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Huron Expositor, 2007-09-19, Page 8Page 8 The Huron Expositor • September 19, 2007 News Avon Maitland school board beginning review of accommodation in Mitchell, St. Marys, Goderich • Stew Slater Elementary students in St. Marys could walk through the doors of a brand new school as early as September, 2008, depending on the outcome of the provincial Education Ministry's "Prohibitive to Repair" (PTR) assessments. The amalgamation of two elemen- tary schools into one in both Goderich and Mitchell, meanwhile, could come into effect as early as September, 2009. And in all three communities, the changes could involve relocating Grades 7 and 8 students into the existing high schools. The process of potential change officially began Tuesday, Sept. 11, when trustees of the Avon Maitland District School Board unanimously agreed to establish Accommodation Review Committees (ARCs) in the three towns. It's the first step in what is now- a two-year process required by legis- lation before a school board can move to alter school boundaries or student populations in any commu- nity. The next step is for the three ARCs — which will include represen- tation from parents, the community, teachers and administration — to meet as one large group Nov 14 at the board's Seaforth headquarters. At that time, they will be asked to study the value of each school to the community, assess possible solu- tions to the challenge of declining enrolment, and report back to school board administration. "Changes in school accommoda- tion must remain an option in the board's plan to ensure that it is fis- cally responsible and accountable and provides the best possible pro- grams for its students," states a report delivered to trustees by administration for the Sept. 11 meeting. The report notes that, in each community, enrolment pro- jections from independently - contracted con- sultants were "shared at regional school council meetings held throughout the spring of 2006 . . . and again in the spring of 2007." Business superintendent Janet Baird - Jackson noted that, at those meetings, the challenges of declining enrol- ment were pre- sented and sug- gestions were put forward about how to tackle those chal- lenges. Of the three separate recom- mendations, the motion to create the Goderich ARC — which was introduced first — inspired the most discus- sion. Led mainly by Stratford trustee Doug You are invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas • Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth 519-527-1522 Sunday Sept. 23 Worship at 9:30 am PIGGY BANK SUNDAY in support of Camp Bursaries Kid's Zone Sunday School Everyone Welcome St. James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-527-0142 Sunday Mass 11:00 am St. Patricks, Dublin Sat. Mass 5 pm - Sun. Mass 9 am Fr. Chris Gillespie Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Sunday School • All Ages • 9:45 am SundaWorship 11:00 am Pastar Mark Kennedy EVERYONE WELCOME Egmondville United Church 172nd Anniversa Sunday Sept. 23 Pastor Steve Hildebrand Worship Ilam Guest music: Uftd Voices Lunch to follow Sunday School 10ern EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH 54 Goderich St. W. Rev. John Gould Sunday, Sept. 23 Worship 11 am Sermon: Money Talks Everyone Welcome First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rev. Henry Huberts Sunday Sept. 23 11:15am Service Coffee & Muffins before service Bible Study - Thursdays at 7:30pm at the manse Pork Chop Barbecue Sept. 27 eat In or take outs available -Pratley, concern was expressed about whether or not representa- tives from nearby Colborne Central and Holmesville elementary schools should be included in the Goderich ARC. Education director Geoff Williams advised against that strategy, however, noting the line of involvement must be drawn somewhere — if those two schools become involved, would there then be an argument for including schools in East Wawanosh and R.R. 7 Lucknow? He stressed, how- ever, that the staff report also advises trustees and ARC members to keep in mind the potential long-term effects on surrounding schools. "In the Stratford area, the creation of Grade 7-12 schools has led to an increase in applica- introduced. But discussion during the meetings last spring in each community evolved around consoli- dating two existing elementary schools into one and shifting Grades 7 and 8 students into the existing high school. In each case, this would entail varying levels of renovation and con- struction at the schools which remain, and the dis- posal of one elemen- tary property. In Goderich, that property would likely be Victoria elementary school. In Mitchell, it would be Mitchell Public School. According to the Sept. 11 report, applications were submitted by the board regarding both Victoria and Mitchell Public, seeking provincial `Changes in school accommodation must remain an option in the board's plan to ensure that it is ,fiscally responsible and accountable and provides the best possible programs for its students,' -- report by Avon Maitland administration tions from parents in the smaller rural schools," the report states, adding this "might be increasing pressure on the neighbouring schools." Goderich/Northwest Huron trustee Al Sygrove said he advises that people from the Colborne and Holmesville communities attend the ARC meetings as observers. But he expressed no dissatisfac- tion with including representatives from just the two Goderich elementary schools and Goderich District Collegiate Institute on that town's ARC. "What I'm hearing from the community is: `Let's get on with this'," Snygrove com- mented. In an interview after the meeting, veteran Perth South/West Perth trustee Carol funding to replace the schools under the PTR process. Both applications were denied. The situation in St. Marys, how- ever, may be expedited by the PTR process. Williams told trustees that, among the Avon Maitland schools submitted last year to the province, the only two remaining under con- sideration are the St. Marys ele- mentary facilities. Williams also noted it's his understanding that the Kindergarten -to - Grade 3 St. Marys Central and Grade 4-8 Arthur Meighen — although totally distinct and located in different parts of town — are being considered as one entity. A PTR desig- nation, which Williams said could 'What I'm hearing from the community is: `Let's get on with this," — Al Al Snygrove, Goderich Northwest Huron trustee Bennewies echoed those sentiments. "The people who have been involved to this point have been very receptive and have had very positive attitudes about looking at alternatives," she said. "What I hear mainly from them is that it's really important in both (St. Marys and Mitchell) that something get done." No proposals have been formally come as early as mid- October, would mean the ministry believes restoring the two schools to top condition would be costlier than replacing them with one new school. If the designation is awarded, leg- islation states St. Marys would then be removed from the two-year Accommodation Review process, and funding would be flowed imme- diately for new construction.