Article From The Blyth Citizen

ARC suggests super school http://www.northhuron.on.ca/news.htm (Jan 29, 2009)

By Brenda Radford

"The third public mandated meeting of the Accommodation Review Committee for five schools along the Hwy. 4 corridor, considered the North East Central Huron group, was held at Wingham Public School on Thursday, Jan. 22. The schools in question are Hullett Central in Londesborough, Blyth Public, East Wawanosh Public in Belgrave, Wingham Public and Turnberry Central.This meeting proved to be an exciting change from the previous two. School groups had been encouraged to ‘think outside the box’ when presenting scenarios. Since the last meeting the community support persons from all five schools had been burning the midnight oil and the scenario they presented to everyone gathered in the Wingham school auditorium was just that kind. Members of all the ARC groups recognized that these reviews can become quite territorial. Although each school area is a separate entity, in a rural area as small as the one under review, the people involved now have and will continue to have contact through business, social activities, sports, etc. A community support member from each school took part in their scenario, the North Maitland Educational Centre of Exellence. David Sparling, Mark Beaven, Robert Hunking, Sue Underwood and Connie Goodall presented a concept paper for the construction of ‘a super school’. They proposed that in 2010 construction begin on a ‘state of the art’ educational facility to accommodate all pupils from Blyth, East Wawanosh, Wingham and Turnberry. They suggested everyone affected should have input into how this school should be rather than accepting an engineer’s concept. They talked about the latest in classrooms and teaching areas, a cafeteria, a computer lab and library, expanded arts programs, etc. Their united front was to impress upon the trustees that the children’s future is what is important and their desire to keep Grades 7 and 8 out of area high schools.Although this presentation still needs fine tuning they proposed a 120,000 to 150,000-square foot school to house 1,000 students. Such a school would cost in t he area of $175 a square foot or $21 to $26 million.The presenters encouraged the trustees to consider the prospect from a positive outlook, rather than looking for negatives.Following the presentation, AMDSB superintendent Mike Ash noted that the board is currently lobbying the governments for money for North Huron schools. This was in contrast to the previous meeting when trustees seemed to suggest that no money was likely to be forthcoming for new schools in a rural area of declining enrollment.A funding model was included in the presentation. Some, they suggested, would come from three areas of government. The municipal representative from Morris-Turnberry, Jim Nelemans, however remarked that the group was presumptuous in assuming that the rest of the ratepayers in his constituency would be willing to fund this school.Other monies would be found from the sale of the properties of the closed schools, operational savings, private donations and grants. For example, they see the school incorporating all modern environmental aspects which would qualify them for “green” grants.The community-support persons also proposed that teachers be allowed to be a part of the consultation process recognizing that their input would be invaluable. Currently board/union employees are advised to stay clear of this review process. However, as the community would be asked to give input, teachers are a part of that community, it was noted.The ARC members asked for an extension of time, until March 12 to add details to their proposal. They hoped to take the proposal back to their communities to clarify the details to the general public and get input.It was impressed upon the trustees/board members that they need to help the process with the facts and figures represented of them. Ash assured them of that support.Trustees Colleen Schenk and Shelley Kaastra commended the group for a visionary proposal and a comfortable, thought-provoking evening.Hullett Central Public School the only school to date, which had not done so already gave a presentation worked on by SAC and ARC members. The presentation included a letter of commendation from Brian Cretney, an author who found his recent visit to the school a memorable one.Alex Westerhout, a Hullett School parent, asked why Hullett had been left out of this proposal. Hunking gave a three-fold answer. The scenario was based on not having Grade 7 and 8 pupils not going to F.E. Madill. Hullett pupils would reasonably go into Clinton high schools and the Hullett ARC members have always questioned why they were included in this review anyway. Moreover, it stands to reason that if a location for the new school were in the Blyth area, Hullett might be involved. This proposal is an expanded version of the one proposed by Turnberry at a previous meeting.David Sparling stated that “Everybody here wants to get something better for our kids. We need genuine support to reach a most responsible end (to this review process). We need to hear from the communities, ‘Are we going down the right path?’The next meeting will be held on Feb. 12 at East Wawanosh."