OCDSB plans to move south-end students to Goulbourn as Richmond Public School hits 145 per cent capacity
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board held a public meeting Thursday on a plan to send junior kindergarten to Grade 3 French immersion students from Richmond to a school 7 kilometres away.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ca.news.yahoo.com.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board held a public meeting Thursday night on a plan to ease overcrowding at Richmond Public School in Ottawa's south end, which is now operating at 145 per cent of its designed capacity, CBC reported.
The proposal would move junior kindergarten to Grade 3 early French immersion students in the Richmond area to Goulbourn Middle School, 7 kilometres away. The boundary review would also make changes at A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School and Westwind Public School.
Why the board says it must act
Board CEO Stacey Kay told parents at South Carleton High School on Thursday that Richmond Public School has reached a "breaking point" because residential growth in the area has outpaced the school's capacity. The school is at 145 per cent of its designed space.
Under the proposal, Goulbourn Middle School would become a junior kindergarten to Grade 8 facility. The board has set aside $1.5 million for retrofitting, to begin in January 2027. The work would add fencing, a bus loop, classroom updates and a play structure for younger children.
What parents said
Parents at the meeting raised two main concerns: the 7-kilometre distance for young children, and what they described as a lack of long-term planning. Parent Alicia Markell, quoted by CBC, said the plan has "no long-term plan. There is no project management aspect." Parent Mike Moreland cited "overcrowding, concerns about the infrastructure, the absolute chaos and devastation."
OCDSB supervisor Bob Plamondon, who was appointed by the province in 2025, addressed the concerns. He said the board is looking at phased-in implementation, keeping transportation running, allowing exemptions and letting younger children attend the same school as an older sibling.
What comes next
The final day for public comments is November 19, 2026. After that, the board plans to release a staff recommendation report in December, with a final decision by supervisor Plamondon in January 2027. If the plan is approved, the changes would take effect in September 2027.
Parents can submit feedback through the OCDSB's website before November 19. The board's decision in January will be the last step before any school moves.
Questions this story answers
What is the OCDSB planning for Richmond Public School?
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board held a public meeting on November 13, 2026, on a plan to ease overcrowding at Richmond Public School in Ottawa's south end. The school is at 145 per cent of its designed capacity. The proposal would move junior kindergarten to Grade 3 early French immersion students in the Richmond area to Goulbourn Middle School, located 7 kilometres away. The boundary review would also make changes to A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School and Westwind Public School.
Why is Richmond Public School overcrowded?
Board CEO Stacey Kay told parents at the November 13 meeting that the school is at a 'breaking point' because residential development in the area has grown faster than the school's capacity. The school now operates at 145 per cent of its designed space. The OCDSB has not published the exact student count in the article reviewed by voche.me.
What changes would be made to Goulbourn Middle School?
If the boundary change proceeds, Goulbourn Middle School would become a junior kindergarten to Grade 8 facility. The board has set aside $1.5 million to retrofit the building, with work scheduled to begin in January 2027. The retrofitting would include fencing, a bus loop, classroom updates and a play structure for younger children.
When would these changes take effect?
The proposed changes would take effect in September 2027. Before that, the board's provincially appointed supervisor Bob Plamondon plans to release a staff recommendation report in December 2026 and issue a final decision in January 2027. Parents can submit public comments until November 19, 2026.
What concerns have parents raised?
Parents at the November 13 meeting said they are worried about sending young children to a school 7 kilometres away when Goulbourn is not yet set up for junior kindergarten and early primary students. They also raised concerns about long-term planning and the pace of change. OCDSB supervisor Bob Plamondon said the board is considering phased-in implementation, keeping transportation in place, allowing exemptions and letting younger children attend the same school as an older sibling.
Who is running the OCDSB right now?
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is under a provincially appointed supervisor, Bob Plamondon, following the Ontario government's decision in 2025 to remove the elected board. Newly elected trustees were sworn in on November 6, 2026, but the province placed them under restrictions on what they can decide without the supervisor's sign-off, as reported earlier by voche.me. The board CEO is Stacey Kay.
How can parents comment on the proposed boundary changes?
The final day for public comments on the proposed boundary changes is November 19, 2026. The board is collecting input through its boundary review process. Parents can follow the review and submit feedback through the OCDSB's website. After the comment period, the board plans to release a staff recommendation report in December, with a final decision in January 2027.
What is the OCDSB?
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is Ottawa's largest English-language public school board. It operates schools across the city and surrounding communities. School trustees were elected on October 26, 2026, and their pages on voche.me are listed at the news section at /on/ottawa-2026/news.
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