Ottawa's Adult High School to Implement Quadmester System with Extended Class Sessions
The Adult High School located on Rochester Street in Ottawa is preparing for a significant structural overhaul. Beginning this September, the institution will abandon its traditional semester format in favor of a nine-week "quadmester" system. This new approach will feature multiple start dates throughout the year and substantially longer class sessions lasting two and a half hours each.
Provincial Alignment and Expanded Access
According to Ottawa-Carleton District School Board spokesperson Diane Pernari, this transformation aligns with provincial Continuing Education standards. "This change will expand access by providing four start dates each year, giving students more flexibility to begin their studies," Pernari explained in an official statement. She emphasized that all classes will continue to be conducted fully in-person, with essential student support services remaining intact.
Budgetary Pressures Driving Changes
The restructuring comes as the OCDSB grapples with substantial financial challenges. The board has been under provincial supervision since June and faces an $11.5-million deficit. Officials are seeking to identify between $15 million and $20 million in savings across the district. The Adult High School on Rochester Street, formerly known as the High School of Commerce, represents one of Ontario's rare examples of an in-person educational institution dedicated exclusively to adult learners.
Unique Position in Provincial Education Landscape
While school boards typically offer programs for students aged 18 to 21 who haven't completed graduation requirements, programs for those over 21 vary significantly across Ontario. These range from in-person instruction to online learning or hybrid models. Students over 21 fall into a separate funding category and receive lower per-pupil provincial support compared to their younger counterparts.
Staff Transitions and Union Concerns
The transition will involve relocating a small number of teachers to other secondary schools within the district. "They will be replaced by other qualified teachers to ensure continuity of education," Pernari noted, adding that the board is collaborating with union leadership to facilitate a fair transition for affected staff. Stephanie Kirkey, president of OSSTF District 25, estimates that 20 to 25 teachers at the Adult High School will be reassigned under the new system.
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation confirms that instructors for over-21 students will remain certified teachers but will be compensated under the continuing education salary category, which differs from standard secondary teacher pay scales.
Student Perspectives on Extended Classes
Under the quadmester model, students will take two courses simultaneously, with each featuring 2.5-hour class sessions. Current and former students have expressed concerns about this extended format. Nura Evans Li, who returned to school after five years to qualify for life sciences studies at Algonquin College, shared her apprehension: "The 75-minute classes are very intense and require a lot of focus. I can't imagine being in two and a half hour classes. I would be exhausted."
Community Response and Peaceful Protest
Students recently organized a peaceful protest at the Rochester Street campus to raise awareness about budget cuts and restructuring that threaten access to in-person education for adults over 21. The demonstration highlighted concerns among newcomers, refugees, working adults, and vulnerable learners who depend on the school as their primary pathway to obtaining a diploma, achieving stability, and facilitating social integration.
The Adult High School has served as a critical educational resource for Ottawa's adult learning community, and these changes represent both an adaptation to provincial standards and a response to financial realities facing the district's educational infrastructure.
