A decision to delay the elimination of middle French immersion at the largest school board in Ottawa has been announced. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) supervisor, Robert Plamondon, shared in a recent communication with parents that concerns raised by parents have led to a two-year postponement of the program phase-out. This change aims to prevent younger students from being disadvantaged if they had planned to enroll in the program.
The new plan specifies that enrollment in middle French immersion will cease after 2028, allowing students currently in grades 1-3 to still have the option to participate. Plamondon expressed gratitude to parents for their input, stating that their feedback directly influenced this revised approach.
Last year, the board had initially announced its intention to phase out both early and middle French immersion programs. Under the previous plan, children completing bilingual kindergarten would have had the choice to switch to the English stream or begin French immersion in grades 1, 2, or 3.
Despite canceling a broader overhaul of the elementary program in October, the decision to phase out middle French immersion persisted. The OCDSB currently offers middle French immersion in 33 out of its 120 elementary schools, catering to approximately four percent of the elementary student population.
Enrollment in the program has declined by over 25% in the past five years, as reported by the board. Additionally, Plamondon provided updates on the establishment of the new student and family support office within the board, allowing parents to address educational concerns, especially now that OCDSB trustees have been marginalized.
Parents are encouraged to first raise concerns with their child’s teacher, followed by the school principal and superintendent if necessary. However, OCDSB trustee Lyra Evans has expressed concerns about the process, deeming it potentially time-consuming for families in urgent situations. The new support office’s establishment may be a precursor to broader changes by the provincial government to eliminate elected school board trustees permanently.
Assistant Professor Sachin Maharaj from the University of Ottawa believes the support office could signal a larger shift by the province. Education Minister Paul Calandra is expected to announce a decision on the future of elected boards early in the year. Plamondon reassured in his communication that efforts are underway to address the OCDSB’s deficit, with plans to develop a balanced budget for the upcoming school year.
