THUNDER BAY – The public school board has given the green light to the start of the process that could result in the closure of two high schools and a number of elementary schools.
Lakehead Public Schools trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a recommendation from administration that will create two pupil accommodation review committees to look at the north and south side school renewal plan options.
The renewal plan, which was presented to the board last week, calls for the amalgamation of Thunder Bay’s four public high schools into one on each side of the city. It also recommends consolidating multiple elementary schools on each side.
Board director of education Ian MacRae said public consultation will be an important part of the process going forward but admitted changes to the funding formula by the Ministry of Education and projected declining enrolment leaves few other options.
“If you look at the data, and certainly the financial information that has been presented, I think the conclusion is pretty clear. We can’t continue to meet the public expectations in terms of programming given the financial situation we’re faced with,” he said.
“The ministry changed the rules based on their best guess of the best way to move forward and it’s put us in a situation where something has to happen. Now, if the public convinces trustees they don’t want schools closed then fine, we’ll move ahead in a different direction. But there will be some tough situations if we can’t affect some savings as a result of this.”
Under the renewal plan, Sir Winston Churchill and Collegiate and Vocational Institute would close in June 2017 with Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute becoming the south high school. In addition, Agnew H. Johnston and Edgewater Park public schools would both close and a new elementary school would be built on the Churchill site to open in September 2018.
Two elementary schools, Hyde Park and Kingsway Park public schools, would also be consolidated. The resolution also directed administration to submit a business case to the ministry for an addition to Kingsway that can allow the building to accommodate students from both schools.
The north side plan proposes either closing Hammarskjold High School and sending those students to Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute or turning Superior into an elementary school and leaving Hammarskjold as the lone north high school.
Under the first option Vance Chapman Public School would be expanded and accept students from St. James and C.D. Howe public schools, which would close. If Superior became an elementary school all three of those would close.
A number of teachers, students and parents from Hammarskjold appeared at the meeting in support of their school.
One parent, Tereza Biloski, is particularly concerned about the impacts the potential relocation of Hammarskjold’s special education program will have on students, such as her son.
“I’m hoping people will be aware of who they are and what they are and not to forget about them because there are different reasons for change. Change doesn’t work well for most children with special needs and transitioning is a big deal in my eyes right now,” she said. “I’m scared if they have to transition, how they’ll transition to a school that doesn’t have a special needs program already set.”
MacRae said he welcomes seeing community members voice their opinions as it shows the value of the schools.
“I think it’s extremely important the public be involved and by the public I include students in that group. I think it’s very important students become involved because it’s their school, their education and their future,” MacRae said.
The pupil accommodation review committees are composed of a school administrator, teacher, non-teaching staff member and parent council member from each affected school as well as an Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee representative and Special Education Advisory Committee representative on each committee.
The committees, which are expected to be formed sometime in March, will be tasked with distributing information and receiving feedback from the public.
The trustees who spoke before the vote emphasized it was just the start and no final decisions have been made.
“I’m going to support the beginning of this process because it invites the public’s opinion on all of the issues. What this does (Tuesday) begins the process,” Marg Arnone said.
The first public meeting will be held on April 7, which will be followed by consultation and feedback from affected municipalities and community partners. The second public meeting is scheduled for June 6, leading to the final staff report being posted on June 22.
Public delegations would follow in September with the board making a final decision on Oct. 4.
