HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-04-23, Page 9Against the wishes of acommunity-based committee
created by the board to gather public
input, administrators of the Avon
Maitland District School Board have
recommended placing Grades 7 and
8 students in a high school setting in
the Wingham area, as part of a larger
plan to close and consolidate
elementary schools.
Under the proposed
reorganization – on which trustees
could potentially vote June 23 – both
Blyth Public School and Turnberry
Central Public School near
Wingham would close, with students
moved to existing facilities.
But education superintendent
Mike Ash is quick to point out that
the optimal solution – in the case of
positive response from the
provincial Education Ministry to the
board’s request for funding – would
be to close three schools and move
students into a brand new building.
At a regular meeting Tuesday,
April 14,Ash delivered a staff report
to trustees about the so-called
Central East North Huron
Accommodation Review. The
review, kicked off last September,
examined future enrolment and
school capacities in the catchment
areas served by five facilities: Blyth,
East Wawanosh Public School,
Turnberry Central, Hullett Central
Public School, and Wingham Public
School.Part way through the schedule offive subsequent public inputmeetings, a break-away group ofnon-board-related members of the
Accommodation Review Committee
devised a plan to construct a large
new school for approximately 1,000
students in the
Wingham/Belgrave/Blyth
area. Details about that
proposal – which would
accommodate students from
four of the schools (but not
Hullett Central) – were
included in Ash’s April 14
report.
Key to the proposal is that Grades
7 and 8 students remain in an
elementary setting – in contrast to
the board’s already-established
practice of educating those grade
levels in secondary school settings in
Stratford, and future plans to do the
same in Goderich, St. Marys and,
potentially, Exeter.
The April 14 report from Avon
Maitland administration, however,
advises relocating Grades 7 and 8 to
F.E. Madill Secondary School in
Wingham. As is the case in the other
communities already adapting to this
arrangement, it’s expected the plan
will include some level of isolation
between the senior elementary
students and their secondary
counterparts.
Ash’s report lists three possible
scenarios, all involving the
relocation of Grades 7 and 8
students. One option is to closeTurnberry, East Wawanosh andBlyth, with students shifted to eitherF.E. Madill or a newly-constructedkindergarten-to-Grade 6 school near
Belgrave. Another would see those
same three schools close and a
smaller new school built, while some
Blyth students would shift to Hullett
Central – thereby decreasing the
number of empty spaces at that
school.
The preferred staff option,
however, is to close Turnberry and
Blyth. Wingham Public would be
converted to a K-6 school and take in
the students from Turnberry, Grades
7 and 8 students from Turnberry and
Wingham would shift to F.E. Madill,
and Blyth’s students would attend
either Hullett Central or East
Wawanosh.
Under the proposal, one portable
classroom will be necessary to
accommodate the increased student
population at Wingham Public
School, although that need may
disappear if enrolment continues to
decline.
At Hullett, additional space will
also be necessary. According to the
report, this could be addressed
through either portables, an addition
to the school, boundary adjustments
between the Hullett and East
Wawanosh catchment areas, or a
combination of approaches.
“Staff will not be changing its
recommendation,” Ash said in an
interview, following the meeting. He
didn’t preclude, however, a change
being brought forward by trustees.And there’s one key factor whichmight inspire a change: additionalfunding from the Education ministryunder its Local Priorities program.
The ministry’s replacement for the
Prohibitive to Repair (PTR)
initiative – which saw funds
committed to school-
consolidating efforts in both
Goderich and St. Marys over
the past two years – Local
Priorities is based on a wider
range of criteria than just the
condition of a building.
According to Ash, the new
program is based on “more
of a business case model” that takes
in such factors as community
partnerships and the potential for
decreasing the amount of unused
student capacity.
The board submitted a Local
Priorities application for the North
Huron area last fall, and has lobbied
for its approval based on the
potential to consolidate three
schools into one.
Ash adds the board has heard
indications that some
announcements of application
approval may occur within the next
couple of months. And, if that
happens in the case of North Huron,
it’s possible trustees will suggest
alternative solutions – most likely,
some variation on the two other
options listed in the April 14 report.
Even if this does happen, however,
he expects the recommendation to
place Grades 7 and 8 students into
F.E. Madill will remain. The April
14 report argues, “our experiences at
the two Grade 7-12 schools in
Stratford over the past four years
have not presented the outcomes
originally feared by parents and staff
. . . Elementary and secondary
teachers are working together to
provide a safe, positive and
productive education environmentfor all students.”The report also notes that theministry has made it clear thatchanges in student accommodation
must achieve a reduction in excess
capacity. “It is highly unlikely that
this board would receive funding for
a new school where it does not
demonstrate the reduction of
available surplus space such as at
F.E. Madill.”
According to Ash, PTR funding
for both Goderich and St. Marys
“was insufficient to build a full K-8
school,” and it’s unrealistic to
assume it will be any different in
North Huron.
Members of the public will have
the opportunity to address the board
when it holds a regular meeting
Tuesday, May 12 at Wingham Public
School.
Requests for delegations – which
generally consist of five-minute
presentations to trustees, after which
there may be questions of
clarification but no back-and-forth
discussion – are received by the
board up until one day prior to the
meeting.
To sign up, contact (519) 527-
0111, ext. 106.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009. PAGE 9.
Portables necessary to
accommodate extra
students at Wingham and
Hullett
New card option for
Huron library users
AMDSB rejects Centre of Excellence proposal
Huron County Library users now
have the option of carrying their
library cards on their key chains or
in their wallets.
The new library card design is
based on the new Huron County
brand. The various components of
the brand represent the lakeside
scenery, agricultural heritage, strong
sense of community and relaxed
lifestyle of the county.
The new Huron County Library
card will be available for free to all
new library users. Current library
cards may be exchanged for a new
card or key fobs free of charge until
May 18.
After that, a $2 replacement fee
will be required. Huron County
Library book bags may be handed
out with the new library cards while
supplies last.
Huron County Library cards are
valid at any of the 12 branches of the
Huron County Library system. For
more information about the Huron
County Library or library programs
call your local branch or visit
www.huroncounty.ca/library.
Library card application forms may
also be printed off the library’s
website and submitted.
Library cards
The Huron County Library will be running a new library card
program until May 18. Library board chair Dorothy Kelly
and county warden Ken Oke hold their brand new cards.
(Photo submitted)
CLINTON
PUBLIC
HOSPITAL
ST. MARYS
MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL
SEAFORTH
COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL
STRATFORD
GENERAL
HOSPITAL
WE PAY A TRIBUTE TO HOSPITAL
VOLUNTEERS
National Volunteer Week
is celebrated
April 19th - 25th 2009
HPHA from April 26
th to 30th 2009
This is the time of year we acknowledge the enormous
contribution by the dedicated volunteers who give their
time and efforts to assist in the delivery of programs and
services that significantly enrich the culture of our
hospitals and the communities we serve.
We wish to recognize and express gratitude to all the
volunteers who make a difference to our patients, staff,
and our local healthcare system...
If you would like to join our great team of volunteers,
please refer to the information on our website,
www.hpha.ca, or contact your local hospital.
“No man can become rich without himself enriching others”
Hospital Volunteers, Hospital Board Members,
Local Advisory Committee Members,
Auxiliary Members, and Foundation Board Members
By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen
Students bring fresh
ideas, energy and
enthusiasm into the
workplace
To find out more about offering high school students
work experience contact the
Foundation for Enriching Education Perth Huron
at 519-527-0111 ext 231 or visit
www.foundationforeducation.on.ca
Sponsored by the Ontario Learning Partnernship Group and the
Provincial Partnership Council
Supported by The Government of Ontario