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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-22, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011. Colborne Central and Holmesville Public Schools will undergo an accommodation review, but Brookside Public School will escape scrutiny for now, the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) has decided. At its Sept. 13 board meeting, trustees were presented with a recommendation to place all three schools under an accommodation review. The sudden review is a result of mould issues, discovered in the spring of 2011, at Colborne Central. The student population of Colborne Central was moved to a section of the former Victoria Public School in Goderich at the beginning of the school year. The cost of fixing the mould and humidity issues at Colborne Central is about $1 million. Mike Ash, superintendent of education, school operations, told trustees that repair costs at the school for work not related to mould come in at $966,400. Director of education Ted Doherty said total repair costs for Colborne Central are about $2 million, but told trustees not to compare that figure to repair costs for other schools since updated information for those schools is not available yet. Trustees were also given projected enrolments, capacity and loading information for five schools in the northwest Huron area: Brookside, Colborne Central, Goderich District Collegiate Institute Elementary, Goderich and Holmesville Public Schools. Ash noted that each school is projected to have some declining enrolment over the next decade except for Goderich Public School, which is expected to have a slight increase. Both Goderich Public School and GDCI Elementary have stable enrolments and have the capacity to take in additional students if necessary, Ash added. Ash told trustees that the enrolments at Holmesville Public School, however, are a concern. Triple grade classes have been created in the past “and continue to be a real possibility,” according to the preliminary accommodation analysis report. Examining loading percentages, Holmesville Public School came in at 45 per cent loading capacity. A loading percentage of 60 per cent or lower can trigger a review. Brookside Public School, which sits on the northwest boundary of the board and also takes in students from Bluewater District School Board, has a loading capacity of 62.8 per cent. Ash said that the low loading capacity of Brookside Public School, the low enrolments at Holmesville Public School and the costs of repairing Colborne Central led AMDSB staff to recommend those three schools for a review. But the proposed review could also impact other schools in the Huron area. Ash said Goderich Public School, Clinton Public School and possibly Hullett Central Public School may see changes through migration of students or boundary adjustments. North Perth trustee Jenny Versteeg questioned why Brookside Public School was included in the review when there are other elementary schools, such as those in Goderich and Clinton, which are closer to Holmesville Public School and Colborne Central. Ash said Goderich was not included in the review because the school community had just finished an accommodation and transition process. He said that Goderich Public School can still receive students from the current review but not be a part of it, as long as the school receives a number of students less than 50 per cent of their current population. Clinton Public School was also kept out of the review because staff doesn’t anticipate any “significant changes” to the school as a result of the review, although that school may also take in additional students, as long as the number is less than 50 per cent of the school’s population. Ash said Brookside Public School was included in the review to give the board more options. Versteeg proposed an amendment, seconded by Northeast Huron trustee Colleen Schenk, to remove Brookside Public School from the review. Versteeg said the school is outside the area around Colborne Central, calling Brookside Public School “an outpost” and describing it as unique. The amendment passed and the amended motion for a review of only Colborne Central and Holmesville Public Schools also passed. Doherty told trustees that the sudden review, presented in September of the 2011-2012 year was “particularly unusual”. Ash said the Colborne Central situation “basically forced our hand.” Doherty said the board prefers to present preliminary reviews in June, like they did in June of 2011 when the board decided to place four Stratford schools under review. Doherty said the next preliminary accommodation review would not be until the school year of 2012- 2013, and probably later in the school year than earlier. An Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) training session has been set for Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Holmesville Public School. The first public ARC meeting will follow on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., also at Holmesville Pubic School. Accommodationreview announced for area schools Well done Several local golfers attended the annual tournament of the Western Ontario Athletic Association, which was held at Goderich Sunset Golf Club with over 100 golfers competing. Playing alongside Bill Brown, second from left, a scout with the Windsor Spitfires, the team of, from left, Ken Stewart, Kirk Stewart, Barney Stewart, John Watson and Brent Scrimgeour shot a score of 15 under par to win the tournament. Proceeds from the tournament went towards association scholarships and youth programs. (Photo submitted) 404 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 The Citizen Be sure to check out all our books at... to celebrate Fall! 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