West Island Career Centre Major School Change Brief 2015 HISTORY OF THE CENTRE: 1. The Vice-Principal of Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School (Baldwin Cartier School Commission) was given responsibility for the Business Education, Interior Decorating and Display, and Automotive Mechanics Programs when the long vocational Programs were eliminated IN THE EARLY 1990 s. 2. Starting in 1994-1995, with the advent of independent vocational education centres, the Business Education and Interior Decorating and Display (IDD) Programs were offered by the bilingual West Island Technical Centre. 3. For the school year 1994-1995, the Automobile Mechanics Program moved to Polyvalente des Sources while the facilities were renovated. 4. In 1998, with the reorganization of the school boards, the Centre was under the jurisdiction of Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Board. 5. In 1998, the West Island Career Centre of the Lester B. Pearson School Board came into being. The Automotive Mechanics Program (Mécanique auto) continued to be offered in French through an Entente with Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys. 6. From 1999 to 2001, the Accounting and Secretarial Studies programs were transferred to Riverdale Business Centre. This centre was closed at the end of the 2000-2001 academic year. At that time, the Accounting and Secretarial Studies and the Emploi-Québec programs d'entrées périodiques et de sorties variables (EPSV) moved back to the West Island Career Centre. 7. In 2001-2002, the Residential and Commercial Drafting Program was offered for the first time. 8. At the end of 2005-2006, the Entente with Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, facilitating the delivery of French Programs, was discontinued. The EPSV upgrading Programs were discontinued by Emploi-Québec. This provided the opportunity for growth in the areas of Business Education and Residential and Commercial Drafting. Additional classes were started in both programs and an evening program in Starting a Business was delivered. 9. During the 2007-2008 school year, the newly created Health Department delivered its initial Patient Care Attendant (PAB) program. 10. In August 2009, the first Registered Nursing Assistant (RNA) program was opened at W.I.C.C. 11. In July 2012, an annex of W.I.C.C. was created at the Riverdale High School location. At this time IDD and the Residential and Commercial Drafting programs were moved into this facility. The relocation of the two courses allowed for the business and health programs at W.I.C.C. to expand. The following year, in July 2013, Sources Adult and Career Centre was created from this annex permanently moving the IDD and Residential and Commercial Drafting programs from W.I.C.C. 2
1. CURRENT SITUATION 1.1 Automobile Mechanics The Automobile Mechanics Program is currently using nine (9) classrooms and five (5) laboratories. Eight (8) full groups operate at all times. Six new groups open each school year. Availability of shop space is a major concern: one hundred sixty (160) students requiring shop facilities on a daily basis creates an overcrowding situation which constantly needs monitoring. The Quebec Automobile Parity Committee which certifies and sanctions automobile mechanics licensing in Quebec, operates evening upgrading classes. 1.2 Business Education Ten (10) classrooms/computer laboratories are now being used during the day: four (4) for Accounting, two (2) for Administrative Professional, three (3) for Medical Office Specialist and one (1) for Starting a Business. Two of these classrooms are in an annex off of Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School. Students in this annex must leave the building to access services (washrooms, cafeteria, etc.). This causes problems during inclement weather. The Starting a Business program is in expansion. To date, seven (7) classes have opened, including one weekend class. This is in comparison to one (1) evening class at this time last year. It is in this area, that opening new groups is limited to the amount of space that is available. In addition, Professional Sales will be offered at the Centre for the first time. The anticipated start date for this program is November 10 th, 2015. This is another program which we expect to see growth. Currently, we would not be able to offer a second Professional Sales course due to limited space. 1.3 Health Programs Seven (7) classrooms and three (3) health laboratories are now being used during the day by four (4) groups of Registered Nursing Assistants (RNA) and one (1) group of Patient Care Attendants (PAB). It is projected that this school year, there will be a total of ten (10) RNA groups and two (2) PAB groups participating in stage placements. Currently, due to lack of laboratory space at W.I.C.C., all training must be done at the stage location. Health classrooms and labs have been used on the weekends and evenings to support a Business Solutions program that certifies employees in Long Term Health facilities. 1.4 Facilities The cafeteria seats one hundred thirty (130) diners and two (2) lunch periods are operated daily in order to accommodate our students. The staff workrooms are housed in five separate areas. The parking lot currently has room for one hundred ten (110) student cars, eight (8) administration cars and twenty-one (21) teacher cars. W.I.C.C. serves an adult clientele who, for the most part, travel by car. The RNA program requires the students to change into their scrubs before going into the health labs. There are currently no changing rooms resulting in many students changing in the hallways and classrooms. 3
2. SUMMARY There are twenty-six (26) classrooms and eight (8) laboratories at W.I.C.C. and all are currently in use during the day. There are sixty-six (66) teachers, seven (7) support staff members, two (2) non-teaching professionals and two (2) administrators on the W.I.C.C. staff. At peak times there are 480 students within the building and approximately 75 students at stage placements. Due to lack of space in the cafeteria students eat lunch in the classrooms or leave the building. Currently department teams cannot be housed together in the same workroom. Lack of parking spaces results in poor access to the building by current students, visitors, potential students, etc. 2.1 Summary of Current Needs 1. More classrooms for the growing Business department. 2. Computerized resource room for use by the teachers and students 3. Exam rooms for Auto, Business and Health. 4. Large meeting room for such activities as full faculty meetings and student assemblies. 5. Enlarged staffroom facilities 6. Small teacher-student meeting rooms 7. Additional parking spaces 8. Indoor access to the main building for students in the annex in PCHS. 9. Storage space for tool boxes, automobile engines and automobile transmissions. 10. Workspace for training simulators 11. Health department supplies and equipment storage space 12. Office supplies storage 13. Bookroom space 14. Changing rooms for health students 15. A health lab for training students who are in the stage portion of the program. This will allow them to refresh elements of the competencies in-house prior to going into the health institutions. 16. Accessibility for the mobility impaired is needed 3. POTENTIAL PROGRAM EXPANSION AT W.I.C.C. 3.1 Professional Sales Program Requirement: 1 classroom / computer laboratory 3.2 Starting a Business Requirement: 2 large classrooms / computer laboratory. 3.3 Registered Nursing Assistant Actualization. This program is an upgrading and refresher program required by the OIIAQ for nursing assistants holding inactive licenses or RNAs from out of province. Requirements: 1 classroom & 1 health care equipment lab 3.4 CPA Upgrade courses. With the EQ Entente, W.I.C.C. is the English training Centre for CPA in the Western part of the island. Requirement: Storage space for CPA course training materials 4
Summary of Potential Needs Additional classrooms Increased storage space Increased cafeteria capacity Increased washroom capacity Increased staffroom facilities Creation of changing rooms Creation of large meeting space Access to an elevator for students 5