.
The trustee, who points to cities such as New York and Chicago where alternative schools are relatively common, hopes enrolment numbers will approach 100 once a principal is brought in to help with recruitment.
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