But it was clear from the outset of Tuesday night’s meeting what parents really wanted to talk about: boundary changes and if their kids would have to switch schools — for the second or third time, in some cases.

Steven Parfeniuk, the Halton District School Board’s business services superintendent, told residents he wouldn’t be taking any questions about boundaries, instead wanting community input about the LTAP for 2008 to 2013.

But parents weren’t happy about that.

“I know we’re not supposed to talk about boundaries, but I can’t really see them (the accommodation plan and boundary issues) in exclusion,” said one father. “You’re asking us to approve something before we know what the effective boundaries will be.”

Parents passionate about issue

Parfeniuk relented and fielded sometimes-angry questions and comments from passionate parents for much of the two-hour meeting.

At the heart of the issue is the fact that at the start of this school year, about 200 south Milton students had to switch schools to alleviate overcrowding at Sam Sherratt Public School.

Parents were told the re-location would be temporary, meaning students will likely have to move again, particularly when two new elementary schools open in September 2009.

“There likely will be changes to many schools in Milton,” Parfeniuk said.

Ironing out the overcrowding issues is a “double-edged sword,” Parfeniuk told residents, because it means to get rid of portables and provide an adequate number of schools, kids will have to move around, sometimes more than once.

“Kids are resilient,” he said. One mother took exception to that comment, blurting out, “Four moves is not really resilient!”

She later apologized for her outburst, but said she didn’t agree with his “blanket statement” that kids are resilient, saying each child handles change differently.

Another parent said: “Each year I’m having to sell (to my child) a totally new school and it’s scary.”

Parfeniuk said the boundary issue is being dealt with in a separate parallel process, which will hold public information sessions in November.

He said parents should know by January about boundary changes.

Parfeniuk was asked by a parent if the school board takes into consideration which students have already been moved around when deciding boundaries.

He replied that it’s a factor.

The LTAP, formerly the board’s Capital Plan, addresses the accommodation needs of students in elementary and secondary schools. It includes that three new elementary schools will be opened in Milton over the next two years. It’s hoped a new secondary school will open in Milton in 2010.

Since 2005, the board has had nine capital projects approved by the Ministry of Education, which Parfeniuk told the dozens of residents in attendance is good news.

The LTAP was presented to the Halton District School Board in May and approved subject to public consultation.

Among the information presented to the board were numbers showing Milton’s skyrocketing projected elementary and secondary school enrolment; by 2022, Milton’s projected elementary enrolment will have surpassed Burlington’s and be only slightly below Oakville’s.

In Halton, elementary and secondary enrolment is expected to grow by 11 per cent and 9 per cent respectively in the next five years; but in Milton, those figures are anticipated to be more like 45 per cent and 65 per cent.

A staff report about the LTAP states: “Trustees will note the plan attempts to build on the ‘crest of growth.’ This should minimize student moves as well as the need for portables.”

In a rare question that wasn’t about boundaries, a community member asked if future schools would include childcare centres like Bruce Trail School does.

Parfeniuk said he didn’t know yet.

In explaining how accommodation plans are developed, Parfeniuk said the school board closely follows forecasted building numbers from developers.

“Hopefully as we plan better, we’ll get a bit ahead of the curve,” he said.

Residents can access the LTAP on the school board’s web-site, www.hdsb.ca , under ‘Program and Accommodation in Schools.’ Comments will be accepted until Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com .