OCDSB eases school transition with sibling grandfathering

Ottawa's largest school board released its plan Monday for boundary and program changes affecting six west central elementary schools, with a focus on letting families stay together.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board announced the changes to Churchill Alternative, Hilson Avenue, Broadview Avenue, Fisher Park/Summit Alternative, Elmdale, and Woodroffe Avenue schools. The board said no schools will close.

The core change: middle French immersion and alternative programs are being phased out while school populations are rebalanced to keep smaller schools sustainable. But the board made three key revisions based on community feedback.

First, current students are fully grandfathered—they won't have to change schools and will remain with their peers through graduation. Second, the sibling legacy provision was expanded significantly. The original plan would have let only kindergarten students entering in 2027 register at the same school as an older sibling. Now, younger siblings of any age can attend the same school as older siblings, provided the family stays in the original catchment area. The board also committed to transportation for younger siblings who meet Ottawa Student Transportation Authority eligibility requirements.

Third, the transitions will roll out gradually, beginning only with the kindergarten cohort in September 2027. The board framed this as a "smooth, gentle" approach to ensure stable, sustainable change.

Hilson Avenue will introduce an early French immersion program to become a dual-tracked site, accelerated by one year. Temporary "transitional" early French immersion boundaries will be created for Elmdale and Hilson from 2027 to 2033 to accommodate the rollout.

The board received community input before finalizing the plan, and these revisions reflect the desire for continuity and family cohesion.