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Hours before parents were going to protest the plan to stop kindergarten enrollment at four alternative schools, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) said intake will be happening this year after all.
“While this change affects a limited number of students, it reflects the OCDSB’s commitment to student success and well-being, and to respond positively to concerns and common sense recommendations from parents,” said provincially appointed board supervisor Bob Plamondon in an email to parents.
The English public board is still phasing out the alternative program, but parents had been told months ago that kindergarten enrolment was being blocked and no students would be admitted this fall at Regina Street, Riverview, Lady Evelyn and Churchill schools.
Those parents wrote to the premier and education minister, saying they were worried the plan was to slowly empty out those schools so they could be closed.
A new look at school boundaries
Plamondon, who has been supervising the board instead of elected trustees since June 2025, said the enrolment change happens as it takes a new look at school boundaries.
The review begins with the areas where the four alternative schools are, he said.
OCDSB director Stacey Kay said in the same email that work on the long-term catchment areas and grade structure for the four alternative schools will be finished within two years.
Plamondon had cancelled the elementary program review approved by the board prior to his appointment.
That cancelled plan would have dual-tracked more schools and proposed changes to grade divisions and zoning, meaning some students would have had to change schools this coming year.
Plamondon added the board is committed to ensuring equal access to early French immersion and English with core French in every elementary school across the district.
